Harold Hassall: Gifted inside-forward who held his own alongside Finney and Matthews but was forced to retire at 25

He went on to work for Fifa, reporting on the 1966 World Cup in England, then became a PE lecturer and part of a study team promoting football in emerging countries

Hassall: he was strong, industrious, imaginative and skilful (Getty)

Harold Hassall was a gifted footballer who held his own in an England attack containing Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney, only to be cut down by injury. At club level he sparkled in the top flight, first for Huddersfield Town and then for Bolton Wanderers, a prolific marksman and a clever creator.

He was an inside-forward as strong and industrious as he was imaginative and skilful. Bolton, as the Lancastrian's local League club, might have been expected to spot his talent, but Huddersfield pounced to sign him from Mossley Common in 1946. It was as a wing-half, probing and prompting from deep midfield, that Hassall made his senior entrance, in a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal in August 1948.

Soon he moved forward to become a key offensive weapon for a lacklustre Terriers side. Forming a potent left-flank partnership with winger Vic Metcalfe, Hassall shone brightly in 1950-51, when he was Huddersfield's leading scorer with 18 goals, and in April he earned his first international cap in a forward line which read: Matthews, Wilf Mannion, Stan Mortensen, Hassall and Finney.

Facing Scotland at Wembley, the debutant put England in front with an angled drive then worked demonically when his team was reduced to 10 men by an injury to Mannion. The Scots won 3-2 but it seemed certain that Hassall would have an illustrious England career. But despite four goals in five games he didn't cement a regular place in an era in which talented inside-forwards proliferated.

In 1952 he was transferred to Bolton for £27,000, a huge fee at the time, employed as a perceptive foil for the rumbustious Nat Lofthouse. Hassall was influential on the way to the 1953 FA Cup final against Blackpool. Bolton led 3-1, with Hassall, who had unluckily deflected a Stan Mortensen shot for the Seasiders' goal, dropping back to the more defensive role. But then, inspired by Matthews, Blackpool recovered to triumph 4-3 in injury time. Hassall had worked himself to a standstill to no avail, but his heroics were widely praised.

Then on New Year's Day 1955, playing at centre-forward against Chelsea, he suffered a knee injury and was forced to retire at 25, with 34 goals in 109 games for Bolton, 26 in 78 for Huddersfield and countless assists for both. Positive and enterprising, he had already secured teaching qualifications, and added to them with diplomas in physical education and management studies. He stayed in the game, as manager-coach of the England youth team then as a Football Association coach at Lilleshall.

He went on to work for Fifa, reporting on the 1966 World Cup in England, then became a PE lecturer and part of a study team promoting football in emerging countries. A rounded individual, he went on to serve as general secretary of the Amateur Swimming Association.

Harold William Hassall, footballer, coach and administrator: born Tyldesley, Lancashire 4 March 1929; died Bolton 30 January 2015.