Strange But True: The Mistakenly Reported Demise Of Tony Carroll

Historically newspapers have been - and continue to be - a vital source of information, especially in the absence of the internet and instantaneous news updates.

It’s a source so important that, during the tumultuous times in the Second World War, around 80 per cent of the public read the papers to stay updated with the news of the fighting. And as the war stretched on and casualties mounted, families would rely on them to find news of their loved ones. Or, more often than not, they would hope to see no news at all.

Amidst this all, on 8 March 1944, news reached that Jim ‘Tony’ Carroll, a talented footballer, was amongst those missing on a British ship attacked in convoy.

Glasgow-born Tony was a small and nippy outside-right who joined City with a wealth of experience and a collection of medals having played for Strathclyde, Newry Town, Belfast Celtic Shelbourne and Clyde. He was signed to help Leicester City in their attempt to avoid the drop to the Second Division in 1935.

They couldn’t escape their fate, however, but Tony’s talent was a shining light in an otherwise disappointing period. His eye for the goal and unorthodox crossing skills would, eventually, play a pivotal role in the Club’s climb back to the top division once more in 1937.

As the initial article circulated hearts sank, and the footballing world began to mourn a player that had lit up Scottish, Irish, and English football for well over a decade. And just days later, a second article followed and extinguished all hope: Tony Carroll was officially declared lost at sea.

But that wasn’t that. Sheepishly, the very next day, a third and final article was published on the matter. Unlike the first two, this piece occupied a small corner of the paper, and told that the initial report was slightly exaggerated.

“Tony Carroll came on the phone last night to say he was fine,” it read. “Hadn’t been on a ship.”