Whitley Jack Image 2 Chelsea 1924

Description

Seacombe, Cheshire born goalkeeper Jack Whitley began his football career with Seacombe YMCA in 1896 and Liscard YMCA in 1897 before Second Division Darwen in 1898, making his Football League debut at Lincoln City the same September. He made 15 appearances for Darwen in 1898-99, but when they were not re-elected, having finished bottom, he left the club to join First Division Champions Aston Villa for £50 in May 1899, where he was understudy to Billy George. He made 12 first team appearances over three seasons at Villa Park before a move to Everton in May 1902, where he was understudy to George Kitchen, and in two seasons he appeared 14 times for the first eleven.

Joining Stoke in August 1904, he got his first season as undisputed number one, making 34 appearances during 1904-05 before he was supplanted by Dick Roose, playing only 4 more games for The Potters. He joined Leeds City in April 1906 as Harry Bromage’s understudy and played only seven League games in two seasons. He left for Second Division Lincoln City early in 1907 but soon moved again without playing a first team game for The Imps.

In August 1907 he joined First Division Chelsea and there he found his niche. He stayed at Stamford Bridge for seven seasons, making 138 appearances. He was with the Pensioners when they were relegated in 1909-10 and played a big part in their promotion back to the top flight two years later in 1911-12 as Second Division runners up, playing 26 League games. But back in the top flight he returned to understudy status as Ron Brebner and (mainly) Jimmy Molyneux were preferred, and he played only 3 more games for Chelsea.

He retired at the end of the 1913-14 season playing his final game for Chelsea on 14th April 1914 against Bradford City at Valley Parade. He became Chelsea’s trainer from May 1914 to May 1939. In his first season as coach he took Chelsea to their first major final, the so called “Khaki Cup Final”  FA Cup Final of 1915, played at Old Trafford, which they lost 0-3 to Sheffield United. He was also later the England trainer.

NB in the photograph Bob McNeil and Jack Whitley have a slap fight in training watched by Jack Harrow, Albert Thain, James Ashford, Fred Barrett and Willie Whitton.