Horace Colclough

Albert Horace Colclough (3 November 1888 – 25 May 1976)[1] was an English international footballer, who played as a left back. He played his club football for Crewe Alexandra and Crystal Palace in the years immediately prior to World War I. His playing career was ended by injuries received during the war after which he became a trainer for Dutch side Heracles Almelo.

Horace Colclough
Personal information
Full name Albert Horace Colclough
Date of birth (1888-11-03)3 November 1888
Place of birth Oxford, near Tunstall, Staffordshire, England
Date of death 25 May 1976(1976-05-25) (aged 87)
Place of death New Milton, Hampshire, England
Playing position(s) Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1912 Crewe Alexandra
1912–1915 Crystal Palace 83 (0)
National team
1914 England 1 (0)
Teams managed
1920–1932 Heracles Almelo
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Colclough started his playing career at Crewe Alexandra, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, signing professional papers in August 1910.[2] After two "impressive" seasons at Crewe, he moved south to join Crystal Palace of the Southern League in 1912.[2]

The 1912–13 club handbook said of him: "This back is new to the Palace, coming from Crewe Alexandra, through whose ranks many good footballers have passed. He plays right or left back."[3] The following year, the handbook added: "very few, if any, better backs have been associated with Crewe Alexandra, and he rendered yeoman service. His strong kicking and accurately-timed rushes serve him well."[4]

He quickly became an established member of the side and earned three call-ups in inter-League matches[2] as well as being selected for the Home Championship match against Wales on 16 March 1914. The match finished 2–0 to England.[5] He was Crystal Palace's first player to be selected for England international honours.[6][7]

Later career

Colclough's professional playing career finished at the end of the 1914–15 season, when league football was ended by the First World War. During the war he suffered a leg injury that prevented him resurrecting his career after the cessation of hostilities. Sources vary as to the cause of his injury; Graham Betts, in his "England, Player by Player" says that he was injured playing football for the Army,[2] whereas Dutch sources claim that he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg.[8]

In August 1920,[8] he was appointed first-team coach at Dutch club Heracles Almelo where he remained until 1932.[9] During his time at the club, Colclough was known as "d'n trainer met 'n poot " ("the trainer with the leg") because of his war-wound.[8] He improved the club's professional outlook and introduced weekly discussions on tactics.[8]

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References
  1. "England players: Horace Colclough". englandfootballonline. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  2. Betts, Graham (2006). England: Player by player. Green Umbrella Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 1-905009-63-1.
  3. Crystal Palace handbook: 1912–13
  4. Crystal Palace handbook: 1913–14
  5. "Wales 0 England 2". englandstats. 16 March 1914. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  6. "1914". Club History. Crystal Palace FC. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  7. "Palace Internationals". Crystal Palace FC. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  8. "The Two Colour up: 101 years Heracles (1903–2004)". Albert Vondeling. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2013.
  9. "Building a New Future". History of Heracles (in Dutch). heracles.nl. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
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