John Price (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John Henry Price was a Welsh footballer who played for at centre forward for Wrexham and made 12 appearances for the Wales national football team between 1887 and 1883, scoring four goals, all of which came in one match.
and was employed in a local leather works. He started his football career with Wrexham Grosvenor before joining the local Civil Service club, for whom he played as a full back.
In 1877, he was persuaded by Charles Murless, the Wrexham captain, to switch allegiance. Murless decided to move Price to play at centre forward where his speed "made him a difficult opponent to stop in front of goal". Price was equally good with his head and his feet and was said "never to have played a foul game". With Price in the forward line, and his ability to bring the wing players into the game, Wrexham were able to move one player to the half back line, to be one of the first clubs to play a 2–3–5 formation.
In his first season, Wrexham entered the inaugural
Welsh Cup
tournament. After defeating Price's former club in the first round, they had victories over Oswestry and Gwersyllt Foresters (8–0). With only three teams remaining in the tournament at this stage, Wrexham received a bye to the final, at Acton Park, Wrexham
, on 30 March 1878 between Wrexham and Druids
from Ruabon
. The match was a cliffhanger, with no score until the Wrexham forwards charged the Druids' defenders to take the ball over the line to win the game in the final minute, with James Davies being credited with the goal.
The following season, Wrexham again reached the final of the Welsh Cup
, where they lost by a single goal to Newtown White Star.
' second match against Scotland
on 5 March 1877. He then became an automatic choice for the Welsh team over the next five seasons, missing only three of the first fifteen internationals. He thus became the first footballer to make more than ten international appearances.
On 25 February 1882 at the Racecourse, Wrexham, Price scored four goals in the 7–1 victory over Ireland. Price's final appearance for his country came against Ireland on 17 March 1883 by when he had ceased playing for Wrexham.
Club career
Price was born in WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
and was employed in a local leather works. He started his football career with Wrexham Grosvenor before joining the local Civil Service club, for whom he played as a full back.
In 1877, he was persuaded by Charles Murless, the Wrexham captain, to switch allegiance. Murless decided to move Price to play at centre forward where his speed "made him a difficult opponent to stop in front of goal". Price was equally good with his head and his feet and was said "never to have played a foul game". With Price in the forward line, and his ability to bring the wing players into the game, Wrexham were able to move one player to the half back line, to be one of the first clubs to play a 2–3–5 formation.
In his first season, Wrexham entered the inaugural
Welsh Cup 1877–78
-First round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Rhosllanerchrugog receive a bye to the next round* Believing that it was a Rugby Union competition Swansea RFC scratched to Aberystwyth when officials learned that it was one for football.-Second round:-Replay:-Third round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Bangor receive bye...
Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
tournament. After defeating Price's former club in the first round, they had victories over Oswestry and Gwersyllt Foresters (8–0). With only three teams remaining in the tournament at this stage, Wrexham received a bye to the final, at Acton Park, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, on 30 March 1878 between Wrexham and Druids
Druids F.C.
Ruabon Druids F.C. were a football club based in village of Ruabon near Wrexham. The club was founded in 1869 as Plasmadoc F.C. by David Thomson and his brother, George, of Ruabon...
from Ruabon
Ruabon
Ruabon is a village and community in the county borough of Wrexham in Wales.More than 80% of the population of 2,400 were born in Wales with 13.6% speaking Welsh....
. The match was a cliffhanger, with no score until the Wrexham forwards charged the Druids' defenders to take the ball over the line to win the game in the final minute, with James Davies being credited with the goal.
The following season, Wrexham again reached the final of the Welsh Cup
Welsh Cup
The Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
, where they lost by a single goal to Newtown White Star.
International career
Price's first international appearance came in WalesWales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
' second match against Scotland
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...
on 5 March 1877. He then became an automatic choice for the Welsh team over the next five seasons, missing only three of the first fifteen internationals. He thus became the first footballer to make more than ten international appearances.
On 25 February 1882 at the Racecourse, Wrexham, Price scored four goals in the 7–1 victory over Ireland. Price's final appearance for his country came against Ireland on 17 March 1883 by when he had ceased playing for Wrexham.
International appearances
Price made twelve appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows:| Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goals | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 March 1877 | Racecourse Ground Racecourse Ground The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
0–2 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 23 March 1878 | Hampden Park Hampden Park Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland... , Glasgow Glasgow Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... |
0–9 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 18 January 1879 | Kennington Oval, London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
1–2 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 15 March 1880 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 2–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 27 March 1880 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | 1–5 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 26 February 1881 | Alexandra Meadows Alexandra Meadows Alexandra Meadows is the home ground of the East Lancashire Cricket Club in Blackburn.Between 1878 and 1881 the ground was used as the home venue for the Blackburn Rovers football team, following their move from the Pleasington Cricket Ground. The first Rovers match at the Meadows came in 1878... , Blackburn |
1–0 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 14 March 1881 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 1–5 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 25 February 1882 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 7–1 | 4 | Friendly | |
| 13 March 1882 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 5–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 25 March 1882 | Hampden Park, Glasgow | 0–5 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 12 March 1883 | Racecourse Ground, Wrexham | 0–3 | 0 | Friendly | |
| 17 March 1883 | Ballynafeigh Park , Belfast Belfast Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly... |
1–1 | 0 | Friendly | |
Honours
Wrexham- Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
winners: 1878Welsh Cup 1877–78-First round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Rhosllanerchrugog receive a bye to the next round* Believing that it was a Rugby Union competition Swansea RFC scratched to Aberystwyth when officials learned that it was one for football.-Second round:-Replay:-Third round:-Replay:-Second Replay:Bangor receive bye... - Welsh CupWelsh CupThe Welsh Cup is a knock-out football competition contested annually by teams from Wales.The Football Association of Wales is the organising body of this competition, which has been run every year since its inception in 1877-78...
finalists: 1879Welsh Cup 1878–79-First round:-Replay:Oswestry receive a bye to the next round-Second round:Newtown receive bye into next round-Third round:-Replay:Wrexham receive bye to next round-Semi Final:-Replay:...