Graham Byford

DOB: 1st January 1970

Position: Full-back

Season of first appearance: 1975/76

Season of last appearance: 1976/77

Full Appearances: 83

Substitute: 1

Goals: 3

Also played for:

Southend United (0), Leytonstone and Gravesend & Northfleet.

Player Profile:

Rampaging, cultured full-back who started his career as an apprentice with Southend.

In September 1975 Graham joined Margate on loan from the Shrimpers and made his debut as a substitute in a 2-2 draw with Maidstone at Hartsdown Park on 27.9.75. He then stayed with Margate for the rest of the 1975/76 season and became a fixture in the side at right-back, making a total of 52 appearances.

Graham had an outstanding campaign, particularly impressing with his over-lapping, and scored once - in a 6-2 home win over Cambridge City on 6.12.75. The local press described it as "an incredible goal" as Graham's 30 yard lob from way out on the right wing found the net. In March 1976 the Isle of Thanet Gazette said that he'd developed well during his time with Margate and was "surely good enough for the Football League". On 22.4.76 Graham played as Margate won 2-0 at Canterbury in the 1st Leg of the Kent Floodlight Trophy Final and he also featured in the 2nd Leg at Hartsdown Park on 24.4.76 which the visitors won 2-1 after extra time. The result meant Margate took the trophy with a 3-2 aggregate win.

In the summer of 1976 Graham was released by Southend and he joined Leytonstone ahead of the 1976/77 season.

In October 1976 he rejoined Margate and went on to make a further 32 appearances, scoring twice, during the remainder of the 1976/77 campaign. Graham usually played in midfield but he also turned out at right-back and centre-back during the season. However at the end of the campaign he left the club once more, shortly after Margate's relegation from the Southern League Premier Division was confirmed.

Graham joined Gravesend & Northfleet for the start of the 1977/78 season but he only made ten appearances (four as sub) and scored once before moving on.

Graham was still living in Essex in 2009 and at that time he ran for Tiptree in distance races.