George Donkin Explained

George Donkin
Fullname:George William Cope Donkin
Birth Date:1 December 1892
Birth Place:Carlton, South Yorkshire, England
Years1:1910–1911
Clubs1:Wharncliffe Woodmoor
Years2:1911–1912
Clubs2:Royston Midland
Years3:1912–1913
Years4:1913
Years5:1913–1925
Clubs5:Barnsley
Caps5:230
Goals5:20
Totalcaps:230
Totalgoals:20

George William Cope Donkin (1 December 1892 – 1927) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Barnsley.[1] [2]

Career

Donkin was born in Carlton and played junior football for Wharncliffe Woodmoor in 1910, Royston Midland in 1911, Monckton Athletic in 1912 and Mirfield United from where he signed for Second Division Barnsley in 1913 and made his Football League debut that November at Clapton Orient.[2] By the next season he had become a first team regular, however the interruption of World War I, during which he served in the Army, meant he lost four seasons of his career.[2] He played both sides of the War for Barnsley and he was an England trialist in an England v The North match in January 1922 and also represented Sheffield & Hallamshire in the annual match against Glasgow.[2]

An ever present in Barnsley's 1920–21 campaign, he missed three matches as Barnsley finished third in the Second Division in 1921–22 campaign, narrowly missing out on promotion.[2] He played his last match in February 1925 and possibly suffered a career ending injury (as he received a payment for £250 from The Football League at the end of the season, presumably compensation for his injury), in total he scored 20 goals in 243 appearances, playing the whole time in the Second Division, retiring in 1925 and passing away two years later in 1927 in his mid-thirties.[2]

Career statistics

Source:

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueFA CupTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley1913–14Second Division710071
1914–15Second Division32410334
1919–20Second Division39220412
1920–21Second Division42410434
1921–22Second Division39350443
1922–23Second Division15100151
1923–24Second Division33420354
1924–25Second Division23120251
Career total2302013024320

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael. Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. 2004 . SoccerData. 1-899468-67-6.
  2. Web site: Donkin George Image 1 Barnsley 1922 . Vintage Footballers . 9 April 2021.