Fred Titmuss
Encyclopedia
Frederick Titmuss was an English
footballer
who played at full-back
for Southampton
and Plymouth Argyle
, and also made two appearances for England
.
Alliance before joining Hitchin Town
. During World War I
he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers
, where he played for the Army team, meeting Bert Lee
who was instrumental in bringing Titmuss to The Dell
.
He joined Southampton
as soon as hostilities were over and made a handful of appearances in friendly matches before the resumption of league football. Although Titmuss considered himself to be a left-winger, he was soon converted into an outstanding left-back. He played his first competitive match on the opening day of the 1919-20 Southern League
season and quickly formed a partnership with Tom Parker
, who were described as "the best pair of backs in the South". In 1920, Southampton joined the Football League, along with the other Southern League clubs. Titmuss missed only one match in the 1920–21 season
, as Southampton finished second, missing out on the only promotion position.
On 13 March 1922 he was called up to play for England
against Wales
, making his debut in the same match as his Southampton colleague, Bill Rawlings
. This was the first time that two players from Division Three had appeared in the same England side, and the only occasion on which two players from the same Third Division club had played together for England. He was to make one further England appearance, also against Wales on 5 March 1923.
Southampton were champions of Division Three (South) in 1922 conceding only 21 goals, with Titmuss an ever-present. According to Holley & Chalk’s "Alphabet of the Saints", "his speciality was the slide tackle although his perfect positional play often meant that such 'last ditch' defending was hardly ever needed."
Titmuss continued to be a virtual ever-present throughout the next few seasons as Southampton consolidated their place in Division Two, although his career almost came to an abrupt end in February 1924 when he nearly lost the sight in one eye after being struck in the face by the lace of a football.
By February 1926, he had lost his regular place in the starting line-up to Mike Keeping
and he was sold to Plymouth Argyle
for £1750.
, when only the champions were promoted. Each season they pushed hard for promotion but missed out narrowly. After finishing third and fourth in 1928 and 1929 respectively, Plymouth eventually secured the elusive championship in 1930 by a margin of seven points.
After six years of good service to the Devon club, Titmuss retired in 1932. He then settled in the Plymouth area to become a licensee, although he later assisted St Austell
in neighbouring Cornwall.
Plymouth Argyle
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 at full-back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
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 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...
, and also made two appearances 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...
.
Southampton
As a youngster, Titmuss turned out for his local side, Pirton United in the LutonLuton
Luton is a large town and unitary authority of Bedfordshire, England, 30 miles north of London. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 250,000....
Alliance before joining Hitchin Town
Hitchin Town F.C.
Hitchin Town Football Club are an English semi-professional football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. They will compete in the Southern Football League's Premier Division for the 2011–12 season...
. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers
Lancashire Fusiliers
The Lancashire Fusiliers was a British infantry regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.- Formation and early history:...
, where he played for the Army team, meeting Bert Lee
Bert Lee (footballer)
Ernest Albert "Bert" Lee was an English professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton, and also made one appearance for England in 1904...
who was instrumental in bringing Titmuss to The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
.
He joined 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...
as soon as hostilities were over and made a handful of appearances in friendly matches before the resumption of league football. Although Titmuss considered himself to be a left-winger, he was soon converted into an outstanding left-back. He played his first competitive match on the opening day of the 1919-20 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...
season and quickly formed a partnership with Tom Parker
Tom Parker (footballer)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker was an English football player and manager.-Southampton:Born in Woolston, Southampton, Parker began playing with local sides, such as Sholing Rangers and Sholing Athletic, before joining Southern League side Southampton as an amateur in 1918, just before the end of the...
, who were described as "the best pair of backs in the South". In 1920, Southampton joined the Football League, along with the other Southern League clubs. Titmuss missed only one match in the 1920–21 season
1920-21 in English football
The 1920–21 season was the 46th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The Football League Third Division is introduced, expanding the League's operational radius south of Birmingham...
, as Southampton finished second, missing out on the only promotion position.
On 13 March 1922 he was called up to play 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...
against Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
, making his debut in the same match as his Southampton colleague, Bill Rawlings
Bill Rawlings
William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings was an English footballer.-Playing career:Rawlings' career started in 1918 with Southampton, he stayed ten years with the club, from 1918 to 1928. His 193 goals places him third on the club's list of all-time goalscorers, behind Mick Channon and Matthew Le Tissier...
. This was the first time that two players from Division Three had appeared in the same England side, and the only occasion on which two players from the same Third Division club had played together for England. He was to make one further England appearance, also against Wales on 5 March 1923.
Southampton were champions of Division Three (South) in 1922 conceding only 21 goals, with Titmuss an ever-present. According to Holley & Chalk’s "Alphabet of the Saints", "his speciality was the slide tackle although his perfect positional play often meant that such 'last ditch' defending was hardly ever needed."
Titmuss continued to be a virtual ever-present throughout the next few seasons as Southampton consolidated their place in Division Two, although his career almost came to an abrupt end in February 1924 when he nearly lost the sight in one eye after being struck in the face by the lace of a football.
By February 1926, he had lost his regular place in the starting line-up to Mike Keeping
Michael Keeping
Alexander Edwin Michael "Mike" Keeping was an English footballer and manager. He coached Real Madrid C.F. from January 1948 to October 1950.-Southampton:...
and he was sold to 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...
for £1750.
Plymouth Argyle
When Titmuss joined Plymouth, they were two-thirds of the way through a run of six consecutive finishes (between 1921–22 and 1926–27) in runners-up spot in the Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
, when only the champions were promoted. Each season they pushed hard for promotion but missed out narrowly. After finishing third and fourth in 1928 and 1929 respectively, Plymouth eventually secured the elusive championship in 1930 by a margin of seven points.
After six years of good service to the Devon club, Titmuss retired in 1932. He then settled in the Plymouth area to become a licensee, although he later assisted St Austell
St Austell F.C.
St Austell F.C. is a football club based in St Austell, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom.They were founding members of the South Western League in 1951, and remained in that competition until 2007 when they joined the newly formed South West Peninsula League Division One West...
in neighbouring Cornwall.
As player
SouthamptonSouthampton 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...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Champions: 1921–221921-22 in English footballThe 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
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...
- Football League Third Division SouthFootball League Third Division SouthThe Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
Champions: 1929–30