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Players Index Page Last Updated
15 February 2023
 
 

George Woodhall

West Bromwich Albion FC

 2 appearances, 1 goal on his debut

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 10: A 1
100% successful
1887-88

captain: none
minutes played: 180

Timeline
  George Woodhall
Birth Saturday, 5 September 1863 at 28 Church Vale, All Saints, West Bromwich, Staffordshire
  registered in West Bromwich July-September 1863
 

According to the 1871 census, George is the oldest of two children to James and Sarah (née Cook). They live at 28 Church Vale, in Wednesbury area of West Bromwich. His father is a shingler.
 

According to the 1881 census, George, now a chair maker, is still one of two children, still at home with their parents, still at 28 Church Vale. His father is now a mill roller at the local ironworks.
Marriage to Emily Bennett, in early 1889 in West Bromwich
  registered in West Bromwich January-March 1889
Children George and Emily Wooodhall had five children together. Lilian (b.1889), Harry (b.1893), May (b.1896), Edith (b.1898) and Elsie (b.1903).
 

According to the 1891 census, George is now married to Sarah and is also a publican. They have one daughter, Lilian, and along with his sister Polly, who is the barmaid, they live at the Three Crowns Inn, 16 Swan Village.
(his mother did in mid-1892, and his father in 1894)
 

According to the 1901 census, George, a licensed victualler, still married, now have three more children, Harry, May and Edith, and along with one housemaid, Ann Woodhouse, they are living at 26 Halesowen Street in Oldbury.
"At West Bromwich County-court, yesterday, George Woodhall, license-holder, sought to recover from Messrs. Arnold and Co., brewers, West Bromwich certain sums, being half the compensation charges annually levied upon a licensed house of the defendants, of which he was tenant, and which sum he paid, not knowing that the owners were solely liable. The money was paid with his rent, and defendants urged that it was paid as increased rent, and that they were justified in law in raising rentals to cover the increased taxation. Judge Smith gave judgment for the plaintiff for £21, with costs." - The Daily Telegraph, Thursday, 23 December 1909.
 

According to the 1911 census, George, still a publican, and still married, with one more child, Elsie. All five of their children are helping with the business, along with Ann Woodhouse, now a barmaid, they live at the Theatre Vaults in West Bromwich. The census reveals that two more children had been born and died.
 

According to the 1921 census, George, a license holder, is still married, and with his four daughters, they live at The Royal Exchange, 82 Walsall Street in West Bromwich.
Death Monday, 29 September 1924 'at his home' at 36 Oxford Road in West Bromwich, Staffordshire
aged 61 years 24 days registered in West Bromwich July-September 1924
"The death occurred at West Bromwich yesterday of Mr. George Woodhall, a famous Association football player" - Westminster Gazette, Wednesday, 1 October 1924

Obituary
"A FAMOUS FOOTBALLER OF THE 'EIGHTIES.
"The death is announced of George Woodhall, a famous West Bromwich Albion forward of the 'eighties. Familiarly known as 'Spry,' Woodhall, in his prime was an outside-right of the highest class, and was honoured by his country in 1888, playing against both Scotland and Wales. He appeared in three successive cup finals for West Bromwich Albion. On leaving the Albion he played for one season with Wolverhampton Wanderers. His death took place at West Bromwich, where for some years he had been a licensed victualler." - The Yorkshire Post, Wednesday, 1 October 1924.
Funeral October 1924 at All Saints Churchyard in Sandwell area of West Bromwich
Probate 'WOODHALL George of 36 Oxford-road, West Bromwich Staffordshire died 29 September 1924 Administration Lichfield 10 November to Emily Woodhall widow.
Effects £538 5s. 3d'
  Emily Woodhall died on 20 January 1939 and buried with her husband

Source

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

Playing Career

Club(s)		 Having played with local football clubs such as Hateley Heath School FC, West Bromwich All Saints FC and Churchfield Foresters FC, as well as assisting Wednesbury Town FC in a victory over Aston Villa FC, Woodhall joined West Bromwich Albion FC in May 1883, turning professional in August 1885. A regular forward for Albion until July 1892, he left to join Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in October 1892, then into the Birmingham League with Berwick Rangers FC (Worcester) late in 1893. Oldbury Town FC followed in 1894, before retirement ensued in 1898.

League History
62 appearances, 11 goals		 West Bromwich Albion FC 1888-92, 44 appearances, ten goals
debut: 8 September 1888 Stoke FC 0 West Bromwich Albion FC 2.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1892-93, eighteen appearances, one goal
debut: 29 October 1892 Stoke FC 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1.
last: 23 September 1893 Blackburn Rovers FC 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 0.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1885-86, 1886-87, winners 1887-88, 1891-92 (no appearances), 1892-93 (none);
Individual honours George Woodhall's benefit match was played between West Bromwich Albion FC and a combined Aston Villa FC/Wolverhampton Wanderers FC team, in October 1892.
Height/Weight not known

Source

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

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the 140th player (144) to appear for England
Position(s) Outside-right;
First match No. 32, 4 February 1888, Wales 1 England 5, a British Championship match at the Alexandra Recreation Ground, Nantwich Road, Crewe, aged 24 years 152 days;
Last match
42 days		 No. 33, 17 March 1888, Scotland 0 England 5, a British Championship match at Hampden Park, Crosshill, Glasgow, aged 24 years 194 days;
Major tournaments British Championship 1887-88;
Team honours British Championship winners 1887-88;
Individual honours None

Beyond England
Woodhall worked for the Salter's Spring firm that has historic connections with West Bromwich Albion FC. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.275.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
3 2 2 180 1 180 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
2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5 0.5 100 +2
Both of his matches were played in the British Championship competition and at an away venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1886-87 0 0 0 0 0 0 =0 0 0 0.00 0.00 00.0 =0
BC 1887-88 2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5.00 0.50 100.0 +2
BC All 2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5.00 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 10 1 +9 0 1 5.00 0.50 100.0 +2
2 2 0 0 10 1 +9 0 1 5 0.5 100 +2

Match History

 Club: West Bromwich Albion F.C. - two full appearances (180 min) 1ᵍ F.A. Committee - no full appearancesx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 23
30 26 February 1887 - England 4 Wales 0, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington BC HW reserve
   

  F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearances (180 min) 1ᵍx

Age 24
1 32 4 February 1888 - Wales 1 England 5
Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe 		BC AW 71 90 or

one of seven who became the 140th player (144) to appear for England
 - the first new players from the International selection committee
the second player from West Bromwich Albion FC to represent England
the twentieth player to score on his England debut - the fourth competitive

2 33 17 March 1888 - Scotland 0 England 5
Hampden Park, Glasgow		 BC AW 40 or
  


     

 
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