Harry Stirzaker
Encyclopedia
Henry "Harry" Stirzaker was an English
professional football
er. He played as a defender
and spent his entire professional career with Blackpool
.
After joining Blackpool from Fleetwood Rangers in 1894, Stirzaker started Blackpool's first-ever game in the Football League, a 3–1 defeat at Lincoln City
on 5 September 1896. He went on to appear in all but the final three games of the 1896–97
season, scoring four goals. Along with two other imports from Fleetwood Rangers – Bob Birkett
and Jack Scott
– Stirzaker was the mainstay of Blackpool's fledgling Football League team of the early part of the 20th century.
In 1897–98
, Stirzaker made 25 league appearances and scored one goal. Over the next three seasons, he made 93 league appearances and scored nine goals (six of which came in 1900–01
).
Stirzaker stood in as an emergency goalkeeper
for Blackpool's opening game of the 1901–02
season, when the club's first-choice 'keeper, Joe Dorrington, was unavailable.
In 1902–03
, Stirzaker made only nine appearances after being edged out of the team by utility player Geordie Anderson, who could either play in defence or in the forward line.
Stirzaker's final game for Blackpool occurred on 13 April 1903, in the final game of the season – a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield
at Bloomfield Road.
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...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
er. He played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and spent his entire professional career with 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...
.
After joining Blackpool from Fleetwood Rangers in 1894, Stirzaker started Blackpool's first-ever game in the Football League, a 3–1 defeat at Lincoln City
Lincoln City F.C.
Lincoln City Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire. The club are currently members of the Conference National in 2011–12 following relegation from the Football League....
on 5 September 1896. He went on to appear in all but the final three games of the 1896–97
Blackpool F.C. season 1896-97
The 1896–97 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eighth....
season, scoring four goals. Along with two other imports from Fleetwood Rangers – Bob Birkett
Bob Birkett
Robert Kirkham "Bob" Birket was an English professional footballer who spent his entire ten-year football league career with Blackpool after signing from Fleetwood Rangers....
and Jack Scott
Jack Scott (footballer)
Jack "John" A. Scott was an English professional footballer. He spent eleven years at Blackpool in the late 1890s and early 1900s, making over 300 Football League appearances for the club. He played as a defender...
– Stirzaker was the mainstay of Blackpool's fledgling Football League team of the early part of the 20th century.
In 1897–98
Blackpool F.C. season 1897-98
The 1897–98 season was Blackpool F.C.s second consecutive season in the Football League. They competed in the sixteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing eleventh....
, Stirzaker made 25 league appearances and scored one goal. Over the next three seasons, he made 93 league appearances and scored nine goals (six of which came in 1900–01
Blackpool F.C. season 1900-01
The 1900-01 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season back in the Football League . They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing twelfth....
).
Stirzaker stood in as an emergency goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
for Blackpool's opening game of the 1901–02
Blackpool F.C. season 1901-02
The 1901-02 season was Blackpool F.C.s fifth season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
season, when the club's first-choice 'keeper, Joe Dorrington, was unavailable.
In 1902–03
Blackpool F.C. season 1902-03
The 1902-03 season was Blackpool F.C.s sixth season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing fourteenth....
, Stirzaker made only nine appearances after being edged out of the team by utility player Geordie Anderson, who could either play in defence or in the forward line.
Stirzaker's final game for Blackpool occurred on 13 April 1903, in the final game of the season – a 2–1 victory over 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...
at Bloomfield Road.