As a defender at Southampton FC in the immediate postwar years, Ramsey
was initially unable to break into the first team thanks to the form of
regular right-back Bill Ellerington. Ramsey's big break came when, in
January 1947 prior to a 4th round FA Cup-tie away to Newcastle United
(on the North Sea coast), Ellerington neglected to wear a jersey when
the squad went playing golf (in winter conditions), causing him to be
hospitalised with pneumonia for 3 months, and kept out of the first
team for 10 months. Ramsey immediately seized the opportunity to prove
himself, leading to his first England appearance in December 1948.
Although an injury sustained in January 1949 meant that he lost his
Southampton and England positions to Ellerington, Ramsey's transfer to
Tottenham Hotspur spectacularly revived his career at both levels. One
can only wonder how different postwar English football might have been
were it not for that moment of self-neglect on the part of one
Southampton defender.
