George Lewis (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas George Lewis was a Welsh footballer who played as a centre-forward for Watford
in the late 1930s, before joining Southampton
for a brief period after World War II
.
in Glamorgan
and after playing youth football with his village side and then in the nearby town of New Tredegar
followed his elder brother Jim to join Watford
. He initially joined Watford as an amateur at 17, before signing his first professional contract in May 1934.
Lewis stayed at Vicarage Road
until the war, making irregular appearances in the Football League Third Division South
, firstly, like his brother, at left back before moving to centre forward in 1937–38. His most successful league season was 1938–39 when he scored nine goals from 13 appearances.
During the war he was an Army P.T.
instructor, although he made guest appearances for Chester City
. He spent one more season with Watford after the end of the war, in which there was no League football. Lewis played in eight FA Cup matches as Watford reached round four before being eliminated by Birmingham City
. Lewis scored three goals during the cup run, including the equaliser against Nottingham Forest
in round three.
Southampton
for a "four figure fee". Described as a "well-built centre-forward" with a "never-say-die" attitude, Lewis enjoyed a fine first season at The Dell, despite problems at the start of he season with a hamstring
injury. He made his debut on 3 October 1946, taking over from the injured Doug McGibbon
, in a 2–4 defeat at Swansea. After a run of five games, in which he only found the net once, he was replaced by the fit again McGibbon. He regained the number 9 shirt in December when McGibbon was sold to Fulham
and went on to score 11 goals in the remaining 23 games.
In the FA Cup
third round match against Bury
on 11 January 1947, Lewis scored a hat-trick
in a 5–1 victory. This was the "Saints" first FA Cup hat-trick for 50 years, and the first-ever in the competition proper. In total he scored 15 goals, making him joint top-scorer
with Jack Bradley
.
Lewis was unable to reproduce this form in the 1947–48 season, failing to score in any of his 15 appearances. The arrival of Charlie Wayman
in November brought Lewis's Saints career to an end. In his two years at Southampton, he scored 15 goals from 45 appearances.
before joining Dartford
, where he remained until 1952, when he took up a position as groundsman.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in the late 1930s, before joining 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...
for a brief period after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Watford
Lewis was born in Troed-y-rhiwTroed-y-rhiw
Troed-y-rhiw is a village in the Welsh county borough of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, South Wales.The village is served by Troed-y-rhiw railway station.-Community Archives Wales:...
in Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
and after playing youth football with his village side and then in the nearby town of New Tredegar
New Tredegar
New Tredegar is a former coal mining community in the Rhymney Valley, Caerphilly county borough, Wales , within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire....
followed his elder brother Jim to join Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
. He initially joined Watford as an amateur at 17, before signing his first professional contract in May 1934.
Lewis stayed at Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
until the war, making irregular appearances in the 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....
, firstly, like his brother, at left back before moving to centre forward in 1937–38. His most successful league season was 1938–39 when he scored nine goals from 13 appearances.
During the war he was an Army P.T.
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
instructor, although he made guest appearances for Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
. He spent one more season with Watford after the end of the war, in which there was no League football. Lewis played in eight FA Cup matches as Watford reached round four before being eliminated by Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. Lewis scored three goals during the cup run, including the equaliser against 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 round three.
Southampton
In July 1946, he joined Second DivisionFootball 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...
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...
for a "four figure fee". Described as a "well-built centre-forward" with a "never-say-die" attitude, Lewis enjoyed a fine first season at The Dell, despite problems at the start of he season with a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury. He made his debut on 3 October 1946, taking over from the injured Doug McGibbon
Doug McGibbon
Douglas "Doug" McGibbon was an English footballer who played at centre forward for Southampton, Fulham and Bournemouth in the years just after the Second World War...
, in a 2–4 defeat at Swansea. After a run of five games, in which he only found the net once, he was replaced by the fit again McGibbon. He regained the number 9 shirt in December when McGibbon was sold to 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...
and went on to score 11 goals in the remaining 23 games.
In the 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...
third round match against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on 11 January 1947, Lewis 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 5–1 victory. This was the "Saints" first FA Cup hat-trick for 50 years, and the first-ever in the competition proper. In total he scored 15 goals, making him joint top-scorer
Southampton F.C. seasons
This is a list of seasons played by Southampton Football Club in English and European football, from 1892 to the most recent completed season. The first six seasons are Southampton St. Mary's....
with Jack Bradley
Jack Bradley (footballer)
John "Jack" Bradley was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs in the 1930s and 1940s, including Swindon Town, Southampton and Bolton Wanderers.-Playing career:...
.
Lewis was unable to reproduce this form in the 1947–48 season, failing to score in any of his 15 appearances. The arrival of Charlie Wayman
Charlie Wayman
Charles Wayman was an English footballer.Wayman, who was born in Chilton, Bishop Auckland, was a prolific centre-forward in the first decade after the Second World War. Newcastle United signed him from Spennymoor United in September 1941, while he was working as a miner at Chilton Colliery...
in November brought Lewis's Saints career to an end. In his two years at Southampton, he scored 15 goals from 45 appearances.
Later career
Lewis spent the 1947–48 season back in the Third Division South with Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
before joining Dartford
Dartford F.C.
Dartford F.C. are an English football club based in Dartford, Kent. After finishing as champions of the Isthmian League Division One North in the 2007–08 season, they compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division. They finished in 8th position in their first season...
, where he remained until 1952, when he took up a position as groundsman.