George Harrison (footballer)

George Harrison (18 July 1892 – 12 February 1939)^[1] was an English international footballer, who played as an outside left.

Early life

George Harrison was born in the South Derbyshire mining village of Church Gresley on 18 July 1892. He married Frances Elizabeth O'Brian in the village church of St. George and St. Mary on 13 May 1913. They went on to have one son, George Harold.

Career

Born in Church Gresley, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, Harrison played professionally for Everton,^[2] and earned two caps for England in 1921.^[3]

Gresley Rovers

George began his career with local side Gresley Rovers, making his debut against Coalville Town on 10 September 1910. He had a short career with Rovers, making 11 appearances and scoring 1 goal. His final game came on 11 February 1911, away against Loughborough Corinthians.

Leicester Fosse

A left-winger with a feared shot, a move to Leicester Fosse (now Leicester City) came in February 1911 and so began his Football League career. He made his debut on 22 April 1911 in a 2nd Division match against Leeds City. George went on to play 60 games, scoring 9 goals. His last league game was against Hull City, on 26 April 1913. He would return to play 5 Midland Section games during World War One, scoring 2 goals.

Everton

In 1913, George made the big move to Everton. He would go on to make 190 appearances for the Merseyside giants, scoring 17 goals. The 1914-15 season saw Everton become League Champions, their first at Goodison Park, with George making 30 league and cup appearances, scoring 4 goals.

The much revered Everton side of that season saw George, along with Sam Chedgzoy, provide centre forward Bobby Parker with many assists, helping the striker to net a then record 36 goals in 35 games.

Wartime Era^[4][5]

The onset of World War One saw the suspension of league football in 1915. George worked on the Liverpool docks and played wartime games during this period. Inter-regimental football was very competitive, with elite regiments seeking out the best players to join their ranks. George Harrison joined the Scots Guards on 2 January 1917 and was joined by fellow Everton players Sam Chedgzoy and Billy Kirsopp. There is a documented account that illustrated the power of George's shot, wherein one game he actually tore a hole in the side netting.

He went to the battlefields of France on 14 August 1917, where, with the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards, he entered the trenches at Ypres on 5 October, more commonly known as the Battle of Passchendale. During the conflict, four members of the battalions football team were gassed, including George. The battalion went on to support the Cambrain Offensive and were heavily involved at Bourlon Wood. George also saw action at Arras in March, 1918, during the German's Spring Offensive. Taking leave in September 1918, George played for Everton in a match against Southport. On his return to France, he caught influenza and was hospitalised at the end of hostilities.

Retirement and death

Following George Harrison's retirement he entered the pub trade, as may footballers did during that era. Initially, he ran the Moorbrook Inn in Preston from 1932 until 1936. He then returned to his hometown of Church Gresley to run the Rising Sun public house. The winter of 1939 saw George being treated for insomnia and influenza and he was ill for several weeks. Tragically, on 12 February 1939 George took his own life in the bathroom of the Rising Sun, possibly due to the depressive side effects of his illness.

Rediscovery of his grave

In the early part of 2015, whilst researching Victorian and Edwardian footballers from the South Derbyshire area, local man Kieran Smith located the unmarked grave of George Harrison in York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley. Then, on 12 February 2016, 77 years to the day following his death, his grave was marked by Everton FC and the EFC Heritage Society. The small ceremony was attended by a large contingent from Everton, including former player Ian Snodin and training ground priest Henry Corbett. Invited guests included the former Manchester United captain Martin Buchan.

Grave of George Harrison, York Road Cemetery, Church Gresley.

References