Ivan Sharpe
Encyclopedia
Ivan Gordon Sharpe (15 June 1889 – 9 February 1968) was an English
amateur association football player. Although an amateur himself, he played for several professional clubs, including Watford
, Derby County
— with whom he won the Football League First Division
in 1911–12–and later Leeds United
. He represented the England national amateur football team
, and also the Great Britain national football team, with whom he won an Olympic gold medal at the 1912 games
in Sweden
. He is also one of very few players to have played for both Leeds City (65 appearances and 17 goals) and Leeds United
(1 appearance 0 goals).
After retirement he enjoyed a long career as a sports journalist, becoming president of the Football Writers Association. He served as editor of the Athletic News Football Annual and also of the Athletic News Cricket Annual
. In 1936 he was selected by the BBC
to be one of two journalists (the other being Mr F N S Creek) who for the first time provided live commentary on the FA Cup Final
. He continued to contribute a hard-hitting article to the Wolverhampton Wanderers match day programme for many years right up to his death, and he also produced a volume of memoirs "40 Years in Football" in 1954.
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...
amateur association football player. Although an amateur himself, he played for several professional clubs, including Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, 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...
— with whom he won the Football League First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
in 1911–12–and later Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. He represented the England national amateur football team
England national amateur football team
The England national amateur football team was the amateur representative team for England at football. It was formed in 1906, due to the growth of the professional game which meant that amateur players could no longer easily find places in the main England national team.-First match and unbeaten...
, and also the Great Britain national football team, with whom he won an Olympic gold medal at the 1912 games
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, between 5 May and 27 July 1912. Twenty-eight nations and 2,407 competitors, including 48 women, competed in 102 events in 14 sports...
in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He is also one of very few players to have played for both Leeds City (65 appearances and 17 goals) and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
(1 appearance 0 goals).
After retirement he enjoyed a long career as a sports journalist, becoming president of the Football Writers Association. He served as editor of the Athletic News Football Annual and also of the Athletic News Cricket Annual
Athletic News Cricket Annual
The Athletic News Cricket Annual was one of several sporting annuals published initially by the Athletic News, a Manchester-based newspaper devoted almost entirely to reporting sports events. It was first issued in 1888 and it had reached its 48th edition by 1939...
. In 1936 he was selected by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to be one of two journalists (the other being Mr F N S Creek) who for the first time provided live commentary on the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
. He continued to contribute a hard-hitting article to the Wolverhampton Wanderers match day programme for many years right up to his death, and he also produced a volume of memoirs "40 Years in Football" in 1954.