Fred Ferrari
Encyclopedia
Frederick Joseph "Fred" Ferrari (22 May 1901 – 6 August 1970) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward.
on 22 May 1901 to an Italian father and an English mother. He spent the majority of his football career in the North of England and in later life he settled in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, where he worked in the steel industry following his retirement from football. He died in Sheffield on 6 August 1970 at the age of 69.
with Barking Town and then Leyton
, before joining Football League Third Division South
club Northampton Town
on a free transfer in October 1925. He played 18 league games for the side, but did not score any goals. In June 1926, he was signed by Football League First Division
outfit Sheffield Wednesday
for a transfer fee of £800. He spent his entire spell at Hillsborough
in the reserves, failing to make a single first-team appearance for the club. After a trial period with Flint Town United
, Ferrari joined Third Division South side Norwich City
for a £150 fee in December 1927. He played four league matches for the Canaries before moving to Barrow
on a free transfer at the start of the 1928–29 season.
At Barrow, Ferrari had the most prolific season of his career with a total of 14 goals in 26 league appearances. On 23 February 1929, he scored a hat-trick
in a league match against Nelson
and the Nelson directors soon pursued him. In June that year, Ferrari signed for Nelson for a fee of £85 and went straight into the first-team, making his debut on 31 August 1929 in the 2–2 draw with Southport. He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, a 1–6 defeat away at Darlington
. He scored a total of three goals in the first seven matches of the season, but was then dropped from the team following the 0–3 loss to Accrington Stanley
on 24 September.
In February 1930, Ferrari had a trial with Chesterfield
but no permanent deal materialised and he joined non-league club Burton Town
the following month. After three months he joined Bedouins, and later had a trial at Mansfield Town
before returning to the Third Division South with Queens Park Rangers
in January 1931. Despite staying at Loftus Road
for over two years, he played no matches for the club. Ferrari left to join amateur Sheffield outfit Hillsborough Old Boys in September 1933. He stayed with the side for three seasons before having a short spell with Darwin's Sports in October 1936, after which he retired from football.
Biography
Fred Ferrari was born in Stratford, LondonStratford, London
Stratford is a place in the London Borough of Newham, England. It is located east northeast of Charing Cross and is one of the major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an agrarian settlement in the ancient parish of West Ham, which transformed into an industrial suburb...
on 22 May 1901 to an Italian father and an English mother. He spent the majority of his football career in the North of England and in later life he settled in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, where he worked in the steel industry following his retirement from football. He died in Sheffield on 6 August 1970 at the age of 69.
Career
Ferrari started his career in non-league footballNon-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
with Barking Town and then Leyton
Leyton F.C.
Leyton Football Club are an English association football club based in Leyton, in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. As of January 2011, they are not in a senior league, after withdrawing from the Isthmian League Division One North...
, before joining Football League Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
club 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...
on a free transfer in October 1925. He played 18 league games for the side, but did not score any goals. In June 1926, he was signed by 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....
outfit Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
for a transfer fee of £800. He spent his entire spell at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
in the reserves, failing to make a single first-team appearance for the club. After a trial period with Flint Town United
Flint Town United F.C.
Flint Town United FC is a Welsh football club representing the Flintshire town of Flint in Wales. They are nicknamed the The Silkmen, and play their home games at Cae-y-Castell, Flint...
, Ferrari joined Third Division South side Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
for a £150 fee in December 1927. He played four league matches for the Canaries before moving to Barrow
Barrow A.F.C.
Barrow A.F.C. are an English football club founded in 1901 based in the town of Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria. Following promotion at the end of the 2007–08 season, they currently play in the Conference National. The club spent over fifty years in the Football League between 1921 and 1972, and have...
on a free transfer at the start of the 1928–29 season.
At Barrow, Ferrari had the most prolific season of his career with a total of 14 goals in 26 league appearances. On 23 February 1929, he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a league match against Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and the Nelson directors soon pursued him. In June that year, Ferrari signed for Nelson for a fee of £85 and went straight into the first-team, making his debut on 31 August 1929 in the 2–2 draw with Southport. He scored his first goal for the club in the following game, a 1–6 defeat away at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
. He scored a total of three goals in the first seven matches of the season, but was then dropped from the team following the 0–3 loss to Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
on 24 September.
In February 1930, Ferrari had a trial with 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...
but no permanent deal materialised and he joined non-league club Burton Town
Burton Town F.C.
Burton Town F.C. was an English association football club based in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire. Originally known as Burton All Saints, the club competed in the Birmingham & District League, one of the country's strongest semi-professional leagues, between 1924 and 1935, winning the...
the following month. After three months he joined Bedouins, and later had a trial at Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
before returning to the Third Division South with Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
in January 1931. Despite staying at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
for over two years, he played no matches for the club. Ferrari left to join amateur Sheffield outfit Hillsborough Old Boys in September 1933. He stayed with the side for three seasons before having a short spell with Darwin's Sports in October 1936, after which he retired from football.