Charles Webb (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Webb was an English footballer who played at outside-left for various clubs in England and Scotland in the 1900s.
, Northamptonshire
and trained as a harness-maker. After playing football for his village team, he joined Rushden of the Midland League
in 1898. After two seasons with Rushden, in 1900 he moved to Kettering who had just been admitted to the Southern League
as Midland League champions.
Kettering finished their inaugural season
in the Southern League 11th in the table. In the FA Cup
, Kettering defeated Chesterfield
of the Football League Second Division
in the first round, with Webb scoring both Kettering goals in the replay (won 2–1 aet), only to be defeated 5–0 in the next round by Middlesbrough
.
His cup exploits brought him to the attention of Leicester Fosse of the Football League Second Division
who signed him in May 1901. Webb played in all but two of Leicester's league and cup matches in the 1901–02 season, scoring three goals. It was at Filbert Street
that he first teamed up with Bert Dainty, with whom he was later to play at Southampton (1904–1905) and Dundee (1905–1908). At the end of the season, he returned to the Southern League to join Wellingborough where he spent a season, followed by a year back at Kettering, before moving to the Southern League champions, Southampton
, in May 1904 to replace Dick Evans
who had been forced to retire through ill health and injuries.
Webb joined the "Saints" with a reputation as a "brilliant wing man (who) had a fine turn of speed, with his centres and long shots being particular features of his play". He made his debut in the opening match of the 1904–05 season
, a 2–1 victory a Luton Town
. During his one season at The Dell, Webb was in and out of the side making a total of 19 first-team appearances with five goals, with former England
international Archie Turner competing with him for the outside-right berth.
In the summer of 1905, Dundee
made him an "irresistible offer" to move to Dens Park
along with his former Leicester and Southampton team-mate Bert Dainty. Webb remained with Dundee for three seasons, helping them to the runners-up position in the Scottish Football League
in 1906–07.
In March 1908, he returned to England to join Manchester City
of the Football League First Division
, where he played the last eleven matches of the 1907–08 season, scoring three goals to help City reach third in the table. He remained at Maine Road
until the end of the next season, when City were relegated, although he only made eleven appearances, as cover for George Dorsett
.
In June 1909, Webb moved back to Scotland, where he played out his career with Airdrieonians
.
, back in Northamptonshire, close to where he was born.
Football career
Webb was born in Higham FerrersHigham Ferrers
Higham Ferrers is a market town in the Nene Valley in East Northamptonshire, England, close to the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire borders. It forms a single urban area with Rushden to the south and has an estimated population of 6,086...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and trained as a harness-maker. After playing football for his village team, he joined Rushden of the Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
in 1898. After two seasons with Rushden, in 1900 he moved to Kettering who had just been admitted to 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...
as Midland League champions.
Kettering finished their inaugural season
Southern Football League 1900-01
The 1900-01 season was the seventh in the history of the Southern League. Southampton were Division One champions for the fourth time in five seasons, whilst Bristol City were elected to the Football League.-Division One:Division One featured three new clubs:...
in the Southern League 11th in the table. In the FA Cup
FA Cup 1900–01
The 1900–01 FA Cup was the 30th season of the world's oldest association football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup . The cup was won by Tottenham Hotspur of the Southern League, who defeated Sheffield United 3–1 in a replay after a 2–2 draw in the first game...
, Kettering defeated 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...
of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
in the first round, with Webb scoring both Kettering goals in the replay (won 2–1 aet), only to be defeated 5–0 in the next round by Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
.
His cup exploits brought him to the attention of Leicester Fosse of the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
who signed him in May 1901. Webb played in all but two of Leicester's league and cup matches in the 1901–02 season, scoring three goals. It was at Filbert Street
Filbert Street
Filbert Street, in Leicester, England, was a football stadium, and the home of Leicester City from 1891 to 2002. Although officially titled "The City Business Stadium" in the early 1990s, it remained known almost exclusively by its address, like many English football stadia.- Early years :The club,...
that he first teamed up with Bert Dainty, with whom he was later to play at Southampton (1904–1905) and Dundee (1905–1908). At the end of the season, he returned to the Southern League to join Wellingborough where he spent a season, followed by a year back at Kettering, before moving to the Southern League champions, 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 May 1904 to replace Dick Evans
Dick Evans (footballer)
Richard "Dick" Evans was an English footballer, who played at outside-right, spending most of his career with Burslem Port Vale as well as a two-year spell at Southampton where he won two Southern League championships....
who had been forced to retire through ill health and injuries.
Webb joined the "Saints" with a reputation as a "brilliant wing man (who) had a fine turn of speed, with his centres and long shots being particular features of his play". He made his debut in the opening match of the 1904–05 season
Southern Football League 1904-05
The 1904–05 Southern League season saw Bristol Rovers win Division One and Fulham reserves finishing top of Division Two. Division Two club Clapton Orient were the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League, and were successful after a decision was made to expand the...
, a 2–1 victory a Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. During his one season at The Dell, Webb was in and out of the side making a total of 19 first-team appearances with five goals, with former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international Archie Turner competing with him for the outside-right berth.
In the summer of 1905, Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
made him an "irresistible offer" to move to Dens Park
Dens Park
Dens Park is a football stadium located on Dens Road in Dundee, Scotland. The stadium is the home of Dundee F.C. and has a capacity of 12,085...
along with his former Leicester and Southampton team-mate Bert Dainty. Webb remained with Dundee for three seasons, helping them to the runners-up position in the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
in 1906–07.
In March 1908, he returned to England to join Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
of the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, where he played the last eleven matches of the 1907–08 season, scoring three goals to help City reach third in the table. He remained at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
until the end of the next season, when City were relegated, although he only made eleven appearances, as cover for George Dorsett
George Dorsett
George Dorsett was an English footballer who played for West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City as a winger and wing-half....
.
In June 1909, Webb moved back to Scotland, where he played out his career with Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
.
Later career
After retiring from his football career, Webb managed a large bakery business in RushdenRushden
Rushden is a town and civil parish in the county of Northamptonshire, England.The parish of Rushden covers an area of some and is part of the district of East Northamptonshire. The population of Rushden was estimated at around 28,368, making it the fifth largest town in the county...
, back in Northamptonshire, close to where he was born.
Honours
DundeeDundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
- Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
runners-up: 1906–07