Full name George Harold Douglas Playing position Died 1979 Role Footballer | Place of birth Stepney, England Name George Douglas Date of birth 18 August 1893 Years Team | |
Date of death 1979 (aged 85 or 86) | ||
George Harold Douglas (18 August 1893 – 1979) was an English professional association footballer who played as a winger. He played over 300 matches and scored 23 goals in the Football League before moving into non-league football in 1928 as player/manager of Tunbridge Wells Rangers until 1930 he was then to move to Dover Athletic
Article from Tunbridge Wells Local Newspaper on George's death in 1979:
Former England footballer and well known local sportsman Mr George Harold Douglas, of 43 Manor Road Southborogh, died on Wednesday of last week, aged 85. Mr Douglas started his football career at the age of 11. He was captain of Godwin Road School team and West Ham Schools Team which won the English schools championship that year. He played for London Boys against Glasgow boys at Hampden Park and for England against Scotland. After leaving school he joined Ilford reserves and won Essex and London Junior badges. He was then promoted to the first team and gained senior badges. When he became the first professional footballer to sign an agreement, signing for Leicester Fosse for three years. During the 1914-18 war he was in the army and played for many forces teams, and while on leave played for both Arsenal and Borwih as a guest player. After the war he returned to Leicester and received a benefit after eight seasons. In 1920 he transferred to Burnley when they won the championship play 30 matches without defeat. He then went to Oldham Athletic for four seasons and later to Bristol Rovers. Mr Douglas came to Tunbridge Wells Rangers as a player manager and later went to Dover but a serious accident on the field in 1931 finished his football career. At International level he played for England against Germany in 1913 when he scored two goals of which he was very proud. He also played at the Hauge against the Netherlands. After retiring from football he took up a post as manager of a sports shop in Tunbridge Wells - a position he held for 32 years. Following that he worked as a water baliff on the River Medway at Tonbridge for ten years. Mr Douglas leaves a widow and four sons. A funeral Service was held at the Kent and Sussex Crematorium on Wednesday.
Dover Express 14/11/30 He was in the Army during the Great War, and played for the British Army against the French Army in Paris, and against the Belgian Army in Brussels. He played in the British Expeditionary Force team that won the Inter Theatre of War Championship at Stamford Bridge.