Cecil Blakemore

Cecil Blakemore
Personal information
Date of birth8 December 1897
Place of birthStourbridge, England
Playing positionInside forward
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Stourbridge
Fairfield Villa
Redditch
1922–1927Crystal Palace141(56)
1927–1929Bristol City40(22)
1929–1931Brentford77(28)
1931–1933Norwich City70
1933–1934Swindon Town26(8)
1933–1934Brierley Hill Alliance
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Cecil Blakemore, sometimes known as Cyril Blakemore, was as an English professional football inside forward who played in the Football League, most notably for Crystal Palace, Brentford and Norwich City.[1] He also played for Bristol City and Swindon Town.

Career

Early years

An inside forward, Blakemore began his career in non-league football in his native West Midlands, playing for hometown club Stourbridge, Fairfield Villa and Redditch.[2] He departed Redditch in 1922.[3]

Crystal Palace

Blakemore got his chance at league football when he signed for Division Two club Crystal Palace in December 1922.[3] He had a slow start to life at Selhurst Park, making just 24 appearances during the 1922/23 and 1923/24 seasons, but managing five goals in his 12 appearances during 1923/24.[3] Blakemore broke into the team during the 1924/25 season, making 24 appearances and scoring 12 goals in a disastrous season which saw the Eagles relegated to the Division Three South.[3] He was a near ever-present for two seasons in the Division Three South, scoring 36 goals as Palace pushed for promotion back to Division Two.[3] Blakemore departed Palace in May 1927,[4] having made 141 appearances and scored 56 goals during five years with the club.[3]

Bristol City

Blakemore moved back up to Division Two to sign for Bristol City in May 1927.[4] He failed to hold down a regular place in the team, but still managed 20 goals in 42 appearances before departing Ashton Gate in May 1929.[4]

Brentford

Blakemore and Bristol City teammate Jackie Foster signed for Division Three South side Brentford on 2 May 1929.[4] He quickly established himself in the team, scoring 15 goals in 43 appearances during the 1929/30 season,[5] a campaign in which the Bees set a record of 21 home wins.[1] Blakemore made another 40 appearances the following year, scoring 13 goals,[5] before leaving Brentford in May 1931.[1] Blakemore scored 28 goals in 83 games during two seasons at Griffin Park.[1]

Norwich City

Blakemore moved to Division Three South club Norwich City in May 1931. He made 70 appearances over the course of two seasons, as the Canaries pushed for promotion to Division Two.[1]

Swindon Town

At age 35, Blakemore was brought in by manager Ted Vizard to replace Division Three South side Swindon Town's record goalscorer Harry Morris in 1933.[2] He scored eight goals in 27 appearances before being released at the end of the 1933-34 season.[2]

Brierley Hill Alliance

Blakemore saw out his career with a spell at Birmingham & District League side Brierley Hill Alliance.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Haynes, Graham; Coumbe, Frank (2006). Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920-2006. Harefield: Yore Publications. p. 21. ISBN 978-0955294914.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk - Cecil BLAKEMORE - Player Profile". Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Cecil Blakemore". Holmesdale Online. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "Bristol City FC :: Citystats - Unofficial archive of results, players and managers". Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Brentford Football Club History". Retrieved 20 December 2014.