Bernard Harrison
Encyclopedia
Bernard Reginald Stanhope Harrison (28 September 1934 – 18 March 2006) was an English sportsman who played first-class cricket
for Hampshire
and professional football with Crystal Palace
, Southampton
and Exeter City
. As a cricketer he was an opening batsman who played a part in Hampshire winning the County Championship
in 1961, whilst in football he played at outside right.
, close to New Road
, the home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club
.
He was educated at Peter Symonds College
in Winchester
, Hampshire
and was a keen all round sportsman who excelled from an early age in both cricket and football. During his period of National Service
he represented the army in both sports.
as a trainee, on amateur terms. Unable to break into the first team, he moved to Crystal Palace
in October 1955.
At Crystal Palace he was given a professional contract and made his first team debut in March 1956, as Palace finished second from bottom in the Third Division South
and were forced to seek re-election. In the 1956–57 season, Harrison became established in the side, normally at outside-right with Johnny Byrne
on the left, providing scoring opportunities for the front men, including Mike Deakin at centre forward and Peter Berry and Barry Pierce as the inside-forwards. Harrison himself contributed four goals, as Palace finished 20th in the table. In 1957, Soccer Star predicted that, once Palace's fortunes improved, Harrison would become "one of the most talked about wingers in the game". He was selected to play in the Third Division South representative team
in 1957.
In the following season, George Cooper took over at centre forward, scoring 17 goals. Harrison contributed seven goals as Palace improved their league position, finishing 14th. Unfortunately, this was two places below the cut-off point for the re-organisation of the league structure, and Palace played in the newly created Fourth Division
in 1958–59. Harrison only managed 14 league games in the 1958–59 season, with Ron Brett
or Gerry Priestly being preferred in the No. 7 shirt.
In the summer of 1959, Harrison left Selhurst Park
having made exactly 100 first team appearances, 92 in the League and 8 in the FA Cup, scoring 12 goals (all in league matches).
, then in the Third Division
, by manager Ted Bates
as cover for Terry Paine
. Paine's fitness was such, however, that he never missed a match in the one season that Harrison spent at The Dell. Harrison's three appearances for the "Saints" came in October, when Paine switched first to the left to replace the injured John Sydenham
, and then to inside right in place of George O'Brien. Harrison's first and last matches were both against Barnsley
. The second match was at home to Swindon Town
when Derek Reeves
scored four, with one from Paine, in a 5–1 victory on 10 October 1959. The Daily Echo reported that "Bernard Harrison (did) well on the right wing".
Despite this, Harrison was unable to displace Paine and spent the rest of the season in the reserves. In his biography, Kevin Smallbone argues that Harrison was "too talented for his own good" and Harrison said (in 2005) that he "was doing too many things, I didn't have time to train". Speaking to Paine's biographer, David Bull, Harrison commented that he "couldn't understand" why Ted Bates didn't switch Terry Paine to inside-left to accommodate him on the right.
At the end of the season, Southampton were able to celebrate taking the Third Division title, whereas Harrison decided to try his luck elsewhere.
where he spent one season, making 18 appearances in the Fourth Division scoring four goals.
Over the next few years, he played for a succession of non-league
clubs, ending his career at Winchester City
.
and spent most of his career playing in the Second XI as an opening batsman, understudying Roy Marshall
and Jimmy Gray
.
He made his debut for the first XI against Oxford University
in June 1957, not making any significant contribution in a drawn match. His County Championship
debut came in May 1958, against Worcester
, scoring only a single and not being called on to bowl — Hampshire won the match by 9 wickets.
A strong right-hand batsman he achieved his top score of 110 versus Oxford University played at Portsmouth in July 1961. In this match, he shared with Mike Barnard
in a stand of 119 for the second wicket. Six of his 14 county matches were against Oxford University, and both his fifties and his only first-class hundred also came against them. He contributed to the team led by Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
that won Hampshire's first County Championship in 1961 and played four times in 1962. He continued to appear infrequently for the Second XI, the last time in 1968.
, firstly at Basingstoke
and from 1982 at Red Rice
near Andover
. Harrison's club cricket was with Basingstoke & North Hants Cricket Club, where he also coached.
He also excelled at other sports, gaining county recognition in badminton and table tennis and could also have done so in hockey while at school but football took preference.
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
and professional football with Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, 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...
and Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
. As a cricketer he was an opening batsman who played a part in Hampshire winning the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
in 1961, whilst in football he played at outside right.
Early life
Harrison was born at St. John's, WorcesterSt. John's, Worcester
St Johns is a large suburb of Worcester, England, west of the city centre and the River Severn. There is also a road of the same name, part of which is the A44.- Location :St Johns is the home of the Worcestershire County Cricket Club...
, close to New Road
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
, the home of Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
.
He was educated at Peter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College
Peter Symonds College is a sixth form college in Winchester, Hampshire, in the south of England. It is one of the largest sixth form colleges in Britain.-Admissions:...
in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and was a keen all round sportsman who excelled from an early age in both cricket and football. During his period of National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
he represented the army in both sports.
Crystal Palace
Harrison was an England schoolboy international and in October 1952, he joined PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
as a trainee, on amateur terms. Unable to break into the first team, he moved to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
in October 1955.
At Crystal Palace he was given a professional contract and made his first team debut in March 1956, as Palace finished second from bottom in the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
and were forced to seek re-election. In the 1956–57 season, Harrison became established in the side, normally at outside-right with Johnny Byrne
Johnny Byrne (footballer)
John Joseph "Budgie" Byrne was an English professional football player.Johnny started his career playing for Epsom Town, and then Guildford City Youth, before moving to Football League club Crystal Palace, signing a professional contract on his 17th birthday...
on the left, providing scoring opportunities for the front men, including Mike Deakin at centre forward and Peter Berry and Barry Pierce as the inside-forwards. Harrison himself contributed four goals, as Palace finished 20th in the table. In 1957, Soccer Star predicted that, once Palace's fortunes improved, Harrison would become "one of the most talked about wingers in the game". He was selected to play in the Third Division South representative team
Football League Third Division North vs. South Representative Games
The Third Division North and Third Division South of The Football League was a level in English association football, which ran from 1921 to 1958.From 1954–55 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the Third Division North and the Third Division South.-...
in 1957.
In the following season, George Cooper took over at centre forward, scoring 17 goals. Harrison contributed seven goals as Palace improved their league position, finishing 14th. Unfortunately, this was two places below the cut-off point for the re-organisation of the league structure, and Palace played in the newly created Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
in 1958–59. Harrison only managed 14 league games in the 1958–59 season, with Ron Brett
Ron Brett
Ron Brett was a professional footballer who played as a forward.-Career:Brett started his career at Crystal Palace before moving in 1959 to West Ham in a deal which saw Malcolm Pyke moving the other way...
or Gerry Priestly being preferred in the No. 7 shirt.
In the summer of 1959, Harrison left Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
having made exactly 100 first team appearances, 92 in the League and 8 in the FA Cup, scoring 12 goals (all in league matches).
Southampton
Harrison was recruited for SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
, then in the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
, by manager Ted Bates
Ted Bates (footballer)
Edric Thornton "Ted" Bates MBE was a former Southampton F.C. player, manager, director and president which earned him the sobriquet Mr. Southampton.-Playing career:...
as cover for Terry Paine
Terry Paine
Terence Lionel Paine MBE is a former English footballer.Paine made 713 football league appearances for Southampton F.C. and 111 for Hereford United F.C...
. Paine's fitness was such, however, that he never missed a match in the one season that Harrison spent at The Dell. Harrison's three appearances for the "Saints" came in October, when Paine switched first to the left to replace the injured John Sydenham
John Sydenham
John Sydenham, born in Southampton 15 September 1939 is a former footballer, who played most of his career for Southampton F.C.-Early career:...
, and then to inside right in place of George O'Brien. Harrison's first and last matches were both against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
. The second match was at home to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
when Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves
Derek Reeves was an English footballer, born in Poole, Dorset, who played as a centre forward for Southampton and Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the Football League....
scored four, with one from Paine, in a 5–1 victory on 10 October 1959. The Daily Echo reported that "Bernard Harrison (did) well on the right wing".
Despite this, Harrison was unable to displace Paine and spent the rest of the season in the reserves. In his biography, Kevin Smallbone argues that Harrison was "too talented for his own good" and Harrison said (in 2005) that he "was doing too many things, I didn't have time to train". Speaking to Paine's biographer, David Bull, Harrison commented that he "couldn't understand" why Ted Bates didn't switch Terry Paine to inside-left to accommodate him on the right.
At the end of the season, Southampton were able to celebrate taking the Third Division title, whereas Harrison decided to try his luck elsewhere.
Exeter City
At the end of the 1959–60 season, Harrison moved along the coast to join Exeter CityExeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
where he spent one season, making 18 appearances in the Fourth Division scoring four goals.
Over the next few years, he played for a succession of non-league
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
clubs, ending his career at Winchester City
Winchester City F.C.
Winchester City Football Club are an English football team based in Winchester, Hampshire and playing in the Wessex League Premier Division. The team is currently managed by Guy Butters and their motto is "Many in Men, One in Spirit",-History:...
.
Cricket career
Harrison joined HampshireHampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
and spent most of his career playing in the Second XI as an opening batsman, understudying Roy Marshall
Roy Marshall
Roy Edwin Marshall was a West Indian cricketer who played in four Tests from 1951 to 1952. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1959.-Early career:...
and Jimmy Gray
Jimmy Gray (cricketer)
James 'Jimmy' Roy Gray is a former English first-class cricketer who played for Hampshire.Gray was a right-handed batsman and passed 2000 runs in a season on 3 occasions...
.
He made his debut for the first XI against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
in June 1957, not making any significant contribution in a drawn match. His County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
debut came in May 1958, against Worcester
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
, scoring only a single and not being called on to bowl — Hampshire won the match by 9 wickets.
A strong right-hand batsman he achieved his top score of 110 versus Oxford University played at Portsmouth in July 1961. In this match, he shared with Mike Barnard
Mike Barnard
Henry Michael Barnard is an English former cricketer and professional footballer.-Biography:As a cricketer, he played for Hampshire as a right-handed batsman and a medium pace bowler...
in a stand of 119 for the second wicket. Six of his 14 county matches were against Oxford University, and both his fifties and his only first-class hundred also came against them. He contributed to the team led by Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie
Alexander Colin David Ingleby-Mackenzie OBE was an English cricketer: a left-handed batsman who played for Hampshire between 1951 and 1966, captaining the county from 1958 to 1965 as Hampshire's last amateur captain and leading his side to their first County Championship in the 1961 season...
that won Hampshire's first County Championship in 1961 and played four times in 1962. He continued to appear infrequently for the Second XI, the last time in 1968.
Later career
Harrison was a qualified teacher, and amongst his positions was that of Sports and Mathematics teacher at Farleigh SchoolFarleigh School
Farleigh School is an English IAPS Roman Catholic boarding and day prep school of approximately 400 children. Situated in of parkland in the Test Valley, Hampshire, the school was founded as a male boarding school in 1953 at Farleigh House, near Basingstoke, Hampshire, the seat of the earls of...
, firstly at Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
and from 1982 at Red Rice
Red Rice, Hampshire
Red Rice is a hamlet south-west of Andover, Hampshire, England.-Red Rice House:The Georgian Red Rice House was in the early 20th century a seat of the Miller-Mundy family, colliery owners who had moved from their estate at Shipley Park, Derbyshire. In the 1960s it was occupied by a minor Roman...
near Andover
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
. Harrison's club cricket was with Basingstoke & North Hants Cricket Club, where he also coached.
He also excelled at other sports, gaining county recognition in badminton and table tennis and could also have done so in hockey while at school but football took preference.