Jack Elkes
Encyclopedia
Albert John "Jack" Elkes (31 December 1894 – 22 January 1972) was an English
professional footballer who played as an inside left
for various clubs between the two world war
s.
, Shropshire
and played his youth football with Wellington Town before joining Stalybridge Celtic
in 1914.
, making a few appearances for the club in the wartime leagues and scoring a winning goal which helped the club win their group of the 1919
Football League (Midland Section) subsidiary competition.
After the end of the First World War, he made his debut in the Second Division
of the Football League
on 27 September 1919, scoring two goals in a 4–2 defeat of Huddersfield Town
. In 1919–20
he was mainly used as cover for the established inside-forwards, but still contributed eight goals in sixteen appearances. The following season injury, the arrival of Scottish international
playmaker
Johnny Crosbie
and the form of former England
player Harry Hampton, restricted Elkes to just two appearances as Birmingham took the Second Division title. He took advantage of Crosbie's unavailability at the start of the 1921–22
season to score six goals in the opening four fixtures. Though he kept his place for a couple of months, the goals dried up; he scored only once in twelve more games, making his last Birmingham appearance on Boxing Day
1921 before being transferred to Southampton
in March 1922.
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Fred Foxall
and Joe Barratt
moving to Birmingham
in exchange for Elkes and George Getgood
(a half-back). The move was a success, however, as Southampton were able to claim the title by overtaking Plymouth Argyle
on the final day of the season. Unfortunately Elkes was again unable to play a significant role in winning the title. He scored two goals on his debut on 4 March 1922 in a 5–0 victory over Southend United
but broke his collar bone
the following Saturday (also against Southend) which put him out for the rest of the season.
Elkes was described by Holley & Chalk in "The Alphabet of the Saints" as "a tall man, who was a clever player". He played 31 games with five goals in the following season
as Southampton consolidated their place in Division Two, finishing in mid-table with the unusual record of: Played 42, won 14, drew 14, lost 14, goals for 40, goals against 40, points 42. They also had a run in the FA Cup
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division Newcastle United
, Chelsea
and Second division Bury
), before going out to West Ham United
after a second replay. Elkes appeared in all nine FA Cup matches, scoring Saints' goal in the first match against West Ham.
for a fee of over £1000. He then spent six seasons at White Hart Lane
alongside players such as Jimmy Seed
, Frank Osborne
and Charlie Handley
. During his time at Spurs he made exactly 200 appearances, scoring 50 goals, including a hat-trick in a 5–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers
on 15 November 1924. Elkes also won representative honours while with Spurs. Though four appearances in England
trial matches proved unsuccessful, he toured Australia
with the Football Association
in 1925, played for the Football League
XI on three occasions, and represented the Professionals against the Amateurs in the 1925 FA Charity Shield.
where he was switched to centre half, making 113 appearances (with four goals) in four seasons before (now aged 38) joining Watford
for the 1933-34 season.
He then moved back to his native Shropshire
, spending one season with Stafford Rangers
winding up his career with two years at Oakengates Town in the Birmingham & District League.
After his playing career came to an end, he coach
ed the Ford Motor Works
team at Dagenham
.
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 footballer who played as an inside left
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
for various clubs between the two world war
World war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s.
Playing career
Elkes was born in Snedshill, OakengatesOakengates
Oakengates is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, and now forms part of the new town of Telford...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and played his youth football with Wellington Town before joining Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
in 1914.
Birmingham
In January 1918 he joined BirminghamBirmingham 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...
, making a few appearances for the club in the wartime leagues and scoring a winning goal which helped the club win their group of the 1919
1918-19 in English football
The 1918–19 season was the fourth and final season of special wartime football in England during World War I.-Overview:Between 1914 and 1919 competitive football was suspended in England. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest...
Football League (Midland Section) subsidiary competition.
After the end of the First World War, he made his debut in 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...
on 27 September 1919, scoring two goals in a 4–2 defeat of Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
. In 1919–20
1919-20 in English football
The 1919–1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football in England, and the first following the end of World War I.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition...
he was mainly used as cover for the established inside-forwards, but still contributed eight goals in sixteen appearances. The following season injury, the arrival of Scottish international
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
Johnny Crosbie
Johnny Crosbie
John Anderson "Johnny" Crosbie was a Scottish professional footballer who played in the Scottish Football League for Ayr United and made more than 400 appearances in the Football League for Birmingham. He was capped twice for the Scotland national football team. He played as an inside...
and the form of former England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
player Harry Hampton, restricted Elkes to just two appearances as Birmingham took the Second Division title. He took advantage of Crosbie's unavailability at the start of the 1921–22
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
season to score six goals in the opening four fixtures. Though he kept his place for a couple of months, the goals dried up; he scored only once in twelve more games, making his last Birmingham appearance on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
1921 before being transferred to Southampton
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 March 1922.
Southampton
At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division SouthFootball 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....
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Fred Foxall
Fred Foxall
Frederick Howard Foxall was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
and Joe Barratt
Joe Barratt
Josiah Barratt was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
moving to Birmingham
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...
in exchange for Elkes and George Getgood
George Getgood
George Getgood was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
(a half-back). The move was a success, however, as Southampton were able to claim the title by overtaking Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
on the final day of the season. Unfortunately Elkes was again unable to play a significant role in winning the title. He scored two goals on his debut on 4 March 1922 in a 5–0 victory over Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
but broke his collar bone
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...
the following Saturday (also against Southend) which put him out for the rest of the season.
Elkes was described by Holley & Chalk in "The Alphabet of the Saints" as "a tall man, who was a clever player". He played 31 games with five goals in the following season
1922-23 in English football
The 1922–23 season was the 48th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Liverpool retained the First Division title, but halfway through the season their manager David Ashworth left the club to take over at Oldham Athletic, who ended the season relegated.-Honours:Notes = Number in...
as Southampton consolidated their place in Division Two, finishing in mid-table with the unusual record of: Played 42, won 14, drew 14, lost 14, goals for 40, goals against 40, points 42. They also had a run in 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...
, where they got through each of the first three rounds after replays (over First Division Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Second division Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
), before going out to 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...
after a second replay. Elkes appeared in all nine FA Cup matches, scoring Saints' goal in the first match against West Ham.
Tottenham Hotspur
After one full season at The Dell he moved to Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for a fee of over £1000. He then spent six seasons at White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
alongside players such as Jimmy Seed
Jimmy Seed
James Marshall "Jimmy" Seed was an English footballer and football manager.Despite being born in Blackhill, Seed was brought up in the village of Whitburn on the coast just to the north of Sunderland...
, Frank Osborne
Frank Osborne (footballer)
Frank Raymond Osborne was a professional footballer who was one of the top forwards of the 1920s, playing for Tottenham Hotspur and also making four appearances for England...
and Charlie Handley
Charlie Handley
Charles Harold James Handley was an English professional footballer who played most of his career with Tottenham Hotspur as a winger in the 1920s.- History :...
. During his time at Spurs he made exactly 200 appearances, scoring 50 goals, including a hat-trick in a 5–0 victory over 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....
on 15 November 1924. Elkes also won representative honours while with Spurs. Though four appearances in England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
trial matches proved unsuccessful, he toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
with the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
in 1925, played for 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...
XI on three occasions, and represented the Professionals against the Amateurs in the 1925 FA Charity Shield.
Middlesbrough and afterwards
In July 1929 he moved to MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
where he was switched to centre half, making 113 appearances (with four goals) in four seasons before (now aged 38) joining Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
for the 1933-34 season.
He then moved back to his native Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, spending one season with Stafford Rangers
Stafford Rangers F.C.
Stafford Rangers Football Club is a semi-professional English football team from Stafford which plays in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.The team wear black and white stripes with black shorts...
winding up his career with two years at Oakengates Town in the Birmingham & District League.
After his playing career came to an end, he coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
ed the Ford Motor Works
Ford of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
team at Dagenham
Dagenham
Dagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
.