A member of Watford’s 1959/60 promotion-winning side who also played for Luton Town in an FA Cup final has died, aged 83.

Tony Gregory moved to Vicarage Road from the Hatters in March 1960 and scored four goals in the final 13 games of the season as Ron Burgess’ side finished fourth in Division Four to clinch promotion.

Gregory, who initially filled the outside-left position before adapting to a wing-half role, only played 12 matches the following season, but was to be much more of a regular over the following two campaigns as Burgess’ team retained their status in the third tier.

The player made the last of his 119 appearances for Watford in October 1963, having scored 17 goals, and went on to play for clubs including Bexley, Bedford and Barnet and later managed Stevenage and Wolverton.

Born in Luton in May 1937, Gregory was an England Schoolboy international and began his playing career for Vauxhall Motors before he was signed by the Hatters in 1955.

He made his league debut at Sunderland less than 12 months later and immediately caught the eye with goals against Wolves and Chelsea, but his first-team appearances were to be sporadic over the next two seasons.

Gregory returned to the side for an FA Cup tie against Leeds United in 1959 and retained his place for the duration of the run as the Hatters reached Wembley where they were beaten 2-1 by a Nottingham Forest whose second goal was scored by Roy Dwight, Elton John’s late cousin.

An obituary on the Luton website reveals Gregory did not have time to dwell on the disappointment though, as the following day he had to report to Felixstowe to travel to Germany as part of his national service.