Fenton Freddie Image 1 Swindon Town 1907

Description

Gainsborough, Lincolnshire born outside left Freddie Fenton joined Second Division Gainsborough Trinity in 1898 having previously played for Gainsborough Schools and made his Football League debut at Luton Town in January 1899, scoring on his home debut a week later against Leicester Fosse. He scored 5 goals in 37 appearances before being transferred to Southern League club West Ham United in May 1900, where he played in West Ham United’s first ever Southern League match, a 7-0 home win over Gravesend and scored 3 goals in 19 appearances in a single season at Upton Park including West Ham United’s first ever F.A. Cup goal against Olympic on 3rd November 1900.

Fenton returned to Gainsborough Trinity in June 1901 and scored twice in 26 appearances before Preston North End stepped in to sign him in March 1902. But he couldn’t establish himself as a regular Preston starter and joined West Bromwich Albion, after 20 appearances at Deepdale. However, he only made 6 appearances during the following season, scoring once for The Baggies, themselves in the process of being relegated from the First Division that season, and he was released, joining Bristol City in July 1904.

He played 13 times as City won the Second Division Championship in 1905-06 but lost his place in their First Division line up and joined Southern League Swindon Town in May 1907 after a single goal in 37 appearances for The Robins. At Swindon he scored 10 goals in 59 appearances over the following three seasons, as Swindon entered their (probably) finest period, finishing as runners-up in the Southern League in both 1908-09 and 1909-10 (they won the League the season after Fenton left). In May 1910 he joined Southern League club Croydon Common scoring once in 14 senior outings for Croydon, before moving into non league football with Goole Town in November 1911, returning to (by now Midland League club) Gainsborough Trinity once more in June 1914, his final club before his eventual retirement.