Jimmy Warner
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Warner was an English
footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Aston Villa
and Newton Heath
in the late 19th century. He helped Aston Villa win the FA Cup
in 1887
.
, Birmingham
, Warner began his football career with Milton, before moving to Aston Villa in May 1886. He played for Aston Villa for six years, making a total of 101 appearances in all competitions. In 1887, he was a member of the Villa side which defeated Rangers
3–1 in the FA Cup semi-final, to set up a final against local rivals West Bromwich Albion
. In the final
, played at Kennington Oval on 2 April 1887, Albion were the favourites having been (defeated) finalists the previous year, and also having defeated Preston North End
in the semi-final. In the first twenty minutes of the final, the Villa defence was put under heavy pressure, but "Warner played a brave game in goal, repeatedly foiling Albion's attempts to charge him, ball in hand, over his own goal-line." Warner successfully prevented the Albion forwards from scoring, and in the second half Villa score twice with goals by Archie Hunter
and Dennis Hodgetts
, to win the cup for the first time.
On 8 September 1888, Villa made their first appearance in The Football League
on the first day of the inaugural season, 1888-89
. In the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Warner was in goal when defender Gershom Cox
"had the misfortune of kicking the ball through his own goalposts". Thus Cox scored and Warner conceded the first goal in the Football League.
In the first three league seasons, Warner was virtually ever-present, missing only two matches, with Villa gaining the runners-up spot in 1888-89
. The following season, Villa were less successful finishing eighth in the table and were one of five clubs having to apply to be re-elected to the league. 1890-91
was similar, with Villa finishing ninth and again having to suffer "the indignation of the re-election process".
In 1891-92
, injury restricted Warner to only eleven league appearances with Albert Hinchley replacing him. Warner was able to recover to appear in all five FA Cup matches, when Villa reached the final
where they again met local rivals West Bromwich Albion
. In the final, played at Kennington Oval on 19 March 1892, Warner and his colleagues in the Villa defence were no match for Billy Bassett
and the Albion forwards who won the match comfortably 3–0, with goals from Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds.
Villa finished the 1891-92 in fourth place in the league, but Warner's Villa career was over and, in July 1892, he was transferred to Newton Heath
in Manchester
.
and made 20 consecutive appearances at the start of the season. However, he failed to show up for an away match against Stoke City
on 7 January 1893, resulting in centre-half Willie Stewart
having to play as a makeshift goalkeeper; the team lost 7–1. Warner explained to the club directors that he had missed his train to Stoke
, but they were unconvinced and suspended him for a month. After his suspension was up, Warner made just three more appearances for Newton Heath (two in the league and one in the Manchester Senior Cup), and was sold to Walsall Town Swifts
at the end of the season.
Warner died in Pittsburgh, United States
, on 7 July 1943.
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 who played as a goalkeeper for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and Newton Heath
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...
in the late 19th century. He helped Aston Villa win 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...
in 1887
1887 FA Cup Final
The 1887 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at the Kennington Oval. Aston Villa won 2–0, with goals by Archie Hunter and Dennis Hodgetts.-Teams:*Played 2 April 1887*Attendance: 15,500*Referee: Major Francis Marindin...
.
Aston Villa
Born in LozellsLozells
Lozells is a loosely-defined inner-city area in the West of Birmingham, England. It is centred on Lozells Road, and is known for its multi-racial population. It is part of the ward of Lozells and East Handsworth and lies between the districts of Handsworth and Aston.Lozells has a high population...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Warner began his football career with Milton, before moving to Aston Villa in May 1886. He played for Aston Villa for six years, making a total of 101 appearances in all competitions. In 1887, he was a member of the Villa side which defeated Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
3–1 in the FA Cup semi-final, to set up a final against local rivals West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. In the final
1887 FA Cup Final
The 1887 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at the Kennington Oval. Aston Villa won 2–0, with goals by Archie Hunter and Dennis Hodgetts.-Teams:*Played 2 April 1887*Attendance: 15,500*Referee: Major Francis Marindin...
, played at Kennington Oval on 2 April 1887, Albion were the favourites having been (defeated) finalists the previous year, and also having defeated Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
in the semi-final. In the first twenty minutes of the final, the Villa defence was put under heavy pressure, but "Warner played a brave game in goal, repeatedly foiling Albion's attempts to charge him, ball in hand, over his own goal-line." Warner successfully prevented the Albion forwards from scoring, and in the second half Villa score twice with goals by Archie Hunter
Archie Hunter
Archibald "Archie" Hunter , was the first captain of Aston Villa to lift the FA Cup, in 1887. He was one of Victorian football's first household names....
and Dennis Hodgetts
Dennis Hodgetts
Dennis 'Denny' Hodgetts was a football player in the early years of professional football in England....
, to win the cup for the first time.
On 8 September 1888, Villa made their first appearance 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...
on the first day of the inaugural season, 1888-89
1888-89 in English football
The 1888–1889 season was the 18th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:A new competition, The Football League, started this season...
. In the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Warner was in goal when defender Gershom Cox
Gershom Cox
Gershom Cox was a professional footballer who played as a full-back for Aston Villa from 1888 to 1893.-Career:...
"had the misfortune of kicking the ball through his own goalposts". Thus Cox scored and Warner conceded the first goal in the Football League.
In the first three league seasons, Warner was virtually ever-present, missing only two matches, with Villa gaining the runners-up spot in 1888-89
1888-89 in English football
The 1888–1889 season was the 18th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:A new competition, The Football League, started this season...
. The following season, Villa were less successful finishing eighth in the table and were one of five clubs having to apply to be re-elected to the league. 1890-91
1890-91 in English football
The 1890–91 season was the 20th season of competitive football in England.-Events:Everton started the 1890–91 season in superb form with five straight victories, with Fred Geary scoring in each of the first six matches...
was similar, with Villa finishing ninth and again having to suffer "the indignation of the re-election process".
In 1891-92
1891-92 in English football
The 1891–92 season was the 21st season of competitive football in England.-Events:Three new clubs joined the Football Alliance, following the expansion of the Football League to 14 teams, and the defection of Sunderland Albion to the Northern League...
, injury restricted Warner to only eleven league appearances with Albert Hinchley replacing him. Warner was able to recover to appear in all five FA Cup matches, when Villa reached the final
1892 FA Cup Final
The 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds...
where they again met local rivals West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
. In the final, played at Kennington Oval on 19 March 1892, Warner and his colleagues in the Villa defence were no match for Billy Bassett
Billy Bassett
William Isiah Bassett was an English association footballer, director and club chairman who served West Bromwich Albion for over half a century.-Playing career:...
and the Albion forwards who won the match comfortably 3–0, with goals from Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds.
Villa finished the 1891-92 in fourth place in the league, but Warner's Villa career was over and, in July 1892, he was transferred to Newton Heath
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...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
Newton Heath
He became Newton Heath's first choice goalkeeper straight away in their first season in the Football LeagueThe 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...
and made 20 consecutive appearances at the start of the season. However, he failed to show up for an away match against 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...
on 7 January 1893, resulting in centre-half Willie Stewart
Willie Stewart
William S. "Willie" Stewart was a Scottish footballer who was born in Coupar Angus. He played as an inside forward before switching to his favoured half back position. He joined Newton Heath from Warwick County in July 1889...
having to play as a makeshift goalkeeper; the team lost 7–1. Warner explained to the club directors that he had missed his train to Stoke
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
, but they were unconvinced and suspended him for a month. After his suspension was up, Warner made just three more appearances for Newton Heath (two in the league and one in the Manchester Senior Cup), and was sold to Walsall Town Swifts
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
at the end of the season.
Walsall Town Swifts
His career at Walsall was short-lived too, and he retired in 1894.Warner died in Pittsburgh, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on 7 July 1943.
Honours
Aston VillaAston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
- FA CupFA CupThe 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...
winner: 18871887 FA Cup FinalThe 1887 FA Cup Final was contested by Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion at the Kennington Oval. Aston Villa won 2–0, with goals by Archie Hunter and Dennis Hodgetts.-Teams:*Played 2 April 1887*Attendance: 15,500*Referee: Major Francis Marindin... - FA CupFA CupThe 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...
runner-up: 18921892 FA Cup FinalThe 1892 FA Cup Final was contested by West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at the Kennington Oval. West Bromwich Albion won 3–0, with goals by Jasper Geddes, Sammy Nicholls and Jack Reynolds... - Football League runner-up: 1888-891888-89 in English footballThe 1888–1889 season was the 18th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:A new competition, The Football League, started this season...