Geordie Anderson
Encyclopedia
George E. "Geordie" Anderson was a Scottish
professional footballer. He played as a defender
and, later, as a forward
.
for Leith Athletic
in the Scottish League before joining Blackburn Rovers
in 1892. He replaced Jack Barton
at centre-half, forming a half-back line-up with Jimmy Forrest
and Geordie Dewar
which was to remain at the heart of the Rovers' defence for the next three seasons, during which their league campaigns ended with finishes in ninth, fourth and fifth places respectively. Although Rovers reached the FA Cup semi-finals
in 1893 and 1894, their cup-winning exploits were over until 1928
.
Anderson left Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 1896; during his initial spell at the club he scored 11 goals in 131 league games. He then spent a few seasons moving backwards and forwards between New Brighton Tower
and Blackburn. New Brighton Tower had joined the Lancashire League
at the start of the 1897–98
season. After finishing as champions in their first season, the club were elected to the Second Division
of The Football League
when the League was expanded by four clubs. Anderson returned permanently to Blackburn midway through the 1898–99 season
.
In 1901 Anderson joined Blackpool
. He made his debut on 2 March 1901, in a 10–1 defeat at Small Heath
, scoring the Seasiders' goal. He went on to make a further seven appearances in the 1900–01
season, scoring one more goal.
In 1901–02
, Anderson was moved into a forward position. He made 29 league appearances and scored twelve goals. Two of these goals were game-winners: firstly, in a single-goal victory over Burslem Port Vale
at Bloomfield Road
on New Year's Day, 1902, and then in another one-goal game at Newton Heath
on 25 January.
For the 1902–03
campaign, Anderson was moved back to centre-half. He made 21 appearances and scored eight goals — including a hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Barnsley
at home on 13 September 1902. He was the first Blackpool player to achieve the feat in a League game.
In 1903–04
, Anderson made 21 appearances and scored seven goals, including another hat-trick, this time in a 4–1 home victory over Burton United
on 20 February 1904. He played as both a forward and centre-half in what was his final season as a player. His last appearance occurred on 30 April 1904, in a single-goal defeat at Preston North End
in the West Lancashire derby
.
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...
professional footballer. He played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and, later, 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...
.
Career
Anderson was born in Scotland and played centre halfDefender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Leith Athletic
Leith Athletic F.C.
Leith Athletic Football Club is a football club based in the Leith area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a member of the East of Scotland Football League. It plays most of its home games at Leith Links. The club was originally formed in 1887 and played in the Scottish Football League in four different...
in the Scottish League before joining 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....
in 1892. He replaced Jack Barton
John Barton (footballer)
John Barton was an English footballer. He played at international level once for England while on the books of Blackburn Rovers....
at centre-half, forming a half-back line-up with Jimmy Forrest
Jimmy Forrest (footballer)
James Henry Forrest was an English footballer whose career spanned the transition from amateurism to professionalism in English football in the 1880s and 1890s...
and Geordie Dewar
Geordie Dewar
George "Geordie" Dewar , was a Scottish footballer who played in the early days of professional football for Blackburn Rovers as well as being capped twice for Scotland...
which was to remain at the heart of the Rovers' defence for the next three seasons, during which their league campaigns ended with finishes in ninth, fourth and fifth places respectively. Although Rovers reached the FA Cup 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 :...
in 1893 and 1894, their cup-winning exploits were over until 1928
1928 FA Cup Final
The 1928 FA Cup Final was contested by Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium. Blackburn won 3–1, with goals from Jack Roscamp and Tommy McLean...
.
Anderson left Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 1896; during his initial spell at the club he scored 11 goals in 131 league games. He then spent a few seasons moving backwards and forwards between New Brighton Tower
New Brighton Tower F.C.
New Brighton Tower F.C. was a short-lived English football club based in New Brighton, Merseyside. Established in 1896, the club spent three seasons in the Football League before folding in 1901. They played at the 80,000-capacity Tower Athletic Grounds....
and Blackburn. New Brighton Tower had joined the Lancashire League
Lancashire League (football)
The Lancashire League has been the name of two separate football competitions for clubs based in northern England.-Lancashire League :...
at the start of the 1897–98
1897-98 in English football
The 1897–98 season was the 27th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour...
season. After finishing as champions in their first season, the club were elected to the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
of 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...
when the League was expanded by four clubs. Anderson returned permanently to Blackburn midway through the 1898–99 season
1898-99 in English football
The 1898–99 season was the 28th season of competitive football in England.-Events:This was the first season in which automatic promotion/relegation was introduced between the First and Second divisions. Both Divisions were expanded to 18 teams....
.
In 1901 Anderson joined Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
. He made his debut on 2 March 1901, in a 10–1 defeat at Small Heath
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...
, scoring the Seasiders
Blackpool F.C. season 1900-01
The 1900-01 season was Blackpool F.C.s first season back in the Football League . They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing twelfth....
season, scoring one more goal.
In 1901–02
Blackpool F.C. season 1901-02
The 1901-02 season was Blackpool F.C.s fifth season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing thirteenth....
, Anderson was moved into a forward position. He made 29 league appearances and scored twelve goals. Two of these goals were game-winners: firstly, in a single-goal victory over Burslem Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on New Year's Day, 1902, and then in another one-goal game at 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...
on 25 January.
For the 1902–03
Blackpool F.C. season 1902-03
The 1902-03 season was Blackpool F.C.s sixth season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing fourteenth....
campaign, Anderson was moved back to centre-half. He made 21 appearances and scored eight goals — including a hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
at home on 13 September 1902. He was the first Blackpool player to achieve the feat in a League game.
In 1903–04
Blackpool F.C. season 1903-04
The 1903-04 season was Blackpool F.C.s seventh season in the Football League. They competed in the eighteen-team Division Two, then the second tier of English football, finishing fifteenth....
, Anderson made 21 appearances and scored seven goals, including another hat-trick, this time in a 4–1 home victory over Burton United
Burton United F.C.
Burton United Football Club was an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire that played in The Football League between 1901 and 1907, before folding in 1910.-History:...
on 20 February 1904. He played as both a forward and centre-half in what was his final season as a player. His last appearance occurred on 30 April 1904, in a single-goal defeat at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the West Lancashire derby
West Lancashire derby
The West Lancashire derby is a local derby in English football, between Lancashire neighbours Blackpool F.C. and Preston North End F.C. The derby has taken place across all four tiers of the Football League, but not yet in the Premier League...
.