Archie Small
Encyclopedia
Archibald Rammell "Archie" Small (born 1889) was an English amateur
footballer who played at inside-forward for Southampton
in the years prior to World War I
.
and was a prominent member of the Royal Engineers
football team when employed at the Ordnance Survey
offices in Southampton
.
He joined Southampton
as an amateur in 1911, making his first-team debut at inside-right, when he scored in a 2–2 draw at West Ham
on 9 September 1911. After six matches in which the "Saints" struggled, Small was dropped and replaced by Harry Brown
. He continued to play regularly for the reserves
, scoring 19 goals, as a result of which he earned a County Cap for Hampshire.
By mid-March 1912, the team were continuing to struggle and were in danger of being relegated; Small was one of several players recalled for the last nine matches by manager George Swift in an ultimately successful bid to avoid relegation.
For the following season, the "Saints" recruited Fred Taylor
from Wellington Town and Fred Turnbull
from Coventry City
and, as a result, Small was restricted to five further appearances.
By the summer of 1913, Small had left the Saints and returned to play for the Royal Engineers
. After the war
, he was still actively playing for the Ordnance Survey
team, earning further County caps, and continued to work at the London Road premises until his retirement.
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
footballer who played at inside-forward for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in the years prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Football career
Small was born in Droitwich, WorcestershireWorcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and was a prominent member of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
football team when employed at the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
offices in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
.
He joined Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
as an amateur in 1911, making his first-team debut at inside-right, when he scored in a 2–2 draw at West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
on 9 September 1911. After six matches in which the "Saints" struggled, Small was dropped and replaced by Harry Brown
Harry Brown (footballer born 1883)
Henry "Harry" Brown was an English footballer who played as an inside forward for various clubs in the early part of the twentieth century, including West Bromwich Albion, Newcastle United, Fulham and Southampton...
. He continued to play regularly for the reserves
Reserve team
Large professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
, scoring 19 goals, as a result of which he earned a County Cap for Hampshire.
By mid-March 1912, the team were continuing to struggle and were in danger of being relegated; Small was one of several players recalled for the last nine matches by manager George Swift in an ultimately successful bid to avoid relegation.
For the following season, the "Saints" recruited Fred Taylor
Fred Taylor (Edwardian footballer)
Frederick "Fred" Taylor was an English professional footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs in the period prior to the First World War.-Football career:...
from Wellington Town and Fred Turnbull
Fred Turnbull (footballer born 1888)
Frederick Stephen "Fred" Turnbull was an English professional footballer who played at inside-forward for Coventry City and Southampton in the 1910s.-Football career:Turnbull was born in Wallsend and joined Newcastle United in 1909...
from Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and, as a result, Small was restricted to five further appearances.
By the summer of 1913, Small had left the Saints and returned to play for the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
. After the war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he was still actively playing for the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
team, earning further County caps, and continued to work at the London Road premises until his retirement.