George Harris (footballer born 1877)
Encyclopedia
George Harris was an English professional footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1900s.
, Staffordshire
and started his football career at nearby Uttoxeter
, from where he joined the local Football League First Division
side, Stoke in November 1900.
At Stoke, he was initially used as cover for Scotland
international Willie Maxwell, who had been a regular fixture at inside-left for six seasons. After Maxwell left Stoke in 1901, Harris had more opportunities and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals, in the 1901–02 season. For the following season, Stoke recruited Arthur Capes
from Nottingham Forest
and Harris once again became only an occasional player, often at outside-right, spending the whole of the 1903–04 season in the reserves. In his four years with Stoke, Harris made only 23 appearances, scoring five goals.
In 1904, he moved to Southern League
Reading
where his career "blossomed", scoring eleven goals in 28 games, resulting in an international trial.
In April 1905, he was one of nine players signed by fellow Southern League side, Southampton
. The "Saints" were anxious to regain the Southern League title which they had taken six times in the eight years up to 1904, but had finished in a disappointing third place at the end of 1904–05
. Harris made his Southampton debut in the opening match of the 1905–06 season
, a 1–0 defeat at home to Brentford
, but after two games was replaced by Harry Brown
. For the rest of the season, the No. 10 shirt would alternate between Brown and Harris. Once settled into the side, Harris "developed into a consistent striker, with a powerful and accurate shot". In his first season at The Dell, Harris made twenty appearances, scoring four goals, as the Saints finished as runners-up, five points behind champions Fulham
.
Harry Brown moved to Newcastle United
in the summer of 1906, enabling Harris to establish himself as the first-choice at inside-left. In the 1906–07 season, Harris formed an effective striking partnership with Fred Harrison and Alex Glen
, scoring five goals from 28 league appearances, as the Saints finished eleventh, their lowest placing since the inauguration of the Southern league in 1894. Two of his goals came in a 5–0 victory over Brentford
on 18 March 1907.
at Tutbury
, near Burton upon Trent
. In 1908, a year after his "retirement", he turned out for his home-town side in the Burton & District League.
Football career
Harris was born in RocesterRocester
Rocester is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. Its name is spelt Rowcestre in the Domesday Book.-Geography:...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and started his football career at nearby Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter
Uttoxeter is a historic market town in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands region of England. The current population is approximately 13,711, though new developments in the town will increase this figure. Uttoxeter lies close to the River Dove and is near the cities of Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and...
, from where he joined the local 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....
side, Stoke in November 1900.
At Stoke, he was initially used as cover for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
international Willie Maxwell, who had been a regular fixture at inside-left for six seasons. After Maxwell left Stoke in 1901, Harris had more opportunities and made 15 appearances, scoring three goals, in the 1901–02 season. For the following season, Stoke recruited Arthur Capes
Arthur Capes
Arthur John Capes was a former footballer.-Career:Capes played in the Football League for Stoke where he made sixty appearance. Capes also played for Burton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City and Swindon Town. He won the FA Cup with Forest in 1898 scoring twice in the final in a 3-1 win...
from 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...
and Harris once again became only an occasional player, often at outside-right, spending the whole of the 1903–04 season in the reserves. In his four years with Stoke, Harris made only 23 appearances, scoring five goals.
In 1904, he moved to 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...
Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
where his career "blossomed", scoring eleven goals in 28 games, resulting in an international trial.
In April 1905, he was one of nine players signed by fellow Southern League side, 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...
. The "Saints" were anxious to regain the Southern League title which they had taken six times in the eight years up to 1904, but had finished in a disappointing third place at the end of 1904–05
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...
. Harris made his Southampton debut in the opening match of the 1905–06 season
Southern Football League 1905-06
The 1905–06 Southern League season saw Fulham win Division One and Crystal Palace finishing top of Division Two. No clubs were relegated from Division One as it was expanded to 20 clubs the following season...
, a 1–0 defeat at home to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, but after two games was replaced by Harry Brown
Harry Brown (footballer born 1883)
Henry "Harry" Brown was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs in the early part of the twentieth century, including West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United, Fulham and Southampton...
. For the rest of the season, the No. 10 shirt would alternate between Brown and Harris. Once settled into the side, Harris "developed into a consistent striker, with a powerful and accurate shot". In his first season at The Dell, Harris made twenty appearances, scoring four goals, as the Saints finished as runners-up, five points behind champions Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
.
Harry Brown moved to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the summer of 1906, enabling Harris to establish himself as the first-choice at inside-left. In the 1906–07 season, Harris formed an effective striking partnership with Fred Harrison and Alex Glen
Alex Glen
Alexander Glen was a Scottish footballer who played as an inside-forward for various clubs in the 1900s.-Football career:Glen was born in Kilsyth in Lanarkshire, Scotland and was a medical student at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary...
, scoring five goals from 28 league appearances, as the Saints finished eleventh, their lowest placing since the inauguration of the Southern league in 1894. Two of his goals came in a 5–0 victory over Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
on 18 March 1907.
Later career
In the summer of 1907, Harris decided to retire and became the landlord of a public housePublic house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
at Tutbury
Tutbury
Tutbury is a large village and civil parish of about 3,000 residents in the English county of Staffordshire.It is surrounded by the agricultural countryside of both Staffordshire and Derbyshire. The site has been inhabited for over 3000 years, with Iron Age defensive ditches encircling the main...
, near Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
. In 1908, a year after his "retirement", he turned out for his home-town side in the Burton & District League.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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... |
1900–01 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1901–02 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | |
| 1902–03 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1903–04 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Reading Reading F.C. Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship... |
1904–05 | | | |||||
| 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... |
1905–06 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 4 |
| 1906–07 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | |
| Career Total | 71 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 14 | |