Jimmy Broadhead
Encyclopedia
James Edward "Jimmy" Broadhead (25 August 1894 – 4 May 1955) was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. Born in Rotherham
, he started his career with Rotherham County
in 1913, and then joined Norwich City
in 1919. He later had spells with South Shields
and Scunthorpe & Lindsey United before moving to Nelson
, where he made 67 Football League appearances in two spells with the club. He played in non-league football
towards the end of his career, before retiring to become a coach
in the early 1930s.
, South Yorkshire
, on 25 August. After his football career ended, he settled in Whiston, Merseyside
, and worked for retail and gambling company Littlewoods
of Liverpool. He died in Whiston on 4 May 1955, at the age of 60.
in 1913, having previously played junior football with Kimberworth Old Boys. His early career was interrupted by the First World War. After the conclusion of the War, Broadhead joined Southern Football League
side Norwich City
, where he scored eight goals in 31 matches during a solitary season at Carrow Road. In May 1920, he signed for Football League Second Division
club South Shields
. However, he failed to break into the first-team and left in January 1921 without playing a single match for the club. He next joined Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and played one-and-a-half seasons with them, scoring the club's last ever goal in the Midland Football League
, in a 1–1 draw with Harrogate Town
.
In May 1922, Broadhead was recommended to Nelson
player-manager David Wilson
by former Chelsea
forward Bob Whittingham
, and became one of 11 new signings for Nelson at the start of the 1922–23 season. He made his Nelson debut on 26 August 1922 in the 2–6 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue
. On 14 April 1923, he scored his first goal for the club, netting the winner in the 2–1 win against Accrington Stanley
at Seedhill
. Broadhead missed only two matches during the campaign as the team won the Football League Third Division North
to gain promotion to the Second Division for the first time in their history. He did not make the team as regularly in a higher league, and was often second choice left-half behind new signing Leigh Collins
. Broadhead found his first-team opportunites highly limited during the 1924–25 season. On 21 April 1925, he played his first match in almost a year when he was selected for the 2–1 home win over Southport
. He played in the first six games of the following campaign, but was then replaced by Ernie Braidwood
and later by Ambrose Harris
. After a four year spell, in which he played total of 66 league matches and scored one goal for Nelson, Broadhead left Nelson in July 1926 to join non-league
side Barnoldswick Town
.
After one season with Barnoldswick, Broadhead returned to Nelson in a joint role as player and reserve team coach. After recovering from a knee injury, he played a number of matches for the second string as they were crowned champions of the Lancashire Combination
for the 1927–28 season. Broadhead did make one appearance in the league for the first-team, playing in the 2–3 loss to Bradford Park Avenue on 15 October 1927. In the summer of 1928 he transferred to Horwich RMI, before joining Morecambe
in July 1930.
coaching staff in August 1935. After leaving Southampton, his final coaching job, Broadhead returned to the north of England.
Rotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, he started his career with Rotherham County
Rotherham County F.C.
Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1877 as Thornhill Football Club becoming Rotherham County in 1905. It joined the Midland League in 1903, and stayed in that competition until it was abandoned for World...
in 1913, and then joined Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
in 1919. He later had spells with South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
and Scunthorpe & Lindsey United before moving to Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
, where he made 67 Football League appearances in two spells with the club. He played in non-league football
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
towards the end of his career, before retiring to become a coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
in the early 1930s.
Biography
James Broadhead was born in RotherhamRotherham
Rotherham is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Don, at its confluence with the River Rother, between Sheffield and Doncaster. Rotherham, at from Sheffield City Centre, is surrounded by several smaller settlements, which together form the wider Metropolitan Borough of...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, on 25 August. After his football career ended, he settled in Whiston, Merseyside
Whiston, Merseyside
Whiston is a large village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley on Merseyside, England. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 13,629...
, and worked for retail and gambling company Littlewoods
Littlewoods
Littlewoods is the name of a former retail and gambling company founded in Liverpool, Merseyside, England by John Moores in 1923.It started as a shopping catalogue company, processing orders by post in the early 1970s. In 1981, it expanded to a call centre, processing orders via telephone. At its...
of Liverpool. He died in Whiston on 4 May 1955, at the age of 60.
Football career
Broadhead started his senior career with his hometown club Rotherham CountyRotherham County F.C.
Rotherham County Football Club was an English football club based in the town of Rotherham, Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1877 as Thornhill Football Club becoming Rotherham County in 1905. It joined the Midland League in 1903, and stayed in that competition until it was abandoned for World...
in 1913, having previously played junior football with Kimberworth Old Boys. His early career was interrupted by the First World War. After the conclusion of the War, Broadhead joined Southern Football League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
side Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, where he scored eight goals in 31 matches during a solitary season at Carrow Road. In May 1920, he signed for Football League 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...
club South Shields
South Shields F.C.
South Shields F.C. are a football club based in South Shields, England. They have a long and complicated history, with three distinct incarnations taking the name...
. However, he failed to break into the first-team and left in January 1921 without playing a single match for the club. He next joined Scunthorpe & Lindsey United and played one-and-a-half seasons with them, scoring the club's last ever goal in the Midland Football League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
, in a 1–1 draw with Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town F.C.
Harrogate Town Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The club was founded in 1914 and currently competes in the Conference North division of the Football Conference.-History:...
.
In May 1922, Broadhead was recommended to Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
player-manager David Wilson
David Wilson (footballer born 1884)
David Wilson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a wing half. He started his career in the Scottish Football League and went on to play 475 matches in the Football League before retiring at the age of 40. He appeared in one international match for Scotland in 1913...
by former Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
forward Bob Whittingham
Bob Whittingham
Robert "Bob" Whittingham was an English footballer who played as an inside-forward for various clubs, mainly prior to the First World War...
, and became one of 11 new signings for Nelson at the start of the 1922–23 season. He made his Nelson debut on 26 August 1922 in the 2–6 defeat away at Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
. On 14 April 1923, he scored his first goal for the club, netting the winner in the 2–1 win against Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley F.C. (1891)
Accrington Stanley was an English football club based in Accrington, Lancashire. Established in 1891, the club played in the Football League between 1921 and 1962, when the club became only the second ever to resign from the League mid-season. The club went into liquidation in 1966...
at Seedhill
Seedhill Football Ground
The Seedhill Football Ground was a football stadium in Nelson, Lancashire. It was the home of current North West Counties League Division One side Nelson F.C. from 1905 until 1968. Nelson later moved to Victoria Park, before the ground was demolished in 1980 to make way for the M65 motorway...
. Broadhead missed only two matches during the campaign as the team won the Football League Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
to gain promotion to the Second Division for the first time in their history. He did not make the team as regularly in a higher league, and was often second choice left-half behind new signing Leigh Collins
Leigh Collins
Leigh Richman Collins was an English professional footballer who played as a half-back. He played in the Football League for Wigan Borough, Nelson and New Brighton.-References:...
. Broadhead found his first-team opportunites highly limited during the 1924–25 season. On 21 April 1925, he played his first match in almost a year when he was selected for the 2–1 home win over Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
. He played in the first six games of the following campaign, but was then replaced by Ernie Braidwood
Ernie Braidwood
Ernest Braidwood was an English professional footballer who played as a centre half. He started his senior career with Chesterfield Municipal before signing his first professional contract with Football League First Division side Oldham Athletic in August 1920...
and later by Ambrose Harris
Ambrose Harris
Ambrose Harris was an English professional footballer who played in a number of positions, mainly as a half-back. He played in the Football League with Nelson, making almost 60 first-team appearances for the club in a four-year spell...
. After a four year spell, in which he played total of 66 league matches and scored one goal for Nelson, Broadhead left Nelson in July 1926 to join non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
side Barnoldswick Town
Barnoldswick Town F.C.
Barnoldswick Town F.C. are an English football club based in Barnoldswick, Lancashire. Town were formed in 2003 following the merger of existing clubs Barnoldswick United and Barnoldswick Park Rovers.The club currently run three sides, with the East Lancashire League Third XI using the former Park...
.
After one season with Barnoldswick, Broadhead returned to Nelson in a joint role as player and reserve team coach. After recovering from a knee injury, he played a number of matches for the second string as they were crowned champions of the Lancashire Combination
Lancashire Combination
The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...
for the 1927–28 season. Broadhead did make one appearance in the league for the first-team, playing in the 2–3 loss to Bradford Park Avenue on 15 October 1927. In the summer of 1928 he transferred to Horwich RMI, before joining Morecambe
Morecambe F.C.
Morecambe Football Club is an English football club based in Morecambe, Lancashire. It plays its football in League Two, the fourth division of English football, having been promoted in 2007 for the first time in their history to the Football League. They played their home matches at Christie Park...
in July 1930.
After football
Following a short spell as a player with Morecambe, Broadhead retired from football to become a full-time coach. He returned to Nelson in the early 1930s as a trainer, before being appointed to the SouthamptonSouthampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
coaching staff in August 1935. After leaving Southampton, his final coaching job, Broadhead returned to the north of England.
Honours
Nelson:- Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division NorthThe Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
: 1922–231922–23 Nelson F.C. seasonThe 1922–23 season was the 42nd season in the history of Nelson F.C. and their second as a professional club in the Football League. After finishing 16th in their inaugural Third Division North campaign in 1921–22, the team performed well above expectations under the guidance of player-manager...