Bill Fraser (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Cuthbert Fraser (born 3 July 1907, date of death unknown) was an English professional footballer who played at inside forward
for Northampton Town
and Southampton
in the 1920s and 1930s.
, near Blyth, Northumberland
and played for Blyth Spartans as a junior. He then had a spell in the Army, with the Royal Tank Corps before starting his professional career with Northampton Town
in November 1926.
He spent two seasons with Northampton Town in the Third Division South, making 17 league appearances generally on the right wing, scoring four goals as well as providing scoring chances for centre forwards Ernie Cockle and Harry Loasby
.
He signed for Aldershot
, then in the Southern League
, in May 1929 but before he made any first team appearances he was transferred to Second Division Southampton
in June for a fee of £200.
. Fraser made nine appearances in the No. 8 shirt, before being replaced by Jerry Mackie
in March.
In the 1930–31 season, Fraser took over at centre forward from the injured Willie Haines
after the first match of the season and during a run of thirteen games up front scored six goals before Johnny McIlwaine
took over. Fraser then reverted to inside right before being replaced by Laurie Cumming
for a few matches before Mackie returned in January, although Fraser played the last five games of the season.
By the start of the following season Mackie had retired, and Fraser played at inside forward until Christmas
before injury forced him to miss most of the rest of the season. During his absence, manager George Kay
tried eight players at No. 8, of which only Frank Osborne
played more than four games.
According to Holley & Chalk, Fraser "had considerable ability, (but) suffered acutely from nerves in front of crowds". In July 1932, he was sold to Fulham
for a fee of £500 (together with fellow forwards Arthur Haddleton
and Bert Jepson
) as the Saints were in serious financial difficulties and needed to raise funds.
hardly missing a match for seven years.
In June 1933, Fraser returned to Northampton Town for one last season, before returning to southern England where he joined Salisbury City
in 1934, becoming a player-coach in 1935.
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 Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
and Southampton
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 1920s and 1930s.
Early career
Fraser was born in CowpenCowpen
Cowpen is a place in Northumberland, in England. It is situated to the west of Blyth and just east of the A19 Road.It is believed that the name comes from the Dutch meaning to cut "couperen" which may refer to the fact it was a barter town, and not a pen for cows.The quaint English town has...
, near Blyth, Northumberland
Blyth, Northumberland
Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne...
and played for Blyth Spartans as a junior. He then had a spell in the Army, with the Royal Tank Corps before starting his professional career with Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in November 1926.
He spent two seasons with Northampton Town in the Third Division South, making 17 league appearances generally on the right wing, scoring four goals as well as providing scoring chances for centre forwards Ernie Cockle and Harry Loasby
Harry Loasby
Henry "Harry" Loasby was an English professional football player. He made 77 Football League appearances for Northampton Town, Luton Town and Gillingham. He later had a spell as manager of his hometown club, Kettering Town.-References:...
.
He signed for Aldershot
Aldershot F.C.
Aldershot Football Club was an English Football League club, which was wound up in the High Court in March 1992. They became the first Football League club since Accrington Stanley to resign from the League during the course of a season. The club was nicknamed the Shots for both the last syllable...
, then in 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...
, in May 1929 but before he made any first team appearances he was transferred to Second Division Southampton
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 June for a fee of £200.
Southampton
He made his "Saints" debut on 14 December 1929, replacing Oswald Littler at inside right in a 1–1 draw at ReadingReading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. Fraser made nine appearances in the No. 8 shirt, before being replaced by Jerry Mackie
Jerry Mackie
James "Jerry" Mackie was a Scottish footballer who played at inside forward for south coast rivals, Portsmouth and then Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Football career:...
in March.
In the 1930–31 season, Fraser took over at centre forward from the injured Willie Haines
Willie Haines
Wyndham William Pretoria "Willie" Haines was an English footballer who played at centre-forward for south coast rivals, Portsmouth and then Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Football career:...
after the first match of the season and during a run of thirteen games up front scored six goals before Johnny McIlwaine
Johnny McIlwaine
John "Johnny" McIlwaine was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre half for Portsmouth, where he captained the team in the 1929 FA Cup Final, before moving to south coast rivals Southampton...
took over. Fraser then reverted to inside right before being replaced by Laurie Cumming
Laurie Cumming
Laurence Stanley Slater "Laurie" Cumming was a former professional footballer and journalist, born in Derry, Ireland. Cumming played for Alloa Athletic, Huddersfield Town, Oldham Athletic, Southampton, Queen of the South and St Mirren...
for a few matches before Mackie returned in January, although Fraser played the last five games of the season.
By the start of the following season Mackie had retired, and Fraser played at inside forward until Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
before injury forced him to miss most of the rest of the season. During his absence, manager George Kay
George Kay
George Kay was an English football player and manager of Luton Town, Southampton and Liverpool.The highlight of his playing career was when he captained West Ham United in the first FA Cup final to be played at Wembley, the so-called White Horse Final.He was manager of Liverpool for 15 years and...
tried eight players at No. 8, of which only Frank Osborne
Frank Osborne (footballer)
Frank Raymond Osborne was a professional footballer who was one of the top forwards of the 1920s, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and also making four appearances for England...
played more than four games.
According to Holley & Chalk, Fraser "had considerable ability, (but) suffered acutely from nerves in front of crowds". In July 1932, he was sold to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
for a fee of £500 (together with fellow forwards Arthur Haddleton
Arthur Haddleton
Arthur Haddleton was an English footballer who played as a centre forward for various clubs in the 1930s. Despite showing promise in the early part of his career, he eventually achieved very little, although he did score in eight consecutive matches in 1931.-Early days:Haddleton was born in...
and Bert Jepson
Bert Jepson
Albert Edward Jepson was an English footballer who played as an outside right for Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1920s and 1930s.-Huddersfield Town:...
) as the Saints were in serious financial difficulties and needed to raise funds.
Later career
He joined Fulham in July 1932, but was unable to break into the first team with long-serving Jim HammondJim Hammond
Herbert Edward 'Jim' Hammond was an English professional football player for Fulham and a cricket player for Sussex.Having been signed from non-league side Lewes F.C., Hammond played for Fulham between 1928 and 1938, scoring 150 goals in 342 games. He was once called up for duty with the national...
hardly missing a match for seven years.
In June 1933, Fraser returned to Northampton Town for one last season, before returning to southern England where he joined Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
in 1934, becoming a player-coach in 1935.