Fred Gregory
Encyclopedia
Frederick James Gregory (21 October 1886 – 24 May 1937) was an English footballer. He played for Watford
, initially as an inside forward
, and latterly as a [Defender (association football)#Centre back|[half back]] and full back.
in 1886. The second of six sons, Gregory was named after his father, who was a tenant farmer
at Pinner Hill Farm, and later the licencee of Oddfellows pub in Pinner. He was educated at Pinner National School, and played his first game of men's football aged 11, for Pinner Football Club's reserves. In his early adult years, his primary sporting focus was cricket
; he played as a batsman for Pinner CC and Eastcote CC, before coaching the Benskins Brewery cricket team. Gregory joined Watford
as an amateur in 1911, turning professional later the same year. He was subsequently joined by three of his brothers: Val, Allan and Owen. At one stage, all four of them were contracted to the club simultaneously, although only Fred and Val went on to play for the first-team.
as Watford won 2–0 against West Ham United
at Cassio Road. He went on to play every game in October and November, and was still in the team when Val made his debut on 25 December, in a 1–1 draw at home to Luton Town
. Fred continued to play on a regular basis from then on, and finished his first season with 25 appearances and 8 goals in all competitions, as the club finished 9th. Over the following two seasons he continued to play regularly, but the team dropped 14th in the 1912–13 season, and narrowly avoided relegation in 1913–14 with an 18th-placed finish.
Despite Britain's participation in the First World War, the 1914–15 season
continued as scheduled. Gregory played in all 38 league matches, and his goal in the penultimate game secured a 3–2 win at Gillingham
, ensuring that Watford finished the season as Southern League champions. As a result of the war, peacetime competitions were suspended from 1915 until 1919. Gregory served in the Royal Garrison Artillery
, but also made 53 appearances for Watford in wartime fixtures. On the resumption of peacetime football in 1919–20
, Gregory played 34 league games. His last appearance alongside Val came on 5 April 1920, in a 2–1 win against Luton; at the end of the season Val left the club to join Wolverhampton Wanderers, for a then-record Watford fee of £1,500. Watford came close to defending their title, but eventually missed out to Portsmouth
on the final day of the season on goal average.
Watford, along with all other Southern League First Division clubs, joined the newly formed Football League Third Division
in 1920. Gregory captained the team in their first ever Football League game, a 2–1 away win against Queens Park Rangers
on 28 August. The team finished the season in 6th position, with Gregory making 21 league appearances. Over the next five seasons, Gregory continued to play frequently, making at least 20 appearances per season as a left back, and regularly attracting praise from journalists covering Watford's opposition. He scored in his final home game for Watford, in a 3–2 win over Swindon Town
. However, his professional career ended in a 6–1 defeat at Exeter City
, on 1 May 1926.
, and he spent the final four months of his life at a sanatorium
in Harefield
. Gregory died on 24 May 1937, aged 50.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
, initially as an inside forward
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
, and latterly as a [Defender (association football)#Centre back|[half back]] and full back.
Early and personal life
Gregory was born in PinnerPinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
in 1886. The second of six sons, Gregory was named after his father, who was a tenant farmer
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
at Pinner Hill Farm, and later the licencee of Oddfellows pub in Pinner. He was educated at Pinner National School, and played his first game of men's football aged 11, for Pinner Football Club's reserves. In his early adult years, his primary sporting focus was cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
; he played as a batsman for Pinner CC and Eastcote CC, before coaching the Benskins Brewery cricket team. Gregory joined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as an amateur in 1911, turning professional later the same year. He was subsequently joined by three of his brothers: Val, Allan and Owen. At one stage, all four of them were contracted to the club simultaneously, although only Fred and Val went on to play for the first-team.
Watford
Gregory made his Watford debut on 30 September 1911, playing at inside forwardInside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
as Watford won 2–0 against 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...
at Cassio Road. He went on to play every game in October and November, and was still in the team when Val made his debut on 25 December, in a 1–1 draw at home to 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...
. Fred continued to play on a regular basis from then on, and finished his first season with 25 appearances and 8 goals in all competitions, as the club finished 9th. Over the following two seasons he continued to play regularly, but the team dropped 14th in the 1912–13 season, and narrowly avoided relegation in 1913–14 with an 18th-placed finish.
Despite Britain's participation in the First World War, the 1914–15 season
1914–15 Watford F.C. season
Watford Football Club are an association football team from the county of Hertfordshire, England. The 1914–15 season was their nineteenth season of league football, since joining the Southern League as West Hertfordshire for the 1896–97 season...
continued as scheduled. Gregory played in all 38 league matches, and his goal in the penultimate game secured a 3–2 win at Gillingham
Gillingham F.C.
Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium...
, ensuring that Watford finished the season as Southern League champions. As a result of the war, peacetime competitions were suspended from 1915 until 1919. Gregory served in the Royal Garrison Artillery
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
, but also made 53 appearances for Watford in wartime fixtures. On the resumption of peacetime football in 1919–20
1919–20 Watford F.C. season
-External links:*...
, Gregory played 34 league games. His last appearance alongside Val came on 5 April 1920, in a 2–1 win against Luton; at the end of the season Val left the club to join Wolverhampton Wanderers, for a then-record Watford fee of £1,500. Watford came close to defending their title, but eventually missed out to 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...
on the final day of the season on goal average.
Watford, along with all other Southern League First Division clubs, joined the newly formed Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
in 1920. Gregory captained the team in their first ever Football League game, a 2–1 away win against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
on 28 August. The team finished the season in 6th position, with Gregory making 21 league appearances. Over the next five seasons, Gregory continued to play frequently, making at least 20 appearances per season as a left back, and regularly attracting praise from journalists covering Watford's opposition. He scored in his final home game for Watford, in a 3–2 win over Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
. However, his professional career ended in a 6–1 defeat at Exeter City
Exeter City F.C.
Exeter City Football Club is an English football club, based in Exeter, which is owned by its fans through the Exeter City Supporters Trust.The club was a member of the Football League from 1920 to 2003...
, on 1 May 1926.
Later life and death
Although he ultimately did not make another first-team appearance, Gregory remained at Watford for a further two seasons, and made several appearances for the reserves. He became landlord of The Victory pub in Pinner in 1926, a role that he continued for the remainder of his life. In his later years he suffered from tuberculosisTuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and he spent the final four months of his life at a sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in Harefield
Harefield
Harefield is a village in the London Borough of Hillingdon in northwest London, England. It is situated on top of a hill, northwest of Charing Cross, near the Greater London boundary with Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the north...
. Gregory died on 24 May 1937, aged 50.