Geordie Anderson

George E. "Geordie" Anderson was a Scottish professional footballer. He played as a defender and, later, as a forward.

Geordie Anderson
Personal information
Place of birth Scotland
Position(s) Centre Half/Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
18??–1892 Leith Athletic ? (?)
1892–1896 Blackburn Rovers 131 (11)
1896–1897 New Brighton Tower ? (?)
1897 → Blackburn Rovers (loan) 2 (0)
1897–1898 New Brighton Tower 8 (0)
1898–1901 Blackburn Rovers 45 (8)
1901–1904 Blackpool 78 (29)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Anderson was born in Scotland and played centre half for Leith Athletic in the Scottish League before joining Blackburn Rovers in 1892. He replaced Jack Barton at centre-half, forming a half-back line-up with Jimmy Forrest and Geordie Dewar which was to remain at the heart of the Rovers' defence for the next three seasons, during which their league campaigns ended with finishes in ninth, fourth and fifth places respectively. Although Rovers reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 1893 and 1894, their cup-winning exploits were over until 1928.

Anderson left Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 1896; during his initial spell at the club he scored 11 goals in 131 league games. He then spent a few seasons moving backwards and forwards between New Brighton Tower and Blackburn. New Brighton Tower had joined the Lancashire League at the start of the 1897–98 season. After finishing as champions in their first season, the club were elected to the Second Division of The Football League when the League was expanded by four clubs. Anderson returned permanently to Blackburn midway through the 1898–99 season.

In 1901 Anderson joined Blackpool. He made his debut on 2 March 1901, in a 10–1 defeat at Small Heath, scoring the Seasiders' goal. He went on to make a further seven appearances in the 1900–01 season, scoring one more goal.

In 1901–02, Anderson was moved into a forward position. He made 29 league appearances and scored twelve goals. Two of these goals were game-winners: firstly, in a single-goal victory over Burslem Port Vale at Bloomfield Road on New Year's Day, 1902, and then in another one-goal game at Newton Heath on 25 January.

For the 1902–03 campaign, Anderson was moved back to centre-half. He made 21 appearances and scored eight goals — including a hat-trick in a 3–3 draw with Barnsley at home on 13 September 1902. He was the first Blackpool player to achieve the feat in a League game.[1]

In 1903–04, Anderson made 21 appearances and scored seven goals, including another hat-trick, this time in a 4–1 home victory over Burton United on 20 February 1904. He played as both a forward and centre-half in what was his final season as a player. His last appearance occurred on 30 April 1904, in a single-goal defeat at Preston North End in the West Lancashire derby.

References
Specific
  1. Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2009). Blackpool FC on This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-905411-50-2.
General
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