Trevor Meredith
Encyclopedia
Trevor George Meredith is a retired English
professional footballer who played as a winger. Whilst playing for Burnley
, he scored the winning goal in the 2–1 victory over Manchester City
on 2 May 1960, a win which saw the Clarets crowned Champions of England for the first time since 1921. After leaving Burnley, he went on to play over 200 league
games for Shrewsbury Town
. Following his retirement from professional football, he became a teacher.
, near Bridgnorth
, Shropshire
. He was conscripted
into the British Army
at the age of 17, and was playing semi-professional
football for Kidderminster Harriers
when he was scouted by Burnley
. After retiring from playing, he became a primary school teacher in Preston.
side Kidderminster Harriers
in the mid-1950s whilst on National Service. His performances for Kidderminster attracted clubs in the Football League
and in 1957, he was offered a trial by Football League First Division
side Burnley
. His trial period was successful and he signed his first professional contract with the Lancashire club.
Meredith spent the entirety of his first two seasons in the reserves at Burnley thanks to the strength of the playing staff. His break into the first team came towards the end of the 1959–60 season when he was called upon by manager Harry Potts
because regular winger John Connelly
was on England
international duty. He made his debut for the Clarets in the 1–0 victory away at Nottingham Forest
on 9 April 1960. Thanks to an injury suffered by Connelly while playing for England, Meredith kept his place in the side for the following match at home to Leicester City
. He scored his first senior goal in that game, and went on to play seven of the final eight games of the season, as Burnley closed in on the First Division championship despite not having topped the table all season.
Meredith's most important moment at Burnley came on 2 May 1960, when he was selected to play in the final match of the 1959–60 season. Burnley needed to beat Manchester City
at Maine Road
to win the title. Brian Pilkington put Burnley into the lead early in the first half, but Joe Hayes equalised for City soon after. In the 30th minute of the match, Meredith scored the goal which gave Burnley a 2–1 victory, and the English championship for only the second time. However, despite scoring the winning goal Meredith was not awarded a league winners' medal because Football League rules meant the team were only given eleven, and as a reserve Meredith was not eligible to receive one.
He returned to the reserves at the beginning of the following season, and although he continued to play for Burnley for three further seasons after their Championship winning campaign, he played a total of just 37 league games for Burnley, scoring eight goals.
side Shrewsbury Town
. In contrast to his time at Burnley, he was a regular first-team player for the Shrews and went on to play 235 games in the league for the club, in which he scored 41 times. He helped the side to a string of mid-table finishes in the Third Division during the late 1960s, and the side almost won promotion in the 1967–68 season, when they achieved a third-placed finish. Meredith retired from playing at the end of the 1971–72 season at the age of 35.
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 who played as a winger. Whilst playing for 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...
, he scored the winning goal in the 2–1 victory over Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 2 May 1960, a win which saw the Clarets crowned Champions of England for the first time since 1921. After leaving Burnley, he went on to play over 200 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...
games for Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. Following his retirement from professional football, he became a teacher.
Personal life
Meredith was born on 25 December 1936 in the village of StottesdonStottesdon
Stottesdon is a village and civil parish in south east Shropshire, England. The parish of Stottesdon covers a large rural area and extends over the village of Chorley...
, near Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth
Bridgnorth is a town in Shropshire, England, along the Severn Valley. It is split into Low Town and High Town, named on account of their elevations relative to the River Severn, which separates the upper town on the right bank from the lower on the left...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
. He was conscripted
Conscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
into the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
at the age of 17, and was playing semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
football for Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
when he was scouted by 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...
. After retiring from playing, he became a primary school teacher in Preston.
Burnley
Meredith's footballing career started his career when he signed as a part-time player for then Southern Football LeagueSouthern 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...
side Kidderminster Harriers
Kidderminster Harriers F.C.
Kidderminster Harriers F.C. are an English football club based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire formed in 1886 They currently play in the Conference National and have played at Aggborough Stadium since they were formed...
in the mid-1950s whilst on National Service. His performances for Kidderminster attracted clubs 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...
and in 1957, he was offered a trial by 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....
side 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...
. His trial period was successful and he signed his first professional contract with the Lancashire club.
Meredith spent the entirety of his first two seasons in the reserves at Burnley thanks to the strength of the playing staff. His break into the first team came towards the end of the 1959–60 season when he was called upon by manager Harry Potts
Harry Potts
Harold "Harry" Potts was an English football player and manager.-Early life:Born in Hetton-le-Hole, County Durham, as was another well-known name in football, Bob Paisley. The duo spent much of their childhood playing various sports, but it was football that Potts loved most...
because regular winger John Connelly
John Connelly
John Michael Connelly is an English former footballer. He played as an outside forward and was capped 20 times for his country.-Career with Burnley:...
was on England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
international duty. He made his debut for the Clarets in the 1–0 victory away at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 9 April 1960. Thanks to an injury suffered by Connelly while playing for England, Meredith kept his place in the side for the following match at home to Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
. He scored his first senior goal in that game, and went on to play seven of the final eight games of the season, as Burnley closed in on the First Division championship despite not having topped the table all season.
Meredith's most important moment at Burnley came on 2 May 1960, when he was selected to play in the final match of the 1959–60 season. Burnley needed to beat Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
at Maine Road
Maine Road
Maine Road was a football stadium in Moss Side, Manchester, England that was home to Manchester City F.C. from its construction in 1923 until 2003...
to win the title. Brian Pilkington put Burnley into the lead early in the first half, but Joe Hayes equalised for City soon after. In the 30th minute of the match, Meredith scored the goal which gave Burnley a 2–1 victory, and the English championship for only the second time. However, despite scoring the winning goal Meredith was not awarded a league winners' medal because Football League rules meant the team were only given eleven, and as a reserve Meredith was not eligible to receive one.
He returned to the reserves at the beginning of the following season, and although he continued to play for Burnley for three further seasons after their Championship winning campaign, he played a total of just 37 league games for Burnley, scoring eight goals.
Shrewsbury Town
In the summer of 1964, Meredith signed for Football League Third DivisionFootball League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
side Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
. In contrast to his time at Burnley, he was a regular first-team player for the Shrews and went on to play 235 games in the league for the club, in which he scored 41 times. He helped the side to a string of mid-table finishes in the Third Division during the late 1960s, and the side almost won promotion in the 1967–68 season, when they achieved a third-placed finish. Meredith retired from playing at the end of the 1971–72 season at the age of 35.