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Frank Costello (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Frederick "Frank" G. Costello (1884 – 19 December 1914) was an English
professional footballer who played as a forward
for Southampton
and West Ham United
prior to the First World War.
and after playing his youth football with Soho Villa he joined West Bromwich Albion
in September 1904. Failing to make the grade he moved to Halesowen Town
before moving to the south coast to join Southern League
Southampton
in the 1907 close season.
He made his professional debut on 14 September 1907, scoring in a 2–0 victory at Luton Town
. He initially played at inside right alongside Bert Hodgkinson
on the outside and either Frank Jefferis
, John Lewis or George Smith in the centre. Described as "a trifle slow, he was clever with the ball and had a habit of disconcerting the opposition by making for goal when he was expected to make a pass". In the 1907–08 season he scored nine goals from 28 league appearances.
He also played in all six FA Cup
matches as Saints reached the semi-finals
, losing to Wolverhampton Wanderers
who went on to take the cup in the final
. In the round four (quarter final) replay against Everton
at The Dell on 11 March 1908 he played his best game for the "Saints". In the first half he hooked a John Johnston
cross past the Everton goalkeeper Billy Scott. With the score 2–1 to Southampton at half-time, the second half "belonged to Frank Costello". He was involved in most of Southampton's attacks and when John Bainbridge
swung over a deep cross from the right it appeared to have been over hit and going out of play. Suddenly, "out of nowhere", Costello arrived and met the ball with his head, sending it back over the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. According to Duncan Holley in "Match of the Millennium", "a contortionist would have had problems attaining a position ... to reach the ball." The Saints won the match 3–2, but lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers
in the semi-final with goals from former Southampton players Wally Radford
and George Hedley
.
Injury kept him out of the team for the early part of the 1908–09 season; he had a run of five matches at inside left in November before being switched to centre forward as replacement for Arthur Hughes
who had suffered a bad leg injury. Although Costello scored in his first match in his new role (in a 4–2 victory over Plymouth Argyle
on 12 December 1908), he was not a success and in March 1909 he was transferred to West Ham United
, with Jack Foster
moving in the opposite direction.
He made twelve Southern League appearances for West Ham (scoring three goals) before moving on to Bolton Wanderers
. He failed to make the first team at Bolton and after spells with Nelson
and Merthyr Town
he returned to Southampton
, where he turned out occasionally for Salisbury City
.
in France
on 19 December 1914.
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 played as a forward
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...
for 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 West Ham United
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...
prior to the First World War.
Playing career
Costello was born in BirminghamBirmingham
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...
and after playing his youth football with Soho Villa he joined West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in September 1904. Failing to make the grade he moved to Halesowen Town
Halesowen Town F.C.
Halesowen Town is an English association football club formed in 1873, since 2011 playing in the Southern League Division One South & West]]. The team is nicknamed "The Yeltz".-History:...
before moving to the south coast to join 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...
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...
in the 1907 close season.
He made his professional debut on 14 September 1907, scoring in a 2–0 victory at Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
. He initially played at inside right alongside Bert Hodgkinson
Bert Hodgkinson
For the English footballer of the same name see Bert Hodgkinson Albert Victor Hodgkinson was a Welsh footballer who played as an outside-forward for various clubs in the 1900s, including making one appearance for the Wales national football team in 1908.-Football career:Hodgkinson was born at...
on the outside and either Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis was a football player.-Playing career:He initially played football for his local non-league team, Fordingbridge Turks, before being invited for a trial at The Dell by Southampton of the Southern League in March 1905...
, John Lewis or George Smith in the centre. Described as "a trifle slow, he was clever with the ball and had a habit of disconcerting the opposition by making for goal when he was expected to make a pass". In the 1907–08 season he scored nine goals from 28 league appearances.
He also played in all six 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...
matches as Saints reached the semi-finals
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
, losing to 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...
who went on to take the cup in the final
1908 FA Cup Final
The 1908 FA Cup Final was contested by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Crystal Palace Park. Newcastle had just finished fourth in the First Division during this season, after two successive league titles and this was their third FA Cup final appearance in four years...
. In the round four (quarter final) replay against 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...
at The Dell on 11 March 1908 he played his best game for the "Saints". In the first half he hooked a John Johnston
John Johnston (footballer)
John Shand Johnston was a Scottish footballer who played as a wing half and won the FA Cup with Bury in 1903.-Playing career:Johnston was born in Lennoxtown and started his career with Stalybridge Rovers before joining Football League First Division Bury in May 1901, shortly followed by his former...
cross past the Everton goalkeeper Billy Scott. With the score 2–1 to Southampton at half-time, the second half "belonged to Frank Costello". He was involved in most of Southampton's attacks and when John Bainbridge
John Bainbridge (footballer)
John Robert Bainbridge was a professional footballer who played as a forward for three Southern League clubs between 1903 and 1910....
swung over a deep cross from the right it appeared to have been over hit and going out of play. Suddenly, "out of nowhere", Costello arrived and met the ball with his head, sending it back over the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net. According to Duncan Holley in "Match of the Millennium", "a contortionist would have had problems attaining a position ... to reach the ball." The Saints won the match 3–2, but lost to 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...
in the semi-final with goals from former Southampton players Wally Radford
Wally Radford
Walter Robert "Wally" Radford was an English footballer, who played as an inside-forward in the 1900s with Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, with whom he won the FA Cup in 1908.-Football career:...
and George Hedley
George Hedley
George Albert Hedley was a professional footballer who won the 1902 and 1908 FA Cup finals with Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, scoring in both.He was born in South Bank, Middlesbrough....
.
Injury kept him out of the team for the early part of the 1908–09 season; he had a run of five matches at inside left in November before being switched to centre forward as replacement for Arthur Hughes
Arthur Hughes (footballer)
Arthur Hughes was an English professional footballer who played as a forward for various clubs in the 1900s.-Playing career:Born in Birkenhead, he started his career with his local club Birkenhead F.C. before joining Tranmere Rovers...
who had suffered a bad leg injury. Although Costello scored in his first match in his new role (in a 4–2 victory over 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...
on 12 December 1908), he was not a success and in March 1909 he was transferred to West Ham United
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...
, with Jack Foster
Jack Foster (footballer)
John Samuel "Jack" Foster was an English footballer who played as a forward for various clubs in the 1900s...
moving in the opposite direction.
He made twelve Southern League appearances for West Ham (scoring three goals) before moving on to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. He failed to make the first team at Bolton and after spells with Nelson
Nelson F.C.
Nelson F.C. are an English football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire. They are currently members of the North West Counties Football League Division One, who played their home matches at Victoria Park, Lomeshaye Way. They are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association.-Early years:...
and Merthyr Town
Merthyr Town F.C.
Merthyr Town Football Club is a Welsh semi-professional football club based in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. For the 2011–2012 season the club will be playing in the Western Football League Premier Division at Penydarren Park in Merthyr....
he returned to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
, where he turned out occasionally for Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
.
After football
During the First World War he was enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed in actionKilled in action
Killed in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces at the hands of hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense, for example, says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 19 December 1914.