George Utley

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George Utley
Image:Georgeutley1915-2.jpg
Personal information
Full name George Utley
Date of birth May 16, 1887(1887-05-16)
Place of birth    Elsecar, Barnsley, England
Date of death    8 January 1966 (aged 78)
Place of death    Blackpool, England
Playing position Half Back
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1906
1907-1913
1913-1921
1922		 Sheffield Wednesday
Barnsley
Sheffield United
Manchester City		 000 00(0)
170 00(8)
103 00(4)
001 00(0)
274 0(12)   
National team
1913 England 00100(0)

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

George Utley (born on 16 May 1887 in Elsecar ; died 8 January 1966 in Blackpool) was an English footballer who played for Barnsley, Sheffield United and England. He was strong and powerful half back who could shoot at goal when required[1].

George Utley was born in Reform Row, Elsecar[2], which lies south of Barnsley. He was the 10th and final child of James and Mary Utley. His father was an engine tender at a colliery and his brothers worked in the local coal mines and foundries[3].

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Barnsley

On leaving school he became a joiner[4] but by 1907 he had signed with Barnsley. During his time with Barnsley the club made it to two FA Cup Finals. The first was in 1910, when they were beaten by Newcastle United 2-0 in a reply after a one all draw, and the second was in 1912, when Barnsley managed to defeat West Bromwich Albion by one goal in the replay after the first game ended in a goalless draw[5].

He made a total of 170 league appearances, with 8 goals for Barnsley.[6]

In season 1913-14, Sheffield United were looking for a replacement for Ernest Needham who had been a leader in the midfield of the team. The Football Committee who ran Sheffield United at the time were looking for a player with outstanding football ability, and someone to captain the team. Following a letter of recommendation from United player Billy Gillespie the man they targeted was George Utley.[7]

[edit] Sheffield United

Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final.
Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final.

The committee were not unanimous about signing the highly rated Utley, who they feared would be fetch a large fee. Bolton Wanderers had offered £1,500 and it had been rejected by Barnsley. The Blades offered more and were also turned down. United increased their offer to £2,000 and this was accepted. Utley signed a long contract with United, and became the captain and the leader of the team through the ensuing years.

He made his debut for Sheffield United against Manchester United at Bramall Lane on 22 November 1913; in a match the Blades won 2-0.[8]

In the 1914-15 season, Sheffield United progressed through the rounds of the FA Cup, this improvement in United's Cup performance when compared to the previous seasons was credited to Utley[9]. In the Semi-Final they beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on 27 March 1915. It included a goal by Utley, which was described as ‘the best of his career’[10] as he dribbled the ball from the half-way line to score for United in front of 22,500 fans. Utley made it to a third FA Cup Final in 1915, when Sheffield United defeated Chelsea 3-0 on 24 April 1915. Utley, as captain, worked hard and decisively throughout the game, breaking up many Chelsea attacks and provided many passes to the Sheffield forwards. [11]

He left Bramall Lane in 1922, transferring to Manchester City but retired within twelve months of the move.[12]

[edit] Coaching

After leaving Manchester City, Utley went on to hold the position of trainer at Bristol City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in May 1924 to the position of coach. He then moved on to become a trainer at Fulham in July 1925, a position he remained in until 1927.[12]

[edit] International career

In February 1913 George was selected to play for England against Ireland. England were defeated 2-1, Ireland's first victory over England; George was not selected to play for England again[13].

[edit] Football Legacy

It could be argued that Utley's greatest impact on the game of football in England was that regarding the award of testimonial and benefit games. Usually players were awarded a benefit game for long service and allowed to choose a match, excluding derby games and large visiting clubs, from which to receive the gate receipts as recognition of their services.[14]

Utley challenged this in 1920 and was granted a benefit match against the then mighty Sunderland after only being at the club for four years, eventually receiving around £1,000. The board had been willing to make an exception for Utley, citing his importance to the team and wishing to ensure he stayed with the club.[14]

This extra-ordinary move by the club caused unrest in the dressing room and nine of the first team signed a letter to the United directors, written by Billy Gillespie, complaining that this preferential treatment was unfair.[14] The game went ahead a few days later without Utley although ironically Billy Gillespie scored twice in a 3-1 win in front of over 36,000 spectators.[15] Utley stayed at Bramall Lane for another two years.

The Football League discovered the unrest this benefit had caused at the club and changed the rules governing such matches. They stipulated that testimonials could only be played after an agreed period of time stated within a players contract when agreed or upon their career being unexpectedly cut short. This ruling remains to this day.[16]

[edit] Life Outside Football

George Utley worked as an assistantcricket coach at Rossall School from 1911 until 1931 and from '29 until '31 he also worked as assistant groundsman.[17]

Regarded as astute in financial matters Utley did marry into a wealthy family following the death of his first wife. Having no children from either marriage he returned his second wife's money to her family upon her death claiming he had enough to keep him. Living in a large house he kept two housekeepers to whom he bequeathed a home on the estate for peppercorn rent upon his death.[14]

George Utley during the later part of his football career authored articles for boys magazines including:[18]

  • Football by Prominent Players: "Captaining the Cup-Winners", The Boys’ Friend Feb, 14 1920
  • "The Complete Half-Back", The Boys’ Realm, Mar 20 1920

George Utley died in January 1966.

[edit] Honours

Sheffield United

Barnsley

[edit] Career stats

[edit] Barnsley

Season Division League Apps League Goals FA Cup Apps FA Cup Goals Total Apps Total Goals
1908–09 Division Two 15 1 0 0 15 1
1909–10 Division Two 35 0 9 1 44 1
1910–11 Division Two 38 1 2 0 40 1
1911–12 Division Two 34 4 12 0 46 4
1912–13 Division Two 36 1 3 0 39 1
1913–14 Division Two 12 1 0 0 12 1
Total 170 8 26 1 196 9

[edit] Sheffield United

Season Division League Apps League Goals FA Cup Apps FA Cup Goals Total Apps Total Goals
1913–14 Division One 23 1 7 4 30 5
1914–15 Division One 30 1 7 1 37 2
1919–20 Division One 16 0 0 0 16 0
1920–21 Division One 23 2 0 0 23 2
1921–22 Division One 15 0 1 0 16 0
Total 103 4 15 5 118 9

[edit] References

  1. ^ Unknown (1915). Cup Final Programme. 
  2. ^ Utley, George (1887). Birth Certificate. 
  3. ^ (1901) English Census James Utley Household. 
  4. ^ (1901) English Census James Utley Household. 
  5. ^ John Harding. The Uncompromising Legends. Professional Footballers Association. Retrieved on Oct 31, 2007.
  6. ^ since1888.co.uk. Since 1988 Football League Database. since1888.co.uk. Retrieved on July 27, 2007.
  7. ^ Sheffield United FC: The Biography by Gary Armstrong and John Garrett, ISBN 1-874718-65-2, Page 120
  8. ^ A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889-1999 by Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, ISBN 0-9508588-2-X, Page 118
  9. ^ Unknown (1915). Cup Final Programme. 
  10. ^ Clarebrough, Denis. (1989) Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. ISBN 0-950-8588-1-1
  11. ^ “The Cup Final”, Manchester Guardian: 9, April 26 
  12. ^ a b The Official Encyclopedia of Sheffield United by Tony Matthews, Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, ISBN 1-904103-19-7, Page 253
  13. ^ English International Database. The Football Association. Retrieved on Oct 31, 2007.
  14. ^ a b c d Sheffield United FC: The Biography by Gary Armstrong and John Garrett, ISBN 1-874718-65-2, Page 121
  15. ^ A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889-1999 by Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, ISBN 0-9508588-2-X, Page 130
  16. ^ Sheffield United FC: The Biography by Gary Armstrong and John Garrett, ISBN 1-874718-65-2, Page 122
  17. ^ “Utley Leaving Rossall”, Manchester Guardian: 17, August 29 
  18. ^ Steve Holland. [http://contento.best.vwh.net/paper/s321.htm British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index]. Retrieved on Oct 30, 2007.