George Hadley (footballer)

George Hadley
Personal information
Full name George Angus Hadley
Date of birth 5 June 1893(1893-06-05)
Place of birth West Bromwich, England
Date of death April 1963 (aged 69)
Place of death Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Playing position Half-back
Youth career
West Bromwich Victoria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Willenhall Swifts
1913–1919 Southampton 57 (4)
1919–1920 Aston Villa 4 (0)
1920–1922 Coventry City 72 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

George Angus Hadley (5 June 1893 – April 1963) was a Scottish footballer who played at wing-half either side of the First World War.

Football career

Hadley was born in West Bromwich and played his early football with Willenhall Swifts, where he received junior honours for Scotland.[1]

In July 1913, he moved to the south coast to join Southampton of the Southern League. A "stocky, versatile half-back (who) could also play up front",[1] Hadley made his first-team debut in a 2–0 defeat at Reading on 1 November 1913 when he replaced Jim McAlpine at left-half. After four matches, McAlpine was recalled and Hadley switched to right-half where he remained until February when he lost his place to Jack Small. Hadley returned after three matches and ended the season with four matches at inside-left, scoring twice.[2]

The following season, Hadley only missed five matches, generally playing as a wing-half but with the occasional appearance as an outside-forward.[3] By the end of the season, England was at war and normal football was suspended. The "Saints" retained Hadley's registration throughout the war, and he played in the occasional wartime fixture.

After the end of the war, Hadley was sold to Aston Villa of the Football League First Division, for whom he made four appearances before a transfer to Coventry City in July 1920. Hadley remained at City until 1922, when an injury brought his career to a close.

References

  1. ^ a b Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 152. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3. 
  2. ^ Chalk, Gary; Holley, Duncan (1987). Saints – A complete record. Breedon Books. pp. 54–55. ISBN 0-907969-22-4. 
  3. ^ Saints – A complete record. pp. 56–57.