Full name George Latham Place of death Newtown, Wales Name George Latham Position Defender | Place of birth Newtown, Wales Playing position Role Footballer | |
Date of birth (1881-01-01)1 January 1881 Date of death 9 July 1939(1939-07-09) (aged 58) Died July 9, 1939, Newtown, United Kingdom | ||
George Latham MC & Bar (1 January 1881 – 9 July 1939) was a Welsh professional footballer and coach.
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As a player, he played for Cardiff City, Liverpool, Stoke and Southport, and played 10 times for Wales. He coached Cardiff City during its greatest period of success between 1911 and 1936. The team won the FA Cup in 1927, and only missed out on the League Championship by goal difference.
Playing career
Latham began his career at his hometown club Newtown in 1897 before turning professional in 1902 after joining Liverpool, having previously had a trial spell with their Merseyside rivals Everton. He made his debut three years later in an 8–1 victory over Burslem Port Vale on 8 April 1905 but never fully established himself in the team, making just 19 appearances in all competitions during a seven-year spell at the club. After leaving Anfield, Latham had spells with Southport, becoming the first player to win an international cap at the club. He joined Stoke in 1910 and played eight times for the club during the 1910–11 season.
During his career, Latham won 10 caps for Wales, making his debut on 6 March 1905 in a 3–1 win over Scotland. Nine of his ten caps came during his playing career, however his tenth and final cap came when he was forced into action in a 1–0 win over Ireland on 18 January 1913 while serving as a coach for the national team.
World War I
Latham, who had previously served in the Second Boer War, was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the First World War and promoted to Lieutenant in 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, for his gallantry in capturing enemy positions on the Turkish front while under heavy fire, and a Bar in 1918. It was during his service in the First World War that Latham first met his longtime friend Harry Beadles.
Coaching career
After returning to Wales, Latham took up a position as a coach at Cardiff City. While serving as a coach Latham was forced into playing for the side in a 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers in 1921, becoming the oldest debutant in the history of the club at 41. His spell at Ninian Park coincided with one of the most successful spells in the history of the club, including reaching the FA Cup final on two occasions, losing 1–0 to Sheffield United in 1925 before beating Arsenal 1–0 in 1927. He also managed the British team at the 1924 Olympic Games.
Retirement
In 1936, Latham was seriously injured in a bicycle accident and was forced to give up his coaching role. He instead returned to his home town Newtown where he died three years later in July 1938 at the age of 58.
His home town club, Newtown later named their ground Latham Park in honour of him.