George Blackburn (footballer, born 1899) explained

George Blackburn
Fullname:George Fredrick Blackburn
Birth Date:3 August 1899
Birth Place:Halifax, England
Height:1.79 m[1]
Death Place:Cheltenham, England
Position:Left-half
Years1:1920–1926
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:133
Goals1:1
Years2:1926–1931
Clubs2:Cardiff City
Caps2:115
Goals2:1
Years3:1931–1932
Clubs3:Mansfield Town
Caps3:14
Goals3:0
Years4:1932–1934
Clubs4:Cheltenham Town
Nationalyears1:1924
Nationalteam1:England
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

George Fredrick Blackburn (3 August 1899 – 7 March 1957) was a footballer in the early years of professional football in England. A left-half, he made over 250 appearances in the Football League during his career and won one cap for England in May 1924.

Early life

Blackburn was born in Willesden and lived in Sandringham Road as a child, attending Pound Lane School. He was one of six children. His father was a brass finisher.[1]

Club career

Blackburn started his career at Hampstead Town, now known as Hendon. He signed for Aston Villa as an amateur in December 1920 and went on to play over 100 games, including their 2–0 defeat to Newcastle United in the 1924 FA Cup Final.[1] He left Villa in June 1926 in a swap deal which saw Joe Nicholson join Villa and Blackburn join Cardiff City.[2] He made his debut for Cardiff in a 4–3 defeat to Burnley and went on to establish himself in the side, although he was not included in the squad when the side won the FA Cup in 1927. His only goal for the club came in February 1930 when he scored against Blackpool during a 4–2 win. He left the club in 1931, along with Harry Wake, to join Mansfield Town.[3] He later went to play and coach Cheltenham Town from 1932[4] to 1934.[5]

International career

Blackburn received his first call up to the England national side in April 1924 for a match against Scotland in the 1923–24 British Home Championship but did not feature for the side.[1] One month later, on 17 May 1924, Blackburn made his one and only appearance for England in a 3–1 victory over France at Stade Pershing.

After his retirement, Blackburn became a trainer at Birmingham City during the Second World War and was handed control of the first team training duties by secretary-manager Bill Camkin toward the end of his spell in charge.[6]

Honours

Aston Villa

runner-up 1924[1]

Cardiff City[1] [3]

- 1927, 1930; runner-up 1929

Notes and References

  1. Web site: George Blackburn . England Football Online . 22 June 2016.
  2. Web site: George Blackburn . Aston Villa Player Database . 19 June 2016.
  3. Book: Hayes, Dean . The Who's Who of Cardiff City . Breedon Books . 2006 . 23 . Derby . 1-85983-462-0.
  4. News: Gloucestershire Echo. Player Coach for Cheltenham . 28 July 1932 . 1 June 2022 . 6. British Newspaper Archive.
  5. News: Gloucestershire Echo. Blackburn Not to Play Again . 23 June 1934 . 1 June 2022 . 5. British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Web site: Birmingham City and Aston Villa treasures up for auction . Birmingham Mail . 23 October 2012 . 19 June 2016.