Mid Sussex Times - Tuesday 22 March 1927

CUCKFIELD FOOTBALLER’S STRANGE ACT.

Considerable consternation was caused among members and supporters of the Cuckfield Footbali Club during the weekend, when it became known that F. Sendles, a prominent player and the Hon. Secretary of the Club, had disappeared from his home after playing for his team In a league match at Crawley on Saturday afternoon.

He was seen in the town as late as nine o’clock in the evening, but he did not return to his lodgings with Mr. and Mrs, H. Ede, of Crown Cottages, that night, and Mr. Ede informed the police on Sunday morning.

Later it was ascertained that Sendles left Haywards Heath by the 10.23 p.m. train for Victoria on Saturday evening, and no explanation of his act was received until this (Tuesday) morning, when Mr. Ede had a letter from him at Maidstone, where Sendles has friends, stating that he intended joining the Army.

He has lived happily with Mr. and Mrs. Ede for several years, and assisted Mr. Ede in his butcher’s business, while he is extremely popular among his fellow footballers.

There is no apparent reason for his leaving Cuckfield suddenly. Mr. Ede is communicating with the Maidstone police.

Jill Harwood writes...

He may have disappeared to Maidstone (he was born there), but he came back and was best man at a friend's wedding in July 1927. He was living at 1 Crown Cottages near the Rose and Crown in 1939 working as a house painter. He died in Cuckfield in 1954.