Players A to Z - (Rae-Swift)
RAE, George
DOB:
Other clubs; Kilwinning Rangers, St Mirren
George was an outside or inside left player signed from St Mirren and he made 19 League appearances, scoring once for Boro in 1923. He made his League debut on 3rd September 1923 against Rochdale at Spotland which resulted in a 1-0 defeat. He also made 2 appearances for Boro in the Lancashire Senior Cup without scoring and he also failed to add to his goal scoring tally in 3 FA Cup games during his time at Springfield Park. On leaving Boro he fades into obscurity.
RALPHS, H
Ralphs who hailed from Westhoughton, played in the outside left berth and signed for Boro as an amateur in the summer of 1922. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
RASBURN,
Unknown Rasburn joined Boro in 1927 and was a reserve team player. However, inclusion is warranted here as he did play in one Manchester Senior Cup game for the club. This was on 8th February 1928 in a second round game against Manchester North End at Springfield Park.
RAWSON, J
Rawson was a local born 16 years old centre forward who signed amateur forms at Springfield Park in the summer of 1924. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park despite spending two seasons with the club.
REEDAY, M
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st 3 lbs.
Reeday was a full back who played in a few practice games prior to season 1931/32. He was an amateur and played for the ‘Red and Whites’ (Possibles) against the ‘Gold and Blacks’ (first team) during August. He never played a first team game for the club.
REDDYHOUGH, Herbert
DOB: 23rd July 1900
DIED: 27th August 1964
Other clubs: Bolton Wanderers 'A', Adlington, Burscough Rangers
Herbert is another player who, up until now had been forgotten in the annals of Wigan football. However, this Bolton born centre half arrived at Springfield Park in 1929 from Adlington. He made 3 League appearances and scored once for Boro. His League debut was made on 19th October 1929 against Accrington Stanley at Peel Park. The game resulted in a 3-1 defeat. His remaining two games were made consecutively after this game, a 3-2 home win over Darlington and a 0-4 defeat at Hartlepools United. His next port of call was Burscough Rangers and it is believed that this was his final club.
RICHARDS, P
A local born centre forward who signed amateur forms with Boro in the summer of 1925. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
RIDDELL, James Hamilton
DOB: 6th February 1891
Other clubs: Fern Thistle, Bellview Hearts, Glasgow Anfield, Rangers, Dunfermline, St Mirren, Millwall Athletic, Fulham, Caernarvon Town
Honours: Scottish League winner 1918 (Rangers)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st
Jimmy was born in Hutchesontown and played in the same Rangers Scottish League winning team as his Boro team mate Peter Pursell. Centre half/left half Jimmy arrived at Springfield Park in 1925 and towards the end of season 1925/26 a couple of his 88 appearances (during which he scored twice) for Boro were played with his fellow countryman. He made his League debut on 24th October 1925 against Walsall at Springfield Park and he finished on the winning side as Boro won 2-0. He also played twice in the Lancashire Senior Cup without scoring and he scored once in 6 Manchester Senior Cup outings and once during 8 FA Cup games for Boro.
The journey to Springfield Park had taken in three Scottish Non League outfits before he played twice in the aforementioned Championship winning team for Rangers. He then had spells at Dunfermline and Motherwell before moving south to sign for Millwall Athletic in 1920. In almost three seasons at the Den he made 105 League appearances and scored 5 goals before signing for Fulham in 1923. He made 37 League appearances without hitting the net for Fulham and it was from Craven Cottage that he arrived at Springfield Park. On leaving Wigan he drifted into Non League football with Caernarfon Town.
RIGBY, Norman
DOB:
Other clubs: Atherton Town, Wrexham
Not much is known of goalkeeper Norman except that he failed to make the grade at Boro in 1930/31, playing solely for the reserve team. He had made 2 League appearances for Wrexham prior to arriving at Springfield Park and he also had a spell at Atherton Town.
RIGBY, William
DOB: 1896
DIED: 1941
Other clubs: Burscough Rangers, Southport Central
William, who was born in Liverpool, was a centre forward signed from Burscough Rangers aged 25. He made 15 League appearances as a centre forward for Boro in 1921, scoring 6 goals in the process. His debut was against Hartlepools United away from home on 17th December 1921 in a game that finished in a no score draw. His only other appearance fro Boro was a Lancashire Senior Cup second round, second replay against Stockport County at Edgeley Park. He returned to his former club at the end of the season due to being the fifth choice centre forward at the club.
RIGBY, William
DOB: 1904
Other clubs: Atlas Mills, Bolton Wanderers 'A', Atherton Town, Clitheroe, Stockport County, Rochdale, Peterborough United, Glentoran, Derry City, Blackburn Rovers (wartime guest), Stockport County (wartime guest)
Will was born in Atherton and his first known club is Atlas Mills,, He then turned out for Atherton Town before signing for Clitheroe and it was from the Lancashire Combination outfit that he joined Boro in 1930. He made 8 League appearances and scored once during his time at Springfield Park. His League debut was against Wrexham at Springfield Park on 7th March 1931 in a game that ended in a 1-1 draw. His only goal for the club came against Barrow at Springfield Park later that season. He made just 1 other appearance for Boro and that was in the Lancashire Senior Cup.
After leaving Springfield Park Will joined Stockport County and he made 3 League appearances for the Edgeley Park side without scoring. He joined Rochdale for the start of the 1932/33 season and in almost two years of service at Spotland he made 46 League appearances and scored once. ‘Dale where his last Football League club but he still had time to play for three more clubs before retiring namely, Peterborough United, Glentoran and Derry City.
RIMMER ARTHUR
DOB: 8th June 1904
DIED: 29th January 1973
Other clubs: Old Ashtonians, Ashton St Thomas'
Wigan born Arthur who played at left back certainly is a fleeting presence in the Boro story, arriving at Springfield Park in 1930. He made just 1 League appearance without scoring against Carlisle United at Brunton Park on 3rd May 1930. He was an ex Ashton St Thomas’s player and was on trial for this game.
ROBB, David
DOB: 18th February 1903
DIED: July 1992
Other clubs: Leith Unitas, Musselburgh Bruntonians, Dundee, Charlton Athletic, Chesterfield, New Brighton
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ½ ins, 12 st
David was a left half/right half born in Leith where he played locally for Leith Unitas as a youngster before progressing to the wonderfully named Musselburgh Bruntonians.
He went on to play for Dundee in October 1924 and had a short trial at Charlton Athletic in 1925, but he failed to make the grade at the Valley. Boro where his next port of call in 1926 and in almost three years at Springfield Park he amassed 107 League appearances and netted 3 times. He made his Boro League debut on 18th September 1926 against New Brighton away from home and the game ended in a 3-1 defeat. His time at Springfield Park also yielded 6 appearances without scoring in the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Cup and he also notched up 10 Manchester Senior Cup appearances without hitting the net.
He joined Chesterfield on a free transfer in August 1930 and he made 23 League appearances for the Spireites before signing for his last Football League club, New Brighton in 1932. He made 34 League appearances for the Rakers before calling it a day.
ROWBOTTOM, Fred
Other clubs: Wargrave AFC, Newton Common Recs
Earlestown born Fred was an amateur inside right signed in the summer of 1925. He never played in the first team for Boro but was an influential player for the reserve team. His previous clubs included Wargrave AFC, the St Helens League champions, and Newton Common Recs.
RUSSELL, Leslie
DOB: 1909
Other clubs: Atherton, Harben’s Recs, Ashton National, Chorley
Left back Leslie was signed from Alliance League outfit Harben’s Recs halfway through season 1930/31. He made his debut on 3rd January 1931 against Halifax Town at the Shay in a game that resulted in a 1-0 victory for Boro. He made 19 League appearances without scoring before a move to Ashton National in June 1931.
SALT, Ernest
DOB: 10th February 1894
DIED: 1967
Other clubs: Wheyways United, Walsall, Talbot Stead Tubeworks, (Birmingham Combination), Everton, Accrington Stanley
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 12 st
Goalkeeper Ernie was born in Walsall and started his professional career with Walsall after progressing from local football. He failed to make the grade at Fellows Park and after a spell in the Birmingham Combination League he signed for Everton in 1921 but was to make only 4 League appearances for the Goodison Park team before being transferred to Accrington Stanley for the start of the 1923/24 season.
He spent two years at Peel Park, making 72 League appearances before arriving at Springfield Park in 1925. He made his debut on the opening day of season 1925/26 against Ashington which resulted in a 3-3 draw. He also played once for Boro in the Lancashire Senior Cup and 4 times in the FA Cup that season. Boro were in fact his last Football League club and after making 26 League appearances for Boro he quit playing the game professionally at the end of the League campaign.
SAYER, Stanley Charles
DOB: 2nd February 1895
DIED: 5th April 1982
Other clubs: Ramsgate Town, Millwall Athletic, Northfleet, Tranmere Rovers, New Brighton, Lincoln City, Southend United, Dartford, Folkestone
Stan was quite a handy player. Born in Chatham, he could play on the inside right or left channel as well as being an accomplished centre forward. He started his career at Ramsgate Town before making his Football League debut for Millwall Athletic in the 1920/21 season. He made 30 League appearances and scored twice for the Lions before a stint at non league outfit Northfleet.
From there he joined Tranmere Rovers in 1922 and it was at Prenton Park that he spent the most productive part of his career. In almost three years on the Wirrall he made 79 League appearances and scored 30 times before joining New Brighton in early 1925. After making 12 League appearances and netting twice for the Rakers he joined Boro early in February 1925, making his League debut against Hartlepools United at Springfield Park which Boro won 1-0.
Whilst at Springfield Park he made 16 League appearances and scored 7 times and he played once in the Manchester Senior Cup. He was quite prolific when it came to the FA Cup, scoring 4 goals in 4 appearances, before joining Lincoln City for the start of the 1925/26 season. He made 32 League appearances and scored 6 goals at Sincil Bank before signing for his last Football League club, Southend United in 1927. His spell at Roots Hall yielded just 1 goal in32 League appearances and on leaving the U’s he drifted into Non League football and his final club is believed to have been Folkestone.
SCORER, Robert
DOB: 15th October 1898
DIED: 13TH June1971
Other clubs: Felling Colliery, Hull City, Shrewsbury Town, Bristol Rovers, Crewe Alexandra
If ever a footballer was named more unfortunately, I have yet to hear about him. Bob was a left half or centre half born in Felling and despite his surname he never actually scored! He started his career at Felling Colliery before signing for Hull City in 1921. His Boothferry Park career was rather limited and after making just 5 League appearances without scoring he joined Non League outfit Shrewsbury Town in 1922. The following season saw him back playing League football, this time with Bristol Rovers. After making37 League appearances without scoring at Eastville his next port of call was Springfield Park.
He arrived at Boro for the start of the 1925/26, making his League debut on 3rd October 1925 against Southport at Haig Avenue in a game that resulted in a 3-1 defeat. He was to play 21 League games without hitting the net as well as appearing once in the Lancashire Senior Cup, once in the Manchester Senior Cup and 4 times in the FA Cup, yes, you guessed it, all without scoring! He signed for Crewe Alexandra at the start of the following season. He spent an uneventful period at Gresty Road, making just 8 League appearances without scoring before finishing his career in Non League circles with Shrewsbury Town, one of his former clubs.
SCULLION, James Peter
DOB: 4th August 1900
DIED: April 1981
Other clubs: Carluke Rovers, Bury, Kings Park, Workington FC, Fulham, Lytham, Stockport County, Crewe Alexandra, Mossley, Stalybridge Celtic, Hurst, Buxton, Darwen, Bacup Borough, Droylesden
Jimmy was born in Holytown and played at either centre forward or inside right. His first Football League club was Bury for whom he signed in 1922 from Carluke Rovers. Whilst at Gigg Lane he found the transformation from amateur to full time football very hard and he never broke into the Shakers’ first team. Spells at Kings Park and Workington Town followed before he made his Football League debut for Fulham in 1926. However, this was his only League appearance for the Craven Cottage outfit and once again he drifted into Non League football with Lytham before being offered another chance as a professional with Stockport County. He made 18 League appearances and netted 5 times for the Edgeley Park outfit before being transferred to Crewe Alexandra in 1928. In almost three years at Gresty Road he made 73 League appearances and scored 41 goals.
This prompted Boro to sign him in May 1930. He made his League debut for Boro on 30th August 1930, the opening day of the 1930/31 season. The game was against Darlington at the Feethams and resulted in a 3-2 victory. He also appeared once without scoring in the Lancashire Senior Cup, the Manchester Senior Cup and the FA Cup that season.
After making 27 League appearances and scoring 12 goals he was sold to Stockport County early in 1931 in an effort to balance the books. Jimmy’s second spell at Edgeley Park yielded 5 goals from 15 League appearances before he joined the Non League circuit with Mossley. He became something of a Non League journeyman, later returning to Mossley as coach.
SCULLY, Thomas
DOB: 1894
DIED: 1964
Other clubs: Our Lady’s (Bryn), Skelmersdale United
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ins, 12 st
Tommy a keen sprinter, who hailed from Ashton-in-Makerfield and played in the left back berth, was signed from local out Our Lady’s in the summer of 1921 after impressing in a couple of practice games prior to the club’s first season in the Football League. He was aged 23 years old when he signed for the club and went on to make just 6 League appearances without scoring before signing for Skelmersdale United. His debut came on 19th September 1921 against Stockport County at Springfield Park in a game that resulted in a 0-1 defeat. He also played once for Boro without scoring in both the Lancashire Senior and the Manchester Senior Cups.
SCURR, Thompson Wilson
DOB: 9th October 1897
DIED: 9th January 1847
Other clubs: Tudhoe United Willington, Bolton Wanderers (trial), Spennymoor United, Ferryhill Athletic, Willington, Crook Town, Scarborough, Bishop Auckland, Chilton Colliery, Railway Athletic, Stockport County, Peterborough and Fletton United, Macclesfield Town, Crook Town.
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11 st 11 lbs.
Tommy was an outside left, born in Low Spennymoor. He started his career in Non League circles with Tudhoe United and then his home town club, Spennymoor United. He made his Football League debut for Stockport County for whom he signed in 1925. During his three-year long stay at Edgeley Park he made 61 League appearances and scored 10 goals before being released and joining Non League outfit Peterborough and Fletton United. He signed for Boro at the start of the 1929/30 campaign, during which he netted 6 times in 19 League appearances.
His debut came on the opening day of the season, a 2-0 defeat against York City at Springfield Park. He also played 4 games in the Manchester Senior Cup scoring two penalties against Rochdale, in separate games, in the process. His whereabouts after leaving Springfield Park are unknown.
SEABROOK, Edward
DOB: 11th August 1909
DIED: 17th October 1995
Other clubs: Wigan Parish Church, Bolton Wanderers, Chesterfield, Swindon Town, Chorley, Leyland Motors, Dick Kerrs, South Liverpool (trial)
Eddie was born in Wigan and played as a centre forward. Although having played for four Football League clubs, he didn’t really make any impression in League football. He started his career playing for the Wigan Parish Church football team before impressing Bolton Wanderers enough to offer him a contract in 1925. However, he failed to make the grade at Burnden Park before signing for Boro in 1930.
He made just 4 League appearances without scoring whilst at Springfield Park, his debut coming in a 3-1 victory over Nelson at Springfield Park on 6th April 1931, before being transferred to Chesterfield. His stay at Saltergate saw him make just 2 League appearances without scoring before he found himself at Swindon Town in 1932. Just 3 League appearances and no goals later he was playing Non League football with Chorley before ending his career at South Liverpool following a stint at Leyland Motors.
SEDGWICK, Patrick
DOB: 16th August 1898
DIED: 1968
Other clubs: Lower Ince Labour Club
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ½ ins, 11 st 4 lbs.
Patrick was a centre half who played 4 League games without scoring in Boro’s first ever Football League season. He was brought into the team from Lower Ince Labour Club during the fabled injury crisis that season. He played the final four League games of the season, making his debut on 17th April 1922 against Wrexham at Springfield Park which resulted in a 2-1 victory. This game was followed up by an away 2-0 loss at Barrow a 2-0 win over Durham City and a final day 6-0 hammering in the reverse League fixture.
He was retained for the following season, but he never played a first team game for the club during it.
SHARP, Samuel
DOB: 1896
DIED: 19th February 1936
Other clubs: Bolton Wanderers (wartime guest), Stalybridge Celtic (wartime guest), Norman Athletic (wartime guest), Manchester City, Crewe Alexandra, Whitchurch
Height and weight: 5 ft. 7 ½ ins, 11 st
Sammy was a right half, born in Manchester. After starting his career with Bolton Wanderers, for whom he failed to break into the first team, he signed for Manchester City in 1919 from Norman Athletic. He stayed at Maine Road until 1927, making 178 League appearances without scoring. Season 1929/30 saw him playing for Crewe Alexandra and by the time he left Gresty Road in 1931 he had made 60 League appearances without scoring.
Perhaps it’s just as well he made so many appearances for his previous Football League clubs because the 4 League appearances (no goals) he made for Boro in season 1931/32 were expunged from official records! Just for the purposes of this book, he played in the first four games of that ill fated season starting with the home game against Chester on 28th August 1931 and concluding with a home game against Lincoln City. His last known club is believed to be Whitchurch.
SHAW, George Rickerby
DOB: 17th April 1904
DIED: 8th October1987
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 League appearances and scored once before moving to Preston North End for the start of the 1926/27 season. However, after making just 3 League appearances without scoring, George signed for Boro in 1927.
He made just 2 League appearances both at Springfield Park, against Rochdale on 10th September 1927 which resulted in a 1-2 defeat and a 1-1 draw against Doncaster Rovers the following week without hitting the net in either game. He then had 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.
SHEARS, Albert Edward
DOB: 12th May 1900
DIED: 1954
Other clubs: Spen Black and White, Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers, Aberdare Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers, Barnsley, Aldershot, Morecambe
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 12 st
Bert could play as a centre forward or a centre half and he was born in Newcastle. After starting his career at Spen Black and White, he moved to Preston North End in 1921. During his spell at Deepdale he made just 2 League appearances without scoring before signing for Doncaster Rovers in 1923. His time at Belle Vue saw him make just 3 League appearances without scoring before he drifted into Non League football with Aberdare.
However, by 1925 he was playing in the Football League again, this time with Liverpool. He made just 16 League appearances without scoring whilst at Anfield and in 1930 he signed for Tranmere Rovers. He played 27 League games without hitting the net for the Prenton Park side before signing for Boro at the start of season 1931/32. All of his 4 League appearances (no goals) were expunged from official records, as were his 2 appearances in the Lancashire Senior Cup. These games were his last as a Football League player despite spells at Barnsley and Aldershot that season. He finished his career at Morecambe.
SHELDON, Frank
DOB:
Other clubs: Southport Central, Everton, Clapham Orient, Rochdale (wartime guest), Everton (wartime guest), Manchester City (wartime guest), Lanelly, Tranmere Rovers (trial), Llanelly, Northampton Town (trial), Chester (trial), Mold Town,
Liverpool born Frank was an inside forward who made 2 League appearances and scored once for Boro in season 1926/27. His debut came on 13th November 1926 in a home 3-0 victory of Durham City. He played in the next game against Accrington Stanley at Peel Park, a 3-1 defeat, and that was the sum total of his appearances tally, apart from a FA Cup first round game against Barrow at Springfield Park on 1stDecember 1926. There is no record of him having played for any other Football League club.
There was a Frank Sheldon who played around the same time as Boro’s Frank. He is quoted as being a centre half and playing for Everton in 1922, Clapton Orient in 1923 and he had trials with Merthyr Town in 1925. !t can’t be totally discounted that both players are not one and the same.
SIMMONS, John
DOB: 7th October 1904
DIED: 1977
Other clubs: Aspull Amateurs
John is another of those players who briefly enters your consciousness as he played 2 League games without scoring for Boro in 1929. He was an inside right player, but other than that, nothing else is known about him, save that he signed for Boro from Aspull Amateurs. The two League games that he featured in were both away from home. He was in the team that lost 3-0 at Tranmere Rovers on 11th January 1930 and exactly one week later his final game was at New Brighton who administered a 5-0 beating to Boro.
SIMPSON, Herbert
DOB: 24th February 1900
DIED; 10th September 1966
Other clubs: Nantwich, Bolton Wanderers, Nelson, Congleton Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Winsford United
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 11 st
Bert was born in Nantwich. The 23 years old inside left player signed for Boro in 1924 from neighbours, Bolton Wanderers. He had made 9 League appearances and scored once for the Trotters during a two-year spell at Burnden Park. He was to stay at Springfield Park for a similar spell, although he made considerably more appearances for Boro that Bolton. In total he played 69 League games for Boro, netting 7 times. He made his League debut on 30th August 1924, the opening day of the 1924/25 season against Walsall at Springfield Park and the game resulted in a 0-0 draw.
He also played twice without scoring in the Lancashire Senior Cup; he netted twice in 3 Manchester Senior Cup outings as well as playing once without scoring in the FA Cup. Boro were in fact his last Football League club. He ended his career at Winsford United after spells at Congleton Town and Stalybridge Celtic.
SMITH, Alfred Walter
DOB: 1890
DIED: 1958
Other clubs: Langley Green Juniors, Cresswells Brewery, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic
Alf was an inside right who could also play at centre forward. Born in Birmingham, it was his home town club at which he started his professional career. Having previously played for Langley Green Juniors and his works team he signed on at St Andrews in 1912. He spent two happy years in Birmingham during which time he made 54 League appearances and scored 33 goals. After World War One he signed for West Bromwich Albion and his three-year spell at the Hawthorns yielded 20 goals in 79 League appearances.
His next port of call was Stoke City, for whom he signed in 1923. His stay in the Potteries was brief and after making just 2 League appearances without scoring for the Potters he joined Boro towards the end of the 1923/24 season. He made just 3 League appearances and scored once during his short stay at Springfield Park. He made his League debut on 15th March 1924 in a home encounter against Tranmere Rovers, scoring in a 1-2 defeat. He then played the next two consecutive League games as well as previously making 1 Manchester Senior Cup appearance without scoring, before joining Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic. He didn’t manage a first team game at Dean Court and there are no records of him playing for anyone else.
SMITH, Frederick Cecil
DOB: 30th October 1904
DIED: 1977
Other clubs: Marchwiel, Oswestry Town, Welshpool, Wrexham, Notts County, Macclesfield Town, Stalybridge Celtic, Burnley, Cardiff City, Rhyl, Bangor City
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 12 st
Cecil was a centre forward born in Marchwiel. He started his career playing for his hometown team before moving on to Oswestry Town and Welshpool. He made his Football League debut for Wrexham for whom he signed just prior to the 1926/27 season. Almost two years at the Racecourse Ground saw him notch up 46 League appearances, during which he scored 26 goals.
It was from Wrexham that he signed for Boro at the start of the 1928/29 season and he made his Boro debut on 1st September 1928 against Bradford City in a 2-0 victory at Springfield Park. He made 38 League appearances and scored 22 goals. He also netted in all other Boro competitions, he netted 3 times in 4 Lancashire Senior Cup games, once in 2 Manchester Senior Cup outings and his record in the FA Cup was 1 goal scored in 1 game, before moving to Notts County in 1930.
His time at Meadow Lane was far from happy and after failing to break into the Magpies’ first team he joined Non League outfit Macclesfield Town, later moving on to Stalybridge Celtic. Just when he thought his Football League career was over he joined Burnley in 1932. He stayed at Turf Moor for three years and scored 49 goals in 106 League appearances for the Clarets before signing for Cardiff City in 1936. After making16 League appearances and scoring 8 goals during his spell at Ninian Park he drifted into Non League football to finish his career. His first port of call was a return to Stalybridge before spells at Rhyl and Bangor City.
SMITH, Graham
Graham, who played as a centre half, was signed on amateur forms in August 1923. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
SPENCER, Henry George
DOB: 17th July 1897
Other clubs: Burlesden FC, Everton, Walsall
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11 st
Equally at home at inside left or inside right, Henry started his career at Everton in 1921. He made just 9 League appearances, scoring twice before signing for Boro for a then club record transfer fee in 1922. He made his League debut, aged 24 years old, on 21st October 1922 against Southport at Haig Avenue in a game that resulted in a 0-1 defeat. Southampton born Henry spent two years at Springfield Park, making 35 League appearances and scoring 7 goals. He also made 4 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and he played 6 games in the FA Cup, all without finding the net, before finishing his Football League career at Walsall. In 1934 he made just 2 appearances without scoring for the Saddlers, before hanging up his boots.
STEVENSON, Albert
DOB: 27th February 1901
DIED;
Other clubs: Christon Athletic, Broxburn United, Mid Rhonda (trial), Sheffield United (trial)
‘Bert’ who was born in Glasgow, played at centre forward for Boro in season 1924/25 after signing from Christon Athletic in October 1924. He made 7 League appearances and scored twice during his time at Springfield Park. He made his debut on 1st November 1924 in an away fixture at Bradford Park Avenue which resulted in a 1-1 draw, his last game was played on 24th January 1925, an away fixture at Durham City, sandwiched between these games was also an FA Cup game against Bradford Park Avenue at Springfield Park. After leaving Boro he had a trial with Mid Rhonda FC and Sheffield United he returned North of the border.
STEVENSON, Arthur Brown
DOB: 24th August 1896
DIED: 5th June 1976
Other clubs: Accrington Stanley, Darwen, Middlesbrough, Mid Rhondda United, Sheffield United, Bristol City, Chorley, Stalybridge Celtic
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 10 st
Arthur, an outside left player born in Padiham, had two spells at Boro and the mixed fortunes of the club during those spells were remarkable. He first arrived at Springfield Park for the start of season 1922/23 after spells at Accrington Stanley and Darwen. He made 41 League appearances and scored 2 goals as Boro had their best ever season as a Football League club, finishing in fifth place in the Third Division North and watched by an average crowd of 10,155 which was the second best in the Third Division North that season. His debut was on the opening day of that League campaign against Ashington at Springfield Park in a game that resulted in a 6-1 victory. He also played in 2 Lancashire Senior Cup, 2 Manchester Senior Cup and 4 FA Cup games for Boro, scoring once in the FA Cup.
He left Boro to play for Middlesbrough after playing his final game for Boro on 20th October 1923 against Crewe Alexandra at Springfield Park, a game that resulted in a 3-0 victory. He made 8 League appearances without scoring in the North East before a short spell at Mid Rhondda United. He returned to League football in 1924 with Sheffield United. He spent three years at Bramall Lane but could only muster up 3 League appearances without scoring before finishing the 1930/31 season with Bristol City, making 5 League appearances and netting once whilst at Ashton Gate.
He returned to Springfield Park for that ill–fated 1931/32 season in which the club folded. During it he played 4 more League games and scored once. However, they were all expunged from official records. On leaving Springfield Park for the final time he played for Chorley before winding his career up at Stalybridge Celtic
STEWART, Robert
DOB: 13th March 1894
DIED: 24th September 1989
Other clubs: Broxburn United, Everton, Tranmere Rovers (wartime guest), Oldham Athletic, Exeter City
Left back Bob was born in Loanhead. He started his career at Broxburn United before signing for Everton in November 1914 before moving on to Oldham Athletic having failed to make the grade at Goodison Park. His stay at Boundary Park lasted a little short of two years during which time he made 34 League appearances without scoring. In 1921 he signed for Exeter City and whilst at St James’ Park he made 25 League appearances without hitting the net before signing for Boro in January 1923.
He made 3 League appearances without scoring at Springfield Park. His debut came on 17th March 1923 in a 0-0 draw against Hartlepools United. He then played against the Pools again in the home League fixture which resulted in a 2-0 victory and Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park in a game that ended in a 2-4 defeat. Prior to these consecutive League games he had made his Boro debut in a Manchester Senior Cup game against Stockport County at Springfield Park the previous month.
SUTCLIFFE, L
Sutcliffe was an amateur who signed for the club in the summer of 1925. He played at inside left, but was unable to do so at first team level.
SWIFT, James
DOB: 6th January 1903
DIED: 5th January 1993
Other clubs: Dick Kerrs, Runcorn, Pilkington Recs, Doncaster Rovers
Inside left player Jimmy certainly lived up to his surname. He played just once for Boro without scoring in 1924 after signing from Dick Kerrs, who are perhaps better known for their ladies team! His single appearance for Boro occurred on 27th September 1924, a game against Doncaster Rovers at Belle Vue that resulted in a 0-5 hammering. He went on to play for Runcon, Pilkington Recs and ironically, Doncaster Rovers.
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