Jack Small (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Jack Small was an English professional footballer who played at wing-half either side of the First World War.
and attended St. Peter's School, South Bank. He started his football career with Craghead United
, playing in the Chester-le-Street & District League, before joining Sunderland
of the Football League First Division
in August 1912.
Small spent most of his time at Roker Park
in the reserves and his only first-team appearance for Sunderland came in a 3–1 victory at Manchester United
on 15 March 1913.
In August 1913, he moved to the south coast
to join Southampton
of the Southern League
. He made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the 1913–14 season, a 1–0 defeat at Brighton
. Small soon became a popular player at The Dell who was "admired not only by the crowd but also by his colleagues". He was "the sort of player whose influence on team spirit was always positive (who) relished a challenge and his sturdy half-back play was an inspiration".
He retained his place at right-half for the first twelve matches of the season until, after a run of four defeats, he lost his place to John Denby
. Small returned to the side in February replacing George Hadley
and kept his place for the rest of the season. Small started the following season at right-half until November when he moved to right-back to replace George Green
until Green's return in March. By the end of the season, England was at war and normal football was suspended. Small played in six wartime fixtures, until joining the R.A.M.C. at the end of 1915.
, where he suffered a serious bout of malaria
.
After the war, he was a member of the Thornycrofts team which took First Division
Burnley
to a replay in the FA Cup
first round, where they were defeated 5–0 after a scoreless draw at The Dell.
He then spent a few months back in the Southern League with Mid Rhondda
, before retiring from professional football in December 1920 and taking up employment with Harland & Wolff. He later joined the Merchant Navy
.
Football career
Small was born at South Bank, MiddlesbroughSouth Bank, Middlesbrough
South Bank is a small town which forms part of the Middlesbrough urban area that lies 2.3 miles from Middlesbrough centre, in North East England. As the name suggests, it lies on the south bank of the River Tees. Although it is part of the Middlesbrough conurbation, it is a ward of Redcar and...
and attended St. Peter's School, South Bank. He started his football career with Craghead United
Craghead United F.C.
Craghead United F.C. was an English association football club based in the village of Craghead, County Durham. The team initially competed in the Chester-le-Street & District Football League. They unsuccessfully applied to enter the Northern Football Alliance in 1908—receiving no votes from the...
, playing in the Chester-le-Street & District League, before joining 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...
of the Football League 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....
in August 1912.
Small spent most of his time at Roker Park
Roker Park
Roker Park was an English football stadium situated in Roker, Sunderland. The stadium was the home of the English football club Sunderland A.F.C. from 1897 to 1997 before the club moved to the Stadium of Light. Near the end of the stadium's history, its capacity was around 22,500 with only a small...
in the reserves and his only first-team appearance for Sunderland came in a 3–1 victory at 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...
on 15 March 1913.
In August 1913, he moved to the south coast
Southern England
Southern England, the South and the South of England are imprecise terms used to refer to the southern counties of England bordering the English Midlands. It has a number of different interpretations of its geographic extents. The South is considered by many to be a cultural region with a distinct...
to join 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...
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...
. He made his debut for the "Saints" in the opening match of the 1913–14 season, a 1–0 defeat at Brighton
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
. Small soon became a popular player at The Dell who was "admired not only by the crowd but also by his colleagues". He was "the sort of player whose influence on team spirit was always positive (who) relished a challenge and his sturdy half-back play was an inspiration".
He retained his place at right-half for the first twelve matches of the season until, after a run of four defeats, he lost his place to John Denby
John Denby
John Denby was an English footballer, who played as a half back for Southampton in the Southern League from 1911 to 1915.-Football career:Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield he started his career with Chesterfield. In the summer of 1911 Southampton's new manager George Swift spent £820 recruiting 11 new...
. Small returned to the side in February replacing George Hadley
George Hadley (footballer)
George Angus Hadley was a Scottish footballer who played at wing-half either side of the First World War.-Football career:...
and kept his place for the rest of the season. Small started the following season at right-half until November when he moved to right-back to replace George Green
George Green (full back)
George Green was a professional footballer who played at full-back for Southampton in the period prior to the First World War.-Football career:...
until Green's return in March. By the end of the season, England was at war and normal football was suspended. Small played in six wartime fixtures, until joining the R.A.M.C. at the end of 1915.
Later career
Small spent sixteen months serving with the R.A.M.C. in Salonika before injuries caused him to be invalided back to 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...
, where he suffered a serious bout of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
After the war, he was a member of the Thornycrofts team which took 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....
Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
to a replay 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...
first round, where they were defeated 5–0 after a scoreless draw at The Dell.
He then spent a few months back in the Southern League with Mid Rhondda
Mid Rhondda F.C.
Mid Rhondda Football Club was an association football team, based in Tonypandy, Wales that was formed in 1912. Mid Rhondda were one of the earlier South Wales teams to form, as competition from rugby union within the Rhondda Valleys was very strong...
, before retiring from professional football in December 1920 and taking up employment with Harland & Wolff. He later joined the Merchant Navy
Merchant Navy
The Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests of UK-registered ships and their crews. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensign and are regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency...
.