Jack Small (footballer)

Jack Small (29 October 1889 – 9 December 1946)[1] was an English professional footballer who played at wing-half either side of the First World War.

Jack Small
Personal information
Full name John Small
Date of birth (1889-10-29)29 October 1889
Place of birth South Bank, Middlesbrough, England
Date of death 9 December 1946(1946-12-09) (aged 57)
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position(s) Half-back
Youth career
South Bank North End
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
– Craghead United
1912–1913 Sunderland 1 (0)
1913–1915 Southampton 47 (2)
1919–1920 Thornycrofts
1920 Mid Rhondda
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Football career

Small was born at South Bank, Middlesbrough and attended St. Peter's School, South Bank.[2] He started his football career with Craghead United, playing in the Chester-le-Street & District League, before joining Sunderland of the Football League First Division in August 1912.

Small spent most of his time at Roker Park in the reserves and his only first-team appearance for Sunderland came in a 3–1 victory at Manchester United on 15 March 1913.[3]

In August 1913, he moved to the south coast to join Southampton of the Southern League. He made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the 1913–14 season, a 1–0 defeat at Brighton. Small soon became a popular player at The Dell who was "admired not only by the crowd but also by his colleagues".[2] He was "the sort of player whose influence on team spirit was always positive (who) relished a challenge and his sturdy half-back play was an inspiration".[2]

He retained his place at right-half for the first twelve matches of the season until, after a run of four defeats, he lost his place to John Denby. Small returned to the side in February replacing George Hadley and kept his place for the rest of the season.[4] Small started the following season at right-half until November when he moved to right-back to replace George Green until Green's return in March.[5] By the end of the season, England was at war and normal football was suspended. Small played in six wartime fixtures, until joining the R.A.M.C. at the end of 1915.[2]

Later career

Small spent sixteen months serving with the R.A.M.C. in Salonika before injuries caused him to be invalided back to Southampton, where he suffered a serious bout of malaria.[2]

After the war, he was a member of the Thornycrofts team which took First Division Burnley to a replay in the FA Cup first round, where they were defeated 5–0 after a scoreless draw at The Dell.[6]

He then spent a few months back in the Southern League with Mid Rhondda, before retiring from professional football in December 1920 and taking up employment with Harland & Wolff. He later joined the Merchant Navy.[2]

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References
  1. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan; Bull, David (2013). All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC. Southampton: Hagiology Publishing. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-9926-8640-6.
  2. Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. pp. 312–313. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  3. "Manchester United 1 Sunderland 3 (Match summary)". thestatcat.co.uk. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2009.
  4. Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0-907969-22-4.
  5. Saints – A complete record. pp. 56–57.
  6. Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of the FA Cup. Sports Books. p. 604. ISBN 1-899807-19-5.
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