Arthur Nineham
Encyclopedia
George Arthur Nineham was an English amateur footballer who played as a forward for Southampton St. Mary's
in the 1890s. He was one of the few locally-born players to make the transition from mainly friendly matches to Southern League football.
and joined the recently-created Southampton St. Mary's club in late 1892. His first recorded appearance was at inside-right in a Hampshire Senior Cup
semi-final match against Portsmouth
on 4 February 1893. This match ended 2–0 to "the Saints" who met then arch local rivals, Freemantle
in the final. The Saints had won the trophy in each of the previous two years and were favourites to make it a hat-trick, but Freemantle won the match with a hotly-disputed penalty late in the match.
In 1893–94, Nineham played in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup
, a 3–1 victory against Uxbridge
but lost his place to Bob Kiddle
for the next match at Reading
. Nineham did, however, appear regularly in various local cup competitions, helping the Saints reach three finals, winning the Hampshire County Cricket Club
Charity Cup, defeating the Royal Artillery 5–0 in the final.
In 1894, Southampton were one of the nine founder members of the Southern League
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England, who were not admitted to the Football League
to play competitive football on a regular basis. Nineham, who enjoyed taking on and beating defenders, made his league debut in the opening match, playing at outside-right in a 3–1 victory over Chatham on 6 October 1894.
In the next match, Southampton met Newbury
on 13 October 1894 in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup at the Antelope Ground
. Saints were "in particularly rampant mood" and won 14–0, with Nineham and Herbert Ward scoring hat-tricks; this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match. He made one further FA Cup appearance, scoring twice against Warmley
in the Fourth Qualifying Round.
His league appearances during the 1894–95 season
were fairly infrequent, making seven in total, scoring four goals as the Saints ended their inaugural league season in third place.
. He was employed at Southampton Docks throughout his working life and committed suicide
in May 1950, aged 77.
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the 1890s. He was one of the few locally-born players to make the transition from mainly friendly matches to Southern League football.
Football career
Nineham was born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and joined the recently-created Southampton St. Mary's club in late 1892. His first recorded appearance was at inside-right in a Hampshire Senior Cup
Hampshire Senior Cup
The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
semi-final match against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
on 4 February 1893. This match ended 2–0 to "the Saints" who met then arch local rivals, Freemantle
Freemantle F.C.
Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club...
in the final. The Saints had won the trophy in each of the previous two years and were favourites to make it a hat-trick, but Freemantle won the match with a hotly-disputed penalty late in the match.
In 1893–94, Nineham played in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, a 3–1 victory against Uxbridge
Uxbridge F.C.
Uxbridge Football Club are a football club representing Uxbridge but now based in West Drayton, in the County of Middlesex England. They were established in 1871 and are one of the oldest clubs in the South of England. They were founder members of the Southern League Division Two in 1894 and have...
but lost his place to Bob Kiddle
Bob Kiddle
Robert Sherren Kiddle was an English amateur footballer who played as an inside-forward for Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:...
for the next match at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. Nineham did, however, appear regularly in various local cup competitions, helping the Saints reach three finals, winning the Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
Charity Cup, defeating the Royal Artillery 5–0 in the final.
In 1894, Southampton were one of the nine founder members of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England, who were not admitted to 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...
to play competitive football on a regular basis. Nineham, who enjoyed taking on and beating defenders, made his league debut in the opening match, playing at outside-right in a 3–1 victory over Chatham on 6 October 1894.
In the next match, Southampton met Newbury
Newbury Town F.C.
Newbury Town F.C. is a now-defunct football club based in Newbury, England. They won the Hellenic League title two times in their history. They also won the Isthmian League Division Two in 1994, but ceased to exist just before the start of the 1995–96 season...
on 13 October 1894 in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
. Saints were "in particularly rampant mood" and won 14–0, with Nineham and Herbert Ward scoring hat-tricks; this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match. He made one further FA Cup appearance, scoring twice against Warmley
Warmley F.C.
Warmley F.C. was a football club based in Warmley, near Kingswood, England. They were formed in 1882. They are widely regarded as playing the first organised football match in the Bristol region against St George....
in the Fourth Qualifying Round.
His league appearances during the 1894–95 season
1894–95 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
The 1894–95 season was the tenth since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their first in league football, being founder members of the Southern League....
were fairly infrequent, making seven in total, scoring four goals as the Saints ended their inaugural league season in third place.
Later career
Nineham left St. Mary's in the summer of 1895, to join FreemantleFreemantle F.C.
Freemantle Football Club were a football club based in the Freemantle area of Southampton who were active at the end of the nineteenth century. During their brief heyday, they were rivals to Southampton Football Club...
. He was employed at Southampton Docks throughout his working life and committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in May 1950, aged 77.