Darren Beckford 1967 – 2026

Biography

Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford (May 12, 1967 – November 8, 2026) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. A Manchester City academy graduate, he made his first-team debut at just 16 in 1984 before joining Port Vale in 1987, where he became one of the club’s most prolific strikers, scoring 81 goals in 214 appearances, finishing as top scorer for four consecutive seasons and helping Vale win promotion through the 1989 play-offs. His £925,000 move to Norwich City in 1991 was then a Port Vale record sale, and he later played for Oldham Athletic, Heart of Midlothian, Preston North End, Fulham, Walsall and Southport. He was the father of former Leeds United and Everton striker Jermaine Beckford, and after retiring he worked for the Prince’s Trust. Beckford died on November 8, 2026, at the age of 59; no cause of death was made public.