Madden, Johnny – Grave

Site allows some decent images of the graveyard: http://www.360cities.net/image/olsanska-hrbitov-graveyard-2#0.00,0.00,70.0

His grave in Prague, maintained by Slavia Prague

Translated copy of formal notice announcing Madden’s death in April 1948.

It is likely that the Burial Institute of Prague referred to in the notice was a firm of Funeral Undertakers

Plan of Olsany Cemetery Prague showing exact location of Madden’s grave.

April 1948, Olsany Cemetery Prague. Members of TJ Slavia’s youth team, flank Madden’s coffin.

Although not absolutely certain, it is probable that the old lady grasping the back of the bier is Madden’s widow Frantiska Cechova.

Funeral procession nears Madden’s grave.

Shadows seem to indicate that it was a bright, probably fairly cold day.

Bearing the Red Star of Slavia, Madden’s grave is kept well tended.

Also buried here are Madden’s widow Frantiska who died in November 1963 and the couple’s son Harry who died in the nineteen twenties.

In the cemetery records Fratiska’s surname is given a Maddenova, the suffix ova denoting being of the family or property of.

Harry’s Christian name is given in both the English forms of Harry and its Czech equivalent Jindrich.

Olsany Cemetery April 1988. TJ Slavia player Kubik lays flowers at ceremony marking fortieth anniversary of Madden’s death. Shortly afterwards, Kubik and his teammate Knoflik defected to the West where Kubik played for the Italian side Fiorentina.

At least up until the late nineteen sixties, the Slavia club would mark the winning of trophies by laying flowers on Madden’s grave.

Olsany Cemetery April 1988. Various civic and soccer dignitaries at Madden fortieth anniversary service.

From a 1998 STJ Slavia publication the above shows Madden’s gravestone surrounded by a group, probably from an organisation known as The Friends of Slavia.

The theme of the text is thanking Madden for his contribution to Slavia’s history.

Madden is referred to a ‘dedek’ meaning old man or grandfather.

Also shown are Madden’s British passport and his identity card for the 1924 Paris Olympics. Apart from the claim that it is Scottish, there does not seem any reference to the identity of the football team.