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Players Index Page Last Updated
5 January 2023
 
 

Ben Olney

Aston Villa FC

2 appearances, 2 goals against

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 8: A 2
100% successful

1928

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Benjamin Albert Olney
Birth 22 March 1899 in Holborn, London [registered in Holborn, London, June 1899].
The Birmingham Gazette stated he was born in Boland Street in Birmingham. Although it appears this is where he was brought up from ten years-old.
Baptism 9 April 1899 at St. Lukes' Church in Finsbury. Living at 38 Gee Street in Finsbury. Parents: James and Louisa, he is a brassplate maker. Baptism by curator L. Stewart-Wall
 

According to the 1901 census, Benjamin is youngest of three sons to James and Louisa Elizabeth (née Rice) (called Rose). His father is a brass finisher and they all live at 38 Gee Street, in the St. Lukes' area of Finsbury.

 

According to the 1911 census, Benjamin is the second of six children at home (there are seven in total up until 1911). He is attending school and his father remains a brass finisher. They now live in Birmingham, at 43 Moland Street in St. Mary's 

 

According to the 1921 census, Bna is now a professional footballer (for Derby County FC) and is now the second of five sons living at home with their parents at 42 Moland Street.
According to passenger lists, Olney, along with other footballers, was part of a tour of South Africa that returned to Southampton on 5 August 1929 from Cape Town on board the SS Arundel Castle. His address was stated as Sparkbrook in Birmingham. 

Marriage to Mary Ellen Hoare [registered in Aston, Warwickshire, September 1921]. They had one son, Benjamin (b.21 August 1922).
  Charged and fined with dangerous driving in June 1927.
Licensee of the Castle & Falcon, East Street, Derby, from September 1936 until September 1937, where he was license was transferred to the Normanton Hotel, leaving in May 1938.
According to the 1939 register, Mary E. and their son, Benjamin, are living at 79 Gerard Street in Derby. It is possible that Benjamin A. is at the Royal Oak public house in Worton. But this one calls himself a carpenter and has a birthdate of 15 March 1898... but is the only Ben Olney in the register.
Death 23 September 1943 at Derby Isolation Hospital, aged 44 years 185 days [registered in Derby, Derbyshire, September 1943]. Had been living at 297 Brighton Road, Derby, and had been ill for seven weeks before his death.

Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s) Began his career with Fairley's Athletic FC, a Birmingham work's team, before WWI. He was part of the Army, where he developed his talents as a custodian. After retiring from the services, he joined Aston Park Rangers FC, and it was while he was there, he signed amateur forms with Brierley Hill Alliance FC. He joined Stourbridge FC as a semi-professional. Signed by Derby County FC on 22 April 1921 for a £900 transfer fee, he made 223 league appearances before an accident to his hand kept him out. Olney was transferred to Aston Villa on 29 December 1927. Kept goal for 84 league matches. Bilston United FC on 10 July 1930, before joining Walsall FC in August 1931. Shrewsbury Town FC in the Birmingham League, signed Olney on 17 August 1932, making his last game on 30 December 1933, from when he retired from the game in order to make a living wage. Although in 1935, he was keeping goal for Moor Green FC, and in 1940, was playing for his works team, Rolls-Royce FC.
Club honours Football League Division Two runners-up 1925-26; 
Individual honours None
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 6' 1" [1921]. 6' 0", 13st. 0lbs [1927]. 6' 1", 13st. 12lbs [1929].

Source

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

England Career

Player number One of six who became 528th players (528) to appear for England.
Position(s) Goalkeeper
First match No. 160, 17 May 1928, France 1 England 5, an end-of-season tour match at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, Paris, aged 29 years 56 days.
Last match No. 161, 19 May 1928 - Belgium 1 England 3, an end-of-season tour match at Olympisch Stadion, Antwerpen, aged 29 years 58 days.
Major tournaments None
Team honours None
Individual honours England Junior (one appearance, 1921); FA Tour of South Africa 1929;
Distinctions Died 24 days after George Toone

Beyond England

He returned to Derby to become licensee of the Castle and Falcon, and was later licensee of the Normanton Hotel. He was employed with Rolls Royce at the time of his death. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.x./Derby Telegraph

 

Ben Olney - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. GA GA Av.
min
Clean
Sheets
Cln
Sht Av.
Capt. Disc.
2 2 0 180 2 90 0 0 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Ben Olney - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Away - Friendly 2 2 0 0 8 2 +6 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +2
All 2 2 0 0 8 2 +6 0 0 4.00 1.00 100.0 +2


Ben Olney - Match History
 

 Club: Aston Villa F.C. - two full appearances (180 min)

F.A. International Selection Committee - twe full appearances (180 min)x

Age 29
1 160 17 May 1928 - France 1 England 5, Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris tour AW Start gk
2 161 19 May 1928 - Belgium 1 England 3, Olympisch Stadion, Antwerpen AW Start gk

Notes

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CG