Sheldon Govier Explained

Sheldon Govier
Fullname:Sheldon Benjamin Govier
Birth Date:1876 1, df=y
Birth Place:Coatbridge, Scotland [1]
Death Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States
Position:Center Halfback
Youthclubs1:Hallside Athletics
Years1:1891–????
Clubs1:Pullman
Years2:1896
Clubs2:Thistles
Years3:1896–1897
Clubs3:St. Louis Cycling Club
Years4:1901
Clubs4:Chicago
Clubs5:Pullman
Clubs6:Wanderers
Clubs7:Woodlawn
Clubs8:Buxton Red Sox
Years9:–1917
Clubs9:Pullman
Years10:1917–1918
Clubs10:Joliet F.C.

Sheldon Benjamin Govier (11 January 1876 – 20 May 1951) was an American soccer center halfback who spent his entire career in the United States, primarily with Pullman F.C. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Youth

Govier was born in Scotland to English parents. They moved to Newton, Cambuslang when he was three and he played schoolboy football at Hallside Primary. His parents left Britain in 1891 and settled the family in Chicago, Illinois. His father died within months of their arrival in Chicago and Govier, fifteen years old at the time, went to work for the Pullman Company. He eventually played for the company team, Pullman F.C. His younger brother, Sheldon William, was eight when they arrived in Chicago. Sheldon W. later both worked and played for Pullman, but became better known for his involvement in Chicago politics.[2] Biographies of the two men frequently intermix their biographical details.

Career

When Govier began playing for Pullman, it competed in the Chicago League of Association Football. He gained his first start with the team when he was fifteen. He then moved to Thistles. In December 1896, Govier moved to the St. Louis Cycling Club of the St. Louis Football Association. As late as 1900, Govier would play for Cycling Club if called upon.[3] In 1901, Govier briefly played for Chicago in a four team league created by baseball owners. The league lasted a few games before collapsing.[4] In 1905, he was captain of the Chicago All Star team which defeated the touring Pilgrim's team.[5] He played one season each for Wanderers, Woodlawn and Buxton Red Sox before rejoining Pullman. In 1917, Pullman disbanded and Govier moved to Joliet F.C. before retiring in 1918. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1950.[6] His son, Benjamin Govier Jr., also played in the Chicago leagues.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sheldon Benjamin "Ben" Govier . Find a Grave . 28 June 2010 . 25 January 2024.
  2. http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/bb/id/7597 Sheldon W. Govier
  3. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84020274/1900-11-21/ed-1/seq-6/;words=Club+club+Cycling+Govier New Men for the Kicking Game. Globes Have Signed Six Players, Cyclists Three.
  4. http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1157.html Soccer
  5. http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/chicago.html Chicago's Soccer History
  6. https://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/sheldon-govier.html Sheldon Govier