Colin Booth
Encyclopedia
Colin Booth is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
as an inside forward
for Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Nottingham Forest
, Doncaster Rovers
and Oxford United
. He won two league championship medals with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
, and joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
as an apprentice in 1950. He made his first-team debut on 11 April 1955 in a 1–0 win over Aston Villa
, one of three appearances that season. He began to establish himself in the following season, as he scored 7 times in 27 outings, before adding 9 goals in just 20 games in the subsequent season. However, he found himself below the likes of Jimmy Murray
, Dennis Wilshaw
and Bobby Mason
in the Wolves attack and managed only a peripheral role in their championship-winning campaign of 1957-58. The next season saw him similarly on the sidelines but he did manage an impressive 7 goals from just 13 games. Booth scored four goals against Arsenal on 10 November 1956, in a 5–2 victory for Wolves – this is still a record against the Gunners, shared with Billy Walker
of Aston Villa
who also scored four in 1920.
In search of regular football, he joined Nottingham Forest
in October 1959. He scored 41 goals in 98 appearances in total for Forest during two-and-a-half seasons, his best season coming in 1960-61 where he netted 19 times. He then spent two seasons at Doncaster Rovers
before joining Oxford United
. He ended his career at non-league Cambridge United
before leaving the game and working in healthcare. After retirement he lived in Dorset.
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...
as an 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 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, 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...
, Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
and Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He won two league championship medals with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Career
Booth was born in Middleton, LancashireMiddleton, Greater Manchester
Middleton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Irk, south-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester...
, and joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
as an apprentice in 1950. He made his first-team debut on 11 April 1955 in a 1–0 win over Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, one of three appearances that season. He began to establish himself in the following season, as he scored 7 times in 27 outings, before adding 9 goals in just 20 games in the subsequent season. However, he found himself below the likes of Jimmy Murray
Jimmy Murray (English footballer)
Colin James Robert 'Jimmy' Murray was an English footballer, who spent the majority of his league career with Wolverhampton Wanderers.-Career:...
, Dennis Wilshaw
Dennis Wilshaw
Dennis James Wilshaw was an English international footballer. He scored 172 goals in 379 appearances in the Football League, and also scored ten goals in twelve appearances for the England national team.-Playing style:...
and Bobby Mason
Bobby Mason
Robert Henry "Bobby" Mason is an English former professional footballer, who played in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he spent the majority of his league career, and for Leyton Orient.-Career:...
in the Wolves attack and managed only a peripheral role in their championship-winning campaign of 1957-58. The next season saw him similarly on the sidelines but he did manage an impressive 7 goals from just 13 games. Booth scored four goals against Arsenal on 10 November 1956, in a 5–2 victory for Wolves – this is still a record against the Gunners, shared with Billy Walker
Billy Walker
William Henry "Billy" Walker was a prominent English footballer of the 1920s and 1930s. He is considered by many to be the greatest footballer to ever play for Aston Villa Football Club-Biography:...
of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
who also scored four in 1920.
In search of regular football, he joined 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...
in October 1959. He scored 41 goals in 98 appearances in total for Forest during two-and-a-half seasons, his best season coming in 1960-61 where he netted 19 times. He then spent two seasons at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
before joining Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
. He ended his career at non-league Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
before leaving the game and working in healthcare. After retirement he lived in Dorset.
External links
- League stats at Neil Brown's site