Players A to Z - (Latham-Murray)
LATHOM, Nicholas
Height: 6 ft.
Nick was reported as being a ‘strapping’ centre forward with much promise when he was signed from Swansea Town in November 1924. He hailed from Tarleton and had previously played for Chorley and Preston North End, but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
LAWSON, Denis
DOB: 11th December 1897
DIED: 23rd May 1968
Other clubs: Kilsyth Emmett Rangers, Kilsythe Rovers, St Mirren, Cardiff City, Springfield Babes, Providence Clamdiggers, Clyde, Brechin City
Honours: SCOTLAND (1 cap)
Denis was an outside right born in Lennoxtown. After starting his career in local football and St Mirren who moved to Wales in 1923 to join Cardiff City. It was whilst at Cardiff that he made his one and only appearance for Scotland. In nearly three years at Ninian Park he made 64 League appearances, scoring twice before joining the Springfield Babes and the brilliantly named Providence Clamdiggers in the USA! He joined Boro in October 1927 for a 'moderate' fee and during his time at Springfield Park he made 28 League appearances and scored twice. His League debut was on 29th October 1927 against Southport at Springfield Park in a game that was won by the visitors. He also made once in both the Manchester Senior Cup and the FA Cup without scoring. Boro were his last Football League club and he finished his career at Clyde.
As stated earlier, Denis played for Scotland on one occasion and this was on 14th April 1923 in a game against England at Hampden Park in front of 71,000 spectators. The game resulted in a 2-2 draw.
LAWSON, H
DOB
Other clubs: Rossendale United
Lawson was signed in October 1922 from Rossendale United after impressing manager Herbert Bamlett
LEEMING, Albert
DOB:11th December 1902
DIED: February 1943
Other clubs: Walmer Bridge, Preston North End. Lytham, Darwen
Honours: West Lancashire Cup winner 1926 (Lytham)
Richardson Cup winner 1926 (Lytham)
Lancashire Combination Cup winner 1930, 1931 (Darwen)
Lancashire Combination championship 1931 (Darwen)
Albert was a coach builder born in Preston and was an amateur outside left player. He arrived at the club from Preston North End’s reserve team in 1924. His only game for the club was the last League game of season 1924/25 against Tranmere Rovers at Springfield Park which resulted in a 4-0 win for Boro.
He was the nephew of Bury’s Joe Leeming, a well respected player of his time.
LEIGH, Charles H
DOB: 4th February 1903
DIED: 1972
Other clubs: St Wilfred's (Standish), Lancaster Town, New Springs FC
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11 st
Charles, who was born in New Springs, Wigan, is another of those players who appears just briefly in the Springfield Park story. He was a right half and played twice without scoring for Boro in a two-year spell at the club after signing from Standish St Wilfred's. His first game for the club was on 2nd April 1923 against Bradford Park Avenue at Horton Park Avenue in a game that Boro drew 1-1. He had to wait until the following season on 15th September 1923 to play his final League game for the club. Boro travelled to Ashington and were on the end of the 3-0 beating. He also played once for Boro in the Lancashire Senior Cup that season and this was against Rochdale at Springfield Park three days earlier.
On leaving Springfield Park he signed for Non League outfit Lancaster Town, never playing League Football again.
LEWINS, George Albert
DOB: 16th July 1906
DIED: January 1991
Other clubs: Newcastle United Swifts, Newcastle United, Reading. Rochdale, Manchester City, Tranmere Rovers, Rhyl, Walker Celtic, Jarrow, Walker Celtic, West Stanley, South Shields, Ouston United
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 12 st
Bert could play at left back or right back and was born in Walker. His first known club is Newcastle United Swifts whom he joined in 1923 before signing for Newcastle United in November 1925. However he didn’t make the grade at St James Park and the same fate awaited him the following year at Reading. His first Football League appearance was for Rochdale who he joined in 1928. Whilst at Spotland he played 34 League games without scoring before he moved to Manchester City in 1929. He never played a first team game at Maine Road and it was from City that he arrived at Springfield Park on a free transfer in the summer of 1930.
He made his Boro League debut on the opening day of season 1930/31 against Darlington at the Feethams from which Boro ran out 3-2 victors. His record for Boro was, played 26 League games with no goals scored. He also played once in the Lancashire Senior Cup, the Manchester Senior Cup and the FA Cup that season without finding the net.
Bert was a victim of Boro’s ‘sell anything we can’ policy as they failed in their bid to stay in the Football and in 1931 he was soon playing for Tranmere Rovers. Rovers proved to be his last Football League club and he made 30 League appearances at Prenton Park without scoring before dropping into Non League football, playing two spells for his home town club, Walker Celtic in the process.
LIEVESLEY, Wilfred
DOB: 6th October 1902
DIED: 21st February 1979
Other clubs: Stavely Old Boys, Derby County, Manchester United, Exeter City, Cardiff City, Macclesfield Town, Matlock Town, Haydock Colliery
Wilfred came from a family of footballers and was born in Netherthorpe, Stavely. He was a very agile centre forward who started his career at Stavely Old Boys FC before signing his first professional contract for Derby County in May 1920. However, he was to make just 1 League appearance for the Rams without scoring. In October 1922 he joined Manchester United. He never really established himself at Old Trafford and indeed, he made only 2 League appearances without scoring until a move to Exeter City in August 1923. He made 97 League appearances and hit the net 38 times in a lengthy stay at St James Park before signing for Boro in May 1928.
He made his League debut for the club on 25th August 1928, the opening day of season 1928/29, against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank with Boro winning 3-1. He went on to 26 League appearances and scored 13 goals whilst at Springfield Park and he scored in all 3 of his Lancashire Senior Cup appearances for Boro including a goal against Manchester United in a third round game at Springfield park and a goal in the replay. He also scored in all 3 of his FA Cup appearances that season including the consolation goal in the legendary 1-3 third round defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in front of Springfield Park’s largest ever attendance, before signing for Cardiff City. He made just 3 League appearances without scoring for the Bluebirds before drifting into Non-League football with Macclesfield Town in August 1930.
Exactly three years later he signed for Matlock Town before winding his career up at Haydock Colliery. Wilfred sadly passed away in Stavely on 21st February 1979. His elder brother Joe played as a goalkeeper for Sheffield United and Arsenal, his younger brother, Fred played for Manchester City and Southend United, whilst his cousin Leslie, plied his trade with Doncaster Rovers, Manchester United, Torquay United, Crystal Palace and Chesterfield.
LINDSAY, Thomas
DOB: 11th March 1903
DIED: 1979
Other clubs: Babcock and Wilcox, Renfrew Juniors, Ardeer Thistle, Pollock, Kilmarnock, Alloa Athletic, Reading, Rochdale, Watford, New Brighton, Southport, Chester City, Prescot Cables, Wrexham, Leyland Motors
Tommy could play at inside or outside left and was born in Laighpark. He started playing football for his works team and a few Scottish Non League outfits before joining Alloa Athletic and then Kilmarnock. He moved down south in 1927 and made 11 appearances and scored 3 goals for Reading, the first of his ten English clubs.
Wigan Boro were next on his list and he made his League bow for the club on the opening day of season 1928/99 against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank in a fixture that ended with Boro running out 3-1 victors. He went on to make 22 League appearances and scored 4 goals, he also scored 3 goals in 5 Lancashire Senior Cup appearances and he appeared in all three rounds of that seasons epic FA Cup run that ended with the third round home defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in front of 30,443 spectators, an all time Springfield Park record.
He left Boro at the end of the season and signed for Rochdale. His time at Spotland saw him amass just 7 League appearances without scoring, before he had an identical spell at Watford in 1930. He then had trials for New Brighton, for whom he made 7 League appearances without scoring and Southport, for whom he made just 2 League appearances in 1931.
Those failed trials were what amounted to the end of his career as he never made another Football League appearance despite spells in Wales with Chester and Wrexham. He finished his career in Non League circles with Prescot Cables and Leyland Motors.
LONG, N
Height and weight:5 ft. 10 ½ ins, 11 st
A Bolton born right back who was on the club’s books in the summer of 1924 when he was aged 21 years old. He never played a first team game for the club.
LOWE, William
Other clubs: Golborne Road FC, Altrincham
Height and weight: 6 ft., 12 st
William, who hailed from Goose Green was signed as an amateur in December 1928 from Golborne Road FC, aged 22 years old. He never played a first team game at Springfield Park. He signed for Altrincham, along with another reserve player, W Marsh in 1929. Incidentally, both players scored on debut for Alty in a 4-5 victory over Manchester North End and both only played twice for the Robins!
LUCAS, John
DOB:
Height and weight: 5ft 6 ½ ins, 10 st 6 lbs.
John a local lad who played at outside right signed on at Springfield Park as a trialist prior to the club’s first season in the Football League. He managed to play in a few pre season practice matches (Wigan Borough Probables v Wigan Borough Possibles), but he never made the grade.
MacDONALD, Thomas
DOB: 1897
Former clubs: Musselburgh Comrades, Musselburgh Bruntonians, Portobello Thistle, Doncaster Rovers, Rossington Main, Hibernian
Centre forward Tommy was born in Edinburgh and started playing football for Portobello before joining Doncaster Rovers, who were then in the Midland League. He was a collier and worked in Rossington. It was from South Yorkshire League outfit Rossington Main that he arrived at Springfield Park in September 1921. He only played 1 League game for Boro without scoring which was against Grimsby Town at Springfield Park on 24the September 1921, a game that ended all square. He also played once in the Lancashire Senior Cup, a second round tie against Stockport County on 21st September 1921 at Springfield Park that resulted in a 2-2 draw.
His next port of call was Hibernian, after which the trail goes cold.
MacINTYRE, Thomas
DOB: 27th May 1894
DIED: 29th 1976
Other clubs: Carlisle United, Exeter City, Crewe Alexandra, Chesterfield
Height and weight: 6 ft., 12 st
Tom was an outside right who was born in Dumfries. He failed to make the grade in Scotland and moved south to Carlisle United in 1919 but he didn’t make a single first team appearance at Brunton Park and he had to wait until 1920 for his first Football League appearance. This arrived whilst he was an Exeter City player and he made 5 League appearances without scoring before moving to Crewe Alexandra in 1921. His time at Gresty Road saw him score 5 goals in 23 League appearances before he arrived at Springfield Park in 1922.
He made his debut for the club on 9th September 1922 against Crewe Alexandra at Springfield Park and honours were shared courtesy of a 1-1 draw. Whilst At Boro he made 5 League appearances, scoring once, before ending his playing days at Chesterfield, for whom he made 5 League appearances, scoring once.
During his time at Springfield Park he also made 2 FA Cup appearances without scoring, on 16th December 1922, he played in a sixth qualifying round game against Walsall at Springfield Park in which he scored in a 3-1 victory. He then played in the first round proper against Bath City at Springfield Park which Boro won 4-1 to set up a home tie with London giants Queens Park Rangers. He didn’t play in this game that resulted in a 2-4 Rangers victory in front of a hostile crowd of 22,476.
McCRAE, James CF
DOB: 2nd September 1894
DIED: 3rd September 1974
Other clubs: Port Glasgow Rangers, Vale of Clyde, Clyde, The Grenadier Guards, Clyde (war), Rangers (war), West Ham United (war), West Ham United, Bury, New Brighton, Manchester United, Watford, Third Lanark, Clyde
Jimmy, full name James Clark Fulton McRae, was born in Bridge Of Weir, Scotland on 2nd September 1894. He started his career at Clyde FC in October 1912 after being spotted playing for Port Glasgow Rangers. At the outbreak of World War One he joined the Grenadier Guards and played in their team during the hostilities. He also turned out for Clyde, Rangers and West Ham United during the hostilities. He played in West Ham United’s first ever Football League game after joining the Hammers from Scottish outfit Clyde (who still held his registration) in June 1919. He made 54 Second Division appearances, scoring 3 League goals before joining Bury in December 1920. His stay at Gigg Lane lasted almost three years and he made 84 League appearances, scoring 10 goals for the Shakers.
His next port of call was Springfield Park, arriving at Boro in September 1923. He made his Boro League debut against Ashington at Springfield Park on 8th September 1923 in a 1-1 draw. Whilst at the club he scored 6 goals in 32 League appearances whilst also playing once in the Lancashire Senior Cup without scoring, netting once in 4 Manchester Senior Cup outings. He also had three FA Cup appearances without scoring under his belt before joining New Brighton in November 1924.
In 1924/25 he made just 6 League appearances at Rake Lane without scoring before leaving the Rakers. Far from his career being over, his next port of call was Manchester United. Whilst at Old Trafford he made 9 League appearances without scoring before joining Watford in June 1926. He made just 2 League appearances at Vicarage Road without scoring during which time he had a loan spell with Third Lanark.
From August 1927 until January 1928 plied his trade at his first club, Clyde, before immigrating to Egypt to embark on a coaching career. By 1941 he was managing Istanbulspor in Turkey. He then coached in Iceland from 1946-48, making Fram Reykjavik the Icelandic champions in both 1946 and 1947. He died in Paisley one day after his 80th birthday.
McKINNON, Angus
DOB: 6th December 1885
DIED: 1968
Other clubs: Petershill, Heart of Midlothian, Carlisle United, Woolwich Arsenal, Charlton Athletic
Angus was a tough Scot, born in Paisley, and was a very useful left half. His career got off to a slow start though. After playing local football he failed to impress whilst on trial at Heart of Midlothian and Carlisle United before signing for Woolwich Arsenal in 1908. In almost five years at Highbury he made 211 League appearances and scored 4 goals before moving to London neighbours Charlton Athletic in 1922.
He made 15 League appearances without scoring at the Valley before moving to Springfield Park in 1923. He never made a first team appearance but he was offered a role as the first team coach and at the end of the season, aged 38, he put an end to his playing days but remained at Springfield Park, eventually becoming manager of the club.
McGRAHAN, James Graham
DOB: 3rd March 1898
DIED: 1961
Other clubs: Leadgate Park, Lincoln City, Boston Town, Lincoln City, Scarborough (player-coach)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 8 ins, 11 st
Born in Leadgate, Jimmy could play at right or left half as well as in the centre. He started his career with his local club, before moving south to sign for Lincoln City in 1922. He made 25 League appearances and scored 1 goal whilst at Sincil Bank before arriving at Springfield Park towards the latter end of the 1922/23 season.
He completed two seasons for Boro during which he made 34 League appearances and netted once. His debut was against Nelson at Springfield Park on 17th February 1923 with Boro running out 3-1 winners. His time at Springfield Park also saw him complete 2 games in the Manchester Senior Cup, before being offloaded to Boston Town after he had put in a written transfer request in April 1924. By 1925 he was back at Lincoln City for whom he made another 26 League appearances without scoring before joining Scarborough as player/coach in July 1927.
He went on to manager Boston United, Fleetwood before winding up his career at Portadown. In later years he scouted for Notts County before becoming the first team coach at Fylde Rugby Union club. His last known job in football was a second stint as manager of Boston United in 1949.
McGUIRE, John
DOB: 29th March 1900
Other clubs: Darlington Railway Athletic, Cockfield, Charlton Athletic, Nelson, Darlington
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st
John, who was born in Darlington, could play any number of roles including centre forward, inside left and left half. He started his career playing for Darlington Railway Athletic before Charlton Athletic spotted him playing for Cockfield. He signed at the Valley in 1925, making 6 League appearances for the Addicks without scoring as the team had to apply for re election to the Third Division South in the summer of 1926. His next port of call was Springfield Park in November of that year.
His first League game for Boro was on 13th November 1926 against Durham City at Springfield Park with Boro claiming the two points on offer courtesy of a 3-0 victory. During his time at Boro he made 33 appearances and was on the score sheet 13 times. He also scored twice in 3 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and he had an identical FA Cup record whilst at the club.
He signed for Nelson in 1928 and made 20 League appearances. scoring twice before moving to his home town club Darlington, where after making 42 League appearances and scoring 7 goals from 1928/29, he hung up his boots.
MANDY, John Thomas
DOB: 8th December 1899
DIED: 6th March 1971
Other clubs: Wennington Road School, Norwood Crescent, Crossens, Leyland, Southport, Burscough, Dick Kerrs, Nelson, Liverpool Corporation Trams
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ins, 10 st 6 lbs.
Tommy could play at inside left or right and was born in Southport. His first Football League club was Southport after spells at Norwood Crescent, Crossens and Leyland. He joined the Haig Avenue club in 1922 and in total he made 28 League appearances without scoring. It was whilst at Springfield Park that he had his longest spell at any club he played for. He played for Boro from 1925 until 1929, during which time he scored 16 goals in 76 League appearances.
His debut for Boro came on the opening day of season 1925/26 against Ashington away from home in a game that resulted in a 3-3 draw. During his stay at Springfield Park he also appeared twice in the Lancashire Senior Cup and 5 times in the Manchester Senior Cup without scoring. He also netted against Ashington in the first round of the FA Cup at Springfield Park on 24TH November 1928.
Boro proved to be his last Football League club and he drifted into the Non League scene with Burscough, before two spells with Dick Kerrs sandwiched between a stint at Nelson. He was last heard of playing for, and managing the Liverpool Corporation Trams FC.
MARRON, J
Marron was a goalkeeper who was signed on amateur form is the summer of 1924 and re signed the following year. He never played a first team game for the club.
MARSH, R
Marsh signed amateur forms for the club in the summer of 1924. He played in the outside left berth but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
MARSH, W
DOB:
Other clubs: Altrincham
Nothing is known of this player except that he played at centre half and was a regular in the reserve team before signing for Altrincham, along with another reserve player, William Lowe, in 1929. He and Lowe scored on debut for Alty in a 4-5 home defeat at Moss Lane. Both players also only appeared twice for the Robins!
MARSHALL, John
DOB: 31st July 1895
DIED: 4th October1968
Other clubs: Rochdale St Paul’s, Royal Horse Guards, Shelbourne, Southport Vulcan, Preston North End, Southport
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ins, 12 st 7 lbs.
Jack, a powerful centre forward, is another player who had two spells with the club. After spells at Rochdale St Paul’s, Shelbourne and Southport Vulcan, he signed for Preston North End in 1919. He stayed at Deepdale for almost four years and he made 52 League appearances without scoring before he joined Boro for the first time in the summer of 1924 aged 27 years old.
He made his League debut for the club on the opening day of season against Walsall at Springfield Park on 30th August 1924 in a game that ended in a scoreless draw. After making 34 League appearances and netting twice, and playing once without scoring in the FA Cup, he signed for Southport in 1924 and played 12 games and scored once for the Sandgrounders, before returning to Boro!
His second spell at Springfield Park in 1925 saw him make 7 League appearances without scoring. His second Boro League debut came on 23rd January 1926 against New Brighton at Rake Lane and resulted in a 4-2 defeat. He also played once in the Manchester Senior Cup that season before hanging up his boots for the final time.
MARTIN, John Charles
DOB: 25th July 1903
DIED: 31st December 1976
Other clubs: Barnoldswick Park Villa, Padiham Juniors, Burnley, Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Southport, Macclesfield Town, Nelson, Oldham Athletic, Mossley
Height and weight: 6 ft., 13 st 8 lbs.
Jack was a Leeds born centre half who started his career at Barnoldswick Park Villa, before signing for Burnley in 1923 via the Padiham Jumiors team. However he had to wait until 1924 to make his Football League debut as he failed to make the grade at Turf Moor. Accrington Stanley benefited from his services for almost two years and he made 28 League appearances and scored once for the Peel Park side.
His next port of call was Blackpool in 1925 but his short stay at Bloomfield Road consisted of just 4 League appearances and no goals, before a more productive spell at Southport. He arrived at Haig Avenue in 1927 and in his two years there he made 73 League appearances and scored twice before a season long stint at Non League outfit Macclesfield Town. It was from the Moss Rose that he rejoined Southport in 1930 making a further 5 League appearances without hitting the net.
Next in line for his services were Nelson for whom he signed in the pre season of 1930/31. He made 27 League appearances and scored once before joining Boro towards the end of the same season.
He also goes down in history of a member of the last Boro team to play a Football League game. In total he made 12 League appearances (every game of the aborted season) without scoring for Boro, all of which were expunged from official records. His sole appearance in the Lancashire Senior Cup has also been written off. After the collapse of the club he was a free agent and he joined Oldham Athletic for the remainder of that 1931/32 season. In total he played 11 League games and scored once for Oldham before hanging up his boots with regards to League Football.
He is known to have played for Mossley after his spell at Boundary Park, making 4 appearances for the Seel Park outfit, after which nothing else is known of him.
MATHER, G
DOB:
Height and weight: 5ft 9 ins 10 st 10 lbs.
Mather was an Adlington born goalkeeper who signed amateur forms for Boro in August 1921. He failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
MERCER, Arthur Stanley
DOB: 28th December 1902
DIED: 2nd October 1994
Other clubs: Parr St Peter’s, Bury, Sheffield United, Rhyl Athletic, Connah’s Quay United, Bristol City, Chester City, Halifax Town, Dartford
Height and weight: 5ft 7 ins, 10st 6lbs
Arthur started his career at Parr St Peter’s before signing amateur forms for Boro, his first Football League club, in 1921. St Helens born, aged 19 he was an inside right player who stayed at Springfield Park until 1924. He made his League debut on 22nd April 1922 against Barrow at Holker Street and the game resulted in a 2-0 defeat. He made 39 League appearances and scored 16 goals, whilst also playing twice in the Lancashire Senior Cup, 3 times in the Manchester Senior Cup and once in the FA Cup without finding the net in any of those games.
Arthur was the brother of Sheffield United’s star player David and his next port of call was Bury for whom he signed in the summer of 1925 after he demanded a transfer away from Springfield Park at the end of season 1924/25.
Whilst at Gigg Lane he totalled 11 League appearances and 3 goals before joining Sheffield United in 1926. He scored 14 goals in 35League appearances whilst at Bramall Lane before joining Non league outfit Rhyl Athletic, quickly followed by a spell at Connah’s Quay United.
His Football League career resumed in 1930/31when he made 31 League appearances for Bristol City, scoring 8 goals in the process. By the start of season 1931/32 he had signed for Chester and in a two year spell at the Sealand Road he made 63 League appearances and scored 18 goals before joining Halifax Town, who were to be his final Football League club.
He made 39 League appearances and scored 8 goals whilst at the Shay before drifting into Non League football with Dartford and completing another spell at Rhyl Athletic in January 1937 before retiring from the game.
MERCER, Richard
DOB:
Other clubs: Parr Wesleyans
Arthur Mercer also had a third brother apart from his more famous sibling at Sheffield United, his name was Richard, an inside left player aged 20, and he also signed amateur forms for Boro at the same time as Arthur but he failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
MILNE, A
DOB:
Other clubs: Swansea Town
Milne was signed from Swansea Town and he is recorded as having played 1 Lancashire Senior Cup game fro the club. This was against Rochdale at Springfield Park in the first round of the competition on 12thSeptember 1924. The game resulted in a 0-0 draw. Nothing else is known about his career when he left Springfield Park.
MITTELL, James Lyons
DOB: 28th February 1906
DIED: 30th March 1976
Other clubs: Merthyr Town, Penrhiwceiber, Rochdale, Connah’s Quay United, Birmingham City, Luton Town, Derry City, Hartlepools United, Barrow, Tunbridge Wells Rangers
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ½ ins, 11 st
Jackie was a goalkeeper born in Merthyr Tydfil. He made his Football League debut for Rochdale in 1929 for whom he made 46 League appearances. He was then snapped up by Boro in August 1929 when he was aged 22 years old, for the first of his two spells at Springfield Park. He made his League debut for Boro on 31st August 1929 in a home fixture against York City during which he conceded twice in a 0-2 defeat. During that 1929/30 season he made 40 League appearances, 1 Lancashire Senior Cup appearance, 5 Manchester Senior Cup appearances and he appeared once in the FA Cup, before being offloaded to Connah’s Quay United.
However, he was back at Springfield Park half way through season 1930/31, making his second Boro League debut on 17th January 1931 against New Brighton at Springfield Park in a game that resulted in a 1-1 draw. He was the goalkeeper in Boro’s last ever Football League match and indeed, along with John Martin was an ever-present during that fateful season. He had made another 30 League appearances for Boro, 12 of which were expunged from official records, along with a further appearance in the Lancashire Senior Cup, before finishing off the season at Birmingham City for whom he made 6 appearances.
He then moved to Luton Town in 1933, making 8 League appearances before signing for Derry City. He returned from Ireland to play for Hartlepools United for two years (1935/36) making 65 League appearances before signing for Barrow in 1937, who were his last Football League club. After 42 League appearances he joined the Non League scene with Tunbridge Wells Rangers.
MONOGHAN, W
Monoghan who could operate at left half or right half, signed amateur forms at Springfield Park in the summer of 1922. The Leigh born player failed to make the grade at Springfield Park.
MOON, Thomas
DOB: 2nd January 1900
DIED: 19th January 1981
Other clubs: New Hall Lane Temperance, Dick Kerrs, Horwich RMI, Preston North End, Southport, Chorley, Bradford City, Barrow, Frickley Colliery, Drumcondra
Height and weight: 5 ft. 7 ins, 10 st 7 lbs.
Tommy, an outside right born in Preston played for Boro in 1931 but had all his appearances wiped out as the club folded! Like Jackie Mittell he was also a member of the final Boro Football League team. Unofficially, he made 10 League appearances and scored once. His 2 appearances fro Boro in the Lancashire Senior Cup were also expunged from official records.
Before arriving at Springfield Park he had an amazing turnaround of clubs. He had started at New Hall Lane Temperance followed by a spell at Dick Kerr’s and Horwich RMI. His first Football League club was Preston North End who he joined in 1923. However, he didn’t make the grade at Deepdale and found himself back at Dick Kerr’s before he finally made his Football League bow with Southport in 1925. He made 4 League appearances and scored once whilst at Haig Avenue before drifting into the Non League scene again with Dick Kerrs (again), Chorley and then err, Dick Kerrs!
In 1928 he signed for Bradford City and in almost two years at Valley Parade he made 47 appearances and scored 17 goals before signing for yes you guessed it, Dick Kerrs! In 1930 he made 28 League appearances and scored 6 goals for Barrow, before that ill-fated spell at Boro. He didn’t play in the Football League again after leaving Springfield Park. He joined the Non League circuit with Frickley Colliery, Drumcondra and finally, DICK KERRS!
MORAN, John
DOB: 9th February 1906
DIED: 12th October1959
Other clubs: Earlestown, Tottenham Hotspur, Watford, Mansfield Town
Honours: Manchester Senior Cup winner 1930 (Wigan Borough)
Height and weight: 5 ft. 10 ins, 11 st
Jack who could play at right back or left back, was born in Haydock and was spotted playing for Earlestown before being offered a contract at Springfield Park in 1925. One of only seven players to play over a hundred games for the club and one of only two to hit the double hundred mark; he could play at right back or left back. He made his League debut for Boro against Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground on 16th September 1925. He was a member of the team that created history by playing in front of the largest ever attendance at Springfield Park when Boro played Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round in 1928.
In a five-year spell at Boro he made 201 League appearances without scoring. In addition he represented the club in the Lancashire Senior Cup 7 times without scoring and the FA Cup 9 times without finding the net. He also failed to score in his club record 16 appearances in the Manchester Senior Cup, before joining Tottenham Hotspur in May 1931 as Boro decided to cash in on him due to the crippling financial state that the club found itself in. The fee involved was £375 all of which was swallowed up by club debts.
He made 12 League appearances without scoring whilst at White Hart Lane before signing for Watford for a fee of £150 in 1932. A three-year spell at Vicarage Road brought him 100 League appearances and no goals. He joined Mansfield Town, his final Football League club in 1935 and he made 30 League appearances without scoring before calling it a day. He passed away in Newton le Willows on 12th October 1959.
Jack’s son, Frank, tried to follow in his footsteps and played for Liverpool County before an unsuccessful trial at Nottingham Forest put paid to his own ambitions.
MORRIS, Henry
DOB: 25th August 1900
DIED: 12th February 1964
Other clubs: Stoke St Peter’s, Stoke City, New Haden Colliery, Manchester United, Hartlepools United, Crewe Alexandra
Height and weight: 5 ft. 11 ½ ins, 12 st
Centre half/left half Harry was born in Stoke-on-Trent and started his professional career at Manchester United in 1922 after learning his trade as a reserve team player at Stoke City. He never played a first team game at Old Trafford and signed for Hartlepools United in 1923. He made 7 League appearances and scored twice whilst in the North East, but in the summer of 1924, aged 22 years old, he moved south to Boro.
His League debut came on 30th August 1924, the opening day of season 1924/25. The game was against Walsall at Springfield Park and ended in a 0-0 stalemate. His Springfield Park record was 15 League games with no goals scored, along with a single appearance in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the Manchester Senior (without scoring), before signing for his last Football League club, Crewe Alexandra, in 1925. Almost six years at Gresty Road yielded 198 League appearances and 9 goals before he hung up his boots.
MORTON, William Henry
DOB: 16th December 1896
Other clubs: West Hallam, Ilkeston St John, Ilkeston United, Derby County, Newcastle United, Lincoln City, Jarrow
Height and weight: 5 ft. 9 ½ ins, 10 st 6 lbs.
William was born in Ilkeston and it was after playing for three local sides that he was picked up by Derby County for the start of the 1920/21 season. He made 24 League appearances and scored once whilst at the Baseball Ground before a move to Newcastle United in 1921. He could play at inside or outside left as well as at right half but the Newcastle public never knew this as he didn’t break into the first team.
The following year saw him playing for Lincoln City and he made 31 League appearances and scored 4 goals whilst at Sincil Bank before he made Boro his final Football League club. He made his League debut for Boro against Rochdale on 27th August 1923 at Springfield Park in a game that resulted in a 3-0 victory. Whilst at Springfield Park he netted once in 10 League games and he failed to score in 1 Lancashire Senior Cup and 3 FA Cup games, before finishing his career at Jarrow.
MURPHY, James Joseph
DOB: 9th September 1907
DIED: 10th August 1974
Other clubs: Manchester City, Buxton, Droylesden, Stalybridge Celtic, Southport, Halifax Town, Northwich Victoria, Hyde United. Grimsby Town (wartime guest)
Jimmy was an outside left who was born in Hulme. He is another player whose entire Boro record has been expunged from official records. Both of his League appearances (no goals scored) where in the dreadful final Football League season. The games concerned were a 0-3 home defeat against Lincoln City on 9th September 1931 and a 4-3 beating at Crewe Alexandra three days later.
He had arrived at Springfield Park from Manchester City, but even after returning to Maine Road following the Boro debacle he didn’t break into their first team. He made his first officially recorded appearance as a Football League player for Southport in 1935 after a three-year spell of Non League football with Droylesden and Stalybridge Celtic. He made 10 League appearances at Haig Avenue without scoring before a further spell at Stalybridge. Towards the end of the 1935/36 season he made 13 League appearances and scored twice for Halifax Town, who were his last Football League club. On leaving the Shay he entered the Non League circuit with Northwich Victoria and Hyde United.
MURRAY, Michael
DOB: 23rd July 1901
Other clubs: Lochgelly United, ,East Fife, St Bernard’s, Rhyl Athletic, Caernarvon Town, Crewe Alexandra
Height and weight: 5ft 8 ins, 11st 3 lbs.
Michael was an outside right born in Leith. Having started his career in his native Scotland with East Fife and St Bernard’s he moved south to join Rhyl Athletic for a short time, for whom he once scored 2 goals against Boro in the FA Cup, before arriving at Springfield Park in the summer of 1930 aged 26 years old. He made his debut against Darlington at Feethams on the opening day of season 1930/31 on 30th August 1930 in a game that Boro won 3-2. In total he played 27 League games and scored twice, along with appearing once without scoring in both the Lancashire Senior Cup and the FA Cup, before signing for Crewe Alexandra in 1931. In two full seasons at Gresty Road he played 54 League games and netted 5 times before ending a short Football League career.
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