Jackie Mordue
Encyclopedia
John "Jackie" Mordue was an English
footballer who played at outside right, and won the Football League
championship with Sunderland
in 1912–13
and made two appearances for England
.
, County Durham
, the fifth son of Thomas Mordue, coal miner. As a youth he played for various local village teams and was spotted by Barnsley
whilst playing for Spennymoor United
. He joined the Oakwell club in October 1906, and played 25 Second Division
games with 12 goals. In April the following year he moved to London
when he was sold to Woolwich Arsenal
for £450, where he linked up with his brother-in-law, goalkeeper
Jimmy Ashcroft
.
Mordue made his debut for Arsenal on 13 April 1907 and went on to play 28 games for Arsenal (26 in the First Division
, two in the FA Cup
) in thirteen months, scoring one goal. Arsenal finished 7th and 14th in the league in the 1906-07
and 1907-08
seasons, and Mordue was considered one of the team's best assets. With Woolwich Arsenal in financial trouble, he was sold for £750 to Sunderland
, returning to his native north east
in May 1908.
scoring in a 3–0 victory. He soon became a fixture at outside right, contributing some vital goals including one against Newcastle United
in a 9–1 victory at St James' Park
on 5 December 1908.
He went on to form an excellent partnership on the right-wing with Charlie Buchan
and Francis Cuggy
, his 15 goals helping the club to win the Football League
Championship in 1913. Sunderland narrowly missed out on the Double
, losing the FA Cup final
1–0 to Aston Villa
, who themselves were runners-up in the League.
Mordue also became Sunderland's main penalty taker, scoring 26 in total, reaching the age of 34 before he missed one in a competitive game.
Mordue made two England
appearances, making his debut against Ireland on 10 February 1912. In this match, he played alongside his Sunderland colleague George Holley
as England ran out 6–1 victors. His second, and final, England match was also against Ireland a year later. In this match, Mordue was teamed up with his Sunderland colleagues Charlie Buchan
and Francis Cuggy
and although Buchan scored early in the game, England went down 2–1. Mordue also represented the Football League on three occasions.
Mordue left Sunderland in 1920, having played 294 games in total, with 80 goals.
in May 1920, spending three years at Ayresome Park
before accepting the position of player-manager at Durham City
in February 1923, a post he held for twelve months.
Mordue died on 14 December 1957, the day after his 71st birthday.
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...
footballer who played at outside right, and won the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
championship with Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in 1912–13
1912-13 in English football
The 1912–13 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Sunderland won the First Division for the fifth time, with a record of 25–4–9; Aston Villa, finishing second, had fewer defeats, but a lot more draws: 19–12–7....
and made two appearances for 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...
.
Early career
Mordue was born in EdmondsleyEdmondsley
Edmondsley is a small village in County Durham, England. It is situated a few miles south-west of Chester-le-Street, near the villages of Craghead and Sacriston....
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, the fifth son of Thomas Mordue, coal miner. As a youth he played for various local village teams and was spotted by Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
whilst playing for Spennymoor United
Spennymoor United F.C.
Spennymoor United F.C. was an English association football club based in Spennymoor, County Durham.In 1905, they joined the Northern League and won the league title six times in their history. In the 1936-37 season, they reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they lost to top-flight side West...
. He joined the Oakwell club in October 1906, and played 25 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...
games with 12 goals. In April the following year he moved to 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...
when he was sold to Woolwich 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...
for £450, where he linked up with his brother-in-law, 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...
Jimmy Ashcroft
Jimmy Ashcroft
James "Jimmy" Ashcroft was an English football goalkeeper.Born in Liverpool, Ashcroft began his career with several local sides, briefly signing as an amateur with Everton, before moving south and joining Southern League side Gravesend United in 1899...
.
Mordue made his debut for Arsenal on 13 April 1907 and went on to play 28 games for Arsenal (26 in the 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....
, two in the 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...
) in thirteen months, scoring one goal. Arsenal finished 7th and 14th in the league in the 1906-07
1906-07 in English football
The 1906–07 season was the 36th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:-First Division:-Second Division:P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsReferences...
and 1907-08
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
seasons, and Mordue was considered one of the team's best assets. With Woolwich Arsenal in financial trouble, he was sold for £750 to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, returning to his native north east
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
in May 1908.
Sunderland
He made his Sunderland debut on 9 September 1908 at MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
scoring in a 3–0 victory. He soon became a fixture at outside right, contributing some vital goals including one against Newcastle United
Newcastle 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 a 9–1 victory at St James' Park
St James' Park
St James' Park, known for sponsorship reasons as the Sports Direct Arena, is an all-seater stadium in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It is the home of Newcastle United Football Club and is the sixth largest football stadium in the United Kingdom with a capacity of between 52,387 and 52,409.St James'...
on 5 December 1908.
He went on to form an excellent partnership on the right-wing with Charlie Buchan
Charlie Buchan
Charles Murray Buchan was an English football player and writer.-Early career:Born in Plumstead, London, Buchan first played as an amateur for local club Woolwich Arsenal, joining the club in December 1909...
and Francis Cuggy
Francis Cuggy
Francis Cuggy was an English footballer who played at right half. He won the Football League championship with Sunderland in 1912–13 and made two appearances for England.-Sunderland:...
, his 15 goals helping the club to win the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
Championship in 1913. Sunderland narrowly missed out on the Double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...
, losing the FA Cup final
1913 FA Cup Final
The 1913 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Sunderland on 19 April 1913 at London's Crystal Palace. Playing as the home side, Aston Villa won 1–0 on a goal by Tommy Barber on a crossed ball from Charlie Wallace...
1–0 to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, who themselves were runners-up in the League.
Mordue also became Sunderland's main penalty taker, scoring 26 in total, reaching the age of 34 before he missed one in a competitive game.
Mordue made two 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...
appearances, making his debut against Ireland on 10 February 1912. In this match, he played alongside his Sunderland colleague George Holley
George Holley
George Holley was an English professional footballer who spent most of his career as an inside forward with Sunderland, helping them claim the Football League title in 1913...
as England ran out 6–1 victors. His second, and final, England match was also against Ireland a year later. In this match, Mordue was teamed up with his Sunderland colleagues Charlie Buchan
Charlie Buchan
Charles Murray Buchan was an English football player and writer.-Early career:Born in Plumstead, London, Buchan first played as an amateur for local club Woolwich Arsenal, joining the club in December 1909...
and Francis Cuggy
Francis Cuggy
Francis Cuggy was an English footballer who played at right half. He won the Football League championship with Sunderland in 1912–13 and made two appearances for England.-Sunderland:...
and although Buchan scored early in the game, England went down 2–1. Mordue also represented the Football League on three occasions.
Mordue left Sunderland in 1920, having played 294 games in total, with 80 goals.
Later career
He was sold to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in May 1920, spending three years at Ayresome Park
Ayresome Park
-External links:**-References:...
before accepting the position of player-manager at Durham City
Durham City A.F.C.
Durham City A.F.C. are an English football club that currently plays in the Northern Premier League Division One North. They are based in the city of Durham in North East England.-History:...
in February 1923, a post he held for twelve months.
Mordue died on 14 December 1957, the day after his 71st birthday.
Honours
SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
- The Football LeagueThe Football LeagueThe Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
champions: 1912–131912-13 in English footballThe 1912–13 season was the 42nd season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Sunderland won the First Division for the fifth time, with a record of 25–4–9; Aston Villa, finishing second, had fewer defeats, but a lot more draws: 19–12–7.... - FA CupFA CupThe 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...
finalist: 19131913 FA Cup FinalThe 1913 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and Sunderland on 19 April 1913 at London's Crystal Palace. Playing as the home side, Aston Villa won 1–0 on a goal by Tommy Barber on a crossed ball from Charlie Wallace...