Percy Mackrill
Encyclopedia
Percy A. Mackrill was a South Africa
n-born footballer
and football club manager.
Mackrill joined Bradford Park Avenue
in the summer of 1913 and remained with them until the outbreak of war
, though failed to make the first team. He spent the war years playing for Rotherham County
.
He joined Coventry City
in the summer of 1919 as Coventry began their first season in the Football League
. However, he played just once before moving to Halifax Town
later that year. Halifax were elected to the football league in 1921 and Mackrill played in their first ever league game, a 2-0 defeat away to eventual runners-up Darlington
on August 27, 1921.
He played 57 league games for Halifax before leaving at the end of the 1922-23 season to join Pontypridd, where he spent two years before joining Torquay United
in 1925. He later became player-manager and led Torquay to the Southern League
title in 1927, which they won by 0.002 of a goal from Bristol City
reserves. This earned them promotion to the Football League, Torquay winning election in place of Aberdare Athletic
.
He left himself out of the starting line-up at the beginning of Torquay's first league season, preferring to play George Smith at left-back. However, after six games, Mackrill returned to the team, playing in the next six games before retiring as a player to concentrate on management, although the team was actually selected by the directors. Torquay finished in last place at the end of their first season in the Division Three (South) and he left in March 1929 with United struggling near the foot of the table once more.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n-born 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...
and football club manager.
Mackrill joined 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...
in the summer of 1913 and remained with them until the outbreak of war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, though failed to make the first team. He spent the war years playing for 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...
.
He joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
in the summer of 1919 as Coventry began their first season in 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...
. However, he played just once before moving to Halifax Town
Halifax Town A.F.C.
Halifax Town Association Football Club were an English football team who most recently played in the Conference National, although prior to that they participated in the Football League for over eighty years...
later that year. Halifax were elected to the football league in 1921 and Mackrill played in their first ever league game, a 2-0 defeat away to eventual runners-up Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
on August 27, 1921.
He played 57 league games for Halifax before leaving at the end of the 1922-23 season to join Pontypridd, where he spent two years before joining Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
in 1925. He later became player-manager and led Torquay to the Southern 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...
title in 1927, which they won by 0.002 of a goal from Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
reserves. This earned them promotion to the Football League, Torquay winning election in place of Aberdare Athletic
Aberdare Athletic F.C.
Aberdare Athletic Football Club were a Welsh football club founded in 1893 and based in Aberdare. They joined the Football League in 1921 but were replaced by Torquay United after failing to be re-elected in 1927.-History:...
.
He left himself out of the starting line-up at the beginning of Torquay's first league season, preferring to play George Smith at left-back. However, after six games, Mackrill returned to the team, playing in the next six games before retiring as a player to concentrate on management, although the team was actually selected by the directors. Torquay finished in last place at the end of their first season in the Division Three (South) and he left in March 1929 with United struggling near the foot of the table once more.