As a half hearted attempt to celebrate our national saints day I racked my little grey cells to come up with all the George’s who have played for Latics in the league.
I only came up with one, Mr Urquhart (see Bernard’s excellent A-Z below)
coincidently he still resides in the Wigan area I assume, as my mate regularly sees him in The Brocket doing deals on his mobile..
I’ve no doubt that pre league and The Boro’ must have had players with this fine English Christian name but to be sure we will have to wait until Bernards book comes out for a definitive listing !
(A-Z WBFC found 7 more ! )
George Urquhart
DOB: 22nd April 1950
Other clubs: Renfrew Juniors, St Mirren, Guildford City, Ross County, Macclesfield Town,
Latics boss Ian McNeill had tried to sign George when he took over as manager of Northern Premier League Latics in 1976. However, he had to wait until the end of October 1979 to acquire his services.
He made his
Latics League debut as a used substitute on 1st September 1979 in a game against Portsmouth at Springfield Park which the Blues lost 1-2. He stayed at the club until the end of the following 1980/81 season when he was released after making 63+5 League appearances and scoring 6 League goals in the process.
George is currently (July 2010) working as an agent for a number of top class footballers.
You could also have this fella but that is stretching it a bit !
Jorg Smeets
DOB: 5th November 1970
Other clubs: Heracles, Chester City
Jorg, the smallest player to ever play League football for the club, (he had to get his boots specially made for him on account of his exceptionally small feet), was signed by John Deehan from Dutch outfit Heracles for £100,000 on 1st October 1997. He made his
Latics League debut three days later against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park. The Mariners ran out 2-1 victors. Jorg was to stay at the club for almost two seasons during which time he seemed to always be on the subs bench. On 25th March 1999 he was loaned to Chester City for whom he made 1+2 League games before finally leaving Springfield Park on 31st May 1999. He made 17+26 League appearances for the Blues and scored 6 League goals during that time.
7 who played for Wigan Borough
George W Brodie
DOB: 17th December 1898
Other clubs: Tranmere Rovers, Notts County, Darlington, Castle Douglas
Inside left, George was born in Castle Douglas and started his football career at Tranmere Rovers. He was in the first ever Boro Football League team and his career at Springfield Park consisted of 14 appearances and four goals in 1921. On leaving Springfield Park he moved to Notts County in 1922 but he only ever made 1 appearance for them without scoring. He did play for one other Football League club and that was Darlington the following year, however, he failed to play a first team game at the Feethams and returned back home to Castle Douglas.
George Johnson
DOB:
Other clubs: Darlington, Walker Celtic
George was a right back who made 3 appearances without scoring whilst at Springfield Park in 1925. He made 2 appearances without scoring for Darlington in 1926 and then he drifted into non league football with Walker Celtic.
George Wilfred Jones
DOB: 28th June 1895
DIED: 1970
Other clubs: Crook Town, Gwersylt, Everton, Middlesbrough, Southport, Yeovil and Petters United, Great Harwood
Outside right George was born in Crook and it was after playing for his home town club and Gwersylt that Everton signed him in 1919. He made 36 appearances and scored twice at Goodison Park before signing for Boro in 1922. In just over two years at Springfield Park he scored 7 goals in 89 appearances before joining Middlesbrough in 1925. His stay at Ayresome Park saw him make 24 appearances and score 1 goal before signing for Southport, who were to be his last Football League club. He made 56 appearances at Haig Avenue in a two-year stint in which he netted 7 times. Upon leaving the Sandgrounders he drifted into the non league scene with Yeovil and Petters United and Great Harwood.
George Albert Lewins
DOB: 16th July 1896
DIED: 1991
Other clubs:
Newcastle United, Reading. Rochdale, Manchester City, Tranmere Rovers, Rhyl, Jarrow
Bert could play at left back or right back and was born in Walker. His first known club is Newcastle United whom he joined in 1926. However he didn’t make the grade at St James Park and the same fate awaited him the following year at Reading. His first Football League appearance was for Rochdale who he joined in 1928. Whilst at Spotland he played 34 games without scoring before he moved to Manchester City in 1929. He never played a first team game at Maine Road and it was from City that he arrived at Springfield Park in 1930. His record for Boro was, played 26 games with no goals scored.
Bert was a victim of Boro’s ‘sell anything we can’ policy as they failed in their bid to stay in the Football and in 1931 he was soon playing for Tranmere Rovers. Rovers proved to be his last Football League club and he made 30 appearances at Prenton Park without scoring before dropping into non league football with Rhyl and Jarrow.
George Rae
DOB:
Other clubs; St Mirren
George was a 5ft 8 outside or inside left player igned from St Mirren and he made 19 appearances, scoring once for Boro in 1923. He then faded into obscurity.
George Rickerby Shaw
DOB: 17th April 1904
DIED: 1987
Other clubs: Withnell St Joseph’s, Horwich RMI, Brinscall, Accrington Stanley, Preston North End, Southport, Darwen
Born in Withnell Mill, George could play at outside left or outside right. He had been on the non league scene with Withnell St Joseph’s, Horwich RMI and Brinscall before signing for Accrington Stanley in 1925. He made 7 appearances and scored once before moving to Preston North End for the start of the 1926/27 season. However, after making just 3 appearances without scoring, George signed for Boro in 1927. He made just 2 appearances without hitting the net before a short spell at Southport later that year. He played for the Haig Avenue just once without scoring before drifting into non league football with Darwen
George Herbert Yates
DOB: 1906
Other clubs: Horwich RMI, Darwen
George was born in Westhoughton and played as a centre forward. His first known club is Horwich RMI. In 1925 he arrived at Springfield Park and in his two years spell playing for Boro he made 35 appearances and scored 10 times. He was last heard of playing for Darwen.
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