George Utley

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George Utley
Georgeutley1915-2.jpg
Personal information
Full name George Utley
Date of birth(1887-05-16)16 May 1887
Place of birth Elsecar, Barnsley, England
Date of death 8 January 1966(1966-01-08) (aged 78)
Place of death Blackpool, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [1]
Position(s) Half back
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1906 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1907–1913 Barnsley 167 (8)
1913–1922 Sheffield United 107 (4)
1922 Manchester City 1 (0)
Total275(12)
International career
1913 England 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

George Utley (16 May 1887 – 8 January 1966) was an English footballer who played for Barnsley, Sheffield United and England. He was a strong and powerful half back who could shoot at goal when required. [2]

Contents

Utley was born in Reform Row, Elsecar, [3] which lies south of Barnsley. He was the 11th and final child of James and Mary Utley. His father was an engine tender at a colliery and his brothers worked in the local coal mines and foundries. [4]

Club career

Barnsley

On leaving school he became a joiner, [4] but by 1907 he had signed with Barnsley. During his time with Barnsley the club made it to two FA Cup Finals. The first was in 1910, when they were beaten by Newcastle United 2–0 in a replay after a one all draw, and the second was in 1912, when Barnsley managed to defeat West Bromwich Albion by one goal in the replay after the first game ended in a goalless draw. [5]

He made a total of 167 league appearances for Barnsley, scoring eight goals. [6]

Sheffield United

During the 1913–14 season, Sheffield United were looking to sign a new captain to change their fortunes, having struggled in both the league and cup since the retirement of Ernest Needham. [7] Following a letter of recommendation from United player Billy Gillespie, the man they targeted was George Utley. [8]

Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final George utley sheffield to field 1915.jpg
Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final

The committee were not unanimous about signing Utley, who they feared would fetch a large fee.[ citation needed ] Bolton Wanderers had previously offered £1,500, which had been rejected by Barnsley.[ citation needed ] The Blades offered more and were also turned down.[ citation needed ] United offered £2,000 which was accepted, making him the joint-most expensive player in Britain at the time. [8] Utley signed a five-year contract, with the promise of a benefit match at the end of it. [8]

He made his debut for Sheffield United against Manchester United at Bramall Lane on 22 November 1913, in a match the Blades won 2–0. [9]

In the semi-final of the 1914–15 FA Cup, Utley's goal in the 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers was described as "the best of his career", [10] as he dribbled the ball 60 yards before scoring. [11] Utley subsequently played in his third FA Cup final as the Blades defeated Chelsea 3–0 on 24 April 1915. Utley, as captain, worked hard and decisively throughout the game, breaking up many Chelsea attacks and providing many passes to the United forwards. [12] Sheffield United's success in the cup when compared to previous seasons was credited to Utley. [2]

He left Bramall Lane in 1922, transferring to Manchester City but retired within twelve months of the move. [11]

Coaching

After leaving Manchester City, Utley went on to hold the position of trainer at Bristol City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in May 1924 as coach. He then moved on to become a trainer at Fulham in July 1925, a position he remained in until 1927. [11]

International career

In February 1913, while still with Barnsley, Utley was selected to play for England against Ireland. England were defeated 2–1, Ireland's first victory over England; he was not selected to play for England again. [13] This remains the only England appearance by a Barnsley player. [7]

Legacy

It could be argued that Utley's greatest impact on football in England was regarding the award of testimonial and benefit games. Usually players were awarded a benefit game for long service and allowed to choose a match, excluding derby games and large visiting clubs, from which to receive the gate receipts as recognition of their services. [8]

Utley challenged this in 1920 and was granted a benefit match against the then mighty Sunderland after only four seasons, eventually receiving around £1,000. The board had been willing to make an exception for Utley, citing his importance to the team and wishing to ensure he stayed with the club. [8]

This extraordinary move by the club caused unrest in the dressing room and nine of the first team signed a letter to the United directors, written by Billy Gillespie, complaining that this preferential treatment was unfair. [8] The game went ahead a few days later without Utley, although ironically Billy Gillespie scored twice in a 3–1 win in front of over 36,000 spectators. [14] Utley stayed at Bramall Lane for another two years. [8]

The Football League discovered the unrest this benefit had caused at the club and changed the rules governing such matches. They stipulated that testimonials could only be played after an agreed period of time stated within a players contract, or upon their career being unexpectedly cut short. This ruling remains to this day. [8]

Life outside football

Utley worked as an assistant cricket coach at Rossall School from 1911 until 1931 and from 1929 until 1931 he also worked as assistant groundsman. [15]

Astute in financial matters, Utley married into a wealthy family following the death of his first wife. Having no children from either marriage he returned his second wife's money to her family upon her death claiming he had enough to keep him. Living in a large house he kept two housekeepers to whom he bequeathed a home on the estate for peppercorn rent upon his death. [8]

During the later part of his football career he authored articles for boys magazines including: [16]

Utley died in January 1966.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition [6]
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Barnsley 1908–09 Division Two 15100151
1909–10 Division Two35091441
1910–11 Division Two36120381
1911–12 Division Two344120464
1912–13 Division Two36130391
1913–14 Division Two11100111
Total16782611939
Sheffield United 1913–14 Division One 23174305
1914–15 Division One30171372
1919–20 Division One16000160
1920–21 Division One23200232
1921–22 Division One15010160
Total10741551229
Manchester City 1922–23 Division One100010
Career total2751241631618

Honours

Barnsley

Sheffield United

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References

  1. ↑ Nemo (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Sheffield United". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 6.
  2. 1 2 Unknown (1915). Cup Final Programme.
  3. ↑ Utley, George (1887). Birth Certificate.
  4. 1 2 English Census James Utley Household. 1901.
  5. ↑ John Harding. "The Uncompromising Legends". Professional Footballers Association. Retrieved 31 October 2007.[ dead link ]
  6. 1 2 George Utley at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  7. 1 2 Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2012). Sheffield United: the Complete Record. Derby Books Publishing Company. p. 236. ISBN   9781780910192.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Armstrong, Gary; Garrett, John (March 2007). Sheffield United FC: The Biography. The Hallamshire Press. pp. 120–122. ISBN   978-1-874718-65-9.
  9. ↑ Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. p. 118. ISBN   0-9508588-2-X.
  10. ↑ Clarebrough, Denis. (1989) Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. ISBN   0-9508588-1-1
  11. 1 2 3 The Official Encyclopedia of Sheffield United by Tony Matthews, Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, ISBN   1-904103-19-7, Page 253
  12. ↑ "The Cup Final". Manchester Guardian. 26 April 1915. p. 9.
  13. ↑ "English International Database". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 29 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  14. ↑ A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889–1999 by Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, ISBN   0-9508588-2-X, Page 130
  15. ↑ "Utley Leaving Rossall". Manchester Guardian. 29 August 1931. p. 17.
  16. ↑ Steve Holland. "British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index". Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2007.
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