Harry Osman
Encyclopedia
Harry James Osman was an English footballer who played as an outside left for Southampton
(the "Saints") for two seasons in the 1930s and went on to become manager of Winchester City
where he "discovered" future England
international Terry Paine
.
but moved as a child to Okeford Fitzpaine in Dorset. As a teenager, he played football for Okeford United, before joining Poole Town
, playing in the Western League
, in 1930.
In December 1935, he joined Plymouth Argyle
of the Football League Second Division
, where he remained until the summer of 1937. Despited making only five appearances for Plymouth, he had caught the eye of Tom Parker
when he was manager of Norwich City
. On joining Southampton
in 1937, Parker signed Osman from Plymouth, as well as several youngsters from his previous club.
Osman moved back to Hampshire on a free transfer, making his debut for Southampton (in the Football League Second Division
) on 28 August 1937, the first day of the 1937–38 season. Osman made an immediate impact, scoring in a 3–4 defeat by Parker's old club. His next goal came on 18 September (against West Ham United
) before starting a run of form in October which saw him score eight goals in four games, including a hat-trick
in a 3–6 defeat at Luton Town
. On Christmas Day 1937, the Saints played a home league match against Swansea Town in which Osman scored to bring the result level at 1–1; this was the last goal scored at The Dell on a Christmas Day. Although Christmas Day fixtures continued on–and–off until 1959, all the Saints' subsequent Christmas Day matches were away from home.
Osman's form continued and he only missed two matches at the end of the season, when he was the Saints' top–scorer
with 22 goals (a club record for an outside–left). His form had attracted the attention of bigger clubs, but a reported bid of £7,000 from Birmingham City
failed to materialise. The following season, Osman continued to play well in an unsettled Southampton side that struggled to maintain any form. Unable to find the exciting form of the previous season, Osman managed only nine goals (from 30 appearances) before he was sold to Second Division rivals Millwall
in March 1939 for a fee of £2,000, a move that came as a shock to the Southampton fans, although, in hindsight, this turned out to be a very good piece of business.
His career at Millwall was interrupted by the Second World War. He returned to The Dell as a guest player in War Leagues in 1939–40, before joining the Tank Corps
where he was wounded while serving in Italy
. After the war, he returned to Millwall making 23 appearances (with three goals) in 1946–47 before transferring to Bristol City
in October 1947.
At the end of the 1947–48 season he dropped down to lower league football with spells at Dartford
and Canterbury City
(where he was appointed player-manager) before returning to Hampshire
with Winchester City
in 1952.
In 1955, Osman played a 15-year old Terry Paine
in Winchester City's Hampshire League
side. Paine's potential was obvious even at this age and Osman alerted his former Southampton team–mate, now Southampton's manager Ted Bates
to Paine’s potential. Bates had Paine watched and in August 1956, beat Arsenal
to his signature.
After retiring from football management in October 1957, Osman emigrated to Palm Beach, Florida
where he died on 17 December 1998.
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") for two seasons in the 1930s and went on to become manager of Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
where he "discovered" future England
England 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 Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
.
Playing career
Osman was born in the village of Bentworth near Alton, HampshireAlton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
but moved as a child to Okeford Fitzpaine in Dorset. As a teenager, he played football for Okeford United, before joining Poole Town
Poole Town F.C.
Poole Town F.C. is a football club based in Poole, England. They were established in 1890 and joined the Western League Division Two in 1930. They won the Western League title in 1957 and reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup four times in their history. They are currently members of the...
, playing in the Western League
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a football league in the south west of England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire and parts of South Wales...
, in 1930.
In December 1935, he joined Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
of 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...
, where he remained until the summer of 1937. Despited making only five appearances for Plymouth, he had caught the eye of Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
when he was manager of Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
. On 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...
in 1937, Parker signed Osman from Plymouth, as well as several youngsters from his previous club.
Osman moved back to Hampshire on a free transfer, making his debut for Southampton (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...
) on 28 August 1937, the first day of the 1937–38 season. Osman made an immediate impact, scoring in a 3–4 defeat by Parker's old club. His next goal came on 18 September (against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
) before starting a run of form in October which saw him score eight goals in four games, including 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 3–6 defeat at Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. On Christmas Day 1937, the Saints played a home league match against Swansea Town in which Osman scored to bring the result level at 1–1; this was the last goal scored at The Dell on a Christmas Day. Although Christmas Day fixtures continued on–and–off until 1959, all the Saints' subsequent Christmas Day matches were away from home.
Osman's form continued and he only missed two matches at the end of the season, when he was the Saints' 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 22 goals (a club record for an outside–left). His form had attracted the attention of bigger clubs, but a reported bid of £7,000 from 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...
failed to materialise. The following season, Osman continued to play well in an unsettled Southampton side that struggled to maintain any form. Unable to find the exciting form of the previous season, Osman managed only nine goals (from 30 appearances) before he was sold to Second Division rivals Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in March 1939 for a fee of £2,000, a move that came as a shock to the Southampton fans, although, in hindsight, this turned out to be a very good piece of business.
His career at Millwall was interrupted by the Second World War. He returned to The Dell as a guest player in War Leagues in 1939–40, before joining the Tank Corps
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
where he was wounded while serving in Italy
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. After the war, he returned to Millwall making 23 appearances (with three goals) in 1946–47 before transferring 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...
in October 1947.
At the end of the 1947–48 season he dropped down to lower league football with spells at 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...
and Canterbury City
Canterbury City F.C.
Canterbury City F.C. are a football club currently based in Herne Bay near Canterbury, England. Reformed in 2007, they are the first football club formed as a Community interest company. For the 2011–12 season they will compete in the Kent League Premier Division...
(where he was appointed player-manager) before returning to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
with Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
in 1952.
Managerial career
He made a few appearances as a player for Winchester City before taking over as manager in 1953, while also running the Wykeham Arms pub in the city.In 1955, Osman played a 15-year old Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
in Winchester City's Hampshire League
Hampshire League
Hampshire League is a name used for two distinct football competitions based in Hampshire, England. There are two leagues; Hampshire Premier Football League named 'Puma Engineering Hampshire Premier Football League' for sponsor purposes and the division below which is the Hampshire League 2004 or...
side. Paine's potential was obvious even at this age and Osman alerted his former Southampton team–mate, now Southampton's manager Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
to Paine’s potential. Bates had Paine watched and in August 1956, beat Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to his signature.
After retiring from football management in October 1957, Osman emigrated to Palm Beach, Florida
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
where he died on 17 December 1998.