HEMS, E
Hems was a right half who signed amateur forms in the summer of 1925. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HERBERT, William Edward
DOB: 1888
DIED: 1928
Other clubs: Walthamstowe Grange, Barnet Aston, Woolwich Arsenal, Glossop, Gravesend United, Stoke City, Bolton Wanderers, Guildford United
Honours: Southern League Division Two championship winner 1910 (Stoke City)
Southern League Division Two championship winner 1915 (Stoke City)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ½ ins, 10 st 8 lbs.
Billy was an inside left, or inside right who was born in Canning Town. The 19 years old player was signed from Bolton Wanderers (for a then Third Division North record fee) just in time for the second game in the Boro’s history. A 1-4 defeat at Nelson on 3rd September 1921. He made 24 League appearances and scored 6 goals whilst at Springfield Park. He had started his career humbly enough at Walthamstow Grange and Barnet Alston before signing for Woolwich Arsenal in 1909. He failed to make the grade at Highbury and so he moved on to Glossop, for whom he scored 3 goals in 17 League appearances in season 1910/11. A spell at Gravesend was cut short due to the First World War and when hostilities ceased he became a Stoke City player.
Whilst at the Victoria Ground he made just 11 League appearances, scoring 3 goals before Bolton Wanderers paid £1,500 (a huge sum in those days) for his services in October 1919. Whilst at Burnden Park he made 34 League appearances during which time he scored 7 goals.
His last known club was Josephs Road based Southern League outfit Guildford United in August 1922.
HESFORD, J
Other clubs: Oughtrington
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ins, 11 st 7 lbs.
Cadishead born Hesford signed as an amateur from North Cheshire League outfit Oughtrington in August 1929. He played as a centre forward but all of his appearances were restricted to the reserve team.
HEYES, Edward
DOB: 16th March 1896
Other clubs: Aspull FC
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ½ ins, 11 st
Goalkeeper Ted arrived at Springfield Park aged 23 years old, in 1922 from Aspull FC and made 34 League appearances for Boro, due mainly to injury to regular goalkeeper Alex Hunter. He made his League debut for Boro on 24th March 1923 in a game against Hartlepools United at home; he kept a clean sheet as Boro won the game 2-0. He also played 1 Lancashire Senior Cup game, 2 Manchester Senior Cup games and 3 FA Cup games for the club. He left the club in the summer of 1925 after Boro opted to sign John Goodwin as Hunter’s replacement.
HIGSON, Richard
DOB: 9th August 1901
DIED: 1978
Other clubs: Ince Parish Church, Skelmersdale United, Chorley, Hindley Green Athletic
Richard who was born, bred and died in Wigan, was another goalkeeper, signed from Skelmersdale United who also made 2 League appearances in 1922. His first game was the penultimate game of season 1922/23. The opposition were Rochdale at Spotland and Boro won 3-2, his next and last game was the one immediately afterwards, a 6-0 hammering of Rochdale at Springfield Park.
He left Springfield Park at the end of the season, signing for Chorley before it is thought, finishing his football playing days at Hindley Green Athletic.
HOBSON, John W
DOB: 1888
Died: 1948
Other clubs: Burnley, Nelson
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ins, 11st 6 lbs.
John was a centre half who was born in Ashton -in-Makerfiedl in 1888. He arrived at Springfield Park in 1921 whilst Boro were a Lancashire Combination outfit, after making 11 League appearances for Burnley from 1917 until 1919, followed by a spell at Nelson. He played in Boro’s first ever Football League game, (Nelson away on 27th August 1921) so this alone is enough for him to be remembered by. However, he followed that up with just 2 more League appearances without scoring.
He also played in Boro’s first ever game at Springfield Park as a League club. He was in the side that beat Woolwich Arsenal 2-1 in a friendly game on 4th August 1921. He passed away in 1948.
Thanks to Andy Whitfield, John’s grandson, for the birth, death and Burnley information.
HODGES, Frank Charles
DOB: 20th January 1891
DIED: 5th June 1985
Other clubs: Allum Rock All Souls, Birmingham City Gas, Birmingham City, St Mirren (wartime guest), Manchester United (wartime guest), Crewe Alexandra, Stalybridge Celtic, Manchester North End, Sandbach Ramblers, Middlewich, Winsford United
Honours: Scottish Victory Cup winner 1919 (St Mirren)
Height and weight: 65ft 7 ½ ins, 11st
Frank, a centre forward, was born in Nechells Green. After making a name for himself at Allum Rock All Souls and Birmingham City Gas he signed as an amateur for Birmingham City in October 1911, signing professionally 16 months later. Whilst at St Andrews he made 27 League appearances and scored 4 goals. The outbreak of World War One saw him guesting for St Mirren before he signed for Manchester United in August 1919. Whilst at Old Trafford he made 20 League appearances, scoring 4 League goals and he actually made his United debut against City!
It was from United that he joined Wigan Borough in June 1921 for a fee of one hundred pounds. Frank goes down in Boro folklore as the scorer of Boro’s first ever Football League goal after 25 minutes of the opening game of the season against Nelson, away from home. In total he made 33 League appearances and scored 5 goals, along with making 4 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances without scoring, before joining Crewe Alexandra for the start if season 1922/23.
He made 22 League appearances and scored just once in what was his final season as a Football League player. He then drifted onto the Non League scene with two short spells at Stalybridge Celtic and Manchester North End. December 1925 saw him sign for Sandbach Ramblers before a move to Middlewich in August 1926. He finished his playing career at Winsford United. He died in Southport at the ripe old age of 94.
HODGKINSON, Joseph
DOB: 15th March 1905
DIED: 21st November 1975
Other clubs: New Springs Congregationalists, Blackburn Rovers, New Springs Conservative Club
Left back Joe, who was born in Wigan, played just one game without finding the net in 1926. He had previously been on Blackburn Rovers books, after being picked up from Mew Springs Congregationalists, but failed to make a first team appearance at Ewood Park. He had also been on Boro’s books as an amateur in 1924, before signing for the New Springs Conservative Club.
He played just 1 League game for Boro and this occurred on 11th September 1926 in a home game against Ashington in which the visitors ran out 4-1 winners. Records indicate that he never played for another Football League club.
HODKINSON, James
James was a player who played in the inside left berth who signed amateur forms in the summer of 1924. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HOLMES, James
DOB: 27th December 1908
DIED: 1971
Other clubs: Sutton Commercial, Sutton Parish Church, Liverpool, Prescot Cables, Chesterfield, Sheffield United, West Ham United, Reading
James was born
in Skelmersdale and could play at left half or centre half. However, during his spell at Springfield Park in 1928 the public never found this out because he never played a first team game. He had arrived at Springfield Park after failing to make the grade at Liverpool and when he joined Prescot Cables after leaving Wigan he more than likely thought he would never play a Football League game.
However, in 1930 he signed for Chesterfield and was to make 26 League appearances, scoring once before a move to Sheffield United, which was the making of him. At Bramall Lane he made 135 League appearances without scoring in a stint that was to last until the latter end of 1935. In 1936 he made 2 League appearances without scoring for West Ham United before a move to Reading, where he was to finish his Football league career. His stay at Elm Park resulted in 73 League appearances and 5 goals.
HORNBY, William
DOB:
Other clubs: Fleetwood
Height and weight: 5ft 7 ½ ins, 11 st
William was born in Fleetwood and was a centre forward. He arrived at Springfield Park in August 1921 and he had a phenomenal record of scoring in every game that he played in. Unfortunately he only made a single League appearance against Nelson at Springfield Park in the club’s first ever League game at the ground, however it resulted in a 1-4 defeat. He only played in this game because Jimmy Twiss had sustained an injury in a midweek Lancashire Senior Cup game against Southport.
HORROCKS, C
Other Clubs: Queens Hall
Horrocks was the brother of Stanley and he didn’t fare as well as his sibling at Springfield Park. His only game for the club was a trialist in May 1930 when he turned out for Boro against Clitheroe
HORROCKS, Stanley W
DOB: 7th May 1910
DIED: 18th April 1983
Other clubs: Queens Hall, West Bromwich Albion, Swindon Town
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Stan was born in Wigan and lived in Poolstock. Boro were his first Football League club who he joined in May 1930 from Queens Hall despite Boro facing tough competition from Manchester United whose manager at the time was former Boro manager Herbert Bamlett. Whilst at Springfield Park he filled both the right half and left half berths. His debut for the club was on the penultimate game of the 1929/30 season, 21st April 1930. The opposition were Nelson and Boro ran out 2-0 winners on their own patch. He made 16 League appearances without scoring, along with 1 Lancashire Senior Cup and 3 Manchester Senior Cup appearances, during which he failed to score, before trying his luck at West Bromwich Albion in 1931.
He never made the grade at the Hawthorns and he finished his short Football League career at Swindon Town, for whom he made 23 League appearances and scored once in the 1934/35 season.
HOUGHTON, John
DOB: 14th September 1891
DIED: 14th January 1991
Other clubs: Prescot Cables, St Helens Town, Norwich City, Watford (wartime guest), Rangers (wartine guest), Fulham, Mistletoe Lodge, Canadian Club
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ½ ins, 11 st 6 lbs.
Prescot born John started his career at his home town club before a move to St Helens Town. On leaving St Helens he signed for Norwich City, who in those days were not a Football League club. He finally played in the League football for Fulham in 1919. He made just 2 League appearances without scoring before moving on to Boro in 1921.
Whilst at Springfield Park he succeeded Billy Jenkinson as club captain and played at either centre half or left back such was his versatility. His first League game for the club came on 17th September against Stockport County at Edgeley Park. It was a debut to forget for him as he finished on a losing side that was comprehensively beaten 3-0. In total he made 29 League appearances whilst at Springfield Park without scoring. His Springfield Park career also consisted of 3 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances without finding the net. Boro proved to be his last Football League club as he moved abroad to America.
He played for the romantically named Mistletoe Lodge which was a club based in Chicago before finishing his career at Canadian Club. On retirement he worked at a chocolate making company and latr became personnel manager of an engineering firm in Niagara Falls.
John lived to be 100 years old, passing away in Lamesca, California.
HOUGHTON, J W
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11st 6lbs
Houghton was aged 20 years old when he signed for the club in the summer of 1924. He played in the left half berth, but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HUGHES, Robert
DOB: 5th August 1892
DIED: 1955
Other clubs: Primitive Sunday School (Pelaw), Pelaw, Northampton Town, Heburn Argyle (wartime guest), Manchester United (wartime guest), Hull City, Sheffield United, Brentford, Rochdale, Ashton National
Honours: SOUTHERN LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE (once)
Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 7 ins, 11 st
Bobby, who could play at outside left or outside right started his career at home town club Pelaw. After a spell at Northampton Town he started his Football League career at Hull City in 1919. During almost three years at Boothferry Park he made 66 League appearances and scored 9 goals before joining Sheffield United in 1922. However, his time at Bramall Lane wasn’t very productive as he made just 2 League appearances without scoring before moving south to Brentford the following year. He made 16 League appearances and scored 7 goals for the Bees before signing for Rochdale for the start of the 1924/25 season. He made 127League appearances and scored 48 goals for the Spotland side before signing for Boro, his last Football League club, in 1928.
He made his League debut for Boro on the opening day of season 1928/29, 25th August 1928. The opposition were Lincoln City at Sincil Bank and Boro won the game 3-1. He stayed at Springfield Park for two seasons and he made 66 League appearances and scored 15 goals. He also played 5 games in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior Cup; he also played 5 FA Cup games for Boro scoring once in all three competitions, before finally hanging up his boots after a short spell with Ashton National.
HUMPISH, Albert Edward
DOB: 3rd March 1902
DIED: 26th September 1986
Other clubs: Walker Celtic, Halifax Town, Bury, Arsenal, Bristol City, Stockport County, Rochdale, Wigan Athletic, Ashton National
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ½ ins, 11 st 7 lbs.
Heaton born ‘Teddy’, was a right half or an inside right, who was destined to become another Wigan Athletic player. Albert started his career as an amateur with Walker Celtic before starting his Football League career at Halifax Town in 1921 where he made 8 appearances and scored once before a move to Bury in 1924. However, his appearance total for the Gigg Lane outfit was just 2 League games with
out scoring before he found himself transferred to Boro for the start of the 1925/26 season.
Bert stayed at Springfield Park until a move to Arsenal in 1929 having played 161 League games for Boro, netting 15 times. His Boro debut came on 24th October 1925 against Walsall at Springfield Park with Boro winning 2-0. His Boro career at Springfield Park also included 8 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances, 10 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and 11 FA Cup appearances and he failed to find the net in any of them.
After just 3 League appearances at Highbury, without hitting the net, he moved on to Bristol City in 1930 and he played 36 League games and scored 1 goal whilst at Ashton Gate before being transferred to Stockport County in the summer of 1932. His two-year stint at Edgeley Park saw him make 58 League appearances and score 11 goals before joining his final Football League club, Rochdale in 1934. He scored twice in 31 League appearances at Spotland before drifting into Non League football with Wigan Athletic and then Ashton National.
HUNTER, Alexander Campbell
DOB: 27th September 1895
DIED: January 1984
Other clubs: Renfrew Juniors, Queens Park, Tottenham Hotspur, Armadale, New Bedford Whalers
Honours: FA Cup winner 1921 (Tottenham Hotspur)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ins, 12 st
Goalkeeper Alex was born in Renfrew and started his career at his home town club before signing for Queens Park. In 1920 he spent two seasons at Tottenham Hotspur for whom he made 23 League appearances. The highlight of his Tottenham Hotspur career was winning a FA Cup winners medal in 1921 when Spurs defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
Herbert Bamlett had to do a lot of persuading to get Alec to sign for Boro as no fewer than eight clubs, including Chelsea, Leicester, Celtic and Rangers were also attempting to secure his services. Whilst at Springfield Park he made 39 League appearances, the first of which came against Ashington on the opening day of season 1922/23, a game in which Boro triumphed by 6-1. He also played twice for Boro in the Lancashire Senior Cup, 3 times in the Manchester Senior Cup and 6 times in the FA Cup before leaving Springfield Park in August 1924 to sign for Armadale. He ended his playing career by moving to America, joining the New Bedford Whalers.
HUNTER, E
Hunter was a centre forward who signed amateur forms in the summer of 1922. The Prestwich born player failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HURST, Henry
DOB: 28th April 1910
DIED: November 1988
Other clubs: Silverwell Amateurs, Southport, Wigan Athletic, Chorley, Rossendale United
Henry was a left half that signed for the club from the Silverwell Amateurs during that fateful 1931/32 season. He was to make just 2 League appearances for Boro his first being on 9th September 1931, a home 0-3 defeat against Lincoln City. His final game was also Boro’s final game before the club was liquidated; therefore Henry’s Boro playing record has been officially expunged.
After a short spell at Southport, where he never progressed further than their reserve team, he re surfaces at Wigan Athletic, for whom he signed in August 1932. He had to wait until 1936 to make the first of his 3 Cheshire League appearances for Latics and then he moved almost immediately to Chorley and then later to Rossendale United where he is believed to have finished his career.
Incidentally, whilst he was at Wigan Athletic he was in the same squad as other ex Boro players Pete Cowper, Albert Harrison and Albert Humpish.
INGRAM, John
DOB: 29th September 1909
Other clubs: Ashton St Thomas’, Loughborough Corinthians, Chorley, Burscough Rangers
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
John was an inside left who played for Boro in 1929 after veing spotted playing locally for Ashton St Thomas’. His career total whilst at Springfield Park read 1 goal scored in 11 League appearances. He made his League debut on 23rd November 1929 against Lincoln City at Springfield Park in a game that Boro won 4-1. He also made 4 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and 1 FA Cup appearance without scoring. He left Boro to sign for Loughborough Corinthians in 1930 who, somewhat ironically, folded three years later!
JACKSON, Thomas
DOB:
Other clubs: Southport Tramways
Thomas, the captain and centre half of Southport Tramways was brought to the club as a reserve in August 1921. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
JENKINSON, William
DOB: 2nd March 1892
DIED: 3rd April 1967
Other clubs: Golborne United, Manchester City (trial), South Liverpool, St Helelns Recreation, Nelson, Liverpool, Wallasey United, Chorley
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ins, 11st 10 lbs.
Bill, who goes down in the record books as Boro’s first ever Football League captain, could play on the left or right side of defence and he started his career at his home town club, Golborne United. In 1919 he was playing for Liverpool and whilst at Anfield he made 13 League appearances without scoring. He also represented the club twice in the Lancashire Senior Cup without finding the net.
Boro were his second and last Football League club. He arrived at Springfield Park in 1921 just in time to play on the left side of the defence in Boro’s first ever Football League game at Nelson on 27th August 1921 which resulted in a 2-1 victory. In total he made 10 League appearances without scoring. On leaving Wigan he joined Wallasey United before winding his career up at Chorley.
Bill was also an accomplished cricketer and spent most of his summers playing for Bootle CC.
JENNINGS, John
DOB: 27th August 1902
DIED: 14the April 1977
Other clubs: Platt Bridge Wesleyans, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Preston North End, Bradford City, Northampton Town (wartime guest)
Honours: WELSH FOOTBALL LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE (once)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st
Platt Bridge born Jack started his career at Boro after being picked up from local outfit Platt Bridge Wesleyans. He was very adaptable, being able to play anywhere along the back line. He arrived at Springfield Park in the winter of 1923, making his League debut on 1st January 1924. The game was against New Brighton at Springfield Park with Boro running out 1-0 winners. In total he made 47 League appearances, scoring once along with a single appearance in the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Cup and 4 appearances in the Manchester Senior Cup, before moving to Wales in 1926 to join Cardiff City.
It was whilst at Ninian Park he made a Welsh FA representative team due to outstanding performances in making 94 League appearances for the Bluebirds without scoring. In 1929 he moved to Middlesbrough along with Cardiff team mates Joe Hillier and Freddie Warren, where he made 195 League appearances and scored 10 goals in a seven-year spell at Ayresome Park.
His next port of call was Preston North End f
or whom he made 19 League appearances and scored once in 1936. The following season saw him plying his trade at Bradford City (his last Football league club) making 28 League appearances without finding the net in season 1937/38.
He later worked as a masseur for the Northamptonshire County Cricket team and coached the England amateur team as well as a number of the then current British athletes.
JEPSON, John James
DOB: 19th August 1899
DIED: February 1987
Other clubs: New Mills, Atherton, New Mills, Stalybridge Celtic, Notts County, Accrington Stanley, Mansfield Town, Macclesfield Town, Altrincham, Nelson, Rossendale United, Hurst, New Brighton (trial), Rhyl
Jimmy was a centre forward born in Heaton Norris. He started his career at New Mills, with a spell at Atherton sandwiched in the middle of it, before signing for Stalybridge Celtic and then Notts County in 1924. He didn’t make the grade at Meadow Lane and in 1925 he joined Accrington Stanley. In almost two years at Peel Park he made 54 League appearances and scored 41 goals. He then spent some time at Carlisle United before returning to Accrington in 1928. Again, he had a very successful two-year spell, scoring 41 goals in 61 League appearances.
Boro where his next club for whom he signed in the summer of 1930. He made his debut against Darlington at the Feethams on the opening day of season 1930/31 in a game that ended 3-2 in Boro’s favour. In total he made 35 League appearances and scored a very impressive 28 goals. He also played and scored in 1 Lancashire Senior Cup game and he appeared once for the club in the FA Cup without scoring.
After making 1 League appearance without scoring for Mansfield Town the following year, his Football League career was over. He did play for another Football League club after navigating three teams in the Non League world, namely Macclesfield Town, Altrincham and Nelson, but he never made a first team appearance for New Brighton. He finished his career at Rossendale United.
JEWETT, Alfred
DOB: 15th November 1899
Died: 13th July 1980
Other clubs: Bitterne United, Southampton, Thornycrofts, Arsenal, Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic
Centre half Alf was born in died in South Stoneham nr Southampton and started his career at Bitterne United. In 1921 he was signed by Southampton but he failed to make the grade at the Dell and he spent a couple of months in the Non League scene with Thornycrofts before Arsenal decided to take a chance on him in 1922. Again, he never played a first team game and it was at the start of season 1923/24 that he finally played League football with Lincoln City. He made 37 League appearances and scored 3 League goals in his three years at Sincil Bank, from where he signed for Boro on a trial basis after a two-year lay off with injury.
However he was to make just a single League appearance, against Stoke City at Springfield Park on 6th September 1926 a game that resulted in a 0-3 defeat, before he moved closer to home to finish his football career with Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic.
JOBE, Thomas
DOB:
Other clubs: Chesterfield, Ashton St Thomas’ Haydock Athletic, Crompton Recs.
Outside left Tommy was signed from Chesterfield in September 1930. However, he never made a first team appearance during two months at Springfield Park. He left Boro for Ashton St Thomas’ in November 1930 spending three seasons there before signing for Haydock Athletic. He then joined Crompton Recs in September 1936 and they are thought to have been his last club.
JOHNSON, George
DOB: 6th January 1907
DIED: February 1989
Other clubs: Walker Celtic, Darlington, Chelsea, Northfleet LGOC Sports Association (Putney)
George was a right back who made 3 League appearances without scoring whilst at Springfield Park in 1925. He made his League debut on 3rd October 1925 against Southport at Haig Avenue which Boro lost 3-1. He played in the next two League games against Doncaster Rovers at Springfield Park which Boro lost 0-1 and against Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park where Boro suffered a crushing 5-1 defeat and that was the end of his career in Wigan. He had earlier made just 1 appearance in the Lancashire Senior Cup against Accrington Stanley and that too ended with him on the losing side.
On leaving Springfield Park he made 2 League appearances without scoring for Darlington in 1926 before a one thousand pounds transfer to Chelsea in November 1927. On retiring from football he settled in the London area making a living as a driver for the West London Omnibus Company.
JOHNSON, William Joseph
DOB:23rd June 1900
DIED: 1976
Other clubs: Bradley United, Talbot Stead Tube Works, Cannock Town, Crystal Palace, Barnsley, West Ham United, Southend United, Walsall, Halifax Town, Accrington Stanley, Cannock Town, Cradley Heath
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ins, 11st
‘Joe’ was born in Wednesbury and could play at inside right or inside left. He certainly had a varied career, starting with local Non League teams before signing for Crystal Palace in 1922. He stayed at the ‘Nest’, aka the Croydon Common Athletic Ground, for two years making 29 League appearances and scoring 6 goals. He was a member of the squad that re located to the current Selhurst Park in 1924. It is unknown whether or not he played in Palace’s first game at their current home in a 0-1 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday on 30th August 1924.
He signed for Barnsley in 1925 and his stay at Oakwell encompassed 17 League appearances and 2 goals before he found himself at Upton Park for the start of season 1926/27. His West Ham United career consisted of 15 League appearances and 2 goals before a move to Walsall, for whom he never played a first team game.
Wigan Borough was his next port of call and he made his League debut for the club on the opening day of season 1930/31 against Darlington away from home. The game resulted in a 3-2 victory for Boro and Joe scored two of the goals. In total, he netted 9 times in 30 League appearances, along with a single game in that season’s FA Cup competition that was lost 2-0 against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground.
Due to the club’s selling policy in those dark days, they decreed that he would move to Halifax Town. He made 27 League appearances and scored 7 goals for the Shaymen in 1931 before joining his last Football League club, Accrington Stanley, in 1932. His Peel Park career consisted of 7 goals in 26 League appearances before he gave up the professional game.
JONES, George Wilfred
DOB: 28th June 1895
DIED: 1970
Other clubs: Crook Town, Gwersylt, Wrexham, Everton, Middlesbrough, Southport, Yeovil and Petters United, Great Harwood
Height and weight: 5 ft. 6 ins, 11 st
Outside right George was born in Crook, County Durham and it was after playing for his home town club and Gwersylt that Everton signed him in 1919. He made 36 League appearances and scored twice at Goodison Park before signing for Boro in January 1
923. His League debut for Boro came on 27th January 1923 against Chesterfield at Springfield Park in a game that Boro won 1-0. In just over two years at Springfield Park he scored 7 goals in 89 League appearances. He also made 1 Lancashire Senior Cup appearance, 7 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and 5 FA Cup appearances, without scoring in any of these games, before joining Middlesbrough in 1925.
His stay at Ayresome Park saw him make 24 League appearances and score 1 goal before signing for Southport, who were to be his last Football League club. He made 56 League 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.
JONES, Charles Reginald
DOB: 1907
Other clubs: Chirk FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Altrinham
Left half Charlie was born in Wrexham and he arrived at Springfield Park from Chirk FC on 8th April 1926 and played just 1 League game whilst at Springfield Park and this came against Halifax Town at Springfield Park on 10th April 1926 after Jammy Riddell had to miss the game due to illness. The game resulted in a 0-0 draw. Upon leaving Springfield Park he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers before winding up his career at Altrincham.
JULIAN, Samuel
DOB:
Other clubs: Eastwood Town, Newthorpe Rangers, Notts County, Ilkeston United, Heanor Town, Halifax Town, Gresley Rovers
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ins, 12 st 3 lbs.
Sammy was a left back born in Eastwood. He arrived at Boro at the end of the 1930/31 season after signing from Halifax Town for whom he had made 32 League appearances without scoring, having previously played for Newthorpe Rangers and Notts County, where he failed to make a first team appearance and Heanor Town.
He played every game except the final game against Wrexham in that traumatic 1931/32 season. In total he made 11 League appearances without scoring, all of them being expunged from official records. As were his 2 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances for Boro.
Not much is known after leaving Springfield Park in such traumatic circumstances, but he does resurface in September 1934 after he signs for Central Alliance outfit, Gresley Rovers.
KEARSLAKE, Joseph G
DOB:
Other clubs: Newtown (Southampton), Everton, Stockport County, Chester
Joe was a Southampton born outside left/centre forward who made 1 League appearance and scored 1 goal for Everton before moving to Boro in 1920. He never played a League game for the club, having signed when the team competed in the Lancashire Combination. He does have the distinction of playing in Boro’s first ever game after the club changed from the amateur ‘Wigan United’ outfit. This occurred on 21st November 1920 and the opposition were Bacup Borough at Springfield Park in a Lancashire Combination game which resulted in a 2-2 draw. He also played in Boro’s first ever game at Springfield Park as a League club. He was in the side that beat Woolwich Arsenal 2-1 in a friendly game on 4th May 1921.
It was from Springfield Park that he joined Stockport County just months into the 1921/22 season, making 15 League appearances and netting twice whilst at Edgeley Park before finishing his career at Chester. He is included in the A to Z because Boro were a League club when he appeared for Boro against Arsenal in the summer of 1921.
KEARSLEY, E
Amateur inside forward who signed in the summer of 1925. He was unable to make the grade at Springfield Park.
KEEGAN, J
An amateur outside right who signed the appropriate forms for Boro in the summer of 1925 without ever making the grade at Springfield Park.
KEEN, James Frederick
DOB: 25th November 1895
DIED: 1980
Other clubs: Walker Celtic, Carlisle United, Bristol City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers, Hull City, Darlington, Walker Celtic
James was an outside right player born in Walker. He started his football career at his home town club before signing for Bristol City in August 1920 following a thwo month spell at Carlisle United. He made 9 League appearances at Ashton Gate, scoring once before moving to Newcastle United in 1922. His time on the Tyne only yielded 2 League appearances and no goals and by 1923 he was playing for Queens Park Rangers. He made 31 League appearances without scoring for Rangers before a move to Hull City.
His record of changing clubs once every year continued after he made 17 League appearances for the Tigers when he signed for Darlington in the summer of 1925. However, he failed to make the grade at Feethams and was soon on his way to Springfield Park. He made his League debut for Boro on 7th September 1925 against Coventry City at Highfield Road in a 0-0 draw. In total, he made 12 League appearances without scoring and he also played once without scoring in the Manchester Senior Cup and the FA Cup.
Boro are believed to be his last Football League club.
KELLY, Thomas
DOB: 23rd January 1902
DIED: 1979
Other clubs: Corpus Christi, Ancoats Lads Club, Bradford Road Gasworks, Hadfield, Stalybridge Celtic, Barnsley, Rhyl Athletic
Tommy was a centre half born in Manchester, who appears to have had a very brief Football League career. After playing local football he signed for Barnsley at the start of the 1923/24 season, making 15 League appearances and scoring 6 goals before drifting into Non League football with Rhyl Athletic.
He then surfaces at Springfield Park in 1930 but he only played once for Boro without scoring. His one and only game for the club took place on 13th December 1930 and it was against Barrow at Holker Street in a game in which Boro were hammered 4-1, Tommy was made the scapegoat by the local press even though the team had been suffering a bad loss of form during the previous month.
KERFOOT, T
DOB:
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ins, 11 st
Kerfoot was a Leigh born player who played as a centre forward, He signed amateur forms in August 1921 but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
KERSHAW, John
DOB: 7th April 1899
DIED, December 1977
Other clubs; Standish St Marie’s, Standish St Wilf’s, Wigan United, Chorley, Runcorn, Hurst, Winsford United, Congleton Town
Height and weight: 5ft 6 ½ ins, 11 st 7 lbs.
Jack, who hailed from Standish, was at the club during their West Lancashire League and Lancashire Combination days until 1924. He made 42 League appearances and scored once during two spells whilst at Springfield Park. He played in Boro’s first ever game at Springfield Park as a League club, being in the side that beat Woolwich Arsenal 2-1 in a friendly game on 4th May 1921. In fact he scored the first goal of the game which also happened to be a penalty. In doing so he became the first ever Wigan Football League player to score at Springfield Park.
He had to wait five months after the Arsenal game to make his Leag
ue debut and this came against Halifax Town at Springfield Park on 22nd October 1921 in a game that Boro won 4-3. ‘Butcher’ joined Chorley in the summer of 1924 after being allowed to leave on a free transfer.
He then had a short spell back at Boro, making his second Boro League debut, and his final appearance for the club, against Hartlepools United on Christmas Day 1924, a game which Boro lost 0-1. He then signed for Colwyn Bay United in early in the New Year. Whilst at Springfield Park he had also made 3 appearances in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Cup without scoring. Upon leaving North Wales he plied his trade at Runcorn before signing for his final club, Hurst, in the summer of 1929.
KETTLE, William Walderham
DOB: 10th September 1898
DIED: 12th October 1980
Other clubs: Leeds City, South Shields, Newcastle United, Ebbw Vale, Southend United, Grimsby Town, Southport
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 10 st 9 lbs.
Billy was born in South Shields and has the dubious honour of playing for THREE teams that were forced to give up their Football League places! An outside or inside left, he started his career with the infamous Leeds City, who were later expelled from the Football League for making illegal payments to players. His next port of call was South Shields before signing for Newcastle United in 1919. However, he never made the first team at St James’ Park and was soon playing Non League football with Ebbw Vale.
In 1921 he was playing at Roots Hall for Southend United, for whom he made 31 League appearances and scored once. The following year saw him make 16 League appearances and score 3 times for Grimsby Town before he signed for Southport (his third club that eventually went out of the Football League) and he made 18 League appearances and scored once for the Haig Avenue outfit before arriving at Springfield Park in 1923.
He made his Boro League debut against Barrow at Holker Street on 23rd February 1924 in a game that resulted in a 2-1 win for the home side. His two-year spell at the club produced 13 goals in 39 League games. He also played 2 Lancashire Senior Cup games, scoring in a 1-3 defeat against Accrington Stanley on 14th October 1925. He also played 4 Manchester Senior Cup games and 3 FA Cup games without scoring before leaving Springfield Park.
KIDD, Ernest
DOB: 25th May 1895
DIED: 1974
Other clubs: Scotswood, Newcastle United, Dunston Atlas Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Ashington, Workington AFC
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 11 st 3 lbs.
Ernie was an outside right born in Tynemouth who started his Football League career at Bolton Wanderers whom he had signed for from Dunston Atlas Villa, his hometown team. He arrived at Springfield Park during the 1921/22 season from the Trotters and made his Boro League debut on 18th March 1922 against Lincoln City at Springfield Park in a game which Boro won 3-1. In total he played 26 League games without scoring at Springfield Park, he also played once in the Lancashire Senior Cup and he made 3 appearances in the FA Cup without scoring before moving on to Ashington in 1923. He finished his career at Workington AFC.
KILHOURY, Michael
DOB: 19th February 1911
DIED: December 2002
Other clubs: Coldstream Guards, Kirklees Stars, Darwen, Sheffield United, Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City (wartime guest) Rotherham United (wartime guest), Watford (wartime guest) Millwall (wartime guest), York City (wartime guest), Denaby United, Goole Town.
Mick, who worked for the local council, is another player who played in Boro’s last ever Football League game. In fact, he also scored twice in the final Boro game ever played at Springfield Park (v Carlisle United on 17th October 1931 which resulted in a 3-2 victory). He was a solid player who could play on the inside right and left, and I suppose it is fitting that a player who was born in New Springs should have that two-goal honour.
Boro were in fact his first Football League club after he played in the Coldstream Guards, Kirklees Starts and Darwen previously. He made his League debut on 21st February 1931 against Rochdale at Springfield Park, a game that Boro won 3-0. He made 17 League appearances and scored 6 goals whilst at Springfield Park. Seven appearances and 3 goals were expunged from his record though, as were 2 of his 3 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances for Boro.
Mick, along with the rest of the surviving players when the club folded, was given a free transfer. Sheffield United was the club that benefitted and he went on to make 27 League appearances and score 6 goals for the Blades before he was transferred to Doncaster Rovers in 1936. Almost three years at Belle Vue saw Mick score 28 goals in 63 League appearances before he wound up his career in Non League football with Denaby United and Goole Town.
KNIGHT, John Herbert
DOB: 1889
DIED: 1958
Other clubs: Barrowfields, Heaton Park, Crewe Alexandra, Royal Welsh Regiment, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Manchester Regiment, Oldham Athletic (wartime guest), Glossop, Preston North End
Height and weight: 5 ft. 6 ½ ins, 10 st 6 lbs.
John was an outside left player born in Manchester and he started his career with Barrowfields and Heaton Park before signing for Glossop in 1913, and up until the outbreak of World War One he had made 65 appearances and scored 5 goals. After the hostilities which coincided with Glossop failing to get re elected into the Football League, he signed for Preston North End in 1920 and whilst at Deepdale he made 3 appearances without scoring.
He arrived at Springfield Park in the summer of 1921 and he made his Boro League debut on 27th August 1921 against Nelson away from home in what was Boro’s first ever Football League game. He made 15 League appearances without scoring and he appeared in 2 Lancashire Senior Cup games without finding the net in either of them.
He is not to be confused with another former North Ender John Knight who represented the Lillywhites much later.
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