Hugh Vallance
Hugh Baird Vallance (14 June 1905 – 19 June 1973) was a much-travelled English professional association football centre-forward.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Hugh Baird Vallance | ||
| Date of birth | 14 June 1905 | ||
| Place of birth | Wolverhampton, England | ||
| Date of death | 19 June 1973 (aged 68) | ||
| Place of death | Birmingham, England | ||
| Playing position(s) | Centre forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| – | Kidderminster Harriers | ||
| 1927–1928 | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
| 1928–1929 | Queens Park Rangers | 1 | (0) |
| 1929–1930 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 44 | (32) |
| 1930–1931 | Worcester City[1] | ?? | (11) |
| 1931 | Evesham Town | ||
| 1931 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | ||
| 1931–1932 | Gillingham | 13 | (7) |
| – | Kidderminster Harriers | ||
| – | Nîmes Olympique | ||
| – | FC Basel | ||
| – | Brierley Hill Alliance | ||
| 1934–1935 | Gillingham | 5 | (3) |
| – | Racing Club de Paris | ||
| – | Cork City | ||
| – | Evesham Town | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Career
Vallance was born in Wolverhampton and after serving in the army as a guardsman began his football career with Kidderminster Harriers. He moved to Aston Villa in 1927, but left to join Queens Park Rangers without having broken into the first team. He made just one appearance for Rangers before moving to Brighton & Hove Albion in the spring of 1929. He was given his chance by Brighton manager Charlie Webb and soon established himself in the Brighton attack alongside Dan Kirkwood. In the 1929–30 season, Vallance scored four hat-tricks before the end of the year. By the end of the season, Vallance had scored 30 league goals in 37 games, while his strike partner Kirkwood had netted 38 in 40. The following season, Vallance scored twice in the first seven games before his Brighton contract was terminated for a "serious misdemeanour" at the same time as that of Ireland international Jack Curran.
He joined Worcester City and within six months went to Evesham Town and Tunbridge Wells Rangers before returning to the league with Gillingham. Despite 7 goals in 13 league games he was released and rejoined Kidderminster Harriers. His next move was to France and Nîmes Olympique, from where he moved to FC Basel. From Switzerland he moved to the less exotic Brierley Hill Alliance before returning to Gillingham. After 3 goals in 5 league games, Vallance moved to Racing Club de Paris and subsequently played for Cork City before ending his career with Evesham Town.
After leaving professional football Vallance served in the Royal Air Force. Vallance died in Birmingham in 1973.
References
- "Worcester City Season 1930–1931". Worcester City Archive. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2010.
- Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 266. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
- "Vallance's Exit Still A Mystery To This Day". The Argus. Brighton. 8 December 2001. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2010.