Charles Norman Adcock (21 February 1923 – 9 December 1998) was an English association football striker born in Boston, Lincolnshire.
Adcock was the first Englishman to play professional football in Italy. He joined Serie B club Padova in 1946 after being spotted playing in exhibition matches for the British Army.Norman Adcock: The Forgotten Italian Football Trailblazer, calcioengland.com After winning promotion in his second season, he went on to play 40 matches, scoring 11 goals in the Italian Serie A from 1948 to 1950, with Padova and later Triestina.RSSSF – List of English Players in Italy after 1945 In 1948, AC Milan had been poised to sign Adcock to lead their attack, but Padova lodged a complaint about Milan's illegal approach and the transfer was blocked.The Guardian, Brian Glanville's Obituary of Charles Norman Adcock, 21st December 1998, retrieved 27th March 2024
In 1950, coach Nereo Rocco departed Triestina for Serie B Treviso and took Adcock with him. The 1950-51 season was Adcock's final active season in Italian football. When he returned to the UK in 1953, he played for non-league Peterborough United for a season.
Despite his success in Italy, Adcock never played a professional match in England.
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