Fred Erentz
Encyclopedia
Frederick Charles "Fred" Erentz (March 1870 – 6 April 1938) was a Scottish
footballer who played at half back
and full back for Dundee Our Boys and Newton Heath
in the 1880s, 1890s and early 1900s.
Born in Broughty Ferry
, near Dundee
, to a Danish father, Erentz began his football career with Dundee Our Boys. Originally a half back, Erentz was signed by Newton Heath
in June 1892 in preparation for their first season in The Football League
. He made his Newton Heath debut on 3 September 1892, playing at left half
in a 4–3 defeat by Blackburn Rovers
. Erentz was almost an ever-present during the 1892–93 season, missing only an away match against Derby County
on 11 February 1893.
The following season, Erentz was deployed in several different positions, including right half and both right forward positions, from where he scored his first goal for the club, but he made most of his appearances in 1893–94 at left back. Erentz was effectively ever-present at left back over his next eight seasons at the club, and even rejected a sizeable contract offer from Tottenham Hotspur
, where his brother Harry
played at right back.
Erentz retired from football at the end of the 1901–02 season as a result of a knee injury. His final appearance for the club was also the last match the club played as Newton Heath before becoming Manchester United, a 2–1 win over Manchester City
in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup on 26 April 1902.
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...
footballer who played at half back
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and full back for Dundee Our Boys and Newton Heath
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in the 1880s, 1890s and early 1900s.
Born in Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland...
, near Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, to a Danish father, Erentz began his football career with Dundee Our Boys. Originally a half back, Erentz was signed by Newton Heath
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
in June 1892 in preparation for 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 Newton Heath debut on 3 September 1892, playing at left half
Wing half
In association football, the position of wing half or wing half back) was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries...
in a 4–3 defeat by 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....
. Erentz was almost an ever-present during the 1892–93 season, missing only an away match against Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
on 11 February 1893.
The following season, Erentz was deployed in several different positions, including right half and both right forward positions, from where he scored his first goal for the club, but he made most of his appearances in 1893–94 at left back. Erentz was effectively ever-present at left back over his next eight seasons at the club, and even rejected a sizeable contract offer from 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....
, where his brother Harry
Harry Erentz
Henry Bernt "Harry" Erentz was a Scottish footballer who played at right back for various clubs in both Scotland and England.-Career:Born in Dundee to a Danish father, Erentz began his football career with Dundee in 1895...
played at right back.
Erentz retired from football at the end of the 1901–02 season as a result of a knee injury. His final appearance for the club was also the last match the club played as Newton Heath before becoming Manchester United, a 2–1 win over 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...
in the final of the Manchester Senior Cup on 26 April 1902.