Johnny Nicholls dies at 63

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

The former West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff and Exeter striker, Johnny Nicholls, capped twice by England in 1954, has died at the age of 63.

Middlesbrough yesterday completed the £300,000 signing of Phil Whelan from Ipswich, but will be without the central defender for the rest of the season, as they have missed the transfer deadline. Whelan will now be limited to reserve-team outings for the remainder of the season, beginning with tonight's Pontins League match at Hull.

The Norwich striker, Ade Akinbiyi, who has been limited to just four first-team starts this season, has signed a new two-year contract with the Premiership club.

ENGLAND SEMI-PROFESSIONAL SQUAD (v Netherlands Olympic XI, Aalsmeer, 11 April): S Farrelly (Macclesfield); L Batty (Woking); P Webb (Kidderminster), S Holden (Kettering), A Reid (Altrincham), K Brown (Woking), C Hogarth (Guiseley), S Terry (Altrincham), R Forsyth (Kidderminster), S Stott (Bromsgrove), M Hine (Gateshead), L Watson (Marine), D Humphreys (Kidderminster), B Ross (Marine), C Browne (Dover), I Arnold (Kettering).