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Players Index Page Last Updated
24 September 2024
 
 

George Hedley

Sheffield United FC

 1 appearance, 1 debut goal

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 3: A 0
100% successful
1900-02

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  George Albert Hedley
Birth Thursday, 20 July 1876 at 30 Monkland Street in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire
  registered in Middlesbrough July-September 1876
Baptism Sunday, 13 August 1876 at St. Paul's Church in Middlesbrough
 

According to the 1881 census, George Albert was the only child of George and Mary Elizabeth (née Chester). They live at 34 Carter Street in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough. His father is a joiner.
 

According to the 1891 census, George A. remains the only child. He is a telegraph messenger, and they all live at 56 Harris Street in MIddlesbrough. His father still a joiner.

 

According to the 1901 census, George Alfred is a professional footballer boarding with Betsy Jackson and the Thickitt family, including fellow England footballer Harry Thickitt. They live at 66 Urban Road in Balby with Hexthorpe, in Doncaster. 

First marriage to Ruth Hill, in 1901.
  registered in Dudley April-June 1901
Children George and Ruth Hedley had one son together. Rowland Hill (b.17 June 1902 in Doncaster).
 

(His wife, Ruth, died on 19 July 1906 in Sedgley)
According to the 1911 census, George A., still a professional footballer, widowed, with one son, Rowland. He has one servant and they live at 69 Park Street South in Wolverhampton.
Second marriage to Lilian May Mason on Tuesday, 23 September 1913 at St. Luke's Church, Wolverhampton. George is fifteen years her senior, and she was a widow.
  registered in Wolverhampton July-September 1913
  "George Hedley, Bristol's manager, and the old Sheffield United and Wolves player was married at Wolverhampton a day or two before the Fosse match." - Football News, Saturday, 4 October 1913
Children George and Lily Hedley had one daughter together. Cissie Evelyn (b.21 June 1914 in Bristol), living at 42 Ashton Road, Bedminster at the time of her baptism (20 July 1914).
However, according to his Army records...The Children's Society attempted to track down George Hedley in an attempt to recompense for a child he had fathered to an unknown woman.
 

(His mother died in early 1919 in Middlesbrough)
According to the 1921 census, George Albert, now a licensed victualler and now married to Lilian, with one daughter, Cissie. They live at The George & Dragon in Redcliffe Hill in Bristol.
(His father died in late 1922 in Middlesbrough)
  According to the 1939 register, George is a public house licensee, still married, and living at The White Hart, 84 Bedminster Parade in  Bedminster area of Bristol.
Death Sunday, 16 August 1942 at 46 Paget Road in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
aged 66 years 27 days registered in Wolverhampton July-September 1942

Obituary
"GEORGE HEDLEY DEAD
"The death took place yesterday at [46, Paget Road] Wolverhampton of George Albert Hedley, one of the best players who ever appeared for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and one who had the distinction of holding three winners' Cup Final medals and one runners-up medal. Hedley, who was 66, went to the Wanderers from Sheffield United, for whom he appeared in three final ties—in 1899 against Derby County, in 1901 against Tottenham Hotspur, and in 1902 against Southampton. Sheffield United won the the first and last of the three matches. His fourth appearance in a final tie was with the Wanderers in 1908 against Newcastle United, when he scored one of the goals. He had joined the Midland club the previous season as an inside-right, but against Newcastle United he played at centre-forward. Afterwards he went to live at Bristol but two years ago he was bombed out, and returned to Wolverhampton." - Birmingham Mail [Staffordshire Advertiser], Monday, 17 August 1942.

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career
Club(s) Started his career with his local club, South Bank FC, from where he joined Sheffield United FC as an amateur for the 1897-98 season. Hedley turned professional in May 1898. Joined Southampton FC in May 1903. Wolverhampton Wanderers FC signed him on 3 May 1906, amid 'keen competition and the transfer fee is a stiff one.' He remained until 23 April 1913.

League honours
313 appearances 101 goals		 Sheffield United FC 1898-1903 120 appearances 36 goals
debut: 26 March 1898 West Bromwich Albion FC 2 Sheffield United FC 0.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1906-13 193 appearances, 65 goals
debut (division two): 1 September 1906 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 Hull City FC 1.
last (division two): 25 January 1913 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 Leeds City FC 2.
Club honours Football League Division One Champions 1897-98 (2ᵃ), runners-up 1899-1900 (31ᵃ 14ᵍ), fourth place 1902-03 (10ᵃ 2ᵍ);
Sheriff of London Charity shield shared 1898;
FA Cup winner 1898-99 (9ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1901-02 (9ᵃ 2ᵍ), 1907-08 (7ᵃ 4ᵍ), runners-up 1900-01 (7ᵃ 1ᵍ); Southern League winners 1903-04;
Individual honours Football League (one appearance)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 10", 11st. 7lbs [1901], 12st. 4lbs [1902], 5' 8½" 14st 0lbs [1917].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

Management Career

Club(s)
League honours
P 81 W 31 D 18 L 32		 Left his playing career to become manager of Bristol City FC on 23 April 1913 until the end of the 1914-15. Applied for the vacant managerial position at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the 1922 summer, but was overlooked.
Football League best Division Two eighth place 1913-14;
FA Cup best second round 1914-15 (beaten by Everton FC 0-4)

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 257th players (259) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
Only match No. 71, 9 March 1901, England 3 Ireland 0, a British Championship match at The Dell, Milton Road, The Common, Southampton, aged 24 years 232 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1900-01;
Team honours British Championship winners 1900-01;
Individual honours The North (two appearances, 2ᵍ March 1900-February 1901);
The Professionals (withdrew, September 1901)
Distinctions None

Beyond England
Was for many years, until 1941, a Bristol licensee, namely the George & Dragon in Radcliffe Hill, and The White Hart in Bedminster. Then not long before his death returned to Wolverhampton to take over a boarding house. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.125/6.
Joined the Royal Garrison Artillery on 4 January 1917 in Bristol as a forty-year old.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
4 1 1 90 1 90 min 1 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 0 100 +1
His only match was played in the British Championship competition and at a home venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1899-1900 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC 1900-01 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1901-02 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC All 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 0 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Sheffield United F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. International Select Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

Age 23 trial  
one appearance  - The South vs. The North, 7 March 1900;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

70 7 April 1900 - Scotland 4 England 1, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AL reserve

Age 24 trial  
one appearance  - The South vs. The North, 25 February 1901;

1 71 9 March 1901 - England 3 Ireland 0
The Dell, Southampton		 BC HW 81 cf
 

one of five who became the 257th player (259) to appear for England
the tenth Sheffield United player to represent England
the 48th player to score on his England debut - the 32nd competitive

73 30 March 1901 - England 2 Scotland 2, Sports Arena, Crystal Palace BC HD reserve
 

Tour of FA 25 September 1901 - England 10 Germany 0, Hyde Road, Manchester tour HW withdrew
 

Age 25
void 5 April 1902 - Scotland 1 England 1, Ibrox Park, Glasgow BC AD reserve
 


     

 
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