Harry Griffiths
Encyclopedia
Harry Stanley Griffiths (17 November 1912 – 11 June 1981) was an English
footballer and baseball
international. He played in defence
for Everton
between 1930 and 1935, but after failing to get a game moved on to Port Vale
between 1935 and 1947, playing 192 games in all competitions. Outside of the game he was a police offer, and later became a park keeper.
in 1930, as the "Toffees" won promotion to the First Division
as Second Division
champions in 1930–31. They then topped the Football League
in 1931–32, finishing two points ahead of Arsenal
. Dropping to eleventh in 1932–33, Everton won the FA Cup
, though Griffiths played no part in the final
. They dropped to fourteenth in 1933–34, rising to eight in 1934–35. However Griffiths played little part in these successes, and never played a competitive match for the club during his time at Goodison Park
; he did however represented England at baseball
.
He joined Port Vale
in May 1935. He played thirty games for the "Valiants" in 1935–36
, as the club were relegated out of the Second Division
after picking up just two points in their final five games. New manager Warney Cresswell
, a former teammate at Everton, picked him just eight times in 1936–37
, as the club finished mid-table in the Third Division North
. Griffiths played 28 games in 1937–38
, scoring on the final day of the season in a 1–1 draw with New Brighton
; at the end of the season the club were transferred to the Third Division South
. He was a key member of new manager Tom Morgan
's defence in 1938–39
, playing 37 games, and scoring in wins over Swindon Town
and Bristol City
at The Old Recreation Ground
.
Griffiths joined the police at the outbreak of World War II
, guesting on occasion for both Vale and Derby County
during the war years. He suffered a severe scalp wound after colliding with iron railings during a 3–1 home defeat by Crewe Alexandra
on Christmas
day 1944; he received five stitches and actually returned to action the next week wearing a black beret
.
He was one of six pre-war players that returned to the club in 1946, the others being George Heppell
, Arthur Jepson
, Alf Bellis
, Wilf Smith, and Don Triner
. However he lost his place in the team after manager Billy Frith
was replaced by Gordon Hodgson
in October 1946, and was released at the end of the 1946–47
season, having made just eight appearances. He played a total of 192 games (105 in the Football League
) for Port Vale, scoring 9 goals (3 in the Football League).
. He later became a park keeper at Queens Park in Longton
.
He married his wife Rene in 1941. She nursed him during his long illness before his death. She, herself, died in 2008 at the age of 96.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
international. He played in defence
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for 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...
between 1930 and 1935, but after failing to get a game moved on to 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...
between 1935 and 1947, playing 192 games in all competitions. Outside of the game he was a police offer, and later became a park keeper.
Playing career
Griffiths began his career at EvertonEverton 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...
in 1930, as the "Toffees" won promotion to 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....
as 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...
champions in 1930–31. They then topped 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...
in 1931–32, finishing two points ahead of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. Dropping to eleventh in 1932–33, Everton won 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...
, though Griffiths played no part in the final
1933 FA Cup Final
The 1933 FA Cup Final was a football match between Everton and Manchester City on 29 April 1933 at Wembley Stadium in London. The deciding match of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup , it was the 62nd final, and the 11th at Wembley...
. They dropped to fourteenth in 1933–34, rising to eight in 1934–35. However Griffiths played little part in these successes, and never played a competitive match for the club during his time at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
; he did however represented England at baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
.
He joined 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...
in May 1935. He played thirty games for the "Valiants" in 1935–36
1935–36 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1935–36 season was Port Vale's thirtieth season of football in the Football League, and their sixth successive season in the Second Division. The club suffered the second relegation of its history...
, as the club were relegated out of 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...
after picking up just two points in their final five games. New manager Warney Cresswell
Warney Cresswell
Warneford "Warney" Cresswell was an English professional footballer, who helped Everton win the Football League championship twice and the FA Cup. His ability and talents earned him the sobriquet "The Prince of Full Backs" and helped him win seven caps for England...
, a former teammate at Everton, picked him just eight times in 1936–37
1936–37 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1936–37 season was Port Vale's thirty-first season of football in the Football League, and their first season back in the Third Division North following their relegation from the Second Division. For the first time in the club's history, rivals Stoke City were playing two leagues above them...
, as the club finished mid-table in the Third Division North
Football League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
. Griffiths played 28 games in 1937–38
1937–38 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1937–38 season was Port Vale's thirty-second season of football in the Football League, and their second successive season in the Third Division North. With thirty goals, Jack Roberts was the division's top scorer...
, scoring on the final day of the season in a 1–1 draw with New Brighton
New Brighton A.F.C.
-Revived club:New Brighton A.F.C. were reborn in 1993, and joined the Birkenhead and Wirral League, which they won in their first season. In 1995 the club switched to the South Wirral League. After upgrading their new ground, the club were admitted to the Second Division of the West Cheshire League...
; at the end of the season the club were transferred to the Third Division South
Football 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....
. He was a key member of new manager Tom Morgan
Tom Morgan (footballer)
Thomas M. Morgan was a football manager, noted in the 1930s for twice being the manager of Port Vale, as well a having a spell as manager of Wrexham.-Playing career:...
's defence in 1938–39
1938–39 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1938–39 season was Port Vale's thirty-third season of football in the Football League, and their first ever season in the Third Division South, having switched from the Third Division North in summer 1938. It was the club's last full season of football before the breakout of war in Europe...
, playing 37 games, and scoring in wins 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...
and Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
at The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground
The Old Recreation Ground was a football stadium, located in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and home to Port Vale for almost 40 years. The Rec had been Vale's home between 1913 and 1950 and was the sixth ground the club used.-Structure and facilities:...
.
Griffiths joined the police at the outbreak of 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...
, guesting on occasion for both Vale and Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
during the war years. He suffered a severe scalp wound after colliding with iron railings during a 3–1 home defeat by Crewe Alexandra
Crewe Alexandra F.C.
Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English professional football club based in Crewe, Cheshire. Nicknamed The Railwaymen due to the town's links with the rail industry, they currently play in Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football, and are based at the Alexandra Stadium.The club...
on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
day 1944; he received five stitches and actually returned to action the next week wearing a black beret
Beret
A beret is a soft, round, flat-crowned hat, designated a "cap", usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, or wool felt, or acrylic fiber....
.
He was one of six pre-war players that returned to the club in 1946, the others being George Heppell
George Heppell
George Heppell was an English football goalkeeper who made over 200 appearances for Port Vale.-Playing career:...
, Arthur Jepson
Arthur Jepson
Arthur Jepson was an English first-class cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire before becoming an umpire. In addition to cricket he was also an accomplished football goalkeeper who played over 100 games in the Football League before turning his hand to management.-Cricket career:Jepson, a...
, Alf Bellis
Alf Bellis
Alfred "Alf" Bellis is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Bellis joined Port Vale from Burnell's Ironworks in March 1938. During the war he played for the club, as well as guesting for Ellesmere Port Town, Rochdale, Notts County, Manchester United and Manchester City...
, Wilf Smith, and Don Triner
Don Triner
Donald Arthur Triner is an English former footballer.-Playing career:Triner played for Downing's Tileries before joining Port Vale in December 1938. In only his second game, a 1–0 home win at Bristol Rovers on 7 January 1939, he broke his leg...
. However he lost his place in the team after manager Billy Frith
Billy Frith
William "Billy" Frith was an English football player and manager.Starting his career with Worksop Town, Mansfield Town, and Chesterfield; he won a move to Coventry City in 1932...
was replaced by Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson
Gordon Hodgson was a South African-born English sportsman, being best known for as a striker for Liverpool and also a first-class cricketer for Lancashire, he also excelled at baseball....
in October 1946, and was released at the end of the 1946–47
1946–47 Port Vale F.C. season
The 1946–47 season was Port Vale's thirty-fifth season of football in the Football League, and their second full season in the Third Division South. It was their first full season following the outbreak of war in Europe, they thus continued where they left off in 1938–39, albeit after seven seasons...
season, having made just eight appearances. He played a total of 192 games (105 in 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...
) for Port Vale, scoring 9 goals (3 in the Football League).
Personal life
After leaving football, he joined Meir Heath Cricket Club as a wicketkeeperWicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
. He later became a park keeper at Queens Park in Longton
Longton, Staffordshire
Longton is a southern district of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, and is known locally as the "Neck End" of the city. Longton is one of the six towns of "the Potteries" which formed the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1925.-History:...
.
He married his wife Rene in 1941. She nursed him during his long illness before his death. She, herself, died in 2008 at the age of 96.