Horace Colclough

Horace Colclough
Personal information
Full name Horace Colclough
Date of birth ca. 1889
Place of birth Staffordshire, England
Date of death 1941
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1910–1912 Crewe Alexandra
1912–1915 Crystal Palace 88 (0)
National team
1914 England 1 (0)
Teams managed
1920–1932 Heracles Almelo
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Horace Colclough (also known as Henry Colclough) (ca. 1889 – 1941) was an English international footballer, who played as a left back. He played his club football for Crewe Alexandra and Crystal Palace in the years immediately prior to World War I. His playing career was ended by injuries received during the war after which he became a trainer for Dutch side Heracles Almelo.

Contents

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Place and date of birth

Most football databases list Colclough as "Henry", born in Meir,[1] near Longton, Staffordshire in 1891.[2][3] The year of birth is, however, doubtful as on joining Crystal Palace in 1912, he was described as "Native of Staffordshire. Age 23"[4] which would make his year of birth either 1888 or 1889.

Playing career

Colclough started his playing career at Crewe Alexandra, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, signing professional papers in August 1910.[1] After two "impressive" seasons at Crewe, he moved south to join Crystal Palace of the Southern League in 1912.[1] The 1912–13 club handbook said of him: "This back is new to the Palace, coming from Crewe Alexandra, through whose ranks many good footballers have passed. He plays right or left back."[4] The following year, the handbook added: "very few, if any, better backs have been associated with Crewe Alexandra, and he rendered yeoman service. His strong kicking and accurately-timed rushes serve him well."[5]

He quickly became an established member of the side and earned three call-ups in inter-League matches[1] as well as being selected for the Home Championship match against Wales on 16 March 1914. The match finished 2–0 to England.[6] He was Crystal Palace's first player to be selected for England international honours.[7][8]

Later career

Colclough's professional playing career finished at the end of the 1914–15 season, when league football was ended by the First World War. During the war he suffered a leg injury that prevented him resurrecting his career after the cessation of hostilities. Sources vary as to the cause of his injury; Graham Betts, in his "England, Player by Player" says that he was injured playing football for the Army,[1] whereas Dutch sources claim that he suffered a gunshot wound to his leg.[9]

In August 1920,[9] he was appointed first-team coach at Dutch club Heracles Almelo where he remained until 1932.[10] During his time at the club, Colclough was known as "d'n trainer met ne poot genoemd" ("the trainer with that leg") because of his war-wound.[9] He improved the club's professional outlook and introduced weekly discussions on tactics.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Betts, Graham (2006). England: Player by player. Green Umbrella Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 1-9050-0963-1. 
  2. ^ "Henry Colclough". Player info. englandstats. http://englandstats.com/players.php?pid=244. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  3. ^ "Henry Colclough". England Player Profile. www.englandfc.com. http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=244. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  4. ^ a b Crystal Palace handbook: 1912–13
  5. ^ Crystal Palace handbook: 1913–14
  6. ^ "Wales 0 England 2". englandstats. 16 March 1914. http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=118. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  7. ^ "1914". Club History. Crystal Palace FC. http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10323~639642,00.html. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  8. ^ "Palace Internationals". Crystal Palace FC. http://www.cpfc.co.uk/page/History/0,,10323~637783,00.html. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  9. ^ a b c d "The Two Colour up: 101 years Heracles (1903-2004)" (in Dutch). The First Dutch Football Books. ENVB. http://www.envb.nl/heracles.htm. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 
  10. ^ "Building a New Future" (in Dutch). History of Heracles. www.heracles.nl. http://www.heracles.nl/Club/Historie/HistorieLang.aspx.aspx. Retrieved 19 November 2011. 

External links