Pinnell Archie Image 1 New Brompton 1899

Description

Stevenston, Ayrshire born goalkeeper Archie Pinnell began his football career with Blantyre Victoria, from where he signed for First Division club Everton in May 1891, making his Football League debut at Blackburn Rovers in September 1892, making 3 appearances for The Toffees in a season in which they used 6 goalkeepers in their 30 matches. Pinnell moved on to Preston North End where he was understudy to Jimmy Trainer, playing twice for Preston during the season including in a 4-0 Test Match win over Notts County at The Olive Grove, Sheffield in April 1894 to keep Preston in the top flight.

After a spell at Lancashire League club Chorley in 1894, Pinnell returned to Scotland to play for Blantyre Victoria once again and Burnbank Swifts in 1895, returning to Chorley in 1896, before a move to First Division club Burnley in 1898, where he was understudy to Jack Hillman and played 6 matches across The Clarets’ first season back in the top flight, helping them to finish third in the League Championship. Pinnell moved on again, this time to Southern League club New Brompton (now Gillingham), where he played (at least) twice. He then played for Plymouth based non league club Oreston Rovers from where he joined newly professional Southern League club Plymouth Argyle in 1903 as back up to Jack Robinson. He played 7 matches for The Pilgrims between December 1903 and February 1904 before ending his playing days back with Oreston Rovers.

Pinnell served in The Scots Guards during the latter stages of the Second Boer War. After 9 years as a reservist, he was discharged from the army in 1912 and re-enlisted in June 1915, nearly a year after the outbreak of the First World War. He served as an acting corporal in The Chinese Labour Corps and survived the War. His son was however killed in action in 1918.