Harry Oscroft
Encyclopedia
Harry "Ozzy" Oscroft was an English
footballer. He was Stoke City's main left winger throughout the 1950s. He was named as one of the club's '101 Golden Greats' in Simon Lowe's book of that name.
and Mansfield Town
. In January 1950, at age 23, he joined Stoke City
, he quickly became a prolific goalscorer, averaging nearly one goal in every three games during his ten years at the club. Johnny King was the City centre-forward at the time and he and Oscroft used to vye for leading goal scorer each season. Oscroft had a shot so hard, it was said he could break the net if he hit it purely. He made 349 appearances and scored 106 goals during his time at Stoke City and is the clubs 6th highest goalscorer of all time.
In September 1959, he was traded to Port Vale
, along with Peter Ford
, for Dickie Cunliffe
and £2,000. He played somewhat regularly before being handed a free transfer in May 1961.
/Suffolk
border where he became player/manager for Brantham Athletic
with whom he won the Suffolk Senior Cup
. He then played a few games for Sutton United
and finally retired from the game completely in 1988 and lived near Colchester
.
for a number of years before he died.
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. He was Stoke City's main left winger throughout the 1950s. He was named as one of the club's '101 Golden Greats' in Simon Lowe's book of that name.
Playing career
Oscroft began his career with Mansfield Colliery, before moving on to Sheffield UnitedSheffield 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...
and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
. In January 1950, at age 23, he joined Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
, he quickly became a prolific goalscorer, averaging nearly one goal in every three games during his ten years at the club. Johnny King was the City centre-forward at the time and he and Oscroft used to vye for leading goal scorer each season. Oscroft had a shot so hard, it was said he could break the net if he hit it purely. He made 349 appearances and scored 106 goals during his time at Stoke City and is the clubs 6th highest goalscorer of all time.
In September 1959, he was traded 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...
, along with Peter Ford
Peter Ford (footballer)
Peter Leslie Ford is a former English footballer.-Playing career:Ford played for West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City before transferring to Port Vale, along with Harry Oscroft, in exchange Dickie Cunliffe and £2,000 in September 1959. He was a regular for his first two seasons, winning the...
, for Dickie Cunliffe
John Cunliffe (footballer born 1930)
John "Dickie" Cunliffe was an English football left-winger. He made 309 appearances in the Football League, scoring 55 goals....
and £2,000. He played somewhat regularly before being handed a free transfer in May 1961.
Management career
He retired to the EssexEssex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
/Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
border where he became player/manager for Brantham Athletic
Brantham Athletic F.C.
Brantham Athletic F.C. is an English football club based in Brantham, Suffolk. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and play at Brantham Leisure Centre.The club is affiliated to the Suffolk County FA.-History:...
with whom he won the Suffolk Senior Cup
Suffolk Senior Cup
The Suffolk Senior Cup is the second level football cup competition organised by the Suffolk FA after the Suffolk Premier Cup. It is currently open to Suffolk–based clubs competing in Eastern Counties League Division One and the top divisions of the Suffolk & Ipswich League, the Essex & Suffolk...
. He then played a few games for Sutton United
Sutton United F.C.
Sutton United Football Club is an English football club currently playing in the Conference South. They are based in Sutton, London, and play their home games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane....
and finally retired from the game completely in 1988 and lived near Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
.
Death
Harry died on 31 December 2008. He died in his sleep after being cared for at home by his family. He'd been suffering from AlzheimersAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
for a number of years before he died.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Mansfield Town Mansfield Town F.C. Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910... |
1947–48 | | | |||||
| 1948–49 | | | ||||||
| 1949–50 | | | ||||||
| Total | 112 | 39 | 112 | 39 | |||
| Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
1949–50 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 |
| 1950–51 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 6 | |
| 1951–52 | 40 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 10 | |
| 1952–53 | 37 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 39 | 10 | |
| 1953–54 | 33 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 36 | 13 | |
| 1954–55 | 37 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 21 | |
| 1955–56 | 38 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 43 | 17 | |
| 1956–57 | 41 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 12 | |
| 1957–58 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 7 | |
| 1958–59 | 28 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 8 | |
| Total | 326 | 103 | 23 | 4 | 349 | 107 | |
| 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... |
1959–60 | 26 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 7 |
| 1960–61 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 5 | |
| Total | 47 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 12 | |
| Career Total | 485 | 154 | 24 | 4 | 509 | 158 | |