Fletcher Brough Image 5 Barnsley 1924

Description

Mealsgate, Cumbria born inside right Brough Fletcher started his football career with Chilton Colliery Recreation Athletic in 1912 and then played for North Eastern League club Shildon Athletic in 1913. He joined Second Division club Barnsley in 1914, making his Football League debut against Grimsby Town in September 1914, and despite the interruption of the First World War he played a total of 332 games for Barnsley scoring 83 goals over the next 16 years.

During the War he served as a gunner in The Royal Field Artillery, and had two loan spells in the Scottish League with Partick Thistle in both 1916 and 1917, playing 10 matches for Thistle. After the War he scored the only goal of the game in Barnsley’s shock FA Cup first round victory at League champions elect West Bromwich Albion in January 1920. In 1921-22  he scored a career best 21 goals during the campaign as Barnsley finished third in the Second Division, narrowly missing out on promotion, and was the club’s leading goalscorer.

He signed for Sheffield Wednesday in April 1926 but only appeared twice for The Owls before returning to Barnsley before the start of the next season, for whom he scored a further 21 League goals in 62 appearances over the next three years, making his final appearance in an FA Cup tie in January 1930. In May 1930 he became their manager and stayed at Oakwell until February 1937, leading them to the Third Division (North) Championship in 1933-34, before becoming Bristol Rovers’ manager in January 1938, staying until December 1949. He subsequently managed Walsall from March 1952 to April 1953.