Harry Bamford
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Henry Charles Bamford | ||
| Date of birth | 8 October 1920 | ||
| Place of birth | Bristol, Gloucestershire, England | ||
| Date of death | 31 October 1958 (aged 38) | ||
| Place of death | Bristol, Gloucestershire, England | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| St Philip's Marsh | |||
| 1945–1958 | Bristol Rovers | 486 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
Henry Charles "Harry" Bamford (8 October 1920 – 31 October 1958) was a professional footballer, who played for Bristol Rovers for his entire professional career. He played as a right-back for the club for thirteen years from 1945 until his death in 1958, making 486 league appearances and scoring five goals in the process.
He joined Rovers following the conclusion of World War II, and had played for Bristolian non-league side St Philip's Marsh prior to this. Because of the war, his professional career began at the relatively late age of 25, but in spite of this he played in the second highest number of Bristol Rovers games of any players at the club, behind only Stuart Taylor.
In 1951 Bamford captained an England XI side that toured Australia.[1]
As well as being a player, Bamford also coached at Clifton College, and while riding his motorcycle home from a coaching session at the college on 28 October 1958 he was involved in a collision with a car. He remained in hospital for three days before finally dying from his injuries on 31 October.[2]
At the time of his death Bamford was still a regular in the Bristol Rovers side, and had played in the previous 59 consecutive games before his accident.
Legacy
After his death the Harry Bamford memorial trophy was created in his honour.[3] This was to be awarded, every year, to the most respected footballer in Bristol. The trophy was lost in 1980 when Rovers' Eastville Stadium sustained serious fire damage. However, it resurfaced in 2014, having been found in a dusty box.[4]
Sources
Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club — The Definitive History 1883-2003. Stroud: Tempus. pp. 255–256 & 494. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
References
- ↑ "'COOM ON CHOOM' IN MANY LANGUAGES". The Sunday Herald. 27 May 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 2013-08-28.
Led by Harry Bamford, the visitors have been swimming each morning at Coogee.
- ↑ Haddrell, Ian; Jay, Mike (2012). Geoff Bradford: Bristol Rovers Legend. The History Press. ISBN 9780752494630.
- ↑ "Who do you think have been Bristol's best ever footballers?". Bristol Post. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ↑ "Harry Bamford Memorial football trophy found after 40 years". BBC news. Retrieved 13 November 2014.