Mountford George Image 1 Stoke City 1947

Description

Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire born outside right George Mountford began his football career with Kidderminster Harriers in 1937 before signing for hometown First Division club Stoke City in September 1938, although he had not played for Stoke before the Second World War broke out a year later. During the War Mountford established himself in Bob McGrory’s wartime league side as a right winger providing crosses for Tommy Sale and namesake Frank Mountford. With Stanley Matthews on wartime duty with Blackpool, Mountford took his number 7 shirt and Matthews struggled to win it back. Whilst he was not as talented as Matthews, Mountford made up for it with his hard work and possessed a good turn of speed which often took him into goalscoring opportunities.

After the War Mountford made his senior debut for The Potters against Burnley in an FA Cup tie in January 1946, and when League football resumed later in 1946, Sale played more than half the matches including the defeat at Sheffield United on the final day that denied Stoke City the League Championship. Mountford was a regular member of The Potters’ team over the next three seasons although they were not as competitive in the League Championship, remaining in mid-table. At the end of the 1949-50 season Mountford was convinced to join Colombian side Independiente Santa Fe along with Stoke teammate Neil Franklin, the move caused outrage with the FA as Colombia at the time was not a FIFA member.[2] Mountford spent the who season in Colombia where he became a favourite with the Independiente support who dubbed him the “Bald Arrow”.

In June 1951 Mountford returned to The Victoria Ground and stayed two further seasons with Stoke City, although he was less regular in 1951-52 and, after 4 final matches in September, he signed for Queens Park Rangers in October 1952 after 29 goals in 158 matches for Stoke City. At Loftus Road he scored twice in 35 matches but lost his place in September 1953 and signed for Hereford United that November. Mountford returned to Kidderminster Harriers in 1957 and went on to play for Lockheed Leamington and Hinckley United in 1958 before his retirement.