Parsonage George Image 3 Brentford 1906

Description

Darwen, Lancashire born centre half George Parsonage began his football career with Oswaldtwistle Rovers in 1899 and spent 1900-01 on the books of Blackburn Rovers without making a first team appearance. He then joined Lancashire Combination Accrington Stanley in the summer of 1901 from where he joined Southern League Brentford in the 1903 close season. Parsonage’s form while at Brentford saw him called up for two England trial games. He played for Amateurs versus Professionals on 16th January 1905 and for the South versus the North the following month, but was passed over in favour of Charlie Roberts. He became captain of the club in the 1904-05 season and was a “tower of strength” for five seasons “considered by many to be one of the best centre half backs in the South”, and had a spell as player-manager of the club before departing Griffin Park in 1908 for Second Division Fulham.

He made his Football League debut in Fulham’s second game of the season, a 5-1 thrashing of Stockport County at Craven Cottage in September 1908, but stayed only one season with Fulham scoring three times in 23 appearances. While a Fulham player, Parsonage was the subject of transfer interest from Division Two side Chesterfield in 1909. Reportedly not keen on a move to Derbyshire, Parsonage submitted a request for a £50 signing-on fee, an amount £40 higher than the Football League’s maximum. Chesterfield reported the request to the Football Association, who banned Parsonage from football for life. A petition signed by thousands of fans failed to see the ban overturned, but in 1910 he was allowed to return to football, initially signing with Oldham Athletic, without making a first team appearance. He saw out his career with a spell at hometown Lancashire Combination Division Two side Darwen, whom he joined later in 1910.