Bliss Bert Image 7 Clapton Orient 1923

Description

Willenhall, Staffordshire born inside left Bert Bliss began his career with Bilston United in 1908 and Willenhall Swifts in 1909, before First Division Tottenham Hotspur signed him for £10 in April 1912, making his Football League debut the same month against Manchester City and scoring his first goal the following day in a 1-1 draw when they played Manchester United. He was Tottenham’s leading goalscorer in 1914-15 with 21 goals but despite that they were relegated. In that total he scored 4 goals against Sheffield Wednesday in a Boxing Day 6-1 victory and a hat-trick as they beat Bolton Wanderers 4-2 in April 1915.

His career was significantly interrupted by the onset of World War One for Spurs, during which he served in the Royal Air Force, but after the conflict he returned to Spurs and again top scored with 31 goals in 1919-20 as they won the Second Division Championship, with Bliss scoring hat-tricks against Clapton Orient and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The following season he won the FA Cup with Tottenham as they beat Wolves 1-0 at Stamford Bridge in April 1921, and also a month later won the Charity Shield match against League Champions Burnley, scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

All told he made 215 appearances, scoring 105 goals through to his last Spurs appearance in November 1922. He won his only England cap in April 1921 when he played in a 3-0 defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park. Bliss joined Second Division Clapton Orient in December 1922, where he made 71 appearances, scoring 20 goals. Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic signed him in July 1925, but only made six League appearances. He retired the following summer.

This photograph was almost certainly taken in October 1923 when Clapton Orient played Leeds United, with Leeds winning 1-0 at Millfields Lane.