Litchfield joined Newcastle United in January 1939 but, just as he was starting to establish himself, the war broke out and he was restricted to just two games, one in each of the 1939–40 and 1942–43 seasons.[1][12] He joined the Royal Air Force but still managed to make guest appearances as a footballer during the war years (for Millwall, Reading, York and Northampton) and was a sports journalist on several service newspapers.[10]
Litchfield made his debut for Leeds United against York in the first game of the 1941–42 Football League Northern Section (First Championship)[12] and in that season he scored his first goal for Leeds against Bradford.[12]
Litchfield wrote The Springbok Story From The Inside in 1960,[16] followed by two books devoted to football: Goals In The Sun in 1963[17] and Book of Soccer in 1965.[18] His writing later turned to cricket with Cricket Grand Slam about South Africa's test series against Australia in 1970[19] and, with D.J. (Jackie) McGlew, Six for Glory in 1967.[20]
Litchfield was made a Life Member of the National Football League for his contribution to the establishment of professional football in South Africa.[10]
Personal life
Litchfield married Gillian Mai Johnston in 1948 and they had one son.[21] He later married Lynn with whom he had a daughter, Wendy. He was working as the new editor of the Protea Cricket Annual of South Africa when he died in Cape Town on 23 July 1982.[10]
Selected bibliography
The Springbok Story From The Inside. Published by Timmins; Bailey & Swinfen, 1960[16]
Goals In The Sun. Published by Simondium-Uitgewers, Johannesburg, 1963[17]
Book Of Soccer. Published by H. Kearthland, Johannesburg, 1965[18]
