“I NEVER got to speak to George Camsell but I remember him because as he walked past us at Ayresome Park, my grandfather would point him out with the quiet awe and reverence given only to legends,” says Teesside historian and author Paul Menzies.

“From an early age, I knew that George was the greatest centre forward in Boro's history. Going to the match in the 1950s, I listened to tales from my grandfather, who had been a Boro fan since 1900, about his hero, Boro’s legendary record breaking goal scorer, George Camsell. These stories were rolled out every match as we sat on the bus joining thousands of fans going to the match...”

The Northern Echo: George Camsell ready to play for Middlesbrough

Paul is writing a book about Camsell and his extraordinary achievements.

He was born in Framwellgate Moor in 1902, and worked down the nearby pit as a miner. He didn’t kick a football until he was 18 when the Methodist church set up a youth club team.

Soon he was playing for Esh Winning, then Tow Law Town, and then Durham City in the Third Division (North). From there, on October 6, 1925, Middlesbrough signed him for £500.

What a £500! Camsell scored a record 345 goals in 453 games for the Boro, including 24 hat-tricks. In his nine England appearances, he scored 18 goals, including a hat-trick against Wales and four against Belgium – he has the highest goals-per-game ratio of any England player.

In the 1926-27 season, he scored 59 goals, which has only been bettered in the Football League by Dixie Dean, as he fired the Boro to the Second Division championship – their first title. Darlington finished bottom of the table that season, drubbed 4-1 at Feethams, with Camsell getting one, and the same score at Ayresome Park, when George didn’t play – if he had, he would surely have at least equalled Dean’s record of 60 goals in a league season.

Camsell also hit a record nine hat-tricks that season.

The Northern Echo: George Camsell in his England shirt: he remains the England player with the highest goals-to-games ratio

His career fizzled out as the Second World War took hold, but afterwards he became a scout for the Boro and discovered Brian Clough.

George died 55 years ago this month, aged 63.

“Very aware that there is no lasting memorial to George, I decided after discussions with the Camsell family that it was important to tell the story of his amazing career, so the idea for a book on his Boro years was born,” says Paul.

The Northern Echo: A cigarette card showing the great George Camsell in the red of the Boro

“I’d already been researching George’s career for some years but the major breakthrough came when his family allowed me access to their material.

“Now, on the 55th anniversary of his death, I would like to ask if anyone has any contribution they would like to share and have included in this book.

“It can be in the form of personal recollections or the memories of a family member or any other memorabilia. Full recognition will be given to anyone who contributes.”

If you can shed light on any aspect of George’s amazing story, please email Paul at m.menzies1@ntlworld.com