George Showell
Encyclopedia
George William Showell is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Bristol City
and Wrexham. He spent the majority of his playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring in two league championship-winning seasons and in the 1960 FA Cup Final.
and signed up by Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1949. After several seasons in the reserves, he made his senior debut on 2 April 1955 in a 1–1 draw against Preston North End
. This was the first in a run of games he had at the end of the 1954–55 season, but he fulfilled only a back-up role over the next four seasons.
He did however play in two of the club's league championship triumphs, as well as in the 1960 FA Cup Final, where they beat Blackburn Rovers
3–0 at Wembley, and the 1959
and 1960 Charity Shield
matches. He finally gained a regular first-team role after Billy Wright retired at the beginning of the 1959–60 campaign, and over the first half of the 1960s was a first-choice player at Molineux
, amassing 218 appearances in total.
When the club were relegated in 1965, Showell moved to Bristol City
. He spent just eighteen months there before joining Wrexham in November 1966, where he finished his playing career. He remained with Wrexham until 1990, as assistant manager, trainer, caretaker manager
, and physiotherapist, and was one of 20 inaugural inductees to the club's Supporters Association Hall of Fame.
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...
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...
, Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Wrexham. He spent the majority of his playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring in two league championship-winning seasons and in the 1960 FA Cup Final.
Career
Showell was born in BilstonBilston
Bilston is a town in the English county of West Midlands, situated in the southeastern corner of the City of Wolverhampton. Three wards of Wolverhampton City Council cover the town: Bilston East and Bilston North, which almost entirely comprise parts of the historic Borough of Bilston, and...
and signed up 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...
in 1949. After several seasons in the reserves, he made his senior debut on 2 April 1955 in a 1–1 draw against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
. This was the first in a run of games he had at the end of the 1954–55 season, but he fulfilled only a back-up role over the next four seasons.
He did however play in two of the club's league championship triumphs, as well as in the 1960 FA Cup Final, where they beat Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
3–0 at Wembley, and the 1959
1959 FA Charity Shield
The 1959 FA Charity Shield was the 37th FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup titles. This year's match was contested by league champions Wolverhampton Wanderers and FA Cup winners Nottingham Forest.The match was held at the...
and 1960 Charity Shield
1960 FA Charity Shield
The 1960 FA Charity Shield was the 38th FA Charity Shield, a football match between the winners of the previous season's First Division and FA Cup titles. The match was contested by league champions Burnley and FA Cup winners Wolverhampton Wanderers....
matches. He finally gained a regular first-team role after Billy Wright retired at the beginning of the 1959–60 campaign, and over the first half of the 1960s was a first-choice player at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, amassing 218 appearances in total.
When the club were relegated in 1965, Showell moved to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
. He spent just eighteen months there before joining Wrexham in November 1966, where he finished his playing career. He remained with Wrexham until 1990, as assistant manager, trainer, caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
, and physiotherapist, and was one of 20 inaugural inductees to the club's Supporters Association Hall of Fame.
External links
- League stats at Neil Brown's site