Anderson Geordie Image 1 Blackburn Rovers 1895

Description

Edinburgh born centre half Geordie Anderson played centre half for Leith Athletic in the Scottish League in 1891 before joining First Division Blackburn Rovers in 1892, making his Football League debut against Preston North End the same October. He replaced Jack Barton at centre half, forming a half back line-up with Jimmy Forrest and Geordie Dewar which was to remain at the heart of the Rovers’ defence for the next three seasons, during which their League campaigns ended with finishes in ninth, fourth and fifth places respectively. Although Rovers reached the FA Cup semi finals in 1893 and 1894, Anderson losing on each occasion to eventual winners Wolverhampton Wanderers at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, and Notts County at Bramall Lane.

Anderson left Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 1897; during his initial spell at the club he scored 11 goals in 131 League games. He then spent a few seasons moving backwards and forwards between New Brighton Tower and Blackburn. New Brighton Tower had joined the Lancashire League at the start of the 1897-98 season. After finishing as Champions in their first season, they loaned Anderson back to Blackburn at the end of the season, playing in the Test Matches where they eventually stayed up. New Brighton Tower were elected to the Second Division of The Football League when the League was expanded by four clubs. Anderson returned permanently to Blackburn before re-joining New Brighton Tower in March 1899, making 8 appearances for them before the end of the season, after which he once again returned to Ewood Park.

Early in 1901 Anderson joined Second Division Blackpool after 20 goals in 200 appearances for Rovers. He made his debut in a 3-0 win over Stockport County on 23rd February, and played a week later on 2nd March, scoring the Seasiders’ goal in a 10-1 defeat at Small Heath, still the worst defeat in the club’s history. He went on to make 8 further appearances in the 1900-01 season, scoring once more.

In 1901-02, Anderson was moved into a forward position, scoring 13 goals in 32 appearances. Two of these goals were game winners: firstly, in a single-goal victory over Burslem Port Vale at Bloomfield Road on New Year’s Day, 1902, and then in another one goal game at Newton Heath on 25th January. For the 1902-03 campaign, Anderson was moved back to centre half, making 21 appearances and scoring eight goals including a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw with Barnsley at home on 13th September. He was the first Blackpool player to achieve the feat in a League game.

In 1903-04, Anderson made 21 appearances and scored seven goals, including another hat-trick, this time in a 4-1 home victory over Burton United on 20th February 1904. He played as both a forward and centre half in what was his final season as a player. His last appearance came on 30th April 1904, in a single-goal defeat at Preston North End in the West Lancashire derby, retiring having scored a creditable 30 goals in 98 appearances during his four seasons at Bloomfield Road.

NB This image is from October 1895, probably the home game with Preston North End on October 12th which Blackburn won 3-0.