Ritchie George Image 1 Reading 1921

Description

West Derby, Lancashire born inside left George Ritchie began his football career with Rossendale United and joined Lancashire Combination club Chester in 1910. Signed by Preston North End in 1912, he spent 1912-13 on the books at Deepdale without making their first eleven, before a move to Southern League club Norwich City in 1913. His career was then interrupted as the onset of the First World War forced the suspension of peacetime football in May 1915, and during the War Ritchie served as a guardsman in The Grenadier Guards and also played one match of wartime league football for Liverpool in 1915-16.

After the War he signed for Southern League club Brighton & Hove Albion in 1919, and after Brighton joined the new Third Division in 1920, Ritchie made his Football League debut in The Seagulls’ inaugural League fixture at Southend United that August, playing in their next two matches before losing his place. He transferred to Reading in the 1921 close season, scoring the only goal of the match on his debut against Newport County that August, the first of 4 goals in 10 appearances for The Royals before he lost his place that November. Ritchie joined non league side Northfleet United in 1922, his last known club before his eventual retirement.