Harry Deacon

Harry Deacon
Personal information
Full name Henry Deacon
Date of birth 25 April 1900(1900-04-25)
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Date of death 15 January 1946(1946-01-15) (aged 45)
Place of death Rotherham, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Playing position Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
– Hallam ? (?)
1919–1920 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1920–1922 Birmingham 2 (0)
1922–1931 Swansea Town 319 (86)
1931–1934 Crewe Alexandra 118 (47)
1934 Southport 9 (2)
1934–1935 Accrington Stanley 25 (11)
1935–1936 Rotherham United 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Henry "Harry" Deacon (25 April 1900 – 15 January 1946) was an English professional footballer who made 479 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Swansea Town, Crewe Alexandra, Southport, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United.[1] He played as an inside forward.

Playing career

Deacon was born in the Darnall district of Sheffield, and played football for Hallam before joining Sheffield Wednesday as an amateur.[1][2] He moved on to Birmingham in 1920,[2] and made his debut in the First Division on 4 February 1922, deputising for Johnny Crosbie in a home game against Liverpool which resulted in a 2–0 defeat.[3] After two games in two seasons, unable to dislodge Crosbie from the inside right position, Deacon moved on to Swansea Town where he found considerably more success.[2]

In nine seasons with the club, he scored 86 goals in 316 league games,[1] played a major role in their promotion to the Second Division as Third Division South champions in the 1924–25 season,[4] and helped them to reach the final of the Welsh Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup the following season.[5][6] In recognition of his service to the club, Swansea awarded him a testimonial match which was attended by 9,000 spectators.[2]

Deacon went on to spend three seasons with Crewe Alexandra where he scored 47 goals in 188 Third Division North games.[1] He then began the 1934–35 season at Southport,[7] finishing it with Accrington Stanley, where his 11 goals gave him runner-up spot in their scoring charts despite arriving midway through the season.[8][9] He ended his professional career with Rotherham United, making his last Football League appearance just before Christmas 1935.[4]

Deacon died in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1946 at the age of 45.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 72. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6. 
  2. ^ a b c d Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9. 
  3. ^ Matthews, p. 164.
  4. ^ a b c "A–Z Past Players (Pre-1939)" (.DOC). Rotherham United F.C.. http://www.themillers.co.uk/staticFiles/6f/12/0,,10360~4719,00.doc. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  5. ^ "Welsh Cup Final 1925/26". Welsh Football Data Archive. http://www.wfda.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=45. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  6. ^ "Club History". Swansea City A.F.C.. 13 May 2008. http://www.swanseacity.net/page/History/0,,10354,00.html. Retrieved 6 May 209. 
  7. ^ "1934/35". SouthportFCStats. http://www.southportfcstats.co.uk/FL3435.htm. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  8. ^ "League Record". Accrington Stanley History. Greger Lindberg. http://hem.passagen.se/accringtonstanley/Team/League%20Record.htm. Retrieved 6 May 2009. 
  9. ^ "League Appearances D–H". Accrington Stanley History. Greger Lindberg. http://hem.passagen.se/accringtonstanley/Players/League%20Appearances/D-H.htm. Retrieved 6 May 2009.