List of Doncaster Rovers F.C. players (1879–1918)

For players that have made at least 100 appearances for the club, see List of Doncaster Rovers F.C. players.

This list contains players who have appeared in nationally organised first-team competition for Doncaster Rovers from its creation in 1879 until the end of First World War. Players that also represented the club after the war are included.

Explanation of list

Players should be listed in chronological order according to the season in which they first played for the club, and then by alphabetical order of their surname. Initially, the club only played friendlies, their first cup match being in October 1885. Doncaster joined their first league, the Midland Alliance, in 1890. To varying degrees in subsequent years, friendlies still formed a significant part of the fixtures throughout the season. Further information on competitions/seasons which are regarded as eligible for appearance stats are provided below.

League appearances

League appearances and goals should include data for the following league spells:

Total appearances

The figures for total appearances and goals should include the League figures together with the following competitions:

History

First match as Doncaster Rovers

The first match was in September 1879 when Albert Jenkins got together a group of young men to play against The Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in which they drew 4−4 after being behind 4−0 at half time. It was after this match that the group of players decided to play further games and call themselves Doncaster Rovers on the walk back into the town. The first match played under this name was a 0−0 draw on 3 October 1879 at Rawmarsh F.C.. The line up in a 2−2−6 formation was:[1]

First Football League match

After already playing their first game of the 1901–02 season in the Midland League on 2 September, Doncaster were voted into the Football League following New Brighton Tower folding as a club. Continuing with the squad they already had, the first match was against Burslem Port Vale on Saturday 7 September 1901. The crowd at the Intake Ground was 2,000. It was 0–0 at half time, then Len Goodson scored two for Rovers. The Vale then scored 3 goals, with Frank Bailey getting the equaliser making the final score 3–3. The line up was a 2–3–5 formation of:[1]

Players

Name Position Club career League
apps		 League
goals		 Total
apps		 Total
goals		 Notes
William Bedford Inside right 1879–85 4 During this time, not all scorers in games were recorded
Albert Jenkins Right back 1879–86? Also club founder, captain and secretary
John Mitchell Left back 1879–85 Went on to play for Bolton Wanderers on the first day of the inaugural season of the Football League in September 1888
Patrick Stirling 1885?–? Became Mayor of Doncaster in 1914
Billy Bridgewater Inside Right / Centre forward 1886–87 1888–89 1891–93 7 23 During this time, not all scorers in games were recorded
Walter Langton Left back / Centre forward 1887−1905 45 28 48 48 Appearance stats not including seasons 1887−1901 nor 1903−04 which are likely to at least put him well over 200 total appearances
James Gresham Forward 1890–91 7 12
Bob Herrod Inside Right / Outside Right 1890–91 11 14
Tom Kisbey Centre forward 1890–91 9 12
Jim Massey Goalkeeper 1890–93 0 0
Harry Thickett Full back 1891 2 0 2 0 Doncaster born, he went on to play for England twice, and won the First Division title once and FA Cup twice with Sheffield United before managing Bristol City
William Hopewell Half back 1892–93
Billy Calder Outside Forward 1893–96 5 9 First manager of Doncaster, in 1920
Richard Fenwick Goalkeeper 1893–94 0 0
Jack Eggett Goalkeeper 1894–1903 67 0 70 0 Appearance stats not including 1894−1901
Billy Linward Outside Left 1895−1901 53 65
Ellis Wright Left half 1895−1905 80 3 83 3 Appearance stats not including 1895−1901, 1903−04
Billy Longden Outside Right / Right half 1896−1902 31 2 33 2 Stats only for 1901−02 season, he scored 17 League and 5 other goals in total
Arnold Oxspring Inside Right / Outside Right 1897–1900 51 56
Harry Crump Left half 1900−01 0 1
Len Goodson Outside Left 1900–02 1905−06 1909 38 6 40 6 Scored Doncaster's first goal in the Football League

Stats not including 1899–1901, 1905−06 and 1908−09 seasons where he scored 33 league and 14 other goals

John Murphy Inside Left / Left half 1900−04 62 8 65 8 Stats not including Midland League seasons 1900−01 and 1903−04 when he scored 22 league goals
George Simpson Full back 1900−03 64 2 65 2 Stats not including 1900−01
Tommy Vail Centre forward 1900−01 20 26
Frank Bailey Outside Left 1901–02 22 6 23 6
Arthur Birch Right back 1901−04 34 0 34 0 Stats not including 1903−04 season
Ernest Dowson Right half 1901−02 2 0 2 0
Arthur Jones Centre half 1901−02 21 1 23 1
Billy Langham Outside Right 1901–03 1906−07 62 16 65 16 Playing stats for first period, scored 9 League goals in second period
Manny Lindley Outside Right 1901–02 1 0 1 0
John McKenzie Right half 1901−02 2 0 2 0
Ike Marsh Left back 1901−03 33 2 35 3
Frank Pepper Right half 1901−02 1 0 1 0
Jack Price Forward 1901–03 59 17 61 18
Jack Aston Inside Forward 1902–03 30 3 31 3
Fred Bann Centre half 1902 1 0 1 0
Phil Bratley Centre half 1902−03 3 0 3 0
Alonzo Drake Forward 1902–03 36 7 37 7
Frank Foxall Inside Left 1902–03 12 2 12 2
Andrew Gordon Centre half 1902−05 43 0 46 0
Charlie Laverick Full back 1902−04 8 0 8 0 Stats not including 1903−04 season
Willie Nettleton Outside Right 1902–03 1 1 1 1
John Parker Centre forward 1902−03 2 1 2 1
James Pettit Right half 1902−03 1 0 1 0
Arthur Pyle Inside Right 1902–03 5 2 5 2
George Ratcliffe Left winger 1902–03 27 7 28 7
Charlie Richards Inside Right 1902–03 7 0 7 0
Harry Roberts Centre forward 1902−09 5 19 5 22 Includes all goals, but only Football League appearances
Albert Robinson Left back 1902−03 3 0 3 0
Jack Stables Goalkeeper 1902–03 1 0 1 0
Tom Woodland Outside Left 1902−03 4 0 4 0
E Bradley Inside Left 1903−05 4 0 4 0 Stats don't include 1903−04 where he scored 3 league goals
Jimmy Dyer Forward 1903–04 11 11
Joe Moran Outside Left 1903–04 12 12
Willie Wragg Wing half / Full back 1903?−04? 0 0
Sam Bedford Outside Right 1904−06 1 0 1 0 Stats only for 1904−05 season, he scored 1 league goal in 1905−06
Josh Burn Right back 1904–05 19 0 21 0
William Butler Left back 1904–06 7 0 7 0 Stats not including September 1905−October 1906
James Carnegie Centre forward 1904–05 14 3 15 3
George Crowcroft Inside Left 1904–05 0 0 1 0
Harry Davies Left back 1904–05 26 1 28 1
Teddy Daw Goalkeeper 1904–05 2 0 2 0
Charles Flowitt Inside Left 1904−05 3 0 3 0
James Gould Inside Left 1904−05 2 0 2 0
Jimmy Hanson Inside Right 1904−05 14 2 16 2
Eddie Harling Goalkeeper 1904–05 1 0 1 0
Sinjon Hawkins Right back 1904−05 1 0 1 0
David Howard Right back 1904−05 1 0 1 0
Len Hyde Inside Right / Outside Right 1904–05 32 1 33 1
Billy Law Outside Left 1904–05 26 2 27 2
George McGhee Inside Forward 1904–05 11 3 11 3
James McIntyre Inside Left 1904–05 8 0 8 0
Matt Moralee Half back 1904–06 32 2 34 2 Stats for first season, also scored 1 League and 2 FA Cup goals in second season
Bob Norris Left half 1904−05 21 3 23 3
Laurie Pember Inside Left 1904−05 17 0 19 0
Joe Raby Inside Forward 1904–05 2 0 2 0
John Russell Inside Right 1904–05 3 0 4 0
Bert Shinner Inside Forward 1904–05 12 3 14 3
Tommy Thorpe Goalkeeper 1904–05 31 0 32 0
Tommy Tompkins Forward / Half back 1904–05 15 1 17 2
George Whittaker Outside Right 1904−05 2 0 2 0
Alf Wilkinson Centre forward 1904−05 2 0 2 0
Jack Almond Forward 1905–06 8 8
Bill Brelsford Centre half / Right half 1907−10 5 6
Fred Charles Inside Forward 1907–09 7 11
Fred Thompson Goalkeeper 1908–09 0 0
William Jex Inside Left 1908−09 1910−11 1913−14 65 49 58 Appearances not including 1913−14
John Allen Full back 1909−10 0 0
John Pattinson Winger 1909, 1912–13 10 12
Tommy Simons Centre forward 1909−10 12 14
Peter Turner Inside Forward 1909–10 0 0
Billy Bromage Outside Left 1910–13 20 26
Samuel Gunton Full back 1910−11 0 0
Charlie Woodruff Outside Right 1910–13 18 20
Tommy Astill Inside Left 1911–13 14 18
Harry Bromage Goalkeeper 1911–13 0 0
Harold Buddery Forward 1911–13 22 24
Fred Shreeve Full back 1911−13 3 3
Bert Cook Outside Left 1912–13 4 5
Arthur Reed Forward 1912 0 0 1 2
Willis Walker Goalkeeper 1912–1914 0 0
Bob Hewitson Goalkeeper 1913?–? 0 0
Tommy Birtles Outside Right 1914–15 6 8
Jack Hall Outside Right 1914–15 5 5
Freddy Hicks Right half back 1914–15 0 0
Horace Husler Goalkeeper 1914–15 0 0
Charles Alton Full back 1915−16 0 0
Bernard Frith Outside Left 1915–? 1 1
Alfred Smelt Right back 1915−? 0 0


Notes

References

General
  • Bluff, Tony (2011). Donny:Doncaster Rovers F.C. The Complete History (1879−2010). Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9569848-3-8.
  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
Specific
  1. ^ a b c Bluff, Tony (2011). Donny:Doncaster Rovers F.C. The Complete History (1879−2010). Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9569848-3-8.
  2. ^ Jack Almond:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  3. ^ Tommy Birtles:- "Player profile - Tommy Birtles". Swindon-Town-FC. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  4. ^ Bill Brelsford:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  5. ^ Billy Bridgewater:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  6. ^ Harold Buddery:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  7. ^ Billy Calder:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  8. ^ Fred Charles:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  9. ^ Bert Cook:- Clarebrough, Denis; Kirkham, Andrew (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  10. ^ Jimmy Dyer:- "James Arthur Dyer profile". mufcinfo. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  11. ^ Bernard Frith:- "Players 1914-15". Sky is Blue. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  12. ^ Frank Foxall:- Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 94. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  13. ^ Bob Herrod:- "Player profile - Bob Herrod". Foxestalk. Archived from the original on 2 May 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  14. ^ Bob Hewitson:- Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records. soccerdata. p. 123. ISBN 1-899468-63-3.
  15. ^ Freddy Hicks:- "Player profile - Freddy Hicks". Swindon-Town-FC. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. ^ Albert Jenkins:- Bluff, Tony (2011). Donny:Doncaster Rovers F.C. The Complete History (1879−2010). Yore Publications. ISBN 978-0-9569848-3-8.
  17. ^ Billy Law:- Jones, Trefor (1996). The Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 143. ISBN 0-9527458-1-X.
  18. ^ John Mitchell:− Marland, Simon (2011). Bolton Wanderers: the complete record. DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1859839720.
  19. ^ Joe Moran:- "Player profile - Joe Moran". Foxes History. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  20. ^ Matt Moralee:- "Liverpool 1 - 0 Doncaster Rovers". LFCHistory.net. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  21. ^ Matt Moralee:- Brodie, John; Dickinson, Jason. Sheffield Wednesday: The Complete Record. DB Publishing. ISBN 9781859839737.
  22. ^ Jack Price:- Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 212. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  23. ^ Arthur Reed:- Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  24. ^ Charlie Richards:- Bostock, Adam; Pilger, Sam; Butler, Cliff; Mitten, Andy; Meek, David; Taylor, Frank OBE; Barnes, Justyn; Tyrell, Tom; Ferguson, Jim (2001) [1998]. The Official Manchester United Illustrated Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). London: Manchester United Books. ISBN 0-233-99964-7.
  25. ^ Fred Shreeve:- "Frederick Shreeve". Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  26. ^ Fred Shreeve:- "West Ham United Statistics - Frederick Shreeve". Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  27. ^ Alfred Smelt:- "Players 1914-15". Sky is Blue. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  28. ^ Peter Turner:- Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. p. 229. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  29. ^ Charlie Woodruff:- "charlie woodruff - fact file". ?. Retrieved 24 January 2013.