Chambers Peter Image 1 Bristol City 1906

Description

Workington, Cumberland born wing half Peter Chambers joined First Division Blackburn Rovers from Black Diamonds in October 1897, making his Football League debut at Sheffield Wednesday the following month, playing 33 times for Rovers during his two season stay at Ewood Park. He joined Southern League Bedminster in 1899, which a year later merged to become Bristol City, playing Southern League football for two further seasons before they joined the Second Division of the Football League in 1901.

He was a regular in their teams that finished fourth three seasons in a row before winning the Second Division Championship with City in 1905-06, the season in which he also played in an England trial. Having scored 10 goals in 176 appearances for Bristol City (ex his appearances for Bedminster) he joined Southern League Swindon Town in July 1907, but by the time of their 1910-11 Southern League Championship season Chambers was a fringe player, playing only 2 games that season, and he wasn’t part of their 1911 FA Charity Shield team beaten by Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. He was however Club Captain during their 1912 FA Cup run that saw them reach the semi final only to be knocked out by eventual winners Barnsley in a replay at Meadow Lane. He retired from professional football later that year after a single goal in 96 appearances for Swindon Town.

NB This photograph was taken on 8th January 1906 before an Amateurs v Professionals England trial match played at Craven Cottage, Fulham, which the Professionals XI won 1-0.

Amateurs (white shirts): Back Row – PH Farnfield, JG Witherington, CD McIver, HA Nulton

Middle Row – SH Day, Vivian Woodward, Herbert Smith, SS Harris (captain)

Front Row – EGD Wright, TS Rowlandson, GC Vassall

Professionals (striped shirts): Back Row – Jimmy Ashcroft, Joe Walton, Archie Cross, Peter Chambers

Middle Row – Walter Bull, Fred Blackburn, Riley, Fred Threlfall

Front Row – Arthur “Pat” Collins, Tim Coleman, Fred Harrison