Harry Poulter Explained

Harry Poulter
Fullname:Harry Poulter
Birth Date:24 April 1910
Birth Place:Shiney Row, County Durham, England
Death Place:Sunderland, England
Position:Centre forward
Youthyears1:–
Years1:–
Clubs1:Royal Navy
Years2:–1931
Clubs2:Shiney Row Swifts
Years3:1931–1932
Clubs3:Sunderland
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:1932–1936
Clubs4:Exeter City
Caps4:50
Goals4:33
Years5:1936
Caps5:0
Goals5:0

Harry Poulter (24 April 1910 – 25 February 1985) was an English footballer who played as a centre forward in the Football League for Exeter City.[1] He played in the FA Cup for Sunderland, and was on the books of Hartlepools United without playing league football for them.

Life and career

Poulter was born in Shiney Row, County Durham. At the time of the 1911 census, he was living in Eden Terrace, Shiney Row, with four older siblings and their parents, Elizabeth and William, a colliery labourer.[2] As a young man, he served in the Royal Navy, and during periods of leave played football for his village club, Shiney Row Swifts of the Wearside League. His goalscoring prowess was noted: he was linked with Middlesbrough,[3] but in 1931 it was Sunderland who bought him out of the service. He made three appearances for the club in the 1931–32 FA Cup, while Bobby Gurney was injured,[4] but was thought too slow,[5] and moved to Third Division South club Exeter City ahead of the 1932–33 Football League season.

Described as "a strong, energetic type of player, and a terrific shot", who performed well on heavy ground when the ball was played for him to run on to,[6] Poulter was initially regarded as a reserve at Exeter.[7] He found his way into the starting eleven, remained with the club for four years, and scored 33 goals from 50 appearances in the league.[1] His career was ruined by illness. In January 1934, he was hospitalised for some weeks after collapsing in the street, and was then sent home to the north of England to convalesce.[8] He scored for the reserve team on his eventual return to the field in mid-April,[9] and scored twice against Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-final second replay of the Third Division South Cup.[10] He was "rested from intervening games to assist complete recovery after his illness" so that he could play in the final,[11] in which Exeter beat local rivals Torquay United by one goal to nil.[12]

He played regularly and scored well during the 1934–35 season, to the extent that scouts were watching him and fellow goalscorer Paddy Wrightson. The Western Morning News expressed concern that the directors might feel compelled by the club's parlous financial state to accept any serious offer.[13] He did not leave, and began the new season in the team. But in early September, he was again taken ill with what was initially described as "stomach trouble".[14] He returned to the reserves in January, claimed to feel no after-effects from his illness,[15] and attempted a return to first-team football, but "failed to recapture his old form" and intended to retire from professional football at the end of the season.[16] Given a free transfer by Exeter,[17] Poulter returned to the north-east and began a month's trial with Hartlepools United in August 1936,[18] but he never played league football for them.[1]

The 1939 Register listed him as a single man living in his brother's family home in Sunderland, a port maintenance fitter's labourer by occupation and serving with the Police War Reserve on a full-time basis.[19] Poulter died in Sunderland on 25 February 1985 at the age of 74.[20] [21]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Joyce, Michael . Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . SoccerData . Nottingham . 211 . 2004 . 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. Web site: 1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Image . none. and Web site: Transcription: 26 Eden Terrace Shiney Row, Painshaw, Durham, England . RG14PN30065 RG78PN1736 RD553 SD1 ED14 SN90 . 28 March 2016 . subscription . Findmypast.
  3. News: 'Argus' reviews the sports news . Sunderland Echo . 15 April 1931 . 9 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  4. Web site: Harry Poulter . The Stat Cat . 28 March 2016.
  5. News: Sunderland work without pre-conceived plan . Argus . Sunderland Echo . 25 January 1932 . 9 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  6. News: Sunderland's selected for the cup-tie . Argus . Sunderland Echo . 20 January 1932 . 9 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  7. News: Exeter City's ambitions. Preparations to win promotion . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 4 August 1932 . 6 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  8. News: Poulter's illness. Exeter City forward removed to hospital . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 20 January 1934 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
    News: West of England news . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 31 January 1934 . 6 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
    News: Exeter City. Matches won by the defence . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 20 March 1934 . 11 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  9. News: Western League. Taunton Town outplayed by Exeter . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 23 April 1934 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  10. News: Thrilling victory by Exeter City. Brighton beaten in last minute . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 27 April 1934 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  11. News: Exeter–Torquay cup final at Plymouth . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 2 May 1934 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  12. News: Exeter City gain league cup. Narrow margin in game with Torquay . Tamar . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 3 March 1934 . 14 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  13. News: Exeter City's goal-scorers. "Scouts" attracted by Poulter and Wrightson . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 12 March 1935 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  14. News: Exeter City outplayed. Decisive win by Watford . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 5 September 1935 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  15. News: Poulter's return to the first team . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 24 January 1936 . 15 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  16. News: Exeter's position. Re-election danger increasing . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 3 March 1936 . 12 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  17. News: Cookson's appeal. Football League take no action . Western Morning News . Plymouth . 25 July 1936 . 7 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  18. News: Big forward for Hartlepools. Harry Poulter signed on month's trial . M.C. . Northern Daily Mail . West Hartlepool . 25 August 1936 . 7 . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  19. Web site: Harry Poulter on the 1939 Register Image . none. and Web site: Transcription . RG101/2720I/021/23 . 28 March 2016 . subscription . Findmypast.
  20. Web site: On this day . Oscar . Chamberlain . Sunderland A.F.C. . 25 February 2015 . 28 March 2016.
  21. Web site: England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription . Harry Poulter. Birth date: 24 April 1910. Death quarter: 1. Death year: 1985. District: Sunderland. County: Durham. Volume: 2. Page: 1857 . 28 March 2016 . subscription . Findmypast.

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