William Jeffrey (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William Walls Jeffrey was an English footballer who played in defence for various teams, including Burnley
, Woolwich Arsenal and Southampton St. Mary's
in the 1890s.
, near Horncastle, Lincolnshire. After a spell in Lancashire
with West Manchester, Jeffrey played for several clubs in Lincolnshire, before returning to the north-west to join Burnley
of the Football League
in August 1891.
In the 1891–92 season, Jeffrey made seven appearances for the first team playing at right-back as Burnley finished seventh in the table. At this time, Burnley had a very large squad of players, including "nearly fifty Scotsmen", so the majority of their players had to content themselves by appearing in the reserve side. One of those Scotsmen was Tom Nicol
, who made the No. 2 shirt his own in 1892–93 as a result of which, Jeffrey made no further first-team appearances for the Turf Moor
club.
In June 1893, Jeffrey moved to London to join Woolwich Arsenal, playing in the Second Division
. In his one season at the Manor Ground
, Jeffrey played in either of the full-back positions, making a total of 31 appearances in all competitions.
In November 1894, Jeffrey was recruited by Southampton St. Mary's
who had just embarked on the inaugural season
of the newly formed Southern League
. Jeffrey made his "Saints" debut, taking over from David Hamer
, at left-back in a 2–2 draw against Millwall Athletic at the Antelope Ground
. He soon formed a "strong partnership" with George Marshall
and retained his place for the rest of the season, when Saints finished in third place, behind Millwall Athletic and Luton Town
. Jeffrey also made two appearances in the FA Cup, helping Southampton reach the First Round Proper for the first time, going down 4–1 to Nottingham Forest
of the First Division
.
At the end of the season, Jeffrey left the Saints and disappeared into obscurity.
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, Woolwich Arsenal and Southampton St. Mary's
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 the 1890s.
Football career
Jeffrey was born in DalderbyDalderby
Dalderby is a village about south of Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, in the civil parish of Roughton.Dalderby once had a parish church dedicated to Saint Martin; it was demolished in 1742, possibly because of a decline in village population....
, near Horncastle, Lincolnshire. After a spell in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
with West Manchester, Jeffrey played for several clubs in Lincolnshire, before returning to the north-west to join Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
of 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...
in August 1891.
In the 1891–92 season, Jeffrey made seven appearances for the first team playing at right-back as Burnley finished seventh in the table. At this time, Burnley had a very large squad of players, including "nearly fifty Scotsmen", so the majority of their players had to content themselves by appearing in the reserve side. One of those Scotsmen was Tom Nicol
Tom Nicol
Thomas H. "Tom" Nicol was a Scottish footballer who played for Burnley first as a centre forward and then as a full back in the 1890s, before later becoming a bowls champion in Southampton.-Burnley:...
, who made the No. 2 shirt his own in 1892–93 as a result of which, Jeffrey made no further first-team appearances for the Turf Moor
Turf Moor
Turf Moor is a football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire. It is the home ground of Burnley Football Club, which has played there since moving from its Calder Vale ground in 1883. The stadium, which is situated on Harry Potts Way, named so after the club's longest serving Manager, has a capacity of...
club.
In June 1893, Jeffrey moved to London to join Woolwich Arsenal, playing in the 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...
. In his one season at the Manor Ground
Manor Ground, Plumstead
The Manor Ground in Plumstead, south east London was a football stadium which, between 1888 & 1890, and 1893 & 1913, was the home of the football club formerly known as Royal Arsenal, renamed Woolwich Arsenal in 1893, and later simply Arsenal F.C...
, Jeffrey played in either of the full-back positions, making a total of 31 appearances in all competitions.
In November 1894, Jeffrey was recruited by Southampton St. Mary's
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...
who had just embarked on the inaugural season
Southern Football League 1894-95
The 1894-95 season was the first in the history of the Southern League. Sixteen clubs joined the new league, which was split into two divisions...
of the newly formed 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...
. Jeffrey made his "Saints" debut, taking over from David Hamer
David Hamer (footballer)
David Bowen Hamer was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a full-back for Southampton St. Mary's in the early years of the Southern League.-Football career:...
, at left-back in a 2–2 draw against Millwall Athletic at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
. He soon formed a "strong partnership" with George Marshall
George Marshall (footballer)
George Marshall was an English amateur footballer who played in defence for Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s. He was the only player to appear in both Southampton's first-ever FA Cup match and first-ever League match...
and retained his place for the rest of the season, when Saints finished in third place, behind Millwall Athletic and Luton Town
Luton 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...
. Jeffrey also made two appearances in the FA Cup, helping Southampton reach the First Round Proper for the first time, going down 4–1 to 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...
of 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....
.
At the end of the season, Jeffrey left the Saints and disappeared into obscurity.