Players A to Z - (Gallagher - Hurst)
GALLAGHER, C
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ½ ins, 12 st 7 lbs.
Gallagher was a massive Glasgow born centre half who was signed in August 1925. Unfortunately he was unable to make the grade at Springfield Park.
GASKELL, Richard Halliwell
DOB: 10th October 1905
DIED: 23rd June 1983
Other clubs: Upholland Parish Church, Nelson, Westhoughton Collieries, Bolton Wanderers, Darwen, Chorley, Parbold FC, Chorley (trial)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11 st
Upholland born Richard is another of those players that appear all too briefly in the Wigan Borough story. What is known about him is that he played at inside right on amateur forms for Boro in 1926 after signing from Upholland Parish Church. His Boro League debut arrived on 18th September 1926 when he played the first of his three consecutive matches against New Brighton away from home. The game resulted in a 3-1 defeat but his personal disappointment was lifted slightly as it was his goal that made the final score line look a little more respectable.
He made 3 League appearances and scored once during his period at Springfield Park. On leaving Boro he signed for Nelson in October 1926.
In February 1929 he resurfaces at Bolton Wanderers where he played in the reserves. Seven months later he left Burnden Park for Darwen before joining his final club, Chorley in 1930.
GIBSON, R
DOB:
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ins, 11 st
Gibson was a Wigan born outside left player who signed amateur forms in August 1921. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
GLEESON, J
Gleeson signed amateur forms for Boro in the summer of 1924. He played up front as a centre forward, but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
GLOVER, Charles Edward
DOB: 7th April 1902
DIED: 1993
Other clubs: South Liverpool, Stanley, New Brighton, Everton, Southport, New York Giants, Accrington Stanley (trial), Leeds United (trial), Harrogate FC, New York Giants, Brookhatton FC, Pfaelzer SC (Germany), Brooklyn SC.
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ins, 10st 6 lbs.
Bootle born Ted, who could play on the left or right side of defence, is another of quite a few Boro players who eventually ended up in America after his Football League career was over. He started what must have been an awesome career humbly enough by signing for South Liverpool. A brief sojourn to Stanley was followed up by a spell at New Brighton in 1923. Whilst at Rake Lane he played 32 League games without scoring before a dream move to Everton the following year. However, he failed to make a first team appearance at Goodison Park and in season 1924/25 and 1925/26 he was turning out for Southport, for whom he made 54 appearances without scoring.
Boro was his next port of call and whilst at Springfield Park in the summer of 1927, making his League debut for the club on the opening day of season 1927/28. The game was played on 27th August 1927 and was against Hartlepools United and resulted in a 0-2 defeat. He appeared in 10 League games and 1 Manchester Senior Cup game without scoring, before making what was a life changing move to America, which included him playing twice for the New York Giants.
He also had a brief spell playing in Germany for Pfaelzer SC! He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951 and his last job in football was as the assistant coach at the University of Southern Colorado (now CSU-Pueblo) in 1991 and 1992. He passed away in Pueblo a year later.
GLOVER, John William
DOB: 29th October 1896
DIED: 19th March 1962
Other clubs: St Paul’s, Maple Crescent, Blowick Working Lads, Lancaster Town, Southport Central, Mold, Burscough Rangers
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ins, 11 st 10 lbs
Blowick born Billy could play as an out and out centre half or as inside left or right. His first Football League club was Southport Central who signed him from Lancaster Town in 1920. He spent two years at Haig Avenue and played 54 League games for the Sandgrounders scoring 33 goals before arriving at Springfield Park in January 1923. The actual transfer fee was undisclosed but Southport sources stated that the fee was the largest that the club had ever received for any of their players to date. Billy still holds the record of most goals scored in a game for the Sandgrounders. He netted six times in a 7-1 hammering of Grimsby Town in a Third Division North clash in October 1921.His Boro League debut came on 20th January 1923 in a 1-3 defeat to Chesterfield at Saltergate. He went on to spend three years at Boro and he scored 32 goals in 94 League appearances. He also played 3 Lancashire Senior Cup games without scoring, 9 Manchester Senior Cup games during which he scored 6 times and 5 FA Cup games during which he netted twice before signing for Southport again. It was 1926 by now and Billy didn’t appear in a first team game during his second spell at Haig Avenue and he moved on to the Non League scene the following year with Mold. He is believed to have wrapped his career up at Burscough Rangers.
GOODWIN, J
Goodwin, who hailed from Bolton, was a player who operated in the inside right berth and he signed amateur forms with the club in the summer of 1922. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
GOODWIN, John
DOB:
Other clubs: St Anthony’s Dumbarton, Dumbarton Harp, Barnsley, Horwich RMI, Ashton National, Pooles Central (Wigan), Chorley
Height and weight: 5ft 10 ½ ins, 12 st
John, who was a goalkeeper born in Hallside, Scotland aged 22 years old, is one of five players who had two spells at Springfield Park. After playing in Scotland, most notably with Dumbarton, he arrived at Springfield Park in 1924, making 41 League appearances before signing for Barnsley in 1925.
He made his Boro League debut on the opening day of season 1924/25, 30th August 1924. He kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw against Walsall at Springfield Park. His Boro career also consisted of 2 Lancashire Senior Cup games, 3 Manchester Senior Cup games and a solitary appearance in the FA Cup.
His stay at Oakwell saw him make just a couple of League appearances before he made 3 more League appearances for Boro in 1926 before ending his career in Non League circles, his last known club being Chorley .
GREEN, Henry
DOB: 18th November 1908
DIED: 1978
Other clubs: Burscough Rangers, Northwich Victoria, Orrell YMCA, Billinge Juniors
Centre half Henry, who was born in Billinge, made 3 League appearances without scoring whilst playing for Boro in season 1927/28. The first of which was a 4-0 home win against South Shields at Springfield Park. He then played in the next 2 League games to complete his Boro career, a 2-3 loss at Tranmere Rovers and a 1-1 draw at Ashington.
GREEN, William
DOB:
Other clubs: Skelmersdale United Burscough Rangers, Connah’s Quay and Shotton, Billinge Juniors
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ½ ins, 11 st 10 lbs.
Billinge born Billy who was aged 24 years old, played at left back for Boro in 1929 after being signed from Burscough Rangers. He made 12 League appearances without scoring before moving to Connah’s Quay United with Boro goalkeeper Jimmy Mittell. His League debut occurred on 2nd November 1929 against Hartlepools United at the Victoria Ground, a fixture in which he was on the wrong end of a 4-0 beating. Along with his League games he also appeared for the club on 3 occasions in the Manchester Senior Cup, without scoring.
GRIMSHAW, T
Grimshaw signed amateur forms for Boro in the summer of 1924. He played in the outside right berth, but he didn’t do it as a member of the first team squad, as he failed to make the grade.
GUTTRIDGE, J
DOB:
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ins, 11 st
This St Helens born player could play at left or right half and he was signed in August 1921 having played in a few pre season practice matches (Wigan Borough Probables v Wigan Borough Possibles). He never played a first team game during his stay at Springfield Park.
HACKING, John
DOB: 22nd December 1897
DIED: 31st May 1955
Other clubs: Grimshaw Park Co-operative, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Fleetwood Town, Oldham Athletic, Manchester United, Accrington Stanley
Honours: ENGLAND (3 caps), FOOTBALL LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVE (twice)
John was born in Blackburn. He was a goalkeeper and started his career Grimshaw Park Co-operative FC after playing for Blackburn Schoolboys. His time there was cut short by the outbreak of World War One, after which he began to make a name for himself in Blackburn Rovers’ reserve team. In January 1919 he signed for Blackpool and it was during his stay at Bloomfield Road that he had trials for Wigan Borough. He did manage a couple of appearances for Boro reserves but by October 1925 he had signed for Fleetwood Town having dropped down to Non League level (Fleetwood were in the Lancashire Combination) after making 32 League appearances at Bloomfield Road
Just when he thought the professional game was passing him by he joined Second Division Oldham Athletic the following year. During his stay at Boundary Park he was selected for the Football League representative XI twice and he made three International appearances for England. After playing 223 League games for Oldham from 1926/33, he signed for Manchester United in March 1934. He made 32 League appearances for the Red Devils without scoring, however his performances between the sticks ensured that United were not relegated to the Third Division. On leaving Old Trafford he joined Accrington Stanley, where he hung up his boots and eventually took over as manager in December 1935
His England debut was on 22nd October 1928 against Northern Ireland at Goodison Park, which England won 2-1. His second England appearance was against Wales at the Vetch Filed on 17th November 1928 and again England were victorious, this time by 3-2. His final England appearance was against Scotland at Hampden Park in front of a crowd of 110,512 on 13th April 1929. I don’t suppose we will ever know how he really felt as the Jocks won 1-0 courtesy of his goalkeeping error!
HALE, Walter
DOB: 8th June 1903
DIED: January 1997
Other clubs, Coppull Central, Preston North End (trial), Chorley
Walter is another player who had an all too brief and almost anonymous presence at Springfield Park. He arrived at Boro in 1924 having had an unsuccessful trial at Preston North End. Playing at left back, he made just 1 League appearance for Boro, on 17th January 1925 against Crewe Alexandra at Springfield Park in a thrilling game that Boro won by the odd goal in seven, before moving into Non League waters with Chorley.
HALLAM, Jack
DOB: 23rd May 1910
DIED: 1995
Other clubs: Hadfield Star, Oldham Athletic, Stockport County (trial), Fulham (trial), Hyde United, Hadfield Star, Hollingworth FC
Height and weight: 5ft 11ins, 11 st 6 lbs.
Hadfield born Jack, a right half, was a member of the team that played the last ever Football League game. He had joined Boro at the end of the 1930/31 season and having played 4 League games during that campaign, starting with a game against Rochdale at Springfield Park which Boro won 3-0 on 21st February 1931.
He made a further 8 League appearances and 2 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances without scoring, that were to be expunged from official Football League records. He signed for Oldham Athletic for the remainder of the 1931/32 season but he was to add just 1 more League game to his personal appearances that season. The demise of Boro also saw the demise of his career as he had trials at Stockport County and Fulham in 1932 before he drifted into the Non League circle with Hyde United. Another spell at his first club, Hadfield Star, preceded his spell at Hollingworth, where he ended his career.
HALLWORTH, H
Another amateur centre forward. He was signed in the summer of 1925 and failed to play a first team game for the club.
HAMPSON, R
Height and weight: 5ft 7 ins, 11 st
A 20 years old left back who was born locally. He signed amateur forms in the summer of 1924. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HARRINGTON, James Christopher
DOB: 25th December 1986
DIED: 6th May 1978
Other clubs: South Liverpool, Liverpool, South Liverpool, Southport, Crewe Alexandra, Mold, Prescot Cables, New York Giants, Aysgarth FC
Height and weight: 5ft 11 ins, 11st 5 lbs.
Edge Hill born Chris was a player comfortable in either of the outside left or inside left roles and is another Boro player to eventually end up in America. He started his career at South Liverpool before playing 4 League games for Liverpool and it was from Liverpool that he signed for Boro in January 1922 season. His Boro League debut came on 18th March 1922 in a 3-1 home victory over Lincoln City. He made 21 League appearances and scored 4 goals as well as making 1 Lancashire Senior Cup and 2 FA Cup appearances without scoring, before leaving Springfield Park for Southport a year later.
He made 17 League appearances and scored 1 goal for the Sandgrounders before joining Crewe Alexandra in 1923. His stay at Gresty Road yielded 2 goals from 10 League games before he signed for Mold to finish his home soil career. From Mold he set off America to join the New York Giants and was last heard of playing his trade with Aysgarth FC in 1933.
HARRIS, Thomas
DOB: 18th September 1895
DIED: March 1985
Other clubs: Skelmersdale United, Manchester United, Rotherham United, Crewe Alexandra, Chorley, Burton Town, Gresley Rovers, Prescot Cables
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ins, 11 st 6 lbs
Thomas was born in Ince-In-Makerfield on 18th September 1905. This bustling centre forward started his career at Skelmersdale United before being spotted by Manchester United. He signed for the Old Trafford outfit in May 1926 and made the first of his 4 League appearances for the Red Devils against West Ham United on 30th October 1926. However, those 4 League appearances and his 1 goal came in a two-year spell at Old Trafford and he was relieved to sign for Wigan Borough in July 1928, who promised him regular first team football.
He made his Boro League debut on the opening day of season 1928/29, 25th August 1928. The game was against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank and Boro won by 3-1.
During his stay at Springfield Park he made 24 League appearances and scored 9 goals before falling victim of Boro’s policy of selling their best players during a torrid period in the club’s history. Within 11 months of his Boro arrival he had signed for Division Three North rivals Rotherham United, after adding 4 Lancashire Senior Cup games (1 goal) and a Manchester Senior Cup game to his playing record at Springfield Park.
His stay at Millmoor was even shorter and he played only 6 League games for the Millers, netting once, and by November 1929 he was playing for Crewe Alexandra. His stay at Gresty Road saw him complete 40 League appearances and score 6 goals, and this was to be the end of his Football League career.
In July 1931 he drifted into Non League football with Chorley.
HARRISON, Albert
DOB: 15th February 1904
Other clubs: West Leigh, Wigan Road Villa, Atherton Collieries, Chorley, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, Dundalk, Drumcronda, Wigan Athletic, Lugano (Switzerland)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st 10 lbs.
Leigh born Albert started his career at West Leigh before making his first professional Football League appearance with Wigan Borough during season 1922/23 where he made 6 League appearances without scoring after signing from Wigan Road Villa who played in the Leigh District League.
He made his Boro League debut on 11th November 1922 against Halifax Town at the Shay, a game Boro won by 1-0. His stay at Springfield Park also encompassed a single game in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior Cup, without him adding to his goal scoring tariff.
He is then known to have played for Atherton Collieries and later Chorley before arriving at Nottingham Forest, for whom he signed in 1927. He spent two seasons at the City Ground during which time he played 77 League games in which he netted on five occasions.
His next port of call was Leicester City for whom he scored once in a total of 32 League games. After leaving the Foxes he moved to Ireland where enjoyed a varied career before resurfacing in Wigan more than a decade after his Boro career ended when he signed for Wigan Athletic making 9 Cheshire League appearances without scoring before moving to Switzerland to become player coach of Lugano FC.
HARRISON, R
Harrison was a defender who signed amateur forms for the club in August 1923. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
HARTLEY, Arthur
DOB: 4th August 1907
DIED: December 1990
Other clubs: Glossop, Fulham (trial), Crystal Palace (trial), Rhyl Athletic, Nelson, Hadfield Star, Hollingworth, Leyland Motors
Arthur who was born in Hollingworth, signed for Boro from Glossop in 1930, making just 7 League appearances without scoring. Playing at right back, he made his League debut on 28th March 1931 against York City at Bootham Crescent. Boro ran out victors by 3-2. He appeared just once more that season and the following 5 League appearances accumulated during the following season were all expunged from official club records, as were his 2 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances.
HELSBY, Thomas
DOB: 4th April 1904
Died: 29th August 1961
Other clubs: Rhyl Athletic, Ellesmere Port Town, Nelson (trial), Northwich Victoria, Runcorn, Cardiff City, Bradford City, Swindon Town, Hull City, Newport County, Caerau FC, Parr and Harland (Liverpool)
Honours: Welsh Cup winner 1930 (Cardiff City)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 0 ins, 12 st
Thomas arrived at Boro in the summer of 1925 after plying his trade at Rhyl Athletic. He was to stay at Springfield Park for just the one season during which he played in 29 League games without scoring. He made his League debut on 7th September 1925 in a home encounter against Coventry City that resulted in a 0-0 draw. During his time at Springfield Park he also registered a single appearance, without scoring, in the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior Cup.
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 without 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.
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