Darren Beckford: key obituary facts
Is Darren Beckford dead? Yes. Darren Beckford died on November 8, 2026, at age 59.
Cause of death: Darren Beckford's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Darren Beckford known for?
He was a British footballer (born 1967).
More about Darren Beckford
Born: 12 May 1967.
Place of birth: Moss Side.
Gender: male.
Occupation: association football player.
Nationality: United Kingdom.
Also known as: Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford.
Darren Beckford, the English footballer who played as a forward, died on November 8, 2026, aged 59.
Born in Moss Side on May 12, 1967, he was also known by his full name, Darren Richard Lorenzo Beckford. His professional career began at Manchester City, and in 1987 he moved to Port Vale, where his scoring made him one of the club’s most prolific forwards.
Beckford helped Vale win promotion to the Second Division through the play-offs in 1989 and was the club’s leading scorer in each of four consecutive seasons. His performances led to a £925,000 move to Norwich City in 1991, then a record sale for Port Vale. He later represented Oldham Athletic and Heart of Midlothian, as well as several other clubs in England, Scotland and Wales. His younger brother, Jason, was also a professional footballer, and his stepson, Danny Webber, played professionally. Beckford’s daughter Lauren, from his first marriage, played for Manchester United Women and Everton; his nephew Ethan also played professional football. His parents, Dudley and Valdene, were from Jamaica.