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Joe
Lofthouse |
Blackburn Rovers FC, Accrington FC
7 appearances, 2 or 3 goals
P 7 W 4 D
2 L 1 F 27: A 7
71% successful
1885-91
captain: none
minutes played: 630 |
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 |
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Timeline |
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Joseph Morris Lofthouse |
|
Birth |
Friday,
14 April 1865 at 17 Dixon Street in Bank Top, Blackburn, Lancashire |
|
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registered in
Blackburn April-June 1865. |
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Baptism |
Sunday, 21 May 1865 in St Peter's Church, Blackburn, to William and Hannah
Lofthouse, living at 17 Dixon Street, by W. Hudson. Occupation:
Self-minder |
|
Education |
Attended St Luke's School, Witton and Blackburn
Grammar School. |
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|
According to the 1871
census, Joseph is the youngest of three children to William and Hannah
(née Morris)
living on Dixon Street in the Witton area of Blackburn. His father works
at the cotton mill. |
|
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(His father died in early
1879)
According to the 1881
census, Joseph is the youngest of the three children at home with their
mother, who has remarried, to Thomas Smith, a farmer and innkeeper. They
live at Wind Mill in Samlesbury, with two servants. |
|
Marriage |
to
Elizabeth Maria Proudlove, on 21 May 1885, at St. John's Church in Blackburn |
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registered in
Blackburn April-June 1885. |
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Children |
Joe and
Elizabeth Lofthouse had four children together. William (b.28
December 1885), Nellie (b.3 January 1887),
Beatrice (b.1889) and Joseph Morris
(b.27 November 1890). |
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"JOSEPH
MORRIS
LOFTHOUSE
was down in the cause list at the Blackburn Police-court last week, for
assault on a person named Taylor, but as this gentleman did not come
forward to state his grievance, Joe's offence must not have been of a very
serious nature." -
Athletic News, Tuesday, 9 November 1886 |
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|
"That Joseph Morris Lofthouse, the famous right-wing of the Blackburn Rovers,
is about to leave for America, where one of his old club companions, Hugh
Mc.Intyre, already resides. That the Rovers are to-day playing a match
with Darwen, for 'Joe's' benefit." -
Lancashire Evening Post, Saturday, 28 May 1887 |
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"BOROUGH
POLICE-COURT, WEDNESDAY.―Before
the Mayor (Councillor Appleby), and J. Hoyle, J. Lund, H. Almond, Esqrs.,
and other Magistrates.
"WIFE
DESERTION.
― Joseph Morris Lofthouse, a taper, Grosvenor Vault,
Shorrock Fold, was summoned by his wife Elizabeth Maria Lofthouse, for
deserting her and her family.―Mr. Brothers appeared for complainant, who
said that they were married in May, 1885, and she had been assaulted
many times since. He deserted her, and she sought relief from the
guardians.―An order was made that he should pay her 10s per week." -
Preston Herald, Saturday, 18 June 1887 |
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|
"Joseph Morris Lofthouse, the famous international
forward of the Blackburn Rovers' Football Club, and who has shared in all
the great achievements of that Club, was summoned before the Blackburn
Borough Magistrates on Wednesday for cruelty to his wife, and deserting
her and her family. Lofthouse, who did not appear, was ordered to
contribute 10/- per week towards her maintenance." -
Grantham Journal & Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Saturday, 18 June 1887 |
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According to the 1891
census, Joseph is now married to Elizabeth and they have three children,
Nellie, Beatrice and Joseph. He is a licensed victualler at The Black
Greyland at 18 Lord Bryon Street, Blackburn. The have one servant. |
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|
"Mr. Holland, acting on behalf of Joseph Morris
Lofthouse, withdrew the application for a removal of the licence of the
Black Greyhound Inn, Northgate, to Galligreaves Hall, Rodney-street and
Adnes-street. He then applied for an alehouse licence to be granted
Lofthouse for the Old Galligreaves Hall." -
Preston Herald, Saturday, 29 August 1891 |
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False
Obituary |
"DEATH OF FAMOUS FOOTBALLER
"News was received in
Blackburn yesterday of the death of Joe Lofthouse, of the Blackburn
Rovers. Lofthouse was one of the most famous wing forwards of his time,
having played international against Scotland in 1885 and 1887, against
Wales in the same two years, and against Ireland in 1885. He has played
for Blackburn Rovers, Accrington, Darwen, and Southport Central recently.
The cause of death was inflammation of the lungs." -
Sunderland Daily Echo, Tuesday, 16 May 1893 &
Lincolnshire Echo, Wednesday, 17 May 1893 |
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"In consequence of a too enterprising
penny-a-liner's desire to earn a little "oof," a statement found its way
into certain papers during last week to the effect that Joe
Lofthouse...had succumbed to an attack of the inflammation of the lungs.
Happily the statement was entirely without foundation, for although Joe
Lofthouse is at present confined to his bed suffering from such an
illness, he is rapidly progressing towards recovery, all danger being
past. The statement gave much annoyance." -
The Athletic News, Monday, 22 May 1893. |
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"AN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLER AND HIS
CIGARS
"At Blackburn County Court
yesterday, Judge Coventry made
a commitment order for twenty days against Joe Lofthouse, the old
International football player, late of Blackburn Rovers, and now of
Wednesbury FC, on the application of the creditor, for £6 for cigars
supplied.―The Plaintiff's solicitor stated that Lofthouse could well
afford to pay, as he was earning nearly three pounds a week, besides keeping a
public-house.―His Honour suspended the commitment while £2 per month was
paid." - York Herald/Lincolnshire Echo,
Tuesday, 16 January 1894. |
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According to the 1901
census, Joseph and his family are now at The Ouzehead Inn at 39 Long Row,
Blackburn. |
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"FAMOUS
FOOTBALLER INJURED.
"Joe Lofthouse, the famous international
footballer, of Blackburn Rovers, is lying in a dangerous condition in
Blackburn Infirmary as a result of a severe inward strain sustained whilst
engaged lifting a barrel in his public-house." -
Manchester Evening News, Thursday, 24 October 1901 |
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"BLACKBURN LICENSEE FINED.
"At Blackburn, yesterday, Joseph Lofthouse, international footballer,
and landlord of an inn, was summoned
for having his house open during prohibited hours and permitting
drunkenness. At three o'clock in the morning two men were found in the
house. Constables heard of a bet of a bottle of champagne as to certain
birthplaces. The defence was that the two were guests, and were
celebrating a birthday. The landlord was fined 10s. and costs in one case,
and costs in the other"
- Manchester Courier
& Lancashire General Advertiser, Thursday, 16 January 1902 |
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According to the 1911
census, Joseph is a football trainer. He is at 27 Bardsay Road in Walton,
Liverpool with one his children, Beatrice. He remains married, and
Elizabeth is recorded as being a married boarder and cotton weaver at the
home of Joseph & Myra Shaw in 10 Howard Street.
(His mother died
toward the end of 1911. His eldest son, William, died 12 April 1918) |
|
Death |
Tuesday, 10 June 1919 in
Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Infirmary Road, Blackburn, Lancashire |
|
aged
54 years 57 days |
registered in
Blackburn April-June 1919 |
|
Obituary |
"FAMOUS OLD ROVER―DEATH OF J.M. LOFTHOUSE
AT BLACKBURN
"Another famous footballer
passed away on Tuesday in Joseph Morris Lofthouse, who died at Blackburn
Royal Infirmary, to which institution he was admitted on May 21st
suffering from heart trouble, with complications. He was 54 years of age.
Born at Bank Top, he soon displayed a strong partiality for sport, and
such was his skill he captained the local Grammar School team.
Subsequently he became associated with the King's Own. In the last season
of that organisation he was the captain, and during that tournament the
team only once suffered defeat. When quite a youth Lofthouse became
identified with the Rovers, appearing as a forward in the second eleven,
and he was making occasional appearances with the first team when a youth
of 16. Such was his ability that he represented Lancashire, and for many
years did not miss a county match.
Though he favoured the extreme wing
positions, he was a capital centre-forward, and had also appeared at
outside-left with success. Gifted with a rare turn of speed, and a smart
dribbler, he was an exceedingly dangerous forward. For a couple of seasons
he assisted Accrington, who were then a power in the land. Lofthouse was
the holder of many medals won in connection with the Lancashire Cup and
Charity Cup competitions, also a silver medal presented to him for his
services to the county, and trophies for running and swimming." -
Lancashire Evening News, Saturday, 14 June 1919. |
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Funeral |
Friday, 13 June 1919 in
Blackburn |
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Probate |
"LOFTHOUSE
Joseph Morris of 5 Cross-street Morecambe
Lancashire football
trainer died 10 June
1919 at Blackburn Administration
Lancaster 8 July to
Joseph Morris Lofthouse the younger boot maker.
Effects £148 8s. 4d."
[2019 equivalent: £7,699]. |
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Elizabeth Lofthouse died in Blackburn in the
following month, July 1919 |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
|
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
Played
schoolboy football in Blackburn before joining King's Own FC and then
Blackburn Rovers FC in 1881 as a 16 year old. Joined Accrington FC on 12 July 1887, and rejoined Rovers two years later in 1889. Joined Darwen FC
on 25 August 1892 and was suspended by the club on 3 November 1892, then
playing for Southport Central FC later in the month. Next seen training
the Walsall Town Swifts FC players in December 1893. Reported as being a member
of The Wednesday FC team in January 1894, but was back at Walsall in the
March, and being employed as the club trainer in August. After
returning to Blackburn area in January 1900, he went overseas to pursue
his football career by becoming a coach to the Magyar Athletic Club in
Budapest, Hungary, on 28 February 1902. Returned after two months to Blackburn before
joining New Brompton FC to become their trainer on 4 August 1902, then became the trainer at Everton FC from August 1903
until at least the end of the 1909-10 season. |
League History
113 appearances, 25 goals
one expulsion |
Accrington
FC 1888-89 21 appearances, two goals
debut: 8 September 1888
Everton FC 2 Accrington FC 1.
Blackburn Rovers FC
1889-92 51 appearances, eighteen goals
debut: 7 September 1889 Everton FC 3
Blackburn Rovers 2.
Darwen FC 1892 eight appearances,
one goal
debut: 3 September 1889 Walsall Town Swifts FC 1
Darwen FC 2.
Walsall Town Swifts FC 1893-95
33 appearances, four goals
debut: 2 December 1892 Crewe Alexandra FC 1
Walsall Town Swifts FC 1.
last (second division): 20 April 1895 Walsall
Town Swifts FC 1 Lincoln City FC 2. |
|
Club honours |
FA Cup winners
1883-84, 1884-85,
1885-86 (injured), 1889-90 (5ᵃ), 1890-91 (6ᵃ);
Football League third place 1889-90 (18ᵃ, 11ᵍ),
Division Two third place 1892-93 (8ᵃ, 1ᵍ). |
|
Individual honours |
Lancashire FA (on several occasions from 1882);
Lofthouse received a benefit match on 10 September 1900 from Blackburn
Rovers FC between the present 1900 team and the cup winning teams of the
1880's. It ended in a two-all draw. |
|
Height/Weight |
5' 8", 11st
10lbs or 12lbs [1891] |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of
five who became the 115th players
(118) to appear
for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Outside-right; |
|
First match |
No. 23, 28 February 1885, England 4 Ireland
0, a British Championship match at
Manchester Football Ground, Whalley Range, Manchester, aged 19 years
320 days. |
|
Last match |
No. 38, 15 March 1890, Ireland 1 England 9,
a
British Championship match at Ulster
Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 24 years 335 days.
 0,
1 or 2 goals? |
|
Major tournaments |
British
Championship 1884-85, 1886-87, 1888-89, 1889-90; |
|
Team honours |
British
Championship shared 1889-90; |
|
Individual honours |
The North
(one appearance, January 1885)
The Players (one
appearance, December 1886) |
|
Distinctions |
Lofthouse
was in charge of the
England team that drew with Scotland in April 1904. |
|
Beyond England |
|
An
early missionary to the continent, even if it only lasted a matter of
months. - An
English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990).
Hatton Press, p.159. |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Apps |
comp. apps |
minutes |
|
goals ave.min |
comp. goals |
captain |
|
10 |
7 |
7 |
630 |
2 or 3 |
315
min or 210 min |
2 or 3 |
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 |
|
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
27 |
7 |
+20 |
0 |
2 |
3.857 |
1 |
71.4 |
+3 |
|
All of his matches were played in the British Championship
competition |
Venue Record
|
Venue |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS
|
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
Home |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
18 |
6 |
+12 |
0 |
2 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
66.7 |
+2 |
|
Away |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
1 |
+8 |
0 |
0 |
9.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
Tournament Record
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC 1884-85 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
6 |
2 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
2.00 |
0.667 |
66.7 |
+1 |
|
BC 1886-87 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
3 |
+3 |
0 |
1 |
3.00 |
1.50 |
50.0 |
=0 |
|
BC 1888-89 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
+5 |
0 |
0 |
6.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
BC 1889-90 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
1 |
+8 |
0 |
0 |
9.00 |
1.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
BC 1890-91 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
=0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
00.0 |
=0 |
|
BC All |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
27 |
7 |
+20 |
0 |
2 |
3.857 |
1.00 |
71.4 |
+3 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
27 |
7 |
+20 |
0 |
2 |
3.857 |
1.00 |
71.4 |
+3 |
|
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
27 |
7 |
+20 |
0 |
2 |
3.857 |
1 |
71.4 |
+3 |
Match History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
|
England
Football Online