George Handley (footballer, born 1912) explained

George Handley
Fullname:George H. Handley
Birth Date:5 July 1912
Birth Place:Wednesbury, England
Death Place:Sicily, Fascist Italy
Height:5 ft 8 in
Position:Inside forward
Years1:1931–1932
Clubs1:Hednesford Town
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:1933–1934
Clubs2:West Bromwich Albion
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:1934–1935
Clubs3:Crystal Palace
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:1935
Clubs4:Brierley Hill Alliance
Years5:1936–1939
Clubs5:Darlaston
Nationalyears1:1933–1934
Nationalteam1:English Amateurs
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0

George H. Handley (5 July 1912 – 9 July 1943) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward in the Football League for Crystal Palace.

Football career

Handley began his football career in September 1931 with Hednesford Town.[1] He soon came to the attention of West Bromwich Albion, for which he signed in June 1932. Despite playing many matches in the reserves and being capped at the amateur level for England, Handley never appeared for the first team at West Brom.[2] Transferred to Crystal Palace in 1934, he played 5 matches in the Football League Third Division South before being signed by Brierley Hill Alliance the next season. Handley's next and final club was Darlaston, where he played until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Personal life

Handley was married. He served as a lance corporal in the 2nd (Airborne) Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment during the Second World War and was killed during the invasion of Sicily on 9 July 1943. Handley's body was never recovered, and he is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial.

Career statistics

Club! rowspan="2"
SeasonDivisionLeagueCupTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Crystal Palace1934–35Third Division South500050
Career total500050

Notes and References

  1. Web site: No 52 George H. Handley . 25 July 2020 . Hednesford Town.
  2. Web site: Smith . Scott . 9 July 2013 . 70 years on and still remembering . 25 July 2020 . Hednesford Town.