Ralph Hunt

Ralph Arthur Robert Hunt (14 August 1933 – 17 December 1964) was an English footballer. A prolific forward, he scored 205 goals in 404 league and cup games in a 14-year career in the Football League. He began his career at Portsmouth, before moving on to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in 1953. Two years later he transferred to Norwich City, and set a club record with 33 goals in a single season. He joined Derby County in 1958, before moving on to Grimsby Town the following year. He switched to Swindon Town in June 1961, before being sold to Port Vale for £3,500 in December 1961. He was sold on to Newport County for a £2,000 fee in July 1962. He joined Chesterfield in 1964, but was killed in a car crash in December 1964. Despite his record of scoring a goal every two games in the lower divisions, he never won any major honours and was never promoted. Career Hunt began his career at his hometown club Portsmouth, where he only made five First Division appearances in the 1952–53 season. Manager Eddie Lever did not keep him on at Fratton Park, and Hunt moved on to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in February 1954. Jack Bruton's "Cherries" finished 19th in the Third Division South in 1953–54 and then 17th in 1954–55. He departed Dean Court and signed with league rivals Norwich City in July 1955, who were then managed by Tom Parker. Hunt finished as the club's top-scorer in 1955–56 with 33 goals, which remains a club record. He hit 21 goals in 1956–57 to become top-scorer for a second successive season, though the Carrow Road club were forced to apply for re-election after finishing bottom of the division. The "Canaries" then improved under the stewardship of Archie Macaulay to post an eighth-place finish in 1957–58, and so were placed in the Third Division the following season following the re-organization of the Football League. He was later inducted into the Norwich City Hall of Fame.