Asquith Beau Image 1 Manchester United 1939

Description

Painthorpe, near Wakefield, Yorkshire born inside forward Beaumont “Beau” Asquith played junior football for Painthorpe Albion before joining Second Division Barnsley in July 1933, making his Football League debut at Manchester United in September 1934. Initially a fringe player, he broke into The Tykes’ first team on a regular basis from February 1937 and despite Barnsley’s relegation in 1937-38, he won the Third Division (North) Championship with them in 1938-39, missing only one match and slamming home 28 goals including 5 goals against Darlington in a 7-1 victory in November 1938.

Asquith was signed by First Division Manchester United in May 1939, however he only played in one game for his new club before the outbreak of the Second World War, in a defeat at Charlton Athletic. During the conflict Asquith guested for Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Barnsley, Leeds United, Rotherham United, Doncaster Rovers and Bradford City.

Asquith re-joined Barnsley in July 1942 and with the War over he resumed peacetime football with The Tykes in 1946, playing in an FA Cup tie that February and in the first two post war League seasons. After scoring a further 5 goals in 40 games he signed for Bradford City in September 1948, having netted 47 times in 153 appearances for Barnsley either side of the War. He played his final game in the Football League at the age of 38 in April 1950 before joining Scarborough in the 1950 close season after 4 goals in 34 appearances for The Bantams.

NB he is almost certainly wearing a Barnsley strip in this photograph, bearing in mind that his only match for Manchester United occurred immediately before the outbreak of the Second World War. More likely this was published after his transfer to United but before he’d played for them.