George Clawley
Encyclopedia
George Clawley was an English professional goalkeeper
who played for Stoke
, Southampton
and Tottenham Hotspur
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was the goalkeeper for the Spurs side that won the 1901 FA Cup Final
.
, near Congleton
, he started his professional career with Crewe Alexandra
in August 1893. He made three appearances for Crewe in the Football League Second Division
in 1893–94 before being recruited by their First Division
neighbours Stoke
in September 1894.
in goal as Stoke struggled throughout the 1894–95 season finishing third from bottom and only avoiding relegation via the end of season playoffs. The following season Stoke were more successful finishing in sixth place. They also enjoyed an exciting FA Cup
run to the quarter-finals where they were defeated 3–0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers
.
who were about to embark on their third season in the Southern League
. In his first two-year spell with The Saints he was ever-present, captaining the south coast club to the Southern League title in both 1896–97
and 1897–98. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints" Clawley was "one of the finest uncapped goalkeepers ever to grace the football field of England". He "possessed the physical requirements of height and reach that were to make him one of the greats around the turn of the century".
In addition to their league success, Southampton reached the FA Cup Semi-finals
where they took Nottingham Forest
to a replay. The replay at Crystal Palace
was played in a blizzard. After a scoreless first half (in which Joe Turner
missed a penalty for Southampton), in the second half Saints were on top when, with ten minutes left to play, referee John Lewis
stopped the match for a time and the players left the pitch. No sooner had the game re-started than the weather worsened but the referee decided that the match should continue. Clawley had his eyes "choked with snow" and conceded two goals in the final minutes of the game. Despite Southampton's protests the F.A.
decided that the result should stand – this was perhaps not surprising as Lewis was an eminent member of the F.A. board.
, rejoining Stoke for the 1898–99 season
. He took over the captaincy and playing all 34 matches as Stoke finished the league season in 12th place. Renowned for his ability to leave his line to catch crosses and corners, or clear through-balls from the feet of onrushing attackers at a time when goalkeepers usually left such duties to their defenders, Clawley became an early exponent of recovering quickly from making an initial save to block a follow-up. Once again Stoke had some success in the FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals where they were defeated 3–1 by a Steve Bloomer
hat-trick for Derby County
.
to join Tottenham Hotspur
, then in the Southern League
. He broke his leg shortly after joining Spurs, thus missing an entire season, but he returned in 1900 to play his part in Spurs' FA Cup winning run. In the first match of the 1901 FA Cup Final
against Sheffield United
, Spurs were 2–1 up (both goals from Sandy Brown) when in a goalmouth scramble Clawley turned the ball around the post for what should have been a corner. However, the referee Arthur Kingscott
(despite being some way from the goalmouth) awarded a goal and the match went to a replay.
In the replay at Burnden Park
, Bolton
Spurs triumphed 3–1 on a wet and windy afternoon, and brought the Cup back to the south at last after eighteen years, thus becoming the first (and only) non-League team to win the Cup.
international Jack Robinson
. Once again he helped the Saints to the Southern League title in 1903–04. He remained at The Dell
until he retired in 1907. In his second, four year, spell with the Saints he made 121 Southern League appearances.
. He died on 16 July 1920 aged 45.
Southampton
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played for Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, 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...
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was the goalkeeper for the Spurs side that won the 1901 FA Cup Final
1901 FA Cup Final
The 1901 FA Cup Final was played at Crystal Palace between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United–and the first FA Cup Final to be filmed by Pathé News.-Match details:-Replay:-Match Rules:*90 minutes....
.
Early career
Born at Scholar GreenScholar Green
Scholar Green is a village in the civil parish of Odd Rode in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.Encompassing the smaller settlement of Kent Green and The Bank Scholar Green is near Mow Cop, Alsager, Rode Heath, Butt Lane and Kidsgrove, in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East.The...
, near Congleton
Congleton
Congleton is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Dane, to the west of the Macclesfield Canal and 21 miles south of Manchester. It has a population of 25,750.-History:The first settlements in...
, he started his professional career with Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in August 1893. He made three appearances for Crewe in 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 1893–94 before being recruited by their 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....
neighbours Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in September 1894.
Stoke
He soon displaced Bill RowleyBill Rowley
William Spencer "Bill" Rowley was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke in the 1880s and 1890s, also making two appearances for England...
in goal as Stoke struggled throughout the 1894–95 season finishing third from bottom and only avoiding relegation via the end of season playoffs. The following season Stoke were more successful finishing in sixth place. They also enjoyed an exciting FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
run to the quarter-finals where they were defeated 3–0 by 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...
.
Southampton
In the summer of 1896 he was persuaded to move south to join SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
who were about to embark on their third season 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 his first two-year spell with The Saints he was ever-present, captaining the south coast club to the Southern League title in both 1896–97
1896–97 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
The 1896–97 season was the twelfth since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their third in league football, as members of the Southern League. The season was the most successful yet, with St. Mary's claiming the Southern League title for the first time and reaching the Second Round...
and 1897–98. According to Holley & Chalk's "The Alphabet of the Saints" Clawley was "one of the finest uncapped goalkeepers ever to grace the football field of England". He "possessed the physical requirements of height and reach that were to make him one of the greats around the turn of the century".
In addition to their league success, Southampton reached the FA Cup Semi-finals
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
where they took 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...
to a replay. The replay at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
was played in a blizzard. After a scoreless first half (in which Joe Turner
Joe Turner (footballer)
Joseph Turner was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton. Southampton were a Southern League club at the time, and their feat was all the more remarkable in that they had already been losing finalists two years earlier...
missed a penalty for Southampton), in the second half Saints were on top when, with ten minutes left to play, referee John Lewis
John Lewis (referee)
John Lewis was an English football player, administrator and referee. He was born at Market Drayton, Shropshire, but lived most of his life in Lancashire and was primarily associated with Blackburn Rovers F.C...
stopped the match for a time and the players left the pitch. No sooner had the game re-started than the weather worsened but the referee decided that the match should continue. Clawley had his eyes "choked with snow" and conceded two goals in the final minutes of the game. Despite Southampton's protests the F.A.
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
decided that the result should stand – this was perhaps not surprising as Lewis was an eminent member of the F.A. board.
Return to Stoke
In May 1898 he returned to the MidlandsEnglish Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
, rejoining Stoke for the 1898–99 season
1898-99 in English football
The 1898–99 season was the 28th season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the first season in which automatic promotion/relegation was introduced between the First and Second divisions. Both Divisions were expanded to 18 teams....
. He took over the captaincy and playing all 34 matches as Stoke finished the league season in 12th place. Renowned for his ability to leave his line to catch crosses and corners, or clear through-balls from the feet of onrushing attackers at a time when goalkeepers usually left such duties to their defenders, Clawley became an early exponent of recovering quickly from making an initial save to block a follow-up. Once again Stoke had some success in the FA Cup, reaching the semi-finals where they were defeated 3–1 by a Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer
Steve Bloomer was an English footballer and manager who played for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England during the 1890s and 1900s. Bloomer remains a legend at Derby County and the club anthem, Steve Bloomer's Watchin', is played before every home game...
hat-trick for Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
.
Tottenham Hotspur
In 1889 he moved to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to join Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, 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...
. He broke his leg shortly after joining Spurs, thus missing an entire season, but he returned in 1900 to play his part in Spurs' FA Cup winning run. In the first match of the 1901 FA Cup Final
1901 FA Cup Final
The 1901 FA Cup Final was played at Crystal Palace between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United–and the first FA Cup Final to be filmed by Pathé News.-Match details:-Replay:-Match Rules:*90 minutes....
against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, Spurs were 2–1 up (both goals from Sandy Brown) when in a goalmouth scramble Clawley turned the ball around the post for what should have been a corner. However, the referee Arthur Kingscott
Arthur Kingscott
Arthur Kingscott was a footballing personality from Derbyshire at the turn of the 20th century who died at the age of 74. He was from New Sawley, Long Eaton in Derbyshire England, later serving as a treasurer at the Football Association...
(despite being some way from the goalmouth) awarded a goal and the match went to a replay.
In the replay at Burnden Park
Burnden Park
Burnden Park was the home of English FA Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers who played home games here between 1895 and 1997. As well as hosting an FA Cup Final replay it was the scene of one of the greatest disasters in English football and the subject of an L. S...
, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
Spurs triumphed 3–1 on a wet and windy afternoon, and brought the Cup back to the south at last after eighteen years, thus becoming the first (and only) non-League team to win the Cup.
Return to Southampton
Clawley returned to Southampton in 1903, replacing EnglandEngland 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 Jack Robinson
Jack Robinson (footballer)
John William "Jack" Robinson , was a professional footballer who played for, among others Derby County, Southampton and England.-Football career:...
. Once again he helped the Saints to the Southern League title in 1903–04. He remained at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
until he retired in 1907. In his second, four year, spell with the Saints he made 121 Southern League appearances.
After football
After retiring from the game, he became landlord of the Wareham Arms Hotel in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
. He died on 16 July 1920 aged 45.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Crewe Alexandra Crewe Alexandra F.C. Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club... |
1893–94 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1894–95 | 24 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| 1895–96 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 0 | |
| 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... |
1896–97 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 1897–98 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 31 | 0 | |
| Stoke Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1898–99 | 34 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| 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... |
1903–04 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 33 | 0 |
| 1904–05 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | |
| 1905–06 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 1906–07 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 250 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 288 | 0 | |
Honours
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winner: 19011901 FA Cup FinalThe 1901 FA Cup Final was played at Crystal Palace between Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United–and the first FA Cup Final to be filmed by Pathé News.-Match details:-Replay:-Match Rules:*90 minutes....
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...
- Southern LeagueSouthern Football LeagueThe 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...
championship: 1896–97Southern Football League 1896-97The 1896-97 season was the third in the history of the Southern League. Southampton St.Mary's won the Division One championship.-Division One:Division One featured five new clubs:*Gravesend United *Northfleet...
, 1897–98Southern Football League 1897-98The 1897–98 season was the fourth in the history of the Southern League. Southampton won the Division One championship for the second successive season.-Division One:Division One featured one new club, Bristol City, who were newly-elected....
and 1903–04Southern Football League 1903-04The 1903–04 Southern League season saw Southampton win Division One for the second successive season. Watford finishing top of Division Two, earning automatic promotion, the first time that test matches had not been held...