Jimmy Thorpe
Encyclopedia
James Horatio "Jimmy" Thorpe (16 September 1913 - 9 February 1936) was an English
footballer born in Jarrow
. He played 139 games as a goalkeeper for Sunderland
Football
Club. He signed when he was 17 after attending Jarrow Central School. He had a promising career, becoming starter for the club from the 1932/33 season. His life and career were cut short on February 1, 1936 when he was kicked in the head and chest after he had picked up the ball following a backpass in a game against Chelsea
at Roker Park
. He continued to take part until the match finished, but died in hospital 4 days later from diabetes mellitus
and heart failure 'accelerated by the rough usage of the opposing team'
This tragic end to Thorpe's career led to a change in the rules, where players were no longer allowed to raise their foot to a goalkeeper when he had control of the ball in his arms. Though Thorpe may be little known, even in the North East
, goalkeepers around the world doubtlessly owe a debt to him.
The changed rules now says that players can't kick the ball out of the goalkeeper's hands.
Sunderland went on to win the Championship that same year, and his medal was presented to his widow.
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...
footballer born in Jarrow
Jarrow
Jarrow is a town in Tyne and Wear, England, located on the River Tyne, with a population of 27,526. From the middle of the 19th century until 1935, Jarrow was a centre for shipbuilding, and was the starting point of the Jarrow March against unemployment in 1936.-Foundation:The Angles re-occupied...
. He played 139 games as a goalkeeper for 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...
Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
Club. He signed when he was 17 after attending Jarrow Central School. He had a promising career, becoming starter for the club from the 1932/33 season. His life and career were cut short on February 1, 1936 when he was kicked in the head and chest after he had picked up the ball following a backpass in a game against 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...
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...
. He continued to take part until the match finished, but died in hospital 4 days later from diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and heart failure 'accelerated by the rough usage of the opposing team'
This tragic end to Thorpe's career led to a change in the rules, where players were no longer allowed to raise their foot to a goalkeeper when he had control of the ball in his arms. Though Thorpe may be little known, even in the North East
North East England
North East England is one of the nine official regions of England. It covers Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne and Wear, and Teesside . The only cities in the region are Durham, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sunderland...
, goalkeepers around the world doubtlessly owe a debt to him.
The changed rules now says that players can't kick the ball out of the goalkeeper's hands.
Sunderland went on to win the Championship that same year, and his medal was presented to his widow.