Ephraim Longworth
Encyclopedia
Ephraim Longworth was an England
international footballer for Liverpool
in the early part of the twentieth century.
, Bolton
, Lancashire
, England, noted for his lock of hair, was comfortable in either the right or left-back berths. He joined Bolton Wanderers in the first division of the Lancashire Combination in 1908 from Hyde FC and then moved to London signing for Southern League
Clapton Orient (Became Leyton Orient
not Clapton Orient but Leyton F.C.upon the conclusion of World War ll). It was here that Liverpool manager Tom Watson
spotted his potential and signed him in 1910. he made his debut on 19 September 1910 in a Football League First Division
game at Bramall Lane
, Sheffield
, a game that Sheff Utd
won 2-0.
Longworth went on to appear 370 times in a Red shirt unfortunately not scoring a goal for the Anfield
club; in fact he went on the play until he was 40 years old. One of Liverpool's all time greats Ephraim has the distinction of being Liverpool's first ever England
captain when he was given the job in only his second appearance a 2-0 against Belgium at the Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
, Brussels
in 1921. His debut for the national side was in 1920 and was just as memorable, England fought back from 4-2 down to beat bitter rivals Scotland
5-4 at Hillsborough
. Longworth went on to gain 5 international caps
all of which England remained unbeaten.
During his time at Anfield
Longworth won back to back league titles in 1921-22 and 1922-23 and appeared in the 1-0 1914 FA Cup
final defeat to Burnley in front of the reigning King George V
.
Longworth's final game came 17½ years after his first appearance for the club, it came in a 2-0 defeat at St Andrews
against Birmingham
on 21 April 1928.
After retiring in 1928 Longworth stayed on at Liverpool in a coaching role. Ephraim died in 1968 forever a Liverpool legend. In 2006 despite having retired almost 80 years Longworth was voted in at 72nd place following a survey on Liverpool's website entitled 100 players which shook the Kop.
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...
international footballer for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the early part of the twentieth century.
Life and playing career
Longworth, born in HalliwellHalliwell, Greater Manchester
Halliwell is predominantly a residential area of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England. It gives its name to an electoral ward of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Bolton. Halliwell lies about to the north west of Bolton town centre and is bounded by Tonge Moor to the east and Heaton to the south...
, Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England, noted for his lock of hair, was comfortable in either the right or left-back berths. He joined Bolton Wanderers in the first division of the Lancashire Combination in 1908 from Hyde FC and then moved to London signing for Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
Clapton Orient (Became Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
not Clapton Orient but Leyton F.C.upon the conclusion of World War ll). It was here that Liverpool manager Tom Watson
Tom Watson (football)
Tom Watson was an English football manager who managed Sunderland A.F.C. and Liverpool F.C. around the turn of the 20th century....
spotted his potential and signed him in 1910. he made his debut on 19 September 1910 in a Football League 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....
game at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, a game that Sheff Utd
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
won 2-0.
Longworth went on to appear 370 times in a Red shirt unfortunately not scoring a goal for the Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
club; in fact he went on the play until he was 40 years old. One of Liverpool's all time greats Ephraim has the distinction of being Liverpool's first ever 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...
captain when he was given the job in only his second appearance a 2-0 against Belgium at the Oscar Bossaert Stadion, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Molenbeek-Saint-Jean
Sint-Jans-Molenbeek or Molenbeek-Saint-Jean is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.-Rural beginnings:...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in 1921. His debut for the national side was in 1920 and was just as memorable, England fought back from 4-2 down to beat bitter rivals 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...
5-4 at Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
. Longworth went on to gain 5 international caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
all of which England remained unbeaten.
During his time at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
Longworth won back to back league titles in 1921-22 and 1922-23 and appeared in the 1-0 1914 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...
final defeat to Burnley in front of the reigning King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
.
Longworth's final game came 17½ years after his first appearance for the club, it came in a 2-0 defeat at St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
against Birmingham
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...
on 21 April 1928.
After retiring in 1928 Longworth stayed on at Liverpool in a coaching role. Ephraim died in 1968 forever a Liverpool legend. In 2006 despite having retired almost 80 years Longworth was voted in at 72nd place following a survey on Liverpool's website entitled 100 players which shook the Kop.
Career details
- Liverpool F.C. (1910 - 1928) 371 appearances 2 Football League Championship medals (1922 - 1923), (he played his last game as a 40 year old)
- England (1920 - 1923) 5 caps (Ephraim also captained his country, the first Liverpool player to do so)