Harry Gooney Explained

Harry Gooney
Fullname:William Harry Gooney[1]
Birth Date:8 October 1910
Birth Place:Sheffield, England
Death Place:Blackpool, England
Height:5 ft 10 in[2]
Position:Wing half
Youthyears1:1926–1927
Youthclubs1:Norton Woodseats
Years1:1927–1935
Clubs1:Sheffield United
Years2:1935–1936
Clubs2:Plymouth Argyle
Years3:1936
Clubs3:Luton Town
Caps1:132
Goals1:2

William Harry Gooney (8 October 1910 – 11 June 1978) was an English footballer who played as a wing half.

Career

Gooney had captained both Sheffield and England boys while a junior and joined home-town Sheffield United immediately after leaving school in 1925, but he was under the allowed age for players and the club was forced to cancel his registration. Keen not to lose Gooney to another club United employed him as an office assistance but allowed him to train with the first team. Gooney also played as an amateur for local side Norton Woodseats until he was seventeen, at which point he officially re-joined United.

Despite showing early promise as a youngster, Gooney struggled to maintain that into his adult career, and having been hampered by three successive bouts of pneumonia, he did not make his league debut until September 1930 only a month from his twentieth birthday. Despite playing regularly from that point, Gooney struggled to make an impact and asked for a transfer in 1933 which the club refused. Gooney was appointed United's captain in August 1934 but remained unhappy and resigned the position in January 1935. United finally agreed to Gooney's transfer request at the end of the 1934–35 season, and he was sold to Plymouth Argyle for £300 in June 1935. Gooney's playing fortunes did not improve and he left Plymouth after only six months, signing for Luton Town in February 1936 before retiring four months later.

Personal life

Born in Sheffield, Gooney attended Newhall School as a child. After retiring from football Gooney spent a long period unemployed before eventually finding employment with the Sheffield Electricity Department where he worked for 33 years.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham. Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. 2008. 39. 978-1-874718-69-7.
  2. News: Luton. 3 new forwards for Luton Town . Sunday Dispatch Football Guide . London . 23 August 1936 . xii . Newspapers.com.