Powerful center half Noel Blake was born in Jamaica in January 1962. He came over to England as a youngster and after leaving school joined Sutton Coldfield Town. He signed for Walsall in 1978 and became a pro at Aston Villa the follwing year. A loan spell at Shrewsbury proceeded his transfer to St.andrews in Spetember 1982 for 55,000 and over the next two years Blake scored five goals in 96 appearances. He left the club for Portsmouth in August 1984 for 150,000 and four years later he moved to Leeds United for 175,000. He spent three seasons with Stoke City and after a loan spell with Bradford City he joined Dundee. He later went on to manage Exeter City.