Ambrose Harris
Encyclopedia
Ambrose Harris was an English professional footballer who played in a number of positions, mainly as a half-back
. He played in the Football League
with Nelson, making almost 60 first-team appearances for the club in a four-year spell. He also played with several non-league
sides throughout his career, including Barnoldswick Town
.
, near Burnley
in Lancashire
. He lived in the village throughout his life and died there in the summer of 1952, at the age of 49.
side Nelson
at the start of the 1924–25 season. Harris made his professional debut on 25 December 1924 in the 1–0 victory against Chesterfield
at Seedhill
. He enjoyed a run of five matches in the first-team during March–April 1925, making a total of eight appearances in his first senior season. Harris played in the reserve team at the beginning of the 1925–26 campaign, but was recalled to the starting line-up for the 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town
on 5 December 1925. He went on to play the following ten matches, before his place in the team was taken by Ernie Braidwood
. Harris returned to the side on 27 February 1926, for the 4–0 win at home against Durham City
. Altogether he played 22 league games for Nelson during the campaign as the team finished eighth in the division.
Harris lost his first-team place to new signing Jim Baker
at the start of the next campaign, but was reinstated to the side following the 1–4 loss away at Stoke City
on 11 September 1926. He played at inside forward
for the first time in the away match against Lincoln City
on 9 October, and scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 Nelson win. Harris remained with Nelson until the end of the 1927–28 season, when he left the club after playing a total of 58 first-team matches during his four years at Seedhill. He signed for non-league
outfit Barnoldswick Town
in the summer of 1928. Harris played three seasons with the team before joining Brierfield Central at the start of the 1931–32 campaign, where he ended his career some time later.
. He was described as being a "clever dribbler" and a "perceptive passer", although he lacked strength due to being relatively short.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
with Nelson, making almost 60 first-team appearances for the club in a four-year spell. He also played with several non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
sides throughout his career, including Barnoldswick Town
Barnoldswick Town F.C.
Barnoldswick Town F.C. are an English football club based in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. Town were formed in 2003 following the merger of existing clubs Barnoldswick United and Barnoldswick Park Rovers.The club currently run three sides, with the East Lancashire League Third XI using the former Park...
.
Biography
Ambrose Harris was born on 29 October 1902 in Harle Syke, in the parish of BriercliffeBriercliffe
Briercliffe is a civil parish in the borough of Burnley, in Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Burnley....
, near Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. He lived in the village throughout his life and died there in the summer of 1952, at the age of 49.
Career
Harris started his football career with his local club Briercliffe before joining Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
at the start of the 1924–25 season. Harris made his professional debut on 25 December 1924 in the 1–0 victory against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. He enjoyed a run of five matches in the first-team during March–April 1925, making a total of eight appearances in his first senior season. Harris played in the reserve team at the beginning of the 1925–26 campaign, but was recalled to the starting line-up for the 1–1 draw with Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
on 5 December 1925. He went on to play the following ten matches, before his place in the team was taken by Ernie Braidwood
Ernie Braidwood
Ernest Braidwood was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He started his senior career with Chesterfield Municipal before signing his first professional contract with Football League First Division side Oldham Athletic in August 1920...
. Harris returned to the side on 27 February 1926, for the 4–0 win at home against Durham City
Durham City A.F.C.
Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...
. Altogether he played 22 league games for Nelson during the campaign as the team finished eighth in the division.
Harris lost his first-team place to new signing Jim Baker
Jim Baker (footballer)
James William "Jim" Baker was a professional footballer most notable for being the first captain of Leeds United A.F.C.. He was always however in the shadow of his more talented younger brother Alf Baker who played for Arsenal...
at the start of the next campaign, but was reinstated to the side following the 1–4 loss away at Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
on 11 September 1926. He played at inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
for the first time in the away match against Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 9 October, and scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 Nelson win. Harris remained with Nelson until the end of the 1927–28 season, when he left the club after playing a total of 58 first-team matches during his four years at Seedhill. He signed for non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
outfit Barnoldswick Town
Barnoldswick Town F.C.
Barnoldswick Town F.C. are an English football club based in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. Town were formed in 2003 following the merger of existing clubs Barnoldswick United and Barnoldswick Park Rovers.The club currently run three sides, with the East Lancashire League Third XI using the former Park...
in the summer of 1928. Harris played three seasons with the team before joining Brierfield Central at the start of the 1931–32 campaign, where he ended his career some time later.
Style of play
Courtesy of his ability with both feet, Harris was able to play in a number of positions in the defense, mostly right-half and left-half, although he occasionally played as an inside forwardInside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
. He was described as being a "clever dribbler" and a "perceptive passer", although he lacked strength due to being relatively short.