Diamond Jack Image 1 Oldham Athletic 1937

Description

Middlesbrough, Yorkshire born centre forward Jack “Legs” Diamond began his football career with Bethesda of Hull in 1928 and played for East Riding Amateurs in 1929 and Beverley White Star in 1930 before joining Third Division (North) club Hull City in 1931, making his Football League debut, and sole appearance for The Tigers in a 3-0 win over Barrow in September the same year. Joining Irish Free State League club Shelbourne in the summer of 1932, he made a reputation for himself scoring 33 goals in their 1932-33 campaign, returning to Football League action with Southport in the 1933 close season.

At Southport Diamond netted a Christmas Day 1933 hat-trick in a win over Rochdale and top scored for The Sandgrounders with 22 goals in their 1933-34 campaign, after which he was signed by Second Division club Barnsley in November 1934, scoring on his debut in a 1-1 draw with West Ham United but soon losing his place. After 6 matches for The Tykes he was released and joined Cardiff City in May 1935, where he scored 10 goals in 20 appearances during their 1935-36 season, being signed by Bury in June 1936. However he didn’t feature at all in a strong Bury side which finished the season third in the Second Division, and moved to Oldham Athletic in March 1937, scoring the only goal on his debut for The Latics in a win at Halifax Town.

Diamond top scored for Oldham in their 1937-38 campaign with 18 goals as Oldham finished fourth in the Third Division (North) but lost his place in October the following season, returning to the north east to join Hartlepools United in January 1939 after 23 goals in 53 appearances for The Latics. He scored 4 goals in a Third Division Cup win over Gateshead in March 1939 but only once in League play, and transferred to non league Hyde United in the summer of 1939 after 10 appearances for The Monkey Hangers, however his career was soon effectively ended by the outbreak of the Second World War.