Calvey Jack Image 2 Nottingham Forest 1901

Description

South Bank, Middlesbrough born centre forward Jack Calvey began his football career with South Bank Juniors in 1891 and played for South Bank in 1894 before signing professional for Southern League Millwall Athletic in 1895. While at Millwall he proved a dangerous opponent and after four seasons he was signed by First Division Nottingham Forest in May 1899.

He made his Football League debut against Preston North End, scoring in a 3-1 victory at The City Ground, being an ever present in his debut season, scoring 19 goals, which left him comfortably the club’s leading goalscorer. This total included a hat-trick against Everton in February 1900, as Forest reached the 1900 FA Cup semi final, which after a 1-1 draw at The Victoria Ground went to a replay, Calvey scoring to make it 2-0 to Forest as early as the second minute. However they couldn’t hang on as they lost 3-2 in extra time to eventual winners Bury at Bramall Lane.

He was again Forest’s top goalscorer with 16 goals and 14 goals respectively in 1900-01 and 1901-02, when he was again an ever present, and was awarded an England cap when he played in a 1-0 win over Ireland at Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast in March 1902, his only England international appearance although he also represented The Football League in a 3-2 win over The Irish League in Belfast in October 1902.

He scored 57 goals in 150 appearances before he returned to Millwall Athletic in September 1904 where he played a season before joining new League club Chelsea in 1905, however he never appeared for the Chelsea first team before his retirement in 1906.