Norman Corbett
Encyclopedia
Norman George "Norrie" Corbett (23 June 1919 in Camelon
, Falkirk
– June 1990) was a Scottish
footballer
who played as a right-half.
As a schoolboy, Corbett captained the Falkirk team that won the Scottish Schools Trophy. He also played for Scotland Boys and, while at Musselburgh
, played for Scotland Juniors. He signed for Hearts
at the age of 15.
Norman Corbett played for West Ham United
between April 1937 and 1950, making 166 League appearances and scoring three goals for the club. He was an ever-present for the Irons during the 1947-48
season, and won a Football League War Cup
winners medal in 1940, although he did not appear in the final.
After the outbreak of World War II
, Corbett served as a volunteer with the Essex Regiment
, and guested for Southampton
.
He played his last League game for West Ham against Cardiff City
on 15 April 1950, and appeared only for the reserve team
after that. He later became a coach
and joined Clapton
.
Norrie was brother of Hammers player David
(who was also a right-half) and Willie
, who guested for the club during World War II
.
Camelon
Camelon is a large settlement within the Falkirk council area, Scotland. The village is in the Forth Valley, west of Falkirk, south of Larbert and east of Bonnybridge...
, Falkirk
Falkirk (council area)
Falkirk is one of the 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland. It borders onto North Lanarkshire to the south west, Stirling to the north west, West Lothian to the south east and, across the Firth of Forth to the north east, Fife and Clackmannanshire...
– June 1990) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer
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...
who played as a right-half.
As a schoolboy, Corbett captained the Falkirk team that won the Scottish Schools Trophy. He also played for Scotland Boys and, while at Musselburgh
Musselburgh
Musselburgh is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre.-History:...
, played for Scotland Juniors. He signed for Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
at the age of 15.
Norman Corbett played for West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
between April 1937 and 1950, making 166 League appearances and scoring three goals for the club. He was an ever-present for the Irons during the 1947-48
1947-48 in English football
The 1947–48 season was the 68th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season, and won a Football League War Cup
Football League War Cup
The Football League War Cup was an association football tournament held between 1939 and 1945 which aimed to fill the gaping hole left in English Football by the cancellation of the FA Cup.- Background:...
winners medal in 1940, although he did not appear in the final.
After the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Corbett served as a volunteer with the Essex Regiment
Essex Regiment
The Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
, and guested for Southampton
Southampton 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...
.
He played his last League game for West Ham against 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...
on 15 April 1950, and appeared only for the reserve team
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
after that. He later became 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:...
and joined Clapton
Clapton F.C.
Clapton F.C. is an English association football club, who play in Forest Gate, in the London Borough of Newham, England.Founded by W.R. Davis at a meeting in his father's house at 11 Queensdown Road, Clapton in August 0f 1877. Downs F.C. started playing on Hackney Downs. They changed their name a...
.
Norrie was brother of Hammers player David
David Corbett
David Corbett is a Canadian lawyer who gained international acclaim when, in 2002, he argued Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board, a case that pitted the rights of a homosexual couple against the rights of a religious institution....
(who was also a right-half) and Willie
Willie Corbett
William 'Willie' Corbett was a Scottish footballer who played as a centre-half.Corbett made 99 appearances for Celtic from 1941 - 1948 and also played for Preston North End, Leicester City, Yeovil Town, Dunfermline Athletic and Greenock Morton He also appeared as a guest player for West Ham United...
, who guested for the club during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.