Cliff Price
Encyclopedia
Ernest Clifford "Cliff" Price (born 13 June 1900) was an English footballer who played at inside left for various clubs in the 1920s.
, Leicestershire
and, after playing as a teenager for Coalville Swifts in the Leicestershire Senior League
, joined Leicester Fosse as a trainee in January 1917. After spending a period back with Coalville Swifts on loan, he signed as a professional in October 1920. Price spent a further two seasons with Leicester before transferring to Halifax Town
in June 1922.
In December 1923, Price joined Southampton
, immediately taking over from Len Andrews
in the No.10 shirt. His debut came when he replaced Henry Johnson (footballer)
in a 2–1 victory at South Shields
on 22 December 1923, Saints’ first away win of the season. Price was described in the local press as "an inside-left of the studious type", whose passes were usually well-judged. He immediately struck up an understanding with his left-wing partner Jimmy Carr
before, in January, injury put Carr out of the game for the rest of the season, with Elias MacDonald
replacing him.
Price missed only two league matches for the remainder of the 1923–24 season, but missed the start of the following season, with new signing Stan Woodhouse
being preferred by manager Jimmy McIntyre
. Price regained his place after the first six games and on his recall linked up briefly with his nephew Fred Price
who had recently been signed from Leicester City, before Carr returned to the side in November.
Midway through the 1925–26 season Price lost his place to Frank Matthews
and at the end of the season returned to the Midlands to join Nottingham Forest
.
After two seasons with Forest, Price dropped down to non-league football in October 1928 with Loughborough Corinthians and Nuneaton Town.
was also a footballer with Leicester City
, Bristol Rovers
, Swindon Town
and Torquay United
.
Football career
Price was born at Market BosworthMarket Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a small market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It formerly formed a district known as the Market Bosworth Rural District. In 1974 it merged with the Hinckley Rural District to form a new district named Hinckley and Bosworth...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
and, after playing as a teenager for Coalville Swifts in the Leicestershire Senior League
Leicestershire Senior League
The Leicestershire Senior League is a football competition based in Leicestershire, England.-History:...
, joined Leicester Fosse as a trainee in January 1917. After spending a period back with Coalville Swifts on loan, he signed as a professional in October 1920. Price spent a further two seasons with Leicester before transferring to Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
in June 1922.
In December 1923, Price joined 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...
, immediately taking over from Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
in the No.10 shirt. His debut came when he replaced Henry Johnson (footballer)
Henry Johnson (footballer)
Henry Edward Johnson was an English footballer who played as a forward in the 1920s for Southampton and Queens Park Rangers.-Football career:...
in a 2–1 victory at South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
on 22 December 1923, Saints’ first away win of the season. Price was described in the local press as "an inside-left of the studious type", whose passes were usually well-judged. He immediately struck up an understanding with his left-wing partner Jimmy Carr
Jimmy Carr (footballer)
James Edward Charles "Jimmy" Carr was a Scottish footballer who played at outside left for Reading and Southampton in the 1920s.-Football career:...
before, in January, injury put Carr out of the game for the rest of the season, with Elias MacDonald
Elias MacDonald
Elias MacDonald was an English footballer who played at outside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
replacing him.
Price missed only two league matches for the remainder of the 1923–24 season, but missed the start of the following season, with new signing Stan Woodhouse
Stan Woodhouse
Stanley "Stan" Woodhouse was an English footballer who played initially as an inside forward and later as a half back with Bury and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Playing career:...
being preferred by manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
. Price regained his place after the first six games and on his recall linked up briefly with his nephew Fred Price
Fred Price (footballer)
Frederick Thomas "Fred" Price was an English footballer who played at outside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
who had recently been signed from Leicester City, before Carr returned to the side in November.
Midway through the 1925–26 season Price lost his place to Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews was an English footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
and at the end of the season returned to the Midlands to join Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
.
After two seasons with Forest, Price dropped down to non-league football in October 1928 with Loughborough Corinthians and Nuneaton Town.
Family
His nephew, Fred's brother JackJack Price (footballer born 1900)
John William "Jack" Price was an English professional footballer born in Ibstock, Leicestershire, who played in the Football League in the 1920s for Bristol Rovers, Swindon Town, Brentford and Torquay United...
was also a footballer with Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
, Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
and Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
.