George Mountford (footballer, born 1921)

George Mountford
Personal information
Full name George Fredrick Mountford[1]
Date of birth 30 March 1921[1]
Place of birth Kidderminster, England[1]
Date of death 14 June 1973(1973-06-14) (aged 52)[1]
Place of death Kidderminster, England[1]
Playing position Right-winger
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
– Kidderminster Harriers
1946–1950 Stoke City 123 (25)
1950–1951 Independiente Santa Fe[2] 17 (9)
1951–1953 Stoke City 25 (0)
1953–1954 Queens Park Rangers 35 (2)
– Hereford United
– Kidderminster Harriers
– Lockheed Leamington
Total 200 (36)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

George Fredrick Mountford (30 March 1921 – 14 June 1973) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City.[1][3]

Career

Mountford was born in Kidderminster and began his career playing for local side Kidderminster Harriers before joining Stoke City in December 1942 for a fee of £40.[3] During the War League Mountford established himself in Bob McGrory's side as a right winger providing crosses for Tommy Sale and namesake Frank Mountford. With Stanley Matthews on wartime duty with Blackpool Mountford took his number 7 shirt and Matthews struggled to win it back. Whilst he was not as talented as Matthews, Mountford made up for it with his hard work and possessed a good turn of speed which often took him into goalscoring opportunities.[3]

Throughout the 1946–47 season Matthews and Mountford both vied for the right wing position and when Matthews suffered an injury early in the campaign Mountford took his place. Even when Matthews had recovered McGrory stuck with Mountford as Stoke pushed for the First Division title.[3] The Unhappy Matthews left for Blackpool in May 1947 and Mountford scored a vital goal against Aston Villa to take the title race in to the final day of the season. Stoke needed to beat Sheffield United to claim the title but they lost 2–1 and the chance had gone.[3]

The side struggled with injuries in 1947–48 and Mountford made 29 appearances scoring five goals. He scored a career best of 11 in 1948–49 as Stoke finished in 11th position.[3] In 1949–50 he played 32 times scoring six goals as the Potters narrowly avoided relegation. At the end of the 1949–50 season Mountford was convinced to join Colombian side Independiente Santa Fe along with Stoke team-mate Neil Franklin, the move caused outrage with the FA as Colombia at the time was not a FIFA member.[3] Mountford spent the who season in Colombia where he became a favourite with the Independiente support who dubbed him the "Bald Arrow".[3]

He returned to Stoke in the summer of 1951 and he found himself both suspended by Stoke and the Football League. His suspension was lifted in September 1951 and he resumed playing in the Stoke team.[3] In October 1953 Mountford was sold to Queens Park Rangers in exchange for Des Farrow. In September 1953 Mountford returned to his roots playing for Hereford United, Kidderminster Harriers and Lockheed Leamington.[3]

Career statistics

Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stoke City[1] 1945–46 War League –6161
1946–47 First Division 23600236
1947–48 First Division 29500295
1948–49 First Division 398434311
1949–50 First Division 32600326
1951–52 First Division 21000210
1952–53 First Division 400040
Total 1482510415829
Queens Park Rangers 1952–53 Third Division South 25230282
1953–54 Third Division South 10000100
Total 35230382
Career Total 1832713419631

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ↑ Statistics at Golgolgol.net
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
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