Harry Stafford (football)
Encyclopedia
Harry Stafford was an English
football player. Harry joined Newton Heath
, later called Manchester United, from Crewe Alexandra F.C.
in 1896. According to legend, while captain of Newton Heath, it was his dog that ran over to wealthy brewer John Henry Davies
. Davies took a liking to the dog and started to talk to Stafford. The United captain told Davies about the club he played for and the financial trouble they were in. Davies decided to buy the team and wipe away the debt.
He became captain of Newton Heath in 1896 and was still club captain when the club became Manchester United in 1902. He retired from playing in 1903, after which he ran a hotel in Wrexham
, Denbighshire
, Wales
. He later ran a hotel in Canada
.
His son, Harry Stafford junior, who died on 17 December 1988 at the age of 87, was identified in 2002 as a probable victim of serial killer GP Harold Shipman
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football player. Harry joined Newton Heath
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, later called Manchester United, from Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
in 1896. According to legend, while captain of Newton Heath, it was his dog that ran over to wealthy brewer John Henry Davies
John Henry Davies
John Henry Davies was a wealthy brewery owner who in 1902 took over the British football club Manchester United, which was then called Newton Heath. The club had massive debt at the time....
. Davies took a liking to the dog and started to talk to Stafford. The United captain told Davies about the club he played for and the financial trouble they were in. Davies decided to buy the team and wipe away the debt.
He became captain of Newton Heath in 1896 and was still club captain when the club became Manchester United in 1902. He retired from playing in 1903, after which he ran a hotel in Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He later ran a hotel in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
His son, Harry Stafford junior, who died on 17 December 1988 at the age of 87, was identified in 2002 as a probable victim of serial killer GP Harold Shipman
Harold Shipman
Harold Fredrick Shipman was an English doctor and one of the most prolific serial killers in recorded history with 218 murders being positively ascribed to him....
.