Eaton Frank Image 1 Barnsley 1928

Description

Stockport, Cheshire born inside right Frank Eaton started his football career with junior club Cressbrook in 1922 and spent 1923-24 on the books at Oldham Athletic without making an appearance for their first eleven. He joined New Mills in 1924 from where he was signed by Second Division club Barnsley in 1925, making his Football League debut at Clapton Orient in January 1926. His total of 21 goals in 1926-27 included 5 against South Shields in April 1927 and a hat-trick against Clapton Orient, and he finished as the club’s joint top scorer in the League.

By the time he joined Second Division club Reading in the summer of 1930 he had scored 61 goals for The Tykes in 155 appearances. Reading were relegated in his first season despite Eaton’s 15 goals, when he was the club’s second top scorer behind Arthur Bacon. He then scored 10 goals as Reading finished runners up in the Third Division (South) in 1931-32, narrowly missing out on promotion, and he remained a regular in 1932-33 as The Royals finished fourth in the division. His three seasons at Elm Park produced a total of 34 goals in 110 appearances. He had a final season at Queen’s Park Rangers in 1933-34, scoring twice in 19 appearances, before his retirement.