George Marshall (footballer)
Encyclopedia
George Marshall was an English amateur footballer who played in defence for Southampton St. Mary's
in the 1890s. He was the only player to appear in both Southampton's first-ever FA Cup
match and first-ever League match. Described as a "sturdy, reliable defender", he was equally at home at either full-back or half-back
.
Marshall was also a cricketer with Hampshire
.
and played rugby
in his youth before converting to "soccer". He made his first appearance for the newly formed Southampton St. Mary's Football Club
in 1891, helping the club to win the Hampshire Senior Cup
, defeating a team from the Royal Engineers
, Aldershot
3–1 at the County Ground
.
The following season, the "Saints" entered the FA Cup
for the first time, being drawn away to Warmley
(near Bristol
) in the First Qualifying Round where they won comfortably 4–1, with Marshall playing at right-back. Although the Saints defeated Reading
7–0 in the next round, they were subsequently disqualified for fielding two ineligible players. Despite the disappointment of the FA Cup exit, Marshall once again helped the team to claim the Hampshire Senior Cup in March 1892, and was called up to play for Hampshire.
In each of the next two seasons, the Saints were defeated in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, going down 4–0 to Maidenhead United
at the Antelope Ground
in October 1892 and 2–1 at Reading
in November 1893.
In 1894, Southampton were one of the nine founder members of the Southern League
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England, who were not admitted to the Football League
to play competitive football on a regular basis. Marshall played in all but two of the League matches in the inaugural season
, at right-back with Bill Jeffrey
alongside him on the left. At the end of the season, the Saints were in third place in the league, behind Millwall Athletic and Luton Town
. Marshall also played in all five matches in the FA Cup, where they reached the First Round Proper for the first time, going down 4–1 to Nottingham Forest
of the First Division
with two goals from Thomas Rose.
At the start of the following season
, Marshall was moved forward to left-half although he missed several matches through injury, making only eight league appearances. Having played in every FA Cup match since the Saints first entered in 1891, Marshall missed the match at home to Reading
on 23 November 1895, when he was replaced by Joe Rogers
. Although Marshall regained his place for the next round, he was again not selected for the First Round Proper match against The Wednesday, with John Hodgkinson
taking over, as the Saints went down 3–2.
In the summer of 1896, as a result of his injuries, Marshall retired from football in order to concentrate on his career with the Ordnance Survey
. In his six seasons with Southampton, he made a total of 36 appearances in the Southern League or FA Cup, plus many more in friendlies and local cup competitions.
against the MCC
in June 1894, when he scored a total of five runs.
He later went to stand as an umpire
at the County Ground
.
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...
in the 1890s. He was the only player to appear in both Southampton's first-ever 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...
match and first-ever League match. Described as a "sturdy, reliable defender", he was equally at home at either full-back or half-back
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...
.
Marshall was also a cricketer with Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
.
Football career
Marshall was born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and played rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
in his youth before converting to "soccer". He made his first appearance for the newly formed Southampton St. Mary's Football Club
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...
in 1891, helping the club to win the Hampshire Senior Cup
Hampshire Senior Cup
The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
, defeating a team from the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
3–1 at the County Ground
County Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
.
The following season, the "Saints" entered the 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...
for the first time, being drawn away to Warmley
Warmley F.C.
Warmley F.C. was a football club based in Warmley, near Kingswood, England. They were formed in 1882. They are widely regarded as playing the first organised football match in the Bristol region against St George....
(near Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
) in the First Qualifying Round where they won comfortably 4–1, with Marshall playing at right-back. Although the Saints defeated Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
7–0 in the next round, they were subsequently disqualified for fielding two ineligible players. Despite the disappointment of the FA Cup exit, Marshall once again helped the team to claim the Hampshire Senior Cup in March 1892, and was called up to play for Hampshire.
In each of the next two seasons, the Saints were defeated in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup, going down 4–0 to Maidenhead United
Maidenhead United F.C.
Maidenhead United Football Club is an English football club in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The club was founded in 1870 and moved to their current ground at York Road the following year...
at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
in October 1892 and 2–1 at Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in November 1893.
In 1894, Southampton were one of the nine founder members of the 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...
, which had been created to enable clubs in southern England, who were not admitted to 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...
to play competitive football on a regular basis. Marshall played in all but two of the League matches in the inaugural season
Southern Football League 1894-95
The 1894-95 season was the first in the history of the Southern League. Sixteen clubs joined the new league, which was split into two divisions...
, at right-back with Bill Jeffrey
William Jeffrey (footballer)
William Walls Jeffrey was an English footballer who played in defence for various teams, including Burnley, Woolwich Arsenal and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:Jeffrey was born in Dalderby, near Horncastle, Lincolnshire...
alongside him on the left. At the end of the season, the Saints were in third place in the league, behind Millwall Athletic and 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...
. Marshall also played in all five matches in the FA Cup, where they reached the First Round Proper for the first time, going down 4–1 to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
of the First Division
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....
with two goals from Thomas Rose.
At the start of the following season
Southern Football League 1895-96
The 1895-96 season was the second in the history of the Southern League. Millwall Athletic won Division One for the second successive season.-Division One:...
, Marshall was moved forward to left-half although he missed several matches through injury, making only eight league appearances. Having played in every FA Cup match since the Saints first entered in 1891, Marshall missed the match at home to Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
on 23 November 1895, when he was replaced by Joe Rogers
Joe Rogers (footballer born 1874)
Joseph James Rogers was an English professional footballer who played either as a forward or full back for Southampton, Grimsby Town and Newcastle United.-Football career:...
. Although Marshall regained his place for the next round, he was again not selected for the First Round Proper match against The Wednesday, with John Hodgkinson
John Hodgkinson (footballer)
John Hodgkinson was an English professional footballer who played at half-back for Southampton and New Brompton in the 1890s.-Football career:...
taking over, as the Saints went down 3–2.
In the summer of 1896, as a result of his injuries, Marshall retired from football in order to concentrate on his career with the Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
. In his six seasons with Southampton, he made a total of 36 appearances in the Southern League or FA Cup, plus many more in friendlies and local cup competitions.
Cricket career
Marshall was also an occasional cricketer and made one first-eleven appearance for HampshireHampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
against the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in June 1894, when he scored a total of five runs.
He later went to stand as an umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
at the County Ground
County Ground, Southampton
The County Ground in Southampton, England was a former cricket and football ground. It was the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club from the 1885 English cricket season until the 2000 English cricket season...
.