English Jack Image 1 Sheffield United 1914

Description

Hebburn, County Durham born left back Jack English started his football career playing with Hebburn Argyle in September 1907 and joined Wallsend Park Villa in 1909. From there he signed for First Division club Preston North End in May 1910, making his Football League debut at Blackburn Rovers in January 1911, where he only played 6 times for The Lambs split evenly over his two seasons at Deepdale, and he then joined Southern League club Watford for “under £100” in May 1912.

After less than a single season he was sold to Sheffield United for a fee of £500 in April 1913 after 36 appearances for The Hornets. He made an immediate impact for the Bramall Lane club. After participating in international trial matches, English was selected to play for England against Wales in March 1914 but his club would not release him. He was also a member of the Blades team who won the FA Cup Final in 1915 when they beat Chelsea 3-0 in the so-called “Khaki Cup Final” at Old Trafford. Indeed of his 69 appearances for The Blades, 14 were in Cup ties as he was also a member of their 1914 Cup semi final team that lost to eventual winners Burnley in a replay. However his career was then interrupted as the onset of the First World War forced the suspension of peacetime football in May 1915.

He left Sheffield United after refusing to re-sign following the end of the War and joined Darlington in 1919 as a player, retiring from playing in 1921 but remaining as manager for a further seven years until May 1928. In the first of his two spells as at Darlington, the club won the North Eastern League in 1920-21 and Football League Third Division (North) Championship in 1924-25 and achieved their highest ever League position when they stayed in the Second Division in 1925-26 and achieved 15th place. He later went on to manage Nelson from July 1928 to February 1931, Northampton Town from February 1931 to February 1935, and Exeter City from October 1935 to July 1940. After the Second World War he was manager again of Darlington from August 1945 to May 1946.

His son, also named Jack, scored 135 League goals for Northampton Town (143 in total) – a club record which has stood since 1960.