Ted Hough
Encyclopedia
Edward "Ted" Hough was an English footballer who spent most of his career with Southampton
playing as a centre-half and later as a full-back.
and was playing for Talbot Stead Tubeworks when he was spotted by scouts from Southampton
. In October 1921, one of the Southampton directors was despatched to the Midlands to secure his services and after a meeting with the Tubeworks board, they agreed to release him if the director stood a round of drinks
— eventually, after buying a total of 52 pint
s of beer
, the contract was signed and Hough was released to join "the Saints".
He made his first-team debut on 17 April 1922 playing at centre-half in a 1–0 victory over Aberdare Athletic
. Over the next two seasons, Hough made only the occasional appearance, generally standing in for Alec Campbell
at centre-half or Fred Titmuss
at left-back. At the start of the 1924–25 season, Hough was preferred by manager Jimmy McIntyre
to Titmuss for the first seven matches. From late-September onwards, he and Titmuss vied for the No. 3 shirt, until March when Hough took over at right-back from Tom Parker
for the rest of the season.
In September 1925, Parker was restored to the side and Hough spent the first six months of the season in the reserves until February 1926, when Parker was sold to Arsenal
, with Titmuss also leaving to join Plymouth Argyle
. Having made only 40 league appearances in 4½ years, Hough finally became a fixture in the side.
In 1926–27 he missed only one match as manager Arthur Chadwick
settled on his favoured line-up with eleven players featuring in at least 35 of the 42 league games; this included a half back line-up of Bert Shelley
, George Harkus
and Stan Woodhouse
, in front of full-backs Michael Keeping
and Hough. In the FA Cup
, Southampton had an excellent run reaching the semi-final against Arsenal
. The semi-final was played at Stamford Bridge
on 26 March 1927; after the Saints had an early penalty appeal turned down by the referee, Arsenal mounted a prolonged pressure on the Southampton goal, resulting in the opening score, when a cross-shot from Joe Hulme
was deflected by Hough past Tommy Allen
into the Saints' goal. Arsenal went on to win the match 2–1 to reach the final, where they lost 1–0 to Cardiff City
.
Hough had several periods out with injury during the 1927–28 season, and only managed a total of 25 league appearances. He again started the 1928–29 season as Keeping's regular partner at the back, until injury forced him out at the end of October, to be replaced by Arthur Bradford
for nine matches. The following season followed a similar pattern, with Hough missing half the season from December to April.
With injuries now taking their toll, and Bradford establishing himself as his replacement, Hough only made three appearances and at the end of the season he was released. In his ten years at The Dell, Hough made 184 appearances in all competitions, never scoring.
for a fee of £200, but only made one appearance at left-back, before moving on to Bristol Rovers
in December 1932, where he also made just one appearance before retiring.
After retiring, he returned to the Portsmouth
area, where he worked as a fitter's mate in the local power station
.
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...
playing as a centre-half and later as a full-back.
Southampton
Hough was born in WalsallWalsall
Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...
and was playing for Talbot Stead Tubeworks when he was spotted by scouts from 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...
. In October 1921, one of the Southampton directors was despatched to the Midlands to secure his services and after a meeting with the Tubeworks board, they agreed to release him if the director stood a round of drinks
Round of drinks
A round of drinks is a set of alcoholic beverages purchased by one person in a group for that complete group. The purchaser buys the round of drinks as a single order at the bar. In many places it is customary for people to take turns buying rounds....
— eventually, after buying a total of 52 pint
Pint
The pint is a unit of volume or capacity that was once used across much of Europe with values varying from state to state from less than half a litre to over one litre. Within continental Europe, the pint was replaced with the metric system during the nineteenth century...
s of beer
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
, the contract was signed and Hough was released to join "the Saints".
He made his first-team debut on 17 April 1922 playing at centre-half in a 1–0 victory over 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:...
. Over the next two seasons, Hough made only the occasional appearance, generally standing in for Alec Campbell
Alec Campbell (footballer)
Alistair Kenyon Campbell was a professional footballer who played nearly 200 games for Southampton in the first quarter of the twentieth century, before briefly becoming manager at Chesterfield....
at centre-half or Fred Titmuss
Fred Titmuss
Frederick Titmuss was an English footballer who played at full-back for Southampton and Plymouth Argyle, and also made two appearances for England.-Southampton:...
at left-back. At the start of the 1924–25 season, Hough was preferred by manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
to Titmuss for the first seven matches. From late-September onwards, he and Titmuss vied for the No. 3 shirt, until March when Hough took over at right-back from Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
for the rest of the season.
In September 1925, Parker was restored to the side and Hough spent the first six months of the season in the reserves until February 1926, when Parker was sold to 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...
, with Titmuss also leaving to join Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. Having made only 40 league appearances in 4½ years, Hough finally became a fixture in the side.
In 1926–27 he missed only one match as manager Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick
Arthur Chadwick was a professional footballer whose playing career included spells at Portsmouth and Southampton, before going on to be manager at Exeter City, Reading and Southampton...
settled on his favoured line-up with eleven players featuring in at least 35 of the 42 league games; this included a half back line-up of Bert Shelley
Bert Shelley
Frederick Albert "Bert" Shelley was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton, for whom he made nearly 450 appearances, before becoming a coach at Southampton...
, George Harkus
George Harkus
George Cecil Harkus MBE was an English professional footballer who played as a half back for Southampton in the 1920s before serving with distinction in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.-Early days:...
and Stan Woodhouse
Stan Woodhouse
Stanley "Stan" Woodhouse was an English footballer who played initially as an inside forward and later as a half back with Bury and Southampton in the 1920s and 1930s.-Playing career:...
, in front of full-backs Michael Keeping
Michael Keeping
Alexander Edwin Michael "Mike" Keeping was an English footballer and manager. He coached Real Madrid C.F. from January 1948 to October 1950.-Southampton:...
and Hough. 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...
, Southampton had an excellent run reaching the semi-final against 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...
. The semi-final was played at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
on 26 March 1927; after the Saints had an early penalty appeal turned down by the referee, Arsenal mounted a prolonged pressure on the Southampton goal, resulting in the opening score, when a cross-shot from Joe Hulme
Joe Hulme
Joseph Harold Anthony "Joe" Hulme was an English footballer and cricketer.-Football career:Born in Stafford, Staffordshire Hulme usually played as a right-winger...
was deflected by Hough past Tommy Allen
Tommy Allen (footballer)
Thomas "Tommy" Allen was an English professional goalkeeper who played for Southampton in the 1920s and later for Coventry City.-Early career:...
into the Saints' goal. Arsenal went on to win the match 2–1 to reach the final, where they lost 1–0 to 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...
.
Hough had several periods out with injury during the 1927–28 season, and only managed a total of 25 league appearances. He again started the 1928–29 season as Keeping's regular partner at the back, until injury forced him out at the end of October, to be replaced by Arthur Bradford
Arthur Bradford (footballer)
James Arthur Bradford was an English footballer who played his entire professional career as a half back with Southampton...
for nine matches. The following season followed a similar pattern, with Hough missing half the season from December to April.
With injuries now taking their toll, and Bradford establishing himself as his replacement, Hough only made three appearances and at the end of the season he was released. In his ten years at The Dell, Hough made 184 appearances in all competitions, never scoring.
Later career
In May 1931, Hough was sold to PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
for a fee of £200, but only made one appearance at left-back, before moving on to Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in December 1932, where he also made just one appearance before retiring.
After retiring, he returned to the Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
area, where he worked as a fitter's mate in the local power station
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
.