Colchester United's legendary 1947-48 FA Cup fullback Albert "Digger" Kettle has died.

The tigerish "Pocket Battleship", whose home was in Fordham died early on Monday morning after suffering a stroke. He was 76-years-old.

A fearless tackler with a sizzling turn of speed, Digger - as he was universally known - was one of the most popular players ever to have worn the coveted blue and white stripes of the U's - a burning ambition of his from his school days.

One of only two local players along with Len "Spud" Cater, to star in the U's 1947-48 Southern League team, Digger shot to fame as a hero of Ted Fenton's legendary FA Cup giant-killing squad.

That team saw off Football League clubs Wrexham, Huddersfield and Bradford in that same season before bowing out at First Division Blackpool - Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortenson and all - in the fifth round.

He played for the U's after the Second World War as a part-timer from 1946-55 after serving four years in the RAF - in Rhodesia and Italy - and was a member of the Layer Road side that was elected to the Football League for the 1950-51 season. He also had trials for Fulham.

Football crazy Digger played only 23 League matches following a successful career in the Southern League where he won a League Cup winners medal and two runners-up medals.

As a teenager he played for Stanway Rovers, Chapel and Wakes Colne and Arclight and he ended his playing days at Woods Athletic after leaving the U's for a two-year spell at Sudbury Town.

An enthusiastic village cricketer with Eight Ash Green in his younger days, Digger was a genuine all-round sportsman.

He also played table-tennis and Badminton and in his latter years he was a very keen bowler with Colchester Indoor and Outdoor Bowls Clubs where he met his second wife Dorothy.

His first wife Barbara died several years ago.

Digger clocked up 50 years, spanning the war, working for Colchester Fan Manufacturers Woods.

He spent the last seven months of his life in the Ash Croft Home, Eight Ash Green suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Digger is survived by his wife Dorothy, three daughters - Anna, Brenda and Sally - plus four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

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