Hoar Sid Image 2 Luton Town 1921

Description

Leagrave, Bedfordshire born outside left Sid Hoar began his football career with Luton Clarence from where he was signed by Southern League club Luton Town in 1913, helping them to win promotion back to the top flight of the Southern League in his debut season, when it was said of him: “He has quite fulfilled expectations… he makes ground quickly and centres accurately. Nature has not equipped him well in the matter of weight and he invariably gets some hard knocks. His nippiness, however, often leaves a hefty back bewildered”.

He played for Luton for two seasons prior to the onset of the First World War forcing the suspension of peacetime football in May 1915, and he subsequently joined the Army serving in the trenches of Northern France where a gas attack seriously injured him, throwing his future football career into doubt.

He made a full recovery and re-joined Luton Town after the War scoring a penalty in their inaugural Football League fixture against Portsmouth in August 1920, and remained a regular in their line up over the next four and a half years, playing alongside the likes of Ernie Simms, Louis Bookman and George Butcher.

After 28 goals in 168 appearance for The Hatters after their entry to thr Football League, his performances for Luton were enough to persuade Arsenal manager Leslie Knighton to sign the versatile winger for £3,000 in November 1924 with Hoar going straight into the Arsenal side making his debut against Cardiff City on November 29th. His ability to perform down either flank helped him keep his place in the starting eleven despite the arrival at Arsenal of a hatful of wingers throughout the late 1920’s, such as Welsh international Charlie Jones.

He also played for The Gunners in their infamous FA Cup Final defeat to Cardiff City at Wembley in 1927. However he only played 7 times in 1928-29, when he had a loan spell at non league Bedford Town, his final match for Arsenal coming in an FA Cup quarter final defeat to Aston Villa in March 1929, and after 18 goals in 117 appearances for The Gunners, he joined Clapton Orient for a fee of £1,000 in September 1929, for whom he scored 3 times in 31 appearances before retiring in 1930.