Dennis Westcott
Encyclopedia
Dennis Westcott was an English
footballer
, who played for New Brighton
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Blackburn Rovers
, Manchester City
and Chesterfield
as a striker
.
Westcott started his career at Everton
, but was released. He then joined nearby New Brighton of the Third Division (North). In 1937 he had a trial with West Ham
, but was rejected. Instead, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed him, giving him a debut against Grimsby
in an FA Cup
tie. Wescott scored one of the goals as Wolves won 6-2. In his first full season with Wolves he scored 22 goals, making him the club's top scorer. The following season he scored 43 goals in 43 appearances, setting a club record which stood for 50 years until it was broken by Steve Bull
. Westcott played in the 1939 FA Cup Final
, but Wolves were beaten 4-1 by Portsmouth
.
In 1939 competitive football was then suspended due to World War II
, depriving Westcott of several years in his prime. During the war he played four wartime internationals for England
. When competitive football resumed in 1946, Westcott continued his goalscoring exploits, setting another club record with 38 goals in the 1946-47 season
which made him topscorer in the league. In 1948 he was released by Wolves, and signed for Blackburn Rovers in the Second Division
. At Blackburn he scored 37 goals in 63 appearances. He then signed for Manchester City, where he scored 36 goals in 72 appearances, finishing as the club's top scorer in each of the two full seasons he played. He then moved to Chesterfield
, and finished his career with Stafford Rangers
.
He played for England four times between 1940-1943, scoring 5 goals. However, as these games were during wartime, they are not recognised as full internationals and no caps were issued.
He died from leukaemia in 1960 at the age of 43.
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...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
, who played for New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, 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....
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Westcott started his career at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, but was released. He then joined nearby New Brighton of the Third Division (North). In 1937 he had a trial with 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...
, but was rejected. Instead, Wolverhampton Wanderers signed him, giving him a debut against Grimsby
Grimsby Town F.C.
Grimsby Town Football Club is an English football club based in the seaside town of Cleethorpes, in North East Lincolnshire, England, who compete in the Conference National. They were formed in 1878 as Grimsby Pelham and later became Grimsby Town...
in an 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...
tie. Wescott scored one of the goals as Wolves won 6-2. In his first full season with Wolves he scored 22 goals, making him the club's top scorer. The following season he scored 43 goals in 43 appearances, setting a club record which stood for 50 years until it was broken by Steve Bull
Steve Bull
Stephen George "Steve" Bull, MBE, is an English former footballer who is best remembered for his 13-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers...
. Westcott played in the 1939 FA Cup Final
1939 FA Cup Final
The 1939 FA Cup Final was contested by Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley. Portsmouth won 4–1, with goals from Bert Barlow, John Anderson and two by Cliff Parker...
, but Wolves were beaten 4-1 by Portsmouth
Portsmouth 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...
.
In 1939 competitive football was then suspended due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, depriving Westcott of several years in his prime. During the war he played four wartime internationals for 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...
. When competitive football resumed in 1946, Westcott continued his goalscoring exploits, setting another club record with 38 goals in the 1946-47 season
1946-47 in English football
The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions. Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over...
which made him topscorer in the league. In 1948 he was released by Wolves, and signed for Blackburn Rovers in the 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...
. At Blackburn he scored 37 goals in 63 appearances. He then signed for Manchester City, where he scored 36 goals in 72 appearances, finishing as the club's top scorer in each of the two full seasons he played. He then moved to Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, and finished his career with Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
.
He played for England four times between 1940-1943, scoring 5 goals. However, as these games were during wartime, they are not recognised as full internationals and no caps were issued.
He died from leukaemia in 1960 at the age of 43.
Honours
Wolverhampton WanderersWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
- FA CupFA CupThe 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...
finalist: 19391939 FA Cup FinalThe 1939 FA Cup Final was contested by Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley. Portsmouth won 4–1, with goals from Bert Barlow, John Anderson and two by Cliff Parker...