Hunter Cyril Image 1 South Shields 1925

Description

Pelaw, County Durham born centre half Cyril Hunter began his football career playing for Woodturners AFC in 1919 and for Leadgate Park in 1920 before joining Third Division (South) Brentford in October 1921, making his Football League debut at Aberdare Athletic that December. In November 1922 he won an England Amateur international cap, playing in a 4-0 win over Ireland at Deepdale.

After three seasons at Griffin Park, having scored twice in 80 appearances, he was signed by Second Division South Shields in September 1924, and he was an ever present in their 1925-26 campaign. While a South Shields player, he received a six month ban (then the longest in English football history) for exceptional rough play in a Second Division match versus rivals Middlesbrough in March 1927.

Having scored 4 goals in 115 appearances for South Shields, he joined many professional footballers of the day in the nascent American Soccer League, signing for Fall River Marksmen in 1928, but he returned to Football League action after only a year joining Lincoln City in June 1929, scoring once in 14 appearances during 1929-30. He then joined Gateshead in October 1930 but didn’t make a first team appearance for them before his retirement from the game.

NB in the image he appears in the centre with South Shields team mates Jack Oxberry (left) and Sandy Trotter (right).