George Farrow
Encyclopedia
George Henry Farrow was an English
professional football
er. He played for six clubs in a seventeen-year professional career.
In the years before, during and after World War II
, Blackpool
were one of the most powerful teams in England, and the trio of George Farrow, Eric Hayward and Harry Johnston
became legendary. Farrow's main assets were accurate long-range passes, strong tackling, and a fierce strike of the ball. He was also one of the earliest exponents of the long throw-in.
Born in Whitburn, South Tyneside
, Farrow moved north from Bournemouth in 1936, for a ₤1,250 fee, and made his debut for the Seasiders in September of that year, in a home win over West Ham United
. He went on to make a further 32 league appearances in the 1936–37 campaign, scoring five goals. Initially an inside-left, he soon moved to wing-half, where his tackling was of more use. At the end of the season, Blackpool won promotion to Division One
for only the second time in their existence. A nine-game win streak between 21 November and 1 January assisted the achievement.
In 1937–38, Farrow made thirty league appearances and scored another five goals, and the following season appeared in all but four of the club's league games. His only goal of the season was a penalty, Blackpool's second goal in a 2–1 victory at Sunderland
on 17 September.
Wartime football intervened between August 1939 and May 1945, and when League football resumed in 1945–46, Farrow continued where he had left off, making 28 league appearances and scoring six goals.
Farrow missed the first eleven games of the 1946–47 campaign, but he went on to appear in 28 of the remaining 31. His one goal came in his first appearance of the season, a 3–1 victory over Manchester United
at Bloomfield Road
on 19 October.
1947–48 proved to be Farrow's final season at the seaside. He made sixteen league appearances, scoring three goals, before being transferred to Sheffield United
in the new year of 1948. He missed out on Blackpool's FA Cup
run, which saw them reach that year's final, only to lose out to Manchester United at Wembley. His final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 3 January, a 5–0 home victory over Everton
.
He finished his career with Bacup Borough
and Whitburn St. Mary's.
Farrow died in 1980, and was survived by his wife and two children — a daughter, Julie, and a son, Tony.
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 football
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...
er. He played for six clubs in a seventeen-year professional career.
In the years before, during and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 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...
were one of the most powerful teams in England, and the trio of George Farrow, Eric Hayward and Harry Johnston
Harry Johnston (footballer)
Henry "Harry" Johnston was an English footballer. He was the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year in 1951. He spent his entire professional playing career with Blackpool, with whom he appeared in three FA Cup Finals...
became legendary. Farrow's main assets were accurate long-range passes, strong tackling, and a fierce strike of the ball. He was also one of the earliest exponents of the long throw-in.
Born in Whitburn, South Tyneside
Whitburn, South Tyneside
Whitburn is a village in South Tyneside, on the coast of North East England. It lies just to the north of the City of Sunderland in the ceremonial county of Tyne and Wear. Until 1974, when the Local Government Act 1972 came into being, it was part of County Durham...
, Farrow moved north from Bournemouth in 1936, for a ₤1,250 fee, and made his debut for the Seasiders in September of that year, in a home win over 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...
. He went on to make a further 32 league appearances in the 1936–37 campaign, scoring five goals. Initially an inside-left, he soon moved to wing-half, where his tackling was of more use. At the end of the season, Blackpool won promotion to Division One
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
for only the second time in their existence. A nine-game win streak between 21 November and 1 January assisted the achievement.
In 1937–38, Farrow made thirty league appearances and scored another five goals, and the following season appeared in all but four of the club's league games. His only goal of the season was a penalty, Blackpool's second goal in a 2–1 victory at Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on 17 September.
Wartime football intervened between August 1939 and May 1945, and when League football resumed in 1945–46, Farrow continued where he had left off, making 28 league appearances and scoring six goals.
Farrow missed the first eleven games of the 1946–47 campaign, but he went on to appear in 28 of the remaining 31. His one goal came in his first appearance of the season, a 3–1 victory over Manchester United
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...
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 19 October.
1947–48 proved to be Farrow's final season at the seaside. He made sixteen league appearances, scoring three goals, before being transferred to Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
in the new year of 1948. He missed out on Blackpool's 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...
run, which saw them reach that year's final, only to lose out to Manchester United at Wembley. His final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 3 January, a 5–0 home victory over 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...
.
He finished his career with Bacup Borough
Bacup Borough F.C.
Bacup Borough F.C. are an English football club based at West View in Bacup, Lancashire. They currently play in the North West Counties League Premier Division and are full members of the Lancashire County Football Association. They play at the The Brian Boys West View Stadium...
and Whitburn St. Mary's.
Farrow died in 1980, and was survived by his wife and two children — a daughter, Julie, and a son, Tony.