Hubbard Archie “Ranji” Image 3 Watford 1908

Description

Born in Leicester, inside forward Archie “Ranji” Hubbard spent much of his early career in the local area playing with South Wigston Albion in 1899, Humberstone Victoria in 1900 Leicester Imperial in 1901 and St Andrews, Leicester in 1902. He joined Second Division Leicester Fosse as an amateur in March 1904, turning professional at the start of the 1904-05 season, making his debut in an FA Cup tie against Gresley Rovers in November 1904, scoring twice in a 5-0 win. His Football League debut came a week later against Lincoln City. After three years at Leicester which produced 23 goals in 60 appearances, Hubbard moved south, joining 1906-07 Southern League champions Fulham in May 1907, but only scoring once in 5 appearances before joining Watford eight months later in January 1908. In 1908-09, his only complete season at Watford, Hubbard made the most appearances of any Watford player, and also finished as the top scorer with 16 goals from 42 games.

After leaving Watford in May 1909 after 20 goals in 53 appearances, Hubbard returned north, firstly with Norwich City in May 1909, where he bagged 6 goals in 29 games, and in November 1910 with Grimsby Town, with whom he won the Midland League in 1910-11 before their re-election to the Football League. The following season he scored 14 goals in 26 games, ending as the club’s top scorer, and then joined Lincoln City in August 1912. But his spell at Sincil Bank produced only 3 goals in 12 appearances and he finished his career by returning to join hometown non league club Leicester Imperial in September 1913.

Hubbard bore the nickname “Ranji”, for reasons lost in the mists of time.