Deacon Jimmy Image 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1930

Description

Glasgow born inside left Jimmy Deacon played junior football with Albert Hill United in 1926 and began his League career with Darlington in 1927, his Football League debut coming that October against Ashington, making just two appearances in the Third Division during 1927-28 before joining Second Division Wolverhampton Wanderers in June 1929 for £250.

He scored on his Wolves debut, a 2-2 draw at Bradford City on 7th September 1929, and quickly formed a potent attack with Billy Hartill, scoring 42 goals as a duo that season. In 1930 it was said of him: “A fast, clever inside forward, Deacon is a fine schemer, and can shoot when the opportunity occurs”. Deacon then reached double figures in goals in all but his final full season at Molineux, and won a Second Division Championship medal in 1931-32, contributing 13 goals. His younger brother Dickie also played for the club during his spell at Molineux.

He scored a total of 55 goals in 158 appearances for Wolves, before being transferred to Southend United in October 1934 and converting to the half back line in October 1935, mainly appearing for them at right half. He made over a century of appearances for The Shrimpers over the next five years, scoring 5 goals in 113 games, before joining Hartlepools United ahead of the 1939-40 season. He played in Hartlepool’s opening 3 games before the season was abandoned due to the advent of the Second World War, which finished his career as a footballer.

His younger brother Dickie Deacon was also a footballer, playing for Wolves, West Ham United, Glentoran, Northampton Town and Lincoln City.