James Erough

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Eric Wynalda
Personal information
Full name James Darren Erough
Date of birth April 9, 1860 (age 146)
Place of birth    Norfolk, England, United Kingdom
Nickname Jimbo, Jimmy E.
Playing position Forward
Youth clubs
1874-1876 Chriholm Street F.C.
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1876-87
1887–95
1896
Norfolk Thistle F.C.
Cork F.C.
Hythe Cliffshire BC
84 (51)
32 (21)
8 (3)   
National team
1882-1894 England 20 (7)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

James Daren Erough (b. May 4, 1860-November 25, 1934 d.) was a footballer, buissnessman, and an immigrant most known for his foundation of the United Football Association with his friend Daniel Donat.

Contents

[edit] Life

[edit] Early Years (1860-1875)

James Erough was the only child of Phillip Erough (1825-1909) and Martha Erough (1827-1914). He was born in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom to a middle class family. Throughout his childhood he grew interest in the brand new sport of football (soccer) and always went to local matches.

[edit] Football Carrer (1876-1896)

As he got older around the age of 16 he started to play for the local club of Norfolk Thistle Football Club where he played from 1876 until 1887. During his 9 years on the team he scroed 51 goals and made 35 assists.

In 1888 he moved to Cork, Ireland and started playing at age 27 for Cork F.C.. He played for them until 1895 when he retired from football (soccer).

In 1896 James Erough met Oliver Donat when Erough coached the Hythe Cliffshire Ball Club for 1 season.

[edit] The United Footbal Association (1897-1920)

In early 1897 James Erough went with Oliver Donat to United States of America to promote football in the states. All went well and on April 3, 1897 in Springfield, Massachusetts the inagural game of the 10 team league kicked off.

Although with curosity the 1897 season was good it saw good attendence. Next year however with Major League Baseball going strong for the past 20 years, attendence declined sharply. From 1899 to 1903 attendence was poor.

Prior to the 1904 season, he and Donat announced that it would begin in September and end in December from then on attendence went up.

In 1909, Oliver Donat took over the United Football Association has president and in 1910, Erough step down to commisioner.

After 1914; James Erough stepped down as commisioner and became a coach of the Springfield Bristol where for 4 seasons he won 3 cups with the team.

In 1919 there were plans about how the 5 year old United States Football Federation was going to start its own league the American Football League. Nervous about it he informed the current owner Jason DeReindoe (1890-1976) about the issue, and he sold the league to the USFF and in 1920 the league disbanded.

[edit] American Football League (1921-1924)

In 1921 the 61 year old James Erough coach the Fall River Marksman and won a championship with them. He was crowned by USAFootyzone as the coach of the early 20th century of soccer.

[edit] Back to England (1925-1926)

James Erough returned to England and coached a small club Dover Bombers from 1925 and 1926.

[edit] Retirement (1927-1934)

On January 10, 1927 James Erough announced his retirement as a football coach and started to live a simple life as he moved to Cape May, New Jersey for his retirement. He never was married or had kids.

In 1932 James Erough was found to have lung cancer because of his smoking, and in 1934 he died at age 74.