Oakton Eric Image 2 Nottingham Forest 1937

Description

Kiveton Park, Sheffield born winger Eric Oakton played junior football for Kiveton Park in 1823 before joining Third Division (North) Grimsby Town as an amateur in 1924, making his Football League debut against Nelson in March 1925. However he only played twice for The Mariners, and in due course joined Rotherham United, for whom he signed professional. He scored 3 goals in 7 appearances in August and September 1926 before joining non league Worksop Town in 1927. He then spent 1928-29 on the books of hometown club Sheffield United but failed to make their first eleven.

He joined Midland League Scunthorpe & Lindsey United in 1930 and the following close season he signed for Third Division (South) Bristol Rovers, scoring 10 goals in 42 appearances during 1931-32. This brought him to the attention of First Division Chelsea, who signed him over the summer of 1932. He had 2 seasons in the Chelsea team as a near ever present, scoring 13 goals in 1933-34, but he lost his place in 1934-35 and spent three seasons as a fringe player at Stamford Bridge. By the time he joined Nottingham Forest in the 1937 close season he had scored 28 goals in 112 appearances for The Pensioners. His sojourn at The City Ground didn’t last too long, however, he scored once in 7 appearances over a single season before joining non league Boston United in 1938.