Reg Hackett
Encyclopedia
Reginald Lawrence Hackett was an English professional footballer who played at left-half for Southampton
during the 1919–20 season.
and started his football career with Blackheath Town, where he had gained two England junior international caps against Ireland and Scotland. In 1919, he was spotted by Southampton
's trainer, Jimmy McIntyre
, who had been working in Coventry
during the First World War and, along with two team-mates (including outside-left Fred Foxall
) was signed in time for the 1919–20 Southern League
season.
Hackett made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the season, a 1–1 draw at The Dell against Exeter City
on 30 August. Described as a "consistent performer", Hackett retained his place at left-half, rarely missing a match until early March, when an injury led to him missing most of the rest of the season, with Bill Turner
replacing him.
In the summer of 1920, after 31 League and two FA Cup
matches, Hackett left the club and returned to Birmingham
, where he later played in the Birmingham League.
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...
during the 1919–20 season.
Football career
Hackett was born in Cradley HeathCradley Heath
Cradley Heath is a town in the Black Country, located in Sandwell metropolitan borough, England. The name is usually pronounced "Craid-ley", not "Crad-ley", but in the Black Country accent, it may even sound like "Craig-ley Aith"...
and started his football career with Blackheath Town, where he had gained two England junior international caps against Ireland and Scotland. In 1919, he was spotted by 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...
's trainer, Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
, who had been working in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
during the First World War and, along with two team-mates (including outside-left Fred Foxall
Fred Foxall
Frederick Howard Foxall was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
) was signed in time for the 1919–20 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...
season.
Hackett made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the season, a 1–1 draw at The Dell against Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
on 30 August. Described as a "consistent performer", Hackett retained his place at left-half, rarely missing a match until early March, when an injury led to him missing most of the rest of the season, with Bill Turner
Bill Turner (footballer)
William "Bill" Turner was an English footballer who played as a half back with Southampton, Bury and Queens Park Rangers in the 1920s.-Football career:...
replacing him.
In the summer of 1920, after 31 League and two 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...
matches, Hackett left the club and returned to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, where he later played in the Birmingham League.