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Goalkeepers Index Page Last Updated
28 February 2025
 
 

Harry Linacre

Nottingham Forest FC

 2 appearances, 1 goal against
1 clean sheet

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 4: A 1
100% successful
1905

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  James Henry Linacre
Birth Saturday, 26 March 1881 at Derby Road, Aston-on-Trent, Derbyshire
  registered in Shardlow April-June 1881
Education Attended Grammar School House, Osgathorpe, Leicestershire, Loughborough Grammar School.
Baptism Sunday, 1 May 1881 in Aston-on-Trent
 

According to the 1881 census, the infant Linacre is the only child to James Anthony and Annie (née Forman). His father is a farmer, and with two servants, they live in Derby Road in Aston-on-Trent.
 

According to the 1891 census, the ten year old James H. is a pupil at Grammar School House in Osgathorpe, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
His family were living at The Limes in Kegworth.
"DEATHS.   LINACRE—August 31st, at Kegworth, James A. Linacre, aged 36 years." - The Derbyshire Times, Saturday, 5 September 1891
 

According to the 1901 census, James H. is living with his widowed mother, Annie, at 47 Queen's Walk in Nottingham. James is an apprentice to a mechanical engineer.
His mother died on 7 October 1901 in Alderslade.
His death was prematurely reported on 1 May 1909.
Marriage to Ada Spowage, on Wednesday, 22 June 1910 at St. Mary's Church, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. Harry is a builder living at 16 Chaworth Road in West Bridgford
  registered in Nottingham, April-June 1910
Children Harry and Ada Linacre have two children together. Twins Joan Mary and John A. (b.26 November 1911)

According to the 1911 census, Jems Henry is married to Ada, they live at 4 George Road in West Bridgford, Nottingham. He is a speculative builder.
Tragically, one of their twins, John, dies in early 1912, less than four months old.
Kelly's Directory for Nottinghamshire places Linacre's and Forman's joinery business at 4 George Road from 1912 until at least 1925.

According to the 1921 census, Ada and Joan Mary, along with her mother, Ethel Maud, are at 82 Church Walks in Llandudno. No sign of Harry though.
"FORMAN & LINACRE, LTD.—Private company, Capital £3,000 (£1 shares), to carry on the business of builders and building contractors, decorators, painters, glaziers, plumbers, builders' merchants. Directors: Frank Forman, The Mount, Melton Road, Nottingham; James H. Linacre, Alderslade, Stamford Road, Nottingham; Ralph Forman, address not stated." - Sheffield Telegraph & Independent, Friday, 9 June 1939
According to the 1939 register, James H., and Ada are still married, living at 7 Stamford Road in West Bridgford, he is a builder and a special constable.
His wife Ada, died on 14 February 1954
Death Saturday, 11 May 1957 at The General Hospital, Park Terrace, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire. Living at Alderslade, Stamford Road, West Bridgford.
aged 76 years 46 days registered in Nottingham April-June 1957

Obituary
"He kept goal for England.
"MEMORIES of great Nottingham Forest teams are revived by the death of Mr. James Henry Linacre who, for ten seasons—beginning in 1899-1900, two seasons after Forest won the Association Cup—kept goal for the 'Reds.'. He came into the Forest team in succession to Denny Allsop. The club's captain at that time was Mr. Linacre's uncle, the famous Frank Forman. When their playing days were over the two became associated in a successful building contractor's business at West Bridgford. Born at Aston-on-Trent in 1881, Mr. Linacre, who was tall and agile, played as goalkeeper for Loughborough Grammar School at the age of 14. Later he joined Derby County as an amateur, and after playing mainly for the reserves signed for Forest. Mr. Linacre earned a great reputation saving penalties, and it was just a reward for a grand player when in 1903-4 he played in the North-South game. In the next season he played for England against Scotland and against Wales, also for the League against the Scottish League. Mr. Linacre was also a proficient and enthusiastic golfer. He was a member of the Bulwell Hall and Seacroft (Skegness) golf clubs. Mr. Linacre, who was 76 and a widower, leaves one daughter. His home was in Stamford-road, West Bridgford." - The Guardian Journal, Tuesday, 14 May 1957.
Probate "LINACRE James Henry of Alderslade Stamford-road West Bridgford Nottinghamshire died 11 May 1957 at The General Hospital Nottingham Probate Nottingham 17 September to Joan Mary Pegg (wife of John Edward Langfield Pegg). Effects £37,489 14s. 2d." [2025 equivalent £769,673]
Source

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

Playing Career
Club(s) Began his football career playing in goal for Loughborough Grammar School at the age of fourteen, occasionally appearing as a centre-half. He also captained the cricket team. Played with Draycott Mills FC as a seventeen year-old, and after a season, he assisted his local club, Aston FC, before signing with Derby County FC in December 1898. Before Nottingham Forest FC took him in August 1899, where he remained for the next ten years.

League honours
308 appearances		 Derby County FC 1899 two league appearances
debut: 18 February 1899 Derby County FC 4 Notts County FC 2.
Nottingham Forest FC 1899-1909 306 appearances
debut: 4 November 1899 Nottingham Forest FC 2 Bury FC 2.
last: 12 April 1909 Nottingham Forest FC 0 Bury FC 2.
Club honours Football League Division One fourth place 1900-01 (34ᵃ); Division Two winners 1906-07 (33ᵃ);
FA Cup semi-finalists 1899-1900 (0ᵃ), 1901-02 (4ᵃ)
Individual honours Midland League (one appearance);
Derby & District League (one appearance):
Football League (one appearance)
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 11", 11st. 2lbs [1903].

Source

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

England Career
Player number One of three who became the 308th players (308) to appear for England. 34th goalkeeper to appear.
Position(s) Goalkeeper
First match No. 84, 27 March 1905, England 3 Wales 1, a British Championship match at Anfield Road, Anfield, Liverpool, aged 24 years 1 day.
Last match No. 85, 1 April 1905, England 1 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Sports Arena, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, aged 24 years 6 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1904-05;
Team honours British Championship winners 1904-05;
Individual honours The North (one appearance, 1ᵍᵃ January 1903)
Distinctions Nephew of Frank & Fred Forman (not brother-in-law)

Beyond England
Was in business with his uncle, Frank Forman, in the building contractors industry, based in West Bridgford. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.157.


The Numbers
parties Apps Comp
Apps		 minutes GA GA Av.
min		 Comp GA Clean
Sheets		 Cln
Sht Av		 captain
2 2 2 180 1 180 min 1 1 50% 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
2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2 0.5 100 +2
Both of his matches were 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 1904-05 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC All 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 100.0 +2
2 2 0 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2 0.5 100 +2

Match History

 Club: Nottingham Forest F.C. - two full appearances (180 min) F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearances (180 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The South vs. The North, January 1903;

Age 24
1 84 27 March 1905 - England 3 Wales 1
Anfield Road, Liverpool		 BC HW cs:75min gk
ᵍᵃheader

one of three who became the 308th player (308) to appear for England
the sixteenth player from Nottingham Forest FC to represent England
the 34th goalkeeper to play for England - twentieth competitive

2 85 1 April 1905 - England 1 Scotland 0
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HW cs:105min gk
 


  

 
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