Tim Coleman
Encyclopedia
John George "Tim" Coleman (26 October 1881 – 20 November 1940) was an English football
er.
Coleman was born in Kettering
, Northamptonshire
, and first played for local non-league sides, Kettering Town
and then Northampton Town
in 1901. He was signed by Second Division
Woolwich Arsenal
in the summer of 1902, and immediately became a regular goalscorer for the club.
Coleman made his debut against Preston North End
on 6 September 1902, and in his first season was top scorer with 17 goals in 30 matches, as Arsenal finished third. The following season he broke his own record and scored 23 goals in 28 games, which along with strike partner Tommy Shanks
' 25 goals, helped Arsenal to second spot and thus promotion to the First Division
. Coleman found 1905-06
, his first season at the top, tough going (he only scored five goals), but the following season he scored 15 in 34 matches. Coleman's season was topped with Arsenal reaching the FA Cup
semi-finals (which they lost to Newcastle United
, and his one and only cap for England
, against Ireland
on 16 February 1907.
Despite their success on the pitch, Woolwich Arsenal were suffering from financial difficulties, and willingly accepted a bid of £700 for Coleman from Everton
in February 1908, near the end of the 1907-08
season. In total, Coleman had played 196 games for Arsenal, scoring 84 goals. Coleman was a regular during the two and a half seasons he spent at Goodison Park
, helping the Toffees to runners-up spot in 1908-09
, and scoring 30 goals in 71 league appearances. While at Everton, he was notable for being one the few players, along with most of the Manchester United
side, to maintain their membership of the Players' Union
(the forerunner of the Professional Footballers Association), in defiance of Football Association
rules. After a standoff, the FA backed down.
Coleman later had spells at Sunderland
(1910–11), Fulham
(1911–14) and Nottingham Forest
(1914–15). With the advent of World War I
and the suspension of first-class football, Coleman retired from the professional game, although he still played in non-league football, most notably for Tunbridge Wells Rangers, finally retiring in 1921. He later worked as a coach & manager for Maidstone Utd , and moved to the Netherlands. He died in November 1940, at the age of 59.
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...
er.
Coleman was born in Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, and first played for local non-league sides, Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
and then Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
in 1901. He was signed by 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...
Woolwich 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...
in the summer of 1902, and immediately became a regular goalscorer for the club.
Coleman made his debut against Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on 6 September 1902, and in his first season was top scorer with 17 goals in 30 matches, as Arsenal finished third. The following season he broke his own record and scored 23 goals in 28 games, which along with strike partner Tommy Shanks
Tommy Shanks
Thomas "Tommy" Shanks was an Irish footballer.Shanks was born in Wexford and started his playing career with local club Wexford FC before moving to England to play for Derby West End and then Derby County in 1898. He spent three seasons at the Baseball Ground, playing 28 times and scoring five...
' 25 goals, helped Arsenal to second spot and thus promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. Coleman found 1905-06
1905-06 in English football
The 1905–06 season was the 35th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Following the increase in size of the Football League from 36 clubs to 40, and with Doncaster Rovers having been relegated from the Second Division, four new clubs were elected into the league, along with Stockport...
, his first season at the top, tough going (he only scored five goals), but the following season he scored 15 in 34 matches. Coleman's season was topped with Arsenal reaching 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...
semi-finals (which they lost to Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, and his one and only cap for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, against Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
on 16 February 1907.
Despite their success on the pitch, Woolwich Arsenal were suffering from financial difficulties, and willingly accepted a bid of £700 for Coleman from Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
in February 1908, near the end of the 1907-08
1907-08 in English football
The 1907–08 season was the 37th season of competitive football in England. Manchester United were Football League champions for the first time, while Bradford City won the Second Division and Wolverhampton Wanderers won the FA Cup...
season. In total, Coleman had played 196 games for Arsenal, scoring 84 goals. Coleman was a regular during the two and a half seasons he spent at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
, helping the Toffees to runners-up spot in 1908-09
1908-09 in English football
The 1908–09 season was the 38th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Tottenham Hotspur played their first ever season in the Football League, gaining promotion to the First Division in the process...
, and scoring 30 goals in 71 league appearances. While at Everton, he was notable for being one the few players, along with most of the Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
side, to maintain their membership of the Players' Union
Players' Union
The Players' Union was the popular name for the Association of Football Players’ and Trainers’ Union in the United Kingdom; the original association that became the Professional Footballers' Association....
(the forerunner of the Professional Footballers Association), in defiance of Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
rules. After a standoff, the FA backed down.
Coleman later had spells at Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
(1910–11), Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
(1911–14) and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
(1914–15). With the advent of World War I
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...
and the suspension of first-class football, Coleman retired from the professional game, although he still played in non-league football, most notably for Tunbridge Wells Rangers, finally retiring in 1921. He later worked as a coach & manager for Maidstone Utd , and moved to the Netherlands. He died in November 1940, at the age of 59.