Horler George Image 1 West Ham United 1923

Description

Coleford, Somerset born left back George Horler began his football career with Coleford Athletic, from where he joined Frome Town in 1913, before the First World War significantly interrupted his career, during which he served as a sergeant in The Royal Army Medical Corps. After the War he signed for Southern League club Reading, and when Reading joined the Third Division in 1920, Horler made his Football League debut in their inaugural League match at Newport County in August that year. Horler missed only 4 matches in Reading’s first season, and although less regular in 1921-22,  he came to the notice of Second Division club West Ham United who signed him in the 1922 close season.

He made his debut for The Irons in the first match of the new season, a home defeat to Bradford City, and didn’t hold his place, having to wait until the end of January for another first team outing. He then played in both third round FA Cup ties with Brighton & Hove Albion, his only involvement as West Ham went all the way to the 1923 FA Cup Final. He played 3 more League matches before the season end, but didn’t feature again until September 1924, when he played twice, and then March 1925, when he held his place to the end of the season. However he returned to the fringes in 1925-26 before playing nearly half West Ham’s matches in their 1926-27 campaign when they finished sixth in the League Championship, coming into the team on New Year’s Day he again held his place to the end of the season.

However he again started 1927-28 on the fringe and after only a pair of further appearances he joined Second Division Fulham in December 1927 after 52 appearances for West Ham United. He lost his Cottagers’ place in March 1928, having played 9 matches for Fulham as the club slumped towards relegation, and at the season end he joined Southern League club Aldershot Town, his final recorded club before his eventual retirement.

NB Horler stands on the right with West Ham teammate Tommy Hodgson.