Full name Ephraim Rhodes Playing position Name Dusty Rhodes | Place of birth South Bank, England Years Team | |
Date of birth (1882-08-16)16 August 1882 Date of death 30 September 1960(1960-09-30) (aged 78) | ||
Ephraim "Dusty" Rhodes was an English professional footballer and manager who played in the Football League for Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the early 20th century. He played for and managed Brentford in the Southern Football League and was posthumously inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in May 2015.
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Playing career
Born in South Bank, North Yorkshire, Rhodes began his career in his hometown at Northern League side South Bank. He earned a move to divisional rivals Grangetown Athletic in 1901, finishing runners-up in the Northern League during the 1901/02 season. His performances earned him a move to reigning Football League Division One champions Sunderland in the summer of 1902. He made only five appearances during the 1902/03 season, but slowly forced his way into the team during the 1903/04 season, making 16 appearances. Rhodes was a regular during the 1904/05 season, making 28 appearances and scoring a penalty to register his first goal for the club. He made 24 appearances and scored another penalty during the 1905/06 season. Rhodes was a virtual ever-present during the 1906/07 season, making 39 appearances and scoring two goals. 1907/08 would be Rhodes' final season with Sunderland, in which he made only eight appearances, but scored his only goal for the club from open play. He made 120 appearances and scored five goals in a six season spell with the Rokerites.
Rhodes moved to London to join Southern League Division One side Brentford in 1908. Under manager Fred Halliday, he won the Southern Professional Charity Cup during his debut season, the first silverware of his career. He left the club in April 1915, due to the suspension of football during the First World War. He made almost 400 appearances for the Griffin Park club. In 1919, after the war, Rhodes joined Southern League Division One side Crystal Palace. Now in the twilight of his career, Rhodes returned to the Football League once again in 1920, when a third-place finish in the Southern League Division One in the 1919/20 season saw Palace elected as founding members of the new Football League Division Three. He had a dream season back in the Football League, captaining Palace to the 1920/21 Third Division title. He retired in 1922.
Brentford
Rhodes became player-manager of Brentford in November 1912, following the departure of Fred Halliday. His tenure got off to a bad start, suffering relegation to the Southern League Division Two in the 1912/13 season. He left the club at the end of the 1914/15 season. He managed the Bees in 79 games, winning 36, drawing 16 and losing 27.
Coaching career
Rhodes returned to Brentford (now members of the Third Division South) as trainer in 1922, serving until 1925.
As a player
Brentford
Crystal Palace
As an individual
Personal life
Rhodes married Daisy Caroline Shinner in 1904 and they had three children. He served in the Royal Army Pay Corps (Royal Fusiliers) during the First World War. Rhodes' younger brother Ernie was also a footballer, following him from Grangetown Athletic to Sunderland in 1907. They later reunited at Crystal Palace. Following his time at Brentford, Rhodes became a supporter of the club.