Harry Bedford
Encyclopedia
Henry "Harry" Bedford was an English professional football player. He scored 326 league goals in 485 games.
in 1919, and it was after his performance against Blackpool
at the City Ground
that the promotion-seeking Seasiders, under the guidance of new manager Bill Norman
, signed him in March 1921 for a fee of £900.
He made his debut for the Seasiders in a 1-0 league defeat at South Shields
on 12 March 1921, and scored his first goal for the club in the return match at Bloomfield Road
seven days later.
Bedford scored seven goals in his first ten league games for Blackpool. In 1921-22 he scored 11 goals in 32 games, and the following season, 1922–23, he played in all 42 league games and scored 32 goals and was the country's leading goalscorer. In 1923-24 he was again the country's top scorer with 34 goals, a feat which only Jimmy Hampson
equalled. In 1924-25, Bedford's goals helped Blackpool reach the fourth round of the FA Cup
for the first time and he scored 24 goals in 40 league games. He scored six goals in seven games at the start of the 1925-26 season, but was transferred to Derby County
on 24 September 1925, for a fee of £3,500. He scored 142 goals in 203 league games for Derby.
In December 1930 he was transferred to Newcastle United
, playing 30 league games and scoring 17 goals up to January 1932, when he moved to Sunderland
, a move which only lasted for a short time. On 12 May 1932, he moved to Bradford Park Avenue
where he scored 15 goals in the 1932-33 season. And in June 1933 he joined Chesterfield
, where he scored 12 goals in the 1933-34 season. However, he then refused new contract terms with Chesterfield and the club released him. In August 1934 he joined non-league club Heanor Town
, where he ended his playing career.
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Bedford is in the pre-1950s.
. He made his debut against Sweden
on 21 May 1923 in a match which England won 4-2. His only other England cap came against Ireland
on 22 October 1924, at Anfield
, scoring England's second goal in a 3-1 victory.
he became manager of Heanor Town, a position he held until he resigned in 1955. He died in Derby on 24 June 1976.
Club career
Bedford, a striker, began his career at Nottingham ForestNottingham 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 1919, and it was after his performance against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
at the City Ground
City Ground
The City Ground is a football stadium in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on the banks of the River Trent. It has been home to Nottingham Forest Football Club since 1898, and has a capacity of 30,602 ....
that the promotion-seeking Seasiders, under the guidance of new manager Bill Norman
Bill Norman (football manager)
William "Bill" Norman was an English football manager.Between 1918 and 1923, he was in charge of Blackpool, who became one of a growing number of clubs to appoint a full-time manager. Before that point, the team selection had been the responsibility of a committee comprising directors, the captain,...
, signed him in March 1921 for a fee of £900.
He made his debut for the Seasiders in a 1-0 league defeat at South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
on 12 March 1921, and scored his first goal for the club in the return match at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
seven days later.
Bedford scored seven goals in his first ten league games for Blackpool. In 1921-22 he scored 11 goals in 32 games, and the following season, 1922–23, he played in all 42 league games and scored 32 goals and was the country's leading goalscorer. In 1923-24 he was again the country's top scorer with 34 goals, a feat which only Jimmy Hampson
Jimmy Hampson
James "Jimmy" Hampson was an English professional footballer. He spent eleven seasons at Blackpool, where he remains record goalscorer with 252 goals in 373 games, and is still regarded as one of the best centre forwards to play for the club.-Club career:Born in Little Hulton, Lancashire, Hampson...
equalled. In 1924-25, Bedford's goals helped Blackpool reach the fourth round of 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...
for the first time and he scored 24 goals in 40 league games. He scored six goals in seven games at the start of the 1925-26 season, but was transferred to 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...
on 24 September 1925, for a fee of £3,500. He scored 142 goals in 203 league games for Derby.
In December 1930 he was transferred 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...
, playing 30 league games and scoring 17 goals up to January 1932, when he moved to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, a move which only lasted for a short time. On 12 May 1932, he moved to Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
where he scored 15 goals in the 1932-33 season. And in June 1933 he joined 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...
, where he scored 12 goals in the 1933-34 season. However, he then refused new contract terms with Chesterfield and the club released him. In August 1934 he joined non-league club Heanor Town
Heanor Town F.C.
Heanor Town Football Club is a football club established in 1883 and based in Heanor, Derbyshire, England. They have reached the First Round proper of the FA Cup six times in their history...
, where he ended his playing career.
Blackpool F.C. Hall of Fame
Parkinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame at Bloomfield Road, when it was officially opened by former Blackpool player Jimmy ArmfieldJimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
in April 2006. Organised by the Blackpool Supporters Association, Blackpool fans around the world voted on their all-time heroes. Five players from each decade are inducted; Bedford is in the pre-1950s.
International career
Bedford was capped twice for 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...
. He made his debut against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
on 21 May 1923 in a match which England won 4-2. His only other England cap came against Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
on 22 October 1924, at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
, scoring England's second goal in a 3-1 victory.
Managerial career
In the late 1930s Bedford joined Newcastle United's coaching staff, before joining Derby County where he became the club's masseur in 1938. After World War IIWorld 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...
he became manager of Heanor Town, a position he held until he resigned in 1955. He died in Derby on 24 June 1976.