Bamber Jack Image 4 Tranmere Rovers 1927

Description

Peasley Cross, St Helens, Lancashire born born right half Jack Bamber started his career as a right winger and played for St Helens Recreation in 1911, Alexandra Victoria in 1912, Heywood United in 1913 and St Helens Town in 1914 before the advent of the First World War, during which he joined Liverpool in December 1915, scoring 8 goals in 118 wartime appearances for the Reds.

After the War he made his Football League debut against Aston Villa in September 1919, and was a regular member of the Liverpool team in the first two post war seasons. Bamber was so described in March 1920 in the club programme: “Since coming to Anfield his consistency has been remarkable. Never really brilliant, but always very effective, Bamber is the type of player who is bound to make a name for himself; he discards all idea of ornamentality for efficiency, and seldom is it that the keenest critic can find fault with his work in the field.” In April 1921 the Derby Daily Telegraph praised Bamber for being “a powerful defender, a sixth forward, a breaker-up and forager rolled into one. Has a wonderful stock of energy, delights in loading upon his forwards the choicest of delicate ground passes, and is an artist.”

Such was his form that he was chosen to represent England against Wales in a 0-0 draw at Ninian Park, Cardiff in March 1921 having been a member of the FA’s Touring Party to South Africa in the summer of 1920. He also twice represented The Football League playing in a 4-0 win over The Scottish League in Glasgow in March 1920 and against the same opponents almost exactly a year later in a 1-0 win at Highbury.

After playing the first four League matches of the 1921-22 season Bamber was struck down with appendicitis. His illness paved the way for Jock McNab so once Bamber recovered he was only in the side if McNab was unavailable. Bamber missed out on medals as Liverpool won the Championship twice in 1922 and 1923, making only a dozen appearances over the two seasons.

Unable to regain his place, having scored twice in 79 peacetime appearances for Liverpool, Bamber joined Leicester City in February 1924 who won the Second Division Championship in 1924-25, Bamber missing only 3 games in the promotion season and he was an ever present in their first season back in the First Division. He scored 7 goals in 120 appearances for the Foxes before returning to Merseyside in the 1927 close season to play for Tranmere Rovers. He had 3 seasons at Prenton Park, scoring twice in 89 appearances before joining non league Prescot Cables in 1930 before his eventual retirement.