Bill Harper
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Harper was a Scottish goalkeeper
who played for, among others, Hibernian
, Arsenal
, Fall River Marksmen
and Plymouth Argyle
. He also represented Scotland
in 11 full internationals.
, and Christina Brown. Differing sources claim he was born in either Tarbrax
, Lanarkshire
or Winchburgh
, West Lothian
. He initially followed his father into the blacksmith trade while also playing football for several junior teams. During the First World War he enlisted in the British Army
and served with the 5th Brigade of the Scots Guards
on the Western Front
. Harper, an all-round sportsman, was brigade heavyweight boxing champion and captain of the Guards rugby union
team when they won a brigade championship.
debut for Hibernian
against Airdrie
on 1 September 1920. He spent five years at Easter Road
, making over 200 appearances. He also played in two consecutive Scottish Cup
finals in 1923
and 1924
, but finished on the losing side on both occasions. While with Hibs he also won nine of his 11 Scotland
caps and represented the Scottish League XI
on two occasions.
manager Herbert Chapman
's first signings, joining the club for £4,000, then a record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his Arsenal debut against Bury
on 14 November 1925, which Arsenal won 6-1. Harper became Arsenal's first-choice keeper straight away, displacing Jock Robson
and young Welshman Dan Lewis
. Harper finished 1925-26
and started 1926-27
as Arsenal's first choice keeper, but Chapman blamed Harper for a 4-2 defeat in a North London derby
against Tottenham Hotspur
on 18 December 1926 and ruthlessly dropped him in favour of Dan Lewis.
After three years playing in the American Soccer League
, Harper rejoined Arsenal. Dan Lewis had by now left the club, and Harper became first choice over Charlie Preedy
and Gerard Keizer
. In his first season back at Arsenal, Harper won an English First Division
winners' medal, as the club won their first ever league title in 1931
. However during the 1931-32
season Harper was dropped once again. He made his final senior league appearance for Arsenal away to Blackburn Rovers
on 31 August 1931. During his two spells with Arsenal, Harper made 63 league appearances and 10 further appearances in the FA Cup
.
, Harper played in the American Soccer League
. Between 1927 and 1929 he made 79 league appearances for Fall River Marksmen
. He also played a further 3 games in the National Challenge Cup and 6 in the Lewis Cup and helped the Marksmen win the league title during the 1928-29 season. Harper’s time in the ASL coincided with both the Great Depression
and the Soccer Wars, a power struggle between the ASL and the US Football Association. During this era many clubs relocated, merged or folded. Towards the end of the 1928-29 season Sam Mark
, owner of the Marksmen, took over the struggling Boston Soccer Club and Harper then switched from the Marksmen to the Boston team. By the time the Fall 1929 season started they had become the Boston Bears. When the Soccer Wars were resolved, new league rules forbid the ownership of two or more clubs and Mark’s decided to sell Boston. However unable to find a buyer, he was forced to dissolve the team after just 4 games of the Spring 1930 season. Harper then joined New Bedford Whalers
for the remainder of the season, making 31 league appearances. He also made a further 4 cup appearances, two in the National Challenge Cup and two in the Lewis Cup. During the summer of 1930 Harper rejoined Fall River Marksmen
and played in friendlies against Rangers
and Kilmarnock
and was a member of the Marksmen squad that toured Central Europe
.
and went onto make 82 appearances in all competitions between then and 1939. During the Second World War he worked in the dockyards in Rosyth
, Scotland
. After the war he returned to Argyle were he served as a trainer, groundsman and even laundryman. Such was his contribution to the club that he was awarded a testimonial match
against Arsenal
in October 1972. Plymouth's training ground, Harper's Park, is also named after him.
. He won his first nine caps while playing for Hibernian
and his last two while with Arsenal
. Harper made his international debut on 3 March 1923 in a 1-0 win against Ireland at Windsor Park
. He subsequently played in all three games of the 1923
, 1924
and 1925
British Home Championship
s and played in two of the three games in the 1926
competition. He made four appearances against Ireland, four against England
and three against Wales
. His record with Scotland included eight wins, two draws and just one defeat. With Harper in goal, Scotland also won the British Home Championship in 1923, 1925 and 1926 and finished as runners up in 1924. He made his last international appearance on 17 April 1926 in 1-0 win against England
at Old Trafford.
Hibernian
Arsenal
Fall River Marksmen
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played for, among others, Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
and Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He also represented Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
in 11 full internationals.
Early years
Harper was the son of William Harper Sr., a blacksmithBlacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, and Christina Brown. Differing sources claim he was born in either Tarbrax
Tarbrax
Tarbrax is a small village in the Parish of Carnwath, County of South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is at the end of a dead end road off the A70 road between Edinburgh and Carnwath....
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
or Winchburgh
Winchburgh
Winchburgh is a village situated within the geographical county of West Lothian, Scotland. It is located approximately west of the city-centre of Edinburgh, east of Linlithgow and northeast of Broxburn.-Public transport:...
, West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
. He initially followed his father into the blacksmith trade while also playing football for several junior teams. During the First World War he enlisted in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and served with the 5th Brigade of the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. Harper, an all-round sportsman, was brigade heavyweight boxing champion and captain of the Guards rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team when they won a brigade championship.
Hibernian
Harper made his Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
debut for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
against Airdrie
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
on 1 September 1920. He spent five years at Easter Road
Easter Road
Easter Road is a football stadium located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian . The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 20,421, which makes it the fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland. Easter Road is also...
, making over 200 appearances. He also played in two consecutive Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
finals in 1923
Scottish Cup 1922-23
The 1922-23 Scottish Cup was the 45th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic, who defeated Hibernian 1–0 in the final.-Semi-finals:-----Final:...
and 1924
Scottish Cup 1923-24
The 1923-24 Scottish Cup was the 46th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Airdrieonians, who defeated Hibernian 2–0 in the final.-Semi-finals:-----Replay:-----Second Replay:-----Final:...
, but finished on the losing side on both occasions. While with Hibs he also won nine of his 11 Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
caps and represented the Scottish League XI
Scottish League XI
The Scottish League XI is a representative side of the Scottish Football League. The team regularly played against the Football League and other national league select teams between 1892 and 1980. For a long period the annual fixture between the English and Scottish leagues was only second in...
on two occasions.
Arsenal
In November 1925 Harper became one of ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
manager Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman
Herbert Chapman was an English association football player and manager. Though he had an undistinguished playing career, he went on to become one of the most successful and influential managers in early 20th century English football, before his sudden death in 1934.As a player, Chapman played for...
's first signings, joining the club for £4,000, then a record fee for a goalkeeper. He made his Arsenal debut against Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
on 14 November 1925, which Arsenal won 6-1. Harper became Arsenal's first-choice keeper straight away, displacing Jock Robson
Jock Robson
John Hardy "Jock" Robson was a Scottish football goalkeeper.Born in Innerleithen, Tweeddale, Robson played as a goalkeeper despite only standing at 5’8”. Robson had served in the First World War with the Seaforth Highlanders; after returning home he played for local side Vale of Leithen...
and young Welshman Dan Lewis
Dan Lewis (footballer)
Daniel "Dan" Lewis was a Welsh football goalkeeper, who is most notable for his time playing for Arsenal. He kept goal for Arsenal in the 1927 FA Cup Final where a mistake by him saw Cardiff City win the cup.-Playing career:...
. Harper finished 1925-26
1925-26 in English football
The 1925–26 season was the 51st season of competitive football in England. This marked the year that Huddersfield Town won the League three years running, making them the first team in Football League history to do so.-Honours:-First Division:...
and started 1926-27
1926-27 in English football
The 1926–27 season was the 52nd season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the season in which George Camsell scored an astounding 59 goals in 37 league appearances for Middlesbrough-Honours:...
as Arsenal's first choice keeper, but Chapman blamed Harper for a 4-2 defeat in a North London derby
North London derby
The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.-History:...
against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
on 18 December 1926 and ruthlessly dropped him in favour of Dan Lewis.
After three years playing in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
, Harper rejoined Arsenal. Dan Lewis had by now left the club, and Harper became first choice over Charlie Preedy
Charlie Preedy
Charles James Fane Preedy was an English football goalkeeper.One of six children, Preedy was born in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh, India, where his father was serving with the Royal Artillery. The family returned to Eltham, London, in 1907 where he attended Gordon School...
and Gerard Keizer
Gerard Keizer
Gerard Pieter Keizer , also known as Gerard Keyser, was a Dutch football goalkeeper. As well as being highly successful in his native country, he was also one of the first players from outside Great Britain or Ireland to play in English football.Keizer joined Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 16, and...
. In his first season back at Arsenal, Harper won an English First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
winners' medal, as the club won their first ever league title in 1931
1930-31 in English football
The 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
. However during the 1931-32
1931-32 in English football
The 1931–32 season was the 57th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season Harper was dropped once again. He made his final senior league appearance for Arsenal away to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 31 August 1931. During his two spells with Arsenal, Harper made 63 league appearances and 10 further appearances in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
.
American Soccer League
In between his two spells with ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Harper played in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. Between 1927 and 1929 he made 79 league appearances for Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
. He also played a further 3 games in the National Challenge Cup and 6 in the Lewis Cup and helped the Marksmen win the league title during the 1928-29 season. Harper’s time in the ASL coincided with both the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and the Soccer Wars, a power struggle between the ASL and the US Football Association. During this era many clubs relocated, merged or folded. Towards the end of the 1928-29 season Sam Mark
Sam Mark
Sam Mark is a former United States soccer club owner. During the 1920s and early 1930s he was the owner of Fall River Marksmen, one of the era’s most successful teams. Mark’s continued to own the team after it relocated and became the New York Yankees and then New Bedford Whalers. He also briefly...
, owner of the Marksmen, took over the struggling Boston Soccer Club and Harper then switched from the Marksmen to the Boston team. By the time the Fall 1929 season started they had become the Boston Bears. When the Soccer Wars were resolved, new league rules forbid the ownership of two or more clubs and Mark’s decided to sell Boston. However unable to find a buyer, he was forced to dissolve the team after just 4 games of the Spring 1930 season. Harper then joined New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers
New Bedford Whalers was the name of three United States soccer teams based in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The first Whalers played in the Southern New England Soccer League between 1914 and 1918. The second Whalers played in the American Soccer League between 1924 and 1931 before merging into Fall...
for the remainder of the season, making 31 league appearances. He also made a further 4 cup appearances, two in the National Challenge Cup and two in the Lewis Cup. During the summer of 1930 Harper rejoined Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen
Fall River Marksmen was a United States soccer club, based in Fall River, Massachusetts. They originally played as Fall River United before becoming known as the Marksmen after their owner, Sam Mark. During the 1920s and early 1930s they were one of the most successful soccer clubs in the United...
and played in friendlies against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
and was a member of the Marksmen squad that toured Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
.
Plymouth Argyle
In December 1931 Harper signed for Plymouth ArgylePlymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
and went onto make 82 appearances in all competitions between then and 1939. During the Second World War he worked in the dockyards in Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. After the war he returned to Argyle were he served as a trainer, groundsman and even laundryman. Such was his contribution to the club that he was awarded a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
in October 1972. Plymouth's training ground, Harper's Park, is also named after him.
Scottish international
Between 1923 and 1926 Harper made 11 appearances for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He won his first nine caps while playing for Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and his last two while with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Harper made his international debut on 3 March 1923 in a 1-0 win against Ireland at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
. He subsequently played in all three games of the 1923
1923 British Home Championship
The 1923 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1922–23 season. It was won by the strongest of the Home Nations during the decade, Scotland who almost whitewashed the other three nations but ultimately were held to a 2–2...
, 1924
1924 British Home Championship
The 1924 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1923–24 season between the British Home Nations...
and 1925
1925 British Home Championship
The 1925 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1924/25 season. It was one of six tournaments in seven years won by the strong Scottish team of the early 1920s, and was achieved with a whitewash of all three rivals, including England...
British Home Championship
British Home Championship
The British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
s and played in two of the three games in the 1926
1926 British Home Championship
The 1926 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1925–26 season between the British Home Nations...
competition. He made four appearances against Ireland, four against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and three against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
. His record with Scotland included eight wins, two draws and just one defeat. With Harper in goal, Scotland also won the British Home Championship in 1923, 1925 and 1926 and finished as runners up in 1924. He made his last international appearance on 17 April 1926 in 1-0 win against England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
at Old Trafford.
Honours
Scotland- British Home ChampionshipBritish Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the 1883–84 season until the 1983–84...
- Winners 19231923 British Home ChampionshipThe 1923 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1922–23 season. It was won by the strongest of the Home Nations during the decade, Scotland who almost whitewashed the other three nations but ultimately were held to a 2–2...
, 19251925 British Home ChampionshipThe 1925 British Home Championship was a football tournament played between the British Home Nations during the 1924/25 season. It was one of six tournaments in seven years won by the strong Scottish team of the early 1920s, and was achieved with a whitewash of all three rivals, including England...
, 19261926 British Home ChampionshipThe 1926 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1925–26 season between the British Home Nations...
: 3 - Runners Up 19241924 British Home ChampionshipThe 1924 British Home Championship was an international football tournament played during the 1923–24 season between the British Home Nations...
: 1
- Winners 1923
Hibernian
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
- Runners Up 1923Scottish Cup 1922-23The 1922-23 Scottish Cup was the 45th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic, who defeated Hibernian 1–0 in the final.-Semi-finals:-----Final:...
, 1924Scottish Cup 1923-24The 1923-24 Scottish Cup was the 46th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Airdrieonians, who defeated Hibernian 2–0 in the final.-Semi-finals:-----Replay:-----Second Replay:-----Final:...
: 2
- Runners Up 1923
Arsenal
- English First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
- Winners 1930-311930-31 in English footballThe 1930–31 season was the 56th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Of note this season was Manchester United's record of the worst start in a major European league – they lost their first twelve games of the season and went on to be relegated....
: 1
- Winners 1930-31
- London Combination
- Winners 1926–27: 1
- Northampton Charity Shield
- Winners 1930-31: 1
- Sheriff of London Shield
- Winners 1930-31: 1
Fall River Marksmen
- American Soccer LeagueAmerican Soccer LeagueThe American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
- Winners 1928-29: 1