Val Gregory
Encyclopedia
Valentine Francis Gregory (14 February 1888 – 10 March 1940) was an English
footballer who played as a half back. He won the 1914–15 Southern League
title with for Watford
, and captained Wolverhampton Wanderers
in the 1921 FA Cup Final
.
, Middlesex
on Valentine's Day 1888, leading to him being christened Valentine. Val was the third son of Fred Gregory, a tenant farmer at Pinner Hill Farm, and later the licencee of Oddfellows pub in Pinner. He joined Watford
three months after his elder brother, also named Fred, and at one stage he, Fred, and younger brothers Allan and Owen were all contracted to Watford simultaneously, although only he and Fred went on to play for the club competitively.
alongside elder brother Fred. His first goal followed shortly after, in a 1–0 win over Exeter City
on 30 December 1911, and by the end of the 1911–12 season Val had made 16 Southern League
appearances, scoring twice. He established himself as a first-team regular over the following two seasons, missing only five of Watford's 84 games.
Watford narrowly avoided relegation in the 1913–14 season with an 18th placed finish, but Gregory and Watford started the following season with a nine match unbeaten run. He played only three of their next ten matches, coinciding with six Watford defeats over the same period. From 25 December onwards he was ever-present, and Watford secured the Southern League title on the penultimate game of the season, with Fred scoring the title-winning goal in a 3–2 win against Gillingham.
Normal peacetime competitions were suspended between 1915 and 1919
due to the First World War. In this time, Gregory made 43 wartime appearances for Watford, and also made guest appearances for Arsenal
. The Southern League resumed in 1919–20, which proved to be Gregory's last season at the club. He made 35 appearances and scored twice, but Watford lost out on the title to Portsmouth
on goal average.
In May 1920, Gregory joined Football League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
for what was at the time a Watford record transfer fee of £1,500. He was joined by former Watford team-mate George Edmonds, the top scorer from the title-winning season. Despite being a Second Division
side, Wolves overcame Stoke City
, Derby County
, Fulham
, Everton
and Cardiff City
to reach the 1921 FA Cup
Final
. Gregory captained his team in the final at Stamford Bridge
, but they were defeated 1–0 by Tottenham Hotspur
.
Gregory spent the remainder of his professional career at Wolves, making his final appearances for the team in the 1922–23 season that saw the club relegated to the third tier. He became a player-coach in 1925, and finished his playing days as an amateur for Butler Sports and Wolverhampton Football Club. He finally ended his service as a coach at Molineux
in 1938 due to ill health.
, Wolverhampton Wanderers' home. He died in March 1940 in Wolverhampton
, aged 52.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played as a half back. He won the 1914–15 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 with for Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, and captained Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in the 1921 FA Cup Final
1921 FA Cup Final
The 1921 FA Cup Final was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Spurs won by a single goal, scored by Jimmy Dimmock, eight minutes into the second half...
.
Early and personal life
Gregory was born in PinnerPinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
on Valentine's Day 1888, leading to him being christened Valentine. Val was the third son of Fred Gregory, a tenant farmer at Pinner Hill Farm, and later the licencee of Oddfellows pub in Pinner. He joined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
three months after his elder brother, also named Fred, and at one stage he, Fred, and younger brothers Allan and Owen were all contracted to Watford simultaneously, although only he and Fred went on to play for the club competitively.
Career
After starting his career in amateur football with Pinner Football Club, Gregory joined Watford as a professional in December 1911. He made his debut on 25 December, in a 1–1 draw at LutonLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
alongside elder brother Fred. His first goal followed shortly after, in a 1–0 win over 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 December 1911, and by the end of the 1911–12 season Val had made 16 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...
appearances, scoring twice. He established himself as a first-team regular over the following two seasons, missing only five of Watford's 84 games.
Watford narrowly avoided relegation in the 1913–14 season with an 18th placed finish, but Gregory and Watford started the following season with a nine match unbeaten run. He played only three of their next ten matches, coinciding with six Watford defeats over the same period. From 25 December onwards he was ever-present, and Watford secured the Southern League title on the penultimate game of the season, with Fred scoring the title-winning goal in a 3–2 win against Gillingham.
Normal peacetime competitions were suspended between 1915 and 1919
Association football during World War I
When World War I was declared in 1914, it had a negative effect on association football; in some countries competitions were suspended and players signed up to fight, resulting in the deaths of many players...
due to the First World War. In this time, Gregory made 43 wartime appearances for Watford, and also made guest appearances for 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 Southern League resumed in 1919–20, which proved to be Gregory's last season at the club. He made 35 appearances and scored twice, but Watford lost out on the title to Portsmouth
Portsmouth 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...
on goal average.
In May 1920, Gregory joined Football League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
for what was at the time a Watford record transfer fee of £1,500. He was joined by former Watford team-mate George Edmonds, the top scorer from the title-winning season. Despite being a 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...
side, Wolves overcame Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, 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...
, 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...
and 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...
to reach the 1921 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...
Final
1921 FA Cup Final
The 1921 FA Cup Final was contested by Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge. Spurs won by a single goal, scored by Jimmy Dimmock, eight minutes into the second half...
. Gregory captained his team in the final 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...
, but they were defeated 1–0 by Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
.
Gregory spent the remainder of his professional career at Wolves, making his final appearances for the team in the 1922–23 season that saw the club relegated to the third tier. He became a player-coach in 1925, and finished his playing days as an amateur for Butler Sports and Wolverhampton Football Club. He finally ended his service as a coach at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
in 1938 due to ill health.
Later life and death
After retirement, Gregory remained in Wolverhampton, and once refereed a charity match held at MolineuxMolineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers' home. He died in March 1940 in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, aged 52.