List of Nelson F.C. players

Last updated May 01, 2023

Nelson F.C. is an English semi-professional association football club based in the town of Nelson, Lancashire. The club was founded in 1881 and initially played in the Lancashire Combination. In 1921, Nelson became a professional outfit when they were one of the teams selected to play in the inaugural season of the newly formed Football League Third Division North. The team played in the Football League for the following 10 years, enjoying a season in the Second Division in 1923–24. Nelson were relegated from the Football League in 1931, failing re-election after finishing bottom of the league. Defender Clement Rigg amassed the most league appearances for Nelson during this period with 254. The highest goalscorer was Joe Eddleston who netted on 97 occasions for the club before transferring to Swindon Town in 1926.

This list includes all the players who made at least one league appearance for Nelson during this professional period. Appearances and goals are counted together for players who had more than one spell with the club during this time.

Players

Name	Nationality	Position	Nelson career	Appearances	Goals
Harry Abbott	England	GK	1922–1927	154	0
Frank Allen	England	FW	1930	14	0
Harold Andrews	England	FW	1921–1922	8	1
Frank Bailey	England	DF	1925–1927	4	0
Richard Baird	England	MF	1921–1922	2	0
Jim Baker	England	DF	1926–1927	28	6
Len Baker	England	FW	1930–1931	7	0
Joseph Baldwin	England	FW	1929–1930	1	0
Arthur Bate	England	MF	1930–1931	24	6
Lewis Bedford	England	MF	1927–1928	32	7
William Bennett	England	FW	1922–1923	1	0
John Bennie	Scotland	FW	1921–1922	12	6
Joseph Birds	England	GK	1922–1924	40	0
John Black	Scotland	DF	1922–1923	29	5
William Bossons	England	GK	1927–1928	4	0
Lewis Botto	England	GK	1929–1930	1	0
Allan Bottrill	England	MF	1924–1925	1	0
Billy Bottrill	England	FW	1924–1928	121	35
Ernie Braidwood	England	DF	1922–1926	128	10
Jimmy Broadhead	England	DF	1922–1926 1927–1928	67	1
Fred Broadhurst	England	DF	1925–1927	61	0
Jack Brooks	England	DF	1929	6	0
Alfred Brown	England	DF	1927–1928	2	0
John Brown	Scotland	MF	1926–1927	2	0
Robert Bruce	Scotland	GK	1921–1922	7	0
Jim Buchanan	Scotland	FW	1928–1930	66	15
Herbert Butterworth	England	DF	1924–1926	9	0
James Caine	England	DF	1929–1931	5	0
Eddie Cameron	Scotland	FW	1924–1925 1929	46	10
Tom Carmedy	England	FW	1928–1931	66	20
Billy Caulfield	England	FW	1923–1924	18	5
Edgar Chadwick	England	FW	1923–1926	36	19
Walter Chadwick	England	DF	1925–1926	2	0
Ralph Chapman	England	MF	1929–1931	10	0
Harry Clayton	England	DF	1925–1926	4	0
Harry Clegg	England	GK	1921–1922	5	0
David Cochrane	Scotland	FW	1927–1928	2	2
Leigh Collins	England	DF	1923–1924	13	0
Harry Counsell	England	DF	1930–1931	3	0
Jimmy Cowen	England	FW	1925–1926	3	4
Dick Crawshaw	England	FW	1922–1924	32	10
James Dargan	England	FW	1927–1928	2	0
Arthur Dawson	England	MF	1930–1931	10	0
Wilf Denwood	England	MF	1925–1926	3	0
Charlie Dixon	England	DF	1930–1931	16	1
Ernie Dixon	England	FW	1929–1930	28	10
John Dodsworth	England	DF	1928–1929	2	0
Billy Donkin	England	DF	1928–1929	8	0
Edwin Earle	England	MF	1925–1927	54	15
Eddie Eastwood	England	DF	1921–1923	3	0
Joe Eddleston	England	FW	1921–1926	183	97
Bill Ellerington	England	DF	1924–1925	26	2
Billy Fairhurst	England	DF	1929–1931	76	0
Des Fawcett	England	GK	1928–1929	23	0
Robert Ferguson	England	FW	1929–1930	1	0
Ted Ferguson	England	DF	1928–1930	67	0
Fred Ferrari	England	FW	1929–1930	7	3
Jack Fletcher	England	MF	1927–1929	11	1
Thomas Garnett	England	MF	1921–1922	1	0
Bob Gartside	England	FW	1929–1930	1	0
Richard Gaskell	England	FW	1927–1928	3	0
Felix Gillan	England	DF	1928–1929	11	0
Ernest Gillibrand	England	MF	1924–1925	2	0
Billy Halligan	Ireland	FW	1921–1922	17	6
Joe Halliwell	England	FW	1927–1929	74	9
Jimmy Hampson	England	FW	1925–1927	64	42
Harry Hargreaves	England	FW	1921	13	2
Billy Harker	England	FW	1930–1931	18	5
Billy Harper	England	DF	1924–1925	6	0
Ambrose Harris	England	DF	1924–1928	58	1
Ray Hartley	England	DF	1921–1922	1	0
Arthur Hawes	England	FW	1930–1931	26	3
George Hayes	Wales	FW	1927–1928	9	5
Foster Hedley	England	MF	1929–1930	26	5
Arthur Hepworth	England	MF	1927–1929	16	0
Harry Heyes	England	GK	1921–1922	26	0
Harry Higginbotham	Scotland	FW	1924	4	0
Charlie Hillam	England	GK	1930–1931	3	0
Sid Hoad	England	MF	1922–1927	152	13
Alec Hooper	England	DF	1928–1929	9	0
Harry Hooper	England	DF	1928–1930	21	0
Archie Howarth	England	MF	1930–1931	8	2
George Howes	England	DF	1930–1931	35	0
Charles Howson	England	DF	1922–1923	1	0
Duggie Humphrey	England	MF	1924	8	0
Bob Hutchinson	England	MF	1922–1924	60	1
Thomas Jacques	England	DF	1921–1922	17	1
John Jewell	England	MF	1930–1931	3	0
Arthur Jones	England	DF	1927–1928	1	0
Jack Jones	England	DF	1927–1928	12	0
John Keers	England	MF	1926–1927	8	3
Gerry Kelly	England	MF	1928–1929	47	15
Sam Kennedy	England	FW	1923–1924	6	0
William Lammus	England	DF	1923–1924	8	0
Fred Laycock	England	FW	1924–1925	23	12
Bob Lilley	England	DF	1921–1925	66	0
Tom Lilley	England	DF	1923–1924	14	0
Fred Mace	England	GK	1925–1927	8	0
James Mangham	England	GK	1927–1930	2	0
Edward Manock	England	FW	1929–1931	18	2
Cecil Marsh	England	FW	1921–1922	17	2
Jack Martin	England	DF	1930–1931	27	1
David McClure	Scotland	DF	1927–1928	28	1
Mike McCulloch	Scotland	FW	1922–1924	49	8
Patrick McDonagh	Scotland	FW	1928–1929	5	0
William McGreevy	England	FW	1921–1922	3	1
John McGuire	England	FW	1927–1928	20	2
Jimmy McKinnell	Scotland	DF	1929–1930	10	0
George McLaughlan	Scotland	FW	1929–1930	29	2
Harry Mellor	England	FW	1921–1922	1	0
Jim Metcalfe	England	DF	1928–1930	71	1
Ronald Mitchell	England	DF	1926–1927	32	0
Walter Moore	England	DF	1924–1925	5	0
William Morton	England	FW	1928–1929	8	3
Jack Newnes	Wales	DF	1923–1926	113	7
Robert Nuttall	England	FW	1930–1931	4	0
Harry Nutter	England	GK	1923–1924	2	0
Joseph O'Beirne	England	FW	1924–1925	16	2
Frank Parry	England	MF	1929–1930	24	2
James Pearson	England	DF	1925–1928	38	0
James Phizacklea	England	DF	1924–1925	19	0
Tom Pickering	England	FW	1926–1927	1	0
James Price	Scotland	DF	1921–1923	24	0
Wilfred Proctor	England	MF	1921–1922	14	1
Bernard Radford	England	FW	1927–1929	55	41
Leslie Raisbeck	England	FW	1930–1931	29	11
Gilbert Richmond	England	DF	1929–1931	21	0
Dennis Ridge	England	DF	1927–1928	8	0
Harry Ridley	England	MF	1928–1929	31	7
Clement Rigg	England	DF	1921–1929	254	4
Percy Roberts	Wales	FW	1926–1927	1	0
Ernie Robinson	England	DF	1930–1931	27	0
Henry Robinson	England	MF	1930–1931	20	3
Teddy Roseboom	Scotland	FW	1923–1924	12	1
Bill Ruffell	England	FW	1927–1928	12	3
Charles Sandbach	England	DF	1930–1931	2	0
Buchanan Sharp	Scotland	FW	1926–1929	80	35
Peter Shevlin	Scotland	GK	1929–1931	53	0
Edwin Simpson	England	DF	1926–1928	17	0
Bill Slack	England	DF	1927–1928	10	3
Fred Smith	England	FW	1924–1926	2	0
Steve Spargo	England	DF	1929–1930	21	0
George Spence	England	MF	1927–1928	13	2
John Steel	Scotland	DF	1921–1923	50	0
John Stevenson	Scotland	FW	1924–1927	73	26
John Stoneham	England	GK	1927–1928	6	0
David Suttie	Scotland	DF	1928–1931	104	2
Harold Taylor	England	MF	1926–1928	17	4
Tommy Tebb	England	FW	1930–1931	14	2
Jim Thomson	Scotland	GK	1924	2	0
Harry Tordoff	England	DF	1928–1930	9	0
Albert Turner	England	DF	1921–1922	1	0
Stan Walker	England	FW	1930–1931	2	0
William Waller	England	FW	1921–1922	25	7
John Walmsley	England	DF	1921–1922	1	0
Ted Ward	England	FW	1923–1924	2	0
Sam Warhurst	England	GK	1927–1931	76	0
John Weedall	England	MF	1929–1930	7	3
Henry White	England	FW	1927–1928	22	15
Bob Wilde	England	DF	1921–1922	36	0
Tom Wilkinson	England	FW	1928–1929	17	5
David Wilson	Scotland	DF	1921–1924	95	3
George Wilson	England	DF	1925–1930	160	16
Billy Wilson	England	MF	1921–1922	1	0
Arthur Wolstenholme	England	FW	1922–1925	68	17
James Wootton	England	MF	1921–1922	14	1

Related Research Articles

John William Walmsley was an English professional association footballer who played predominantly as a wing half. Born in Accrington, Lancashire, he initially played Sunday league football for St Paul's and Accrington St Peter's. Walmsley started his senior playing career in Non-League football with Bacup Borough before joining Football League Third Division North side Nelson in 1921. He played just one match for Nelson, appearing at centre-half in the 2–4 defeat to Wrexham on 26 November 1921.

Stephen Spargo was an English professional association footballer who played as a half back. He usually played at centre-half, but was often deployed at wing-half throughout his career. Born in the town of Burnley, he initially played as an amateur in local league football before a move to hometown club Burnley in 1925. He spent four seasons in the Football League First Division with the club before moving to nearby Third Division North outfit Nelson in the summer of 1929. A transfer to Doncaster Rovers followed a year later. In 1932 he joined York City and later returned to Lancashire for a spell at Rochdale, before ending his career in non-league football with Burton Town.

Robert Fotheringham Bruce was a Scottish professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. He played seven matches in the Football League Third Division North and made three FA Cup appearances for Nelson in the 1921–22 season.

Edmund Eastwood was an English professional association footballer who played as a full-back.

Sidney James Hoad was an English professional footballer who played as an outside right. He played over 250 matches in the Football League, for four clubs.

David Wilson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a wing half. He started his career in the Scottish Football League and went on to play 475 matches in the English Football League, mainly for Oldham Athletic, before retiring at the age of 40. He appeared in one international match for Scotland in 1913. After retiring, he became manager of Nelson and Exeter City.

Arthur E. Wolstenholme was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He was predominantly used as an inside-right, but could also play at inside-left if required. In a career spanning 17 years, he played for a number of Football League teams, in addition to spells in the Southern Football League with Gillingham and Norwich City. Wolstenholme was the first player ever to score four goals in a Football League Third Division North fixture.

James Edward Broadhead was an English professional footballer who played as a defender. Born in Rotherham, he started his career with Rotherham County in 1913, and then joined Norwich City in 1919. He later had spells with South Shields and Scunthorpe & Lindsey United before moving to Nelson, where he made 67 Football League appearances in two spells with the club. He played in non-league football towards the end of his career, before retiring to become a coach in the early 1930s.

Allan Bottrill was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward. He played one match in the Football League Third Division North for Nelson in the 1925–26 season.

John Brooks was an English professional footballer who played as a right-back. Born in Stockton-on-Tees, he started his career with Fulham in May 1924, and made six Football League appearances during two seasons with the club. He made his senior debut on 8 September 1924 in the 1–0 win away at Port Vale. While at Fulham, he was awarded a gold medal after giving blood to club trainer Elijah Morse at the scene of a crash. In June 1926, Brooks joined fellow Football League Second Division side Darlington and played six league matches during his first season at the club. Darlington were relegated to the Third Division North in 1927 and Brooks subsequently became a more frequent first-team player.

Tom Carmedy was an English professional footballer who played predominantly as a centre forward. He began his career in local-league football with his hometown club, Gainford, before joining Football League side Darlington in 1927. He later played for Nelson and Barrow, before returning to non-league football.

William Caulfield was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in Haydock, Lancashire, he began his career in local football with Ormskirk. He later played for Southport Central before moving into the Football League with Blackburn Rovers in February 1915. However, due to the outbreak of the First World War and the subsequent suspension of competitive football in England, he failed to make an appearance for the club.

Joseph Adam Halliwell was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward. He started his senior career with Preston North End and scored 10 goals in 22 league matches during the 1912–13 season as the team won the Football League Second Division. After making four further appearances for Preston at the start of the following campaign, Halliwell transferred to Barnsley in December 1913. He remained at Oakwell for 14 years and played 312 league games for the club, scoring 83 goals.

Sam Kennedy was an English professional footballer who was on the books of five different Football League clubs. He started his career as a right-half, but later played in the centre forward position.

Frank Thomas Parry was an English professional footballer who played as an outside forward. Born in Aigburth, Liverpool, he began his playing career with Everton and made 12 league appearances for the club, making his debut in the 1–2 defeat to Manchester City on 26 December 1922. During his time at Goodison Park, he was never able to replace Sam Chedgzoy as the club's first choice right-winger, and in June 1926 he joined Football League Second Division side Grimsby Town. However, despite being described as "a skilful and polished winger", Parry again struggled to break into the first team and played just one league match in the 1926–27 season.

James Stevens Pearson was an English professional footballer who played as a full back. He was born in Heywood, Lancashire, and began his career in non-League football with his hometown club in the early 1920s. In April 1925, Pearson joined Football League Third Division North side Nelson, initially as an amateur, although he was offered a professional contract in September of the same year. He made his debut for Nelson on 3 October 1925 in the 0–1 defeat away at Coventry City and appeared in the following five matches, but then spent the majority of the 1925–26 season in the reserve team. During the 1926–27 campaign, Pearson was more involved in first-team activities and appeared in more than half of Nelson's league fixtures, although he was never able to properly displace club captain Clem Rigg from the left-back berth. He returned to the reserves for the 1927–28 season, making only seven senior appearances. Following a disappointing campaign in which the team finished bottom of the division, Nelson retained only six of their professional squad in the summer of 1928, and Pearson was one of several players to leave the club.

William George Ruffell was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. He was the younger brother of Jimmy Ruffell, who made more than 500 league appearances for West Ham United and won six caps for the England national football team.

Samuel Lee Warhurst was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He started his career with Football League Third Division North club Nelson, where he made 76 league appearances in five seasons. After a short spell in non-League football with Stalybridge Celtic, Warhurst returned to professional football with Bradford City in 1932 and spent five years with the Yorkshire club. He ended his playing career with Southampton, playing his final league match in 1939. He later assisted the club in a non-playing role. In later life, he worked as a hotelier in Southampton.

James Mitton (1890–1949) was an English professional footballer who played as a centre-half. He made 160 appearances in the Football League for Stockport County and Exeter City.

Fred Woodward was an English professional footballer who played as a wing half. He made three appearances in the Football League for Wigan Borough.

References

Dykes, Garth (2009). Nelson FC in the Football League: A Complete Record 1921–31. SoccerData.
Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888–1939. SoccerData.

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v t e Nelson Football Club
The club	Seasons Managers All players Football League players
Grounds	Seedhill
Football League years	1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31

v t e Lists of male footballers in England by club
Premier League	AFC Bournemouth Arsenal 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Aston Villa Brentford 100+ 25–99 1–24 Internationals Hall of Fame POTY Brighton & Hove Albion Chelsea 100+ 25–99 1–24 Crystal Palace 100+ POTY Everton 100+ Internationals Hall of Fame Fulham 100+ 25–99 1–24 Leeds United Leicester City Liverpool 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Manchester City 100+ 25–99 1–24 Manchester United 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Newcastle United Nottingham Forest 100+ Internationals Southampton 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship	Birmingham City 100+ 25–99 1–24 Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Bristol City Burnley 100+ Internationals Cardiff City 100+ 25–99 1–24 Captains Internationals Coventry City 100+ Internationals POTY Huddersfield Town Hull City Luton Town 100+ POTY Middlesbrough Millwall Norwich City 100+ 25–99 Hall of Fame POTY Preston North End 100+ POTY Queens Park Rangers Reading 100+ 25–99 1–24 Internationals POTY Rotherham United Sheffield United 100+ 25–99 Internationals POTY Stoke City 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Sunderland Swansea City 100+ Internationals Watford 50+ 1–49 POTY West Bromwich Albion Wigan Athletic
League One	Accrington Stanley Barnsley Bolton Wanderers 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Bristol Rovers 100+ 25–99 Internationals POTY Burton Albion Cambridge United Charlton Athletic Cheltenham Town Derby County 100+ POTY Exeter City Fleetwood Town Forest Green Rovers Ipswich Town 100+ Hall of Fame POTY Lincoln City 100+ 25–99 Milton Keynes Dons Morecambe Oxford United Peterborough United Plymouth Argyle 100+ POTY Port Vale 25+ 1–24 POTY Portsmouth Sheffield Wednesday All Internationals POTY Shrewsbury Town Wycombe Wanderers
League Two	AFC Wimbledon Barrow Bradford City 50+ 1–49 Carlisle United Colchester United 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY Crawley Town Crewe Alexandra Doncaster Rovers 100+ 1879–1918— Gillingham 50+ 25–49 1–24 Grimsby Town Harrogate Town Hartlepool United Leyton Orient Mansfield Town Newport County Northampton Town Rochdale 100+ 25–99 1–24 Salford City Stevenage Stockport County Sutton United Swindon Town Tranmere Rovers 100+ 1921–1939 1945–present Walsall
Non-League / Defunct	Bradford (Park Avenue) Bury 100+ 25–99 1–24 Chesterfield Darlington 100+ 25–99 1–24 Dagenham & Redbridge Halifax Town Hereford United Macclesfield Town Nelson Notts County Oldham Athletic 100+ 25–99 1–24 Scarborough Southend United Torquay United Wanderers Wigan Borough Yeovil Town 100+ Internationals York City 100+ 25–99 1–24 POTY
Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2022–23 season. Includes the Welsh clubs where lists have been created. 'POTY' = 'Player of the Year / Season'.