Hammond Harry Image 1 Sheffield United 1895

Description

Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester born centre forward Harry Hammond began his football career with Edge Hill in 1888 before joining Football League club Everton, making his Football League debut, and only appearance for The Toffees, against West Bromwich Albion in March 1890. After a season in the reserves at Anfield, he signed for Northern League club Sheffield United in the summer of 1891, appearing and scoring regularly in his first season with the club.

By his second season United had been elected to The Football League and Hammond continued his successful run, retaining his place and scoring the side’s first ever hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Lincoln City on 3rd September 1892 in their inaugural League fixture. He was to better that feat when he scored five goals in an 8-3 win over Bootle in November of the same year, also scoring 4 goals the following month in a 10-0 thrashing of Burslem Port Vale. Hammond top scored for the season with 19 goals in 21 matches for The Blades, winning promotion at the end of the season as Second Division runners up, Hammond playing in their Test Match win over Accrington to confirm promotion.

Hammond was a determined centre forward and was United’s top scorer in three out of the club’s first four Football League campaigns. He was also the first United player to receive a red card during a League fixture; although having been dismissed in an away fixture with Crewe in April 1893. Hammond actually believed his life was in danger and fled from the ground, hiding at Crewe station until the rest of the United party arrived. Hammond went on to score 64 goals from 142 matches for United and represented the Football League in their first ever match against the Irish League in a 4-2 win at The Ulster Grounds, Belfast in February 1894.

In August 1897 Hammond signed for New Brighton Tower, representing them in the Lancashire League as they became Champions, and representing them the following season after their election into the Football League. He scored 31 goals in 61 appearances for New Brighton Tower in their two League seasons before moving to Leicester Fosse in May 1900 where he finished his career. Hammond missed the majority of his time at Leicester after contracting typhoid fever, scoring once from only 5 appearances before retiring in 1901.