George Heppell

George Heppell (2 September 1916 – 20 July 1993) was an English football goalkeeper who made 213 league and cup appearances for Port Vale either side of World War II. His father-in-law, Albert Pearson, and great-grandson, Tom Conlon, both also played for Port Vale.

George Heppell
Personal information
Full name George Heppell[1]
Date of birth (1916-09-02)2 September 1916[1]
Place of birth Wingate, County Durham, England[1]
Date of death 20 July 1993(1993-07-20) (aged 76)[1]
Place of death Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1937–1952 Port Vale 193 (0)
Witton Albion
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Heppell joined Port Vale from Wolverhampton Wanderers in May 1937.[1] He made 25 Third Division North appearances in the 1937–38 season, as goalkeeping duties were split between himself and James Nicholls.[1] However, he played just three Third Division South games in the 1938–39 season, as new signing Arthur Jepson became the club's first choice goalkeeper.[1] Heppell was enlisted into the Army in February 1940.[1] Despite this he managed to guest for Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough during World War II, before returning to Port Vale following his demobilization in January 1946.[1] He was an ever-present during the 1946–47 season, as his form convinced the club to sell Jepson to rivals Stoke City.[1] He remained Gordon Hodgson's first choice goalkeeper, playing 40 games in the 1947–48 campaign.[1] He played 38 games in the 1948–49 season, ahead of reserves Ray Hancock and Harry Prince.[1] However, he then lost his place, and played just three games in the 1949–50 season as new signing Ray King proved to be in impressive form.[1] He featured 17 and 28 times in the 1950–51 and 1951–52 seasons, before being handed a free transfer away from Vale Park by new boss Freddie Steele in May 1952.[1] He later played non-league football for Witton Albion.[1]

Personal life

His father-in-law was Albert Pearson, who played for Port Vale and Liverpool from 1914 to 1922. Heppell's great-grandson, Tom Conlon signed with Port Vale in 2018.[2]

Statistics

Source:[3]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Port Vale 1937–38 Third Division North 2501010270
1938–39 Third Division South 30000030
1946–47 Third Division South 4205000470
1947–48 Third Division South 3901000400
1948–49 Third Division South 3701000380
1949–50 Third Division South 30000030
1950–51 Third Division South 1700000170
1951–52 Third Division South 2701000280
Total 193090102030

References
  1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 135. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. Baggaley, Michael (16 March 2020). "Tom Conlon on family pride and his Port Vale history". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. George Heppell at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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