Harry Wake
Encyclopedia
Henry Williamson "Harry" Wake (born 21 January 1901 in Seaton Delaval
, died 1981) is a former English
professional footballer. He is most famous for playing for Cardiff City
in the 1925 FA Cup Final
and being part of the team that won the 1927 FA Cup, although he missed the final through injury.
in 1919. He moved on to Cardiff City
in 1923, making his debut in February 1924 in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur
. In 1925 he was a major part of the team that reached the final of the 1925 FA Cup
, playing in all of the clubs seven games leading up to the final.
The final took place on 25 April with Cardiff losing 1-0 to Sheffield United
. Unfortunately it was a mistake from Wake that cost his team the match. United defender Harry Pantling
hit a long pass down the pitch towards an area of the field Wake was covering but unfortunately he hesitated and failed to cut out the pass, leaving the ball to fly past him to Fred Tunstall
who scored the only goal of the game. Following the match Wake was chastised in the Welsh media with headlines such as "Wake Not Awake" on newspapers across the country and it took several years for him to live down his mistake.
He went on to reach a second final for Cardiff two years later in 1927 when they went on to win the match 1-0 against Arsenal
. Wake scored one of Cardiff's goals in a 3-0 semi-final win over Reading
however he went on to miss the final as he suffered damage to his kidneys in a 3-2 win against Sheffield Wednesday
in a league match. Despite one London
newspaper reporting his death, he went on to play for Cardiff until 1931 when he joined Mansfield Town
, playing in the Stags first ever league match. He also played in the first ever match played by Wigan Athletic
in 1932 following the clubs founding after the collapse of the previous club, Wigan Borough
.
Seaton Delaval
Seaton Delaval is a village in Northumberland, England, with a population of 4,371. It is the largest of the five villages in Seaton Valley and is the site of Seaton Delaval Hall, the masterpiece completed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1727....
, died 1981) is a former English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
professional footballer. He is most famous for playing for Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in the 1925 FA Cup Final
1925 FA Cup Final
The 1925 FA Cup Final was contested by Sheffield United and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium. Sheffield United won by a single goal, scored by Fred Tunstall....
and being part of the team that won the 1927 FA Cup, although he missed the final through injury.
Career
Wake began his career playing local football for Bigges Colliery before turning professional to join Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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...
in 1919. He moved on to Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
in 1923, making his debut in February 1924 in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. In 1925 he was a major part of the team that reached the final of the 1925 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...
, playing in all of the clubs seven games leading up to the final.
The final took place on 25 April with Cardiff losing 1-0 to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
. Unfortunately it was a mistake from Wake that cost his team the match. United defender Harry Pantling
Harry Pantling
Harold "Harry" Pantling was an English footballer who played for Watford, Sheffield United and Rotherham United in The Football League. He also made one appearance for England....
hit a long pass down the pitch towards an area of the field Wake was covering but unfortunately he hesitated and failed to cut out the pass, leaving the ball to fly past him to Fred Tunstall
Fred Tunstall
Fred Tunstall was a footballer who played for Sheffield United and England....
who scored the only goal of the game. Following the match Wake was chastised in the Welsh media with headlines such as "Wake Not Awake" on newspapers across the country and it took several years for him to live down his mistake.
He went on to reach a second final for Cardiff two years later in 1927 when they went on to win the match 1-0 against 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...
. Wake scored one of Cardiff's goals in a 3-0 semi-final win over Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
however he went on to miss the final as he suffered damage to his kidneys in a 3-2 win against Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
in a league match. Despite one London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
newspaper reporting his death, he went on to play for Cardiff until 1931 when he joined Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
, playing in the Stags first ever league match. He also played in the first ever match played by Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
in 1932 following the clubs founding after the collapse of the previous club, Wigan Borough
Wigan Borough F.C.
Wigan Borough Football Club was an English football club from the town of Wigan, Lancashire. It was a fourth attempt at establishing football in Wigan, their forerunners Wigan County, Wigan United and Wigan Town all having fallen into liquidation previously....
.