Bernard Pumfrey
Encyclopedia
Bernard Pumfrey was an English
professional footballer who made 132 appearances in the Football League
playing for Small Heath
and Gainsborough Trinity
. He played as a full back
.
district of Birmingham
to Alfred, a carpenter and joiner, and Sarah. He worked in the family business, playing recreational football for Birmingham St Mark's, before joining Small Heath
prior to their first season in the Football League
. He made his debut on 12 November 1892, in a 3–2 home win against Burton Swifts
, and played in the test matches which deprived Small Heath of promotion
to add to their Second Division
title, but after a few more games the following season, he left for Midland League
club Gainsborough Trinity
in 1894.
Pumfrey contributed to Gainsborough's runners-up spot in the Midland League in the 1895–96 season which led to their election to the Football League. In five seasons in the Football League, he played 121 games and captained the team.
While a Gainsborough player Pumfrey started a joinery business in the town; he developed this into a large building contractors which was still in existence a hundred years later. He married Jennie Clarke in March 1900, and died in Gainsborough
in 1930 at the age of 57.
His older brother Harry, also a carpenter, who had studied at Birmingham School of Art, was responsible for the design of Birmingham F.C.'s new ground, St Andrew's, which opened in 1906.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who made 132 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
playing for Small Heath
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
. He played as a full back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
Pumfrey was born in the StirchleyStirchley, West Midlands
Stirchley is a southern area of Birmingham, England. Close to the districts of Kings Heath, Bournville, Selly Park, Cotteridge and King's Norton...
district of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
to Alfred, a carpenter and joiner, and Sarah. He worked in the family business, playing recreational football for Birmingham St Mark's, before joining Small Heath
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
prior to their first season in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
. He made his debut on 12 November 1892, in a 3–2 home win against Burton Swifts
Burton Swifts F.C.
Burton Swifts were an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. The club ceased to exist in 1901 when they merged with Burton Wanderers to form Burton United.-History:...
, and played in the test matches which deprived Small Heath of promotion
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
to add to their Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title, but after a few more games the following season, he left for Midland League
Midland Football League
There have been at least two different football competitions in England which used the name Midland Football League.One existed until 1982 before merging with the Yorkshire League to form the Northern Counties League....
club Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
in 1894.
Pumfrey contributed to Gainsborough's runners-up spot in the Midland League in the 1895–96 season which led to their election to the Football League. In five seasons in the Football League, he played 121 games and captained the team.
While a Gainsborough player Pumfrey started a joinery business in the town; he developed this into a large building contractors which was still in existence a hundred years later. He married Jennie Clarke in March 1900, and died in Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
in 1930 at the age of 57.
His older brother Harry, also a carpenter, who had studied at Birmingham School of Art, was responsible for the design of Birmingham F.C.'s new ground, St Andrew's, which opened in 1906.