Died On This Date (January 10, 2012) Cliff Portwood / English Footballer Turned Pop Singer

Cliff Portwood
October 17, 1937 – January 10, 2012

Cliff Portwood was a 14-year veteran of English football before launching a career as a singer.  After retiring from the game and moving to South Africa where he coached, Portwood began competing in radio station contests.  During the early ’70s, he won a recording contract in Australia, so he moved to Melbourne.  Over the next several years, he earned five gold records and became a familiar face on such television Australian programs as The Penthouse.  Throughout his singing career, Portwood performed with the likes of Keith Moon, Dick Emory, and Frankie Vaughan.  In the early ’80s, he moved back to England where in 1982, he recorded “Up There O’ England,” a World Cup song, with members of the 1966 FIFA World Cup team.  It was re-released for the 2010 games. In later years, Portwood spent winters in Florida where here found success as a cabaret singer.  Cliff Portwood died of lung disease on January 10, 2012.  He was 74.

Thanks to Henk de Bruin at 2+ Printing for the assist.

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