Percy Downes
Encyclopedia
Percy Downes was an English
professional footballer
. He spent six years at Blackpool
in the early 20th century, making over 150 Football League appearances for the club, and over 350 league appearances in total. He played as a midfielder
.
, where his performances earned him a move into professional football in the Football League
with Blackpool
.
at Bloomfield Road
on 14 September 1925. He went on to make 21 further league appearance that campaign, scoring five goals. He also appeared in Blackpool's sole FA Cup
tie that season.
The following season, 1926–27, Downes made 28 starts in the league, and scored six goals. Again, he appeared in the FA Cup as Blackpool exited at the third-round stage once more.
Frank Buckley
, who signed Downes, was replaced as Blackpool manager by Sydney Beaumont
prior to the 1927–28 term, but he was still kept in favour, making nineteen appearances in the league and scoring four goals.
Downes appeared in well over half of Blackpool's league games in 1928–29, which was Harry Evans' first season in charge. Downes scored four goals, all in Blackpool victories. He also appeared in Blackpool's FA Cup third-round exit match at Plymouth Argyle
.
In the 1929–30 campaign, Downes missed only five games as Blackpool finished as Division Two
champions. He also scored thirteen goals, his highest season-total for the club, including a hat-trick in a 7–1 victory at home to Bristol City
on 26 October 1929. Blackpool also made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four seasons, but Downes missed out on the match.
Downes' final season with Blackpool, 1930–31, saw his make sixteen appearances in the top flight for the club. He failed to score in the league for the first time in his six seasons with the Seasiders, but he did score Blackpool's goal in their FA Cup fourth-round 2–1 defeat at Southport
on 24 January 1931.
His final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 18 February 1931, in a single-goal defeat at home to Birmingham City
.
side Hull City
, where he played eleven matches and scored three goals as the team finished eighth in their division. He stayed at Hull for just one season.
in the summer of 1934. He spent two seasons with the Clarets, but only managed to score a total of six goals in the league. He helped Burnley to the semi-final of the FA Cup in the 1934–35 season, and played a total of 61 league games before he left to join Oldham Athletic
.
.
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
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...
. He spent six years at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the early 20th century, making over 150 Football League appearances for the club, and over 350 league appearances in total. He played as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
Early career
Downes' first senior team was Dinnington Main Colliery Welfare, where he started playing during the early 1920s. He later transferred to Gainsborough TrinityGainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
, where his performances earned him a move into professional football 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...
with Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
.
Blackpool
Downes made his debut for the Seasiders six games into their 1925–26 league season, a single-goal defeat to DarlingtonDarlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
on 14 September 1925. He went on to make 21 further league appearance that campaign, scoring five goals. He also appeared in Blackpool's sole 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...
tie that season.
The following season, 1926–27, Downes made 28 starts in the league, and scored six goals. Again, he appeared in the FA Cup as Blackpool exited at the third-round stage once more.
Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley (footballer)
Franklin Charles Buckley was an English football player and, later, manager. He is the brother of Chris Buckley who played for Aston Villa.-Early life:...
, who signed Downes, was replaced as Blackpool manager by Sydney Beaumont
Sydney Beaumont
Sydney Beaumont was an English professional footballer and football manager. He played at both half-back and left-wing during his career....
prior to the 1927–28 term, but he was still kept in favour, making nineteen appearances in the league and scoring four goals.
Downes appeared in well over half of Blackpool's league games in 1928–29, which was Harry Evans' first season in charge. Downes scored four goals, all in Blackpool victories. He also appeared in Blackpool's FA Cup third-round exit match at 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...
.
In the 1929–30 campaign, Downes missed only five games as Blackpool finished as Division Two
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...
champions. He also scored thirteen goals, his highest season-total for the club, including a hat-trick in a 7–1 victory at home to Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
on 26 October 1929. Blackpool also made it to the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in four seasons, but Downes missed out on the match.
Downes' final season with Blackpool, 1930–31, saw his make sixteen appearances in the top flight for the club. He failed to score in the league for the first time in his six seasons with the Seasiders, but he did score Blackpool's goal in their FA Cup fourth-round 2–1 defeat at Southport
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
on 24 January 1931.
His final appearance for Blackpool occurred on 18 February 1931, in a single-goal defeat at home to Birmingham City
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...
.
Hull City
In 1931, Downes joined Football League Third Division NorthFootball League Third Division North
The Third Division North of The Football League was a tier in the English association football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran parallel to Third Division South with clubs elected to the League or relegated from a higher division allocated to one or the other according to geographical position...
side Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, where he played eleven matches and scored three goals as the team finished eighth in their division. He stayed at Hull for just one season.
Stockport County
Downes signed for Third Division North outfit Stockport prior to the 1932–33 season. He racked up 82 appearances and notched 17 goals for the club as they secured consecutive third-placed finishes in the division.Burnley
Downes' consistent goalscoring in the Third Division earned him a move to Second Division side BurnleyBurnley 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...
in the summer of 1934. He spent two seasons with the Clarets, but only managed to score a total of six goals in the league. He helped Burnley to the semi-final of the FA Cup in the 1934–35 season, and played a total of 61 league games before he left to join Oldham Athletic
Oldham Athletic A.F.C.
Oldham Athletic Association Football Club is an English association football club based at Boundary Park, on Sheepfoot Lane in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The club currently competes in the Football League One, the third tier of the English league...
.
Oldham Athletic
Downes played a total of 51 matches for the Latics, scoring just 4 times in two seasons. In 1938, he retired from professional football and returned to Gainsborough TrinityGainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
.