Former England footballer Alan Hudson demands the FA to delete his playing records 

Former England footballer Alan Hudson has demanded that the FA delete his playing records with the national team.

Hudson, the maverick darling of the King’s Road at the end of the 1960s and in the early 70s, is believed to be the first player ever to file such a request and will make a unique footnote in football history if successful.

In his letters to the FA, Hudson also accuses them of failing to support him in a long struggle against devastating permanent injuries inflicted by a hit-and-run driver in 1997.

Hudson said: ‘I don’t want anything to remain in the FA statistics to remind me of the demoralising and very depressing way I was passed over for all but two England matches.’

Hudson claimed the last straw was how a modern-day maverick – Jack Grealish – was marginalised in the Euros by Gareth Southgate, arguing it was similar to how highly gifted players such as himself were ignored by previous managers of the national team. 

He said: ‘I had been considering doing this for some time. Seeing how Grealish was humiliated by so little playing time when he was the one player who might have won the tournament for our country has pushed me over the edge.

Hudson (pictured at Chelsea) accuses the FA of failing to support him with devastating injuries

‘No wonder we haven’t won so much as a tin pot let alone another major championship since 1966.’

Hudson claims Sir Alf Ramsey imposed an arbitrary three-year England suspension on him for failing to answer an Under 23 international call-up when he was suffering from an ankle injury. 

That exile was ended by two caps awarded by Don Revie, of whom Hudson says: ‘He only did that under pressure from the media and then discarded me, even though we won both those games and I was man of the match against West Germany in one of them.’

Writing to the FA’s interim chairman Peter McCormick, Hudson says: ‘My dream of a long international career was ruined and has led to long-term depression, anxiety and panic for which I still have counselling. It will be a great relief to be removed from my links with the history of England football.’

Hudson (left, seen against Germany) is believed to be the first player ever to file such a request

McCormick’s response records the ‘high esteem’ in which the FA hold Hudson, as ‘a great player who had a distinguished football career’.

He adds: ‘We cannot comment on the actions of Sir Alf Ramsey and Don Revie as that period was many years ago and both individuals are now deceased.’

McCormick delegated the question of ghosting Hudson’s England records to the FA’s director of legal and governance Polly Handford, who cites problems with data protection if complying.

In his grievance about a lack of support following his crippling car incident – which he still suspects was ‘a deliberate hit’ – Hudson writes: ‘Your organisation never raised a finger while my family waited in grief and trauma-stricken during my 59 days in a coma.  

Hudson claimed the last straw was how Jack Grealish (L) was marginalised in the Euros by Gareth Southgate (R)

‘When I woke I was surrounded by hundreds of cards wishing me well but not one from the FA.’

Ms Handford replies: ‘In relation to your car accident and the trauma suffered by you and your family we are very sorry to hear what a difficult time you have had. Given the time elapsed we cannot speak to what support would have been available.’

She refers him to various footballers’ charities.

Hudson vows to fight on for the deletion of his England records ‘and if necessary seek legal help’.