Cecil Blakemore Explained

Cecil Blakemore
Fullname:Cecil Blakemore
Birth Date:8 December 1897
Birth Place:Stourbridge, England
Death Date:[1]
Death Place:Stourbridge, England
Height:[2]
Position:Inside forward
Years1:1920–
Clubs1:Heath Villa
Clubs2:Aston Villa
Clubs3:Stourbridge
Clubs4:Fairfield Villa
Clubs5:Redditch
Years6:1922–1927
Clubs6:Crystal Palace
Caps6:133
Goals6:54
Years7:1927–1929
Clubs7:Bristol City
Caps7:42
Goals7:20
Years8:1929–1931
Clubs8:Brentford
Caps8:77
Goals8:28
Years9:1931–1933
Clubs9:Norwich City
Caps9:70
Goals9:29
Years10:1933–1934
Clubs10:Swindon Town
Caps10:26
Goals10:8
Clubs11:Brierley Hill Alliance

Cecil Blakemore (8 December 1897 – September 1963) sometimes known as Cyril Blakemore, was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League, most notably for Crystal Palace, Brentford and Norwich City.[3] He also played for Bristol City and Swindon Town.

Career

Early years

An inside forward, Blakemore began his career as an amateur in non-League football in his native West Midlands, playing for Heath Villa, Redditch, Stourbridge and Fairfield Villa.[4] [5] He had a spell with First Division club Aston Villa during the 1921–22 season, but did not make a first team appearance.

Crystal Palace

Blakemore got his second chance at League football when he signed for Second Division club Crystal Palace in December 1922.[6] He had a slow start to life at Selhurst Park, making just 24 appearances during the 1922–23 and 1923–24 seasons, though he managed five goals in his 12 appearances during 1923–24. Blakemore broke into the team during the 1924–25 season, making 24 appearances and scoring 12 goals in a disastrous season which saw the Eagles relegated to the Third Division South. He was a near ever-present for two seasons in the Third Division South, scoring 36 goals as Palace pushed for promotion back to the Second Division. Blakemore departed Palace in May 1927,[7] having made 141 appearances and scored 56 goals during five years with the club.

Bristol City

Blakemore moved back up to the Second Division to sign for Bristol City in May 1927. He failed to hold down a regular place in the team, but still managed 20 goals in 42 appearances before departing Ashton Gate in May 1929.

Brentford

Blakemore and Bristol City teammate Jackie Foster signed for Third Division South club Brentford on 2 May 1929. He quickly established himself in the team, scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances during the 1929–30 season,[8] a campaign in which the Bees set a record of 21 home wins. Blakemore made another 40 appearances the following year, scoring 13 goals, before leaving Brentford in May 1931. Blakemore scored 28 goals in 83 games during two seasons at Griffin Park.

Norwich City

Blakemore moved to Third Division South club Norwich City in August 1931. He made 70 appearances over the course of two seasons, as the Canaries pushed for promotion to the Second Division.

Swindon Town

At age 35, Blakemore was brought in by manager Ted Vizard to replace Third Division South club Swindon Town's record goalscorer Harry Morris in June 1933. He scored eight goals in 27 appearances before being released at the end of the 1933–34 season.

Brierley Hill Alliance

Blakemore ended his career with a spell at Birmingham & District League club Brierley Hill Alliance.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford1929–30Third Division South4215104315
1930–313513504013
Total7728608328
Swindon Town1933–34Third Division South26810278
Career Total103367011036

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . Tony Brown . 2012 . 978-1905891610 . Nottingham . 30.
  2. News: The lure of promotion. Crystal Palace . Athletic News . Manchester . 13 August 1923 . 6.
  3. Book: Haynes . Graham . Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 . Coumbe . Frank . Yore Publications . 2006 . 978-0955294914 . Harefield . 21.
  4. Web site: Blakemore Cecil Brentford 1931 . 23 December 2018 . Vintage Footballers . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Cecil Blakemore – Player Profile . 20 December 2014 . Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk.
  6. Web site: Cecil Blakemore . 20 December 2014 . Holmesdale Online.
  7. Web site: Cecil Blakemore . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040248/http://citystats.org.uk/playerdetail.asp?id=56&filter=B . 4 March 2016 . 20 December 2014 . Bristol City FC :: Citystats – Unofficial archive of results, players and managers.
  8. Book: 100 Years Of Brentford . Brentford FC . 1989 . 0951526200 . White . Eric . 370–371.