Harry Hampton (footballer, born 1885)

Joseph Harry Hampton (21 April 1885 – 15 March 1963) was an English footballer who was born in Wellington, Shropshire. To this day Hampton remains Aston Villa's all-time leading goalscorer in the League.

Harry Hampton
Personal information
Full name Joseph Harry Hampton
Date of birth (1885-04-21)21 April 1885
Place of birth Wellington, England
Date of death 15 March 1963(1963-03-15) (aged 77)
Place of death Rhyl, Wales
Height 5 ft 8 12 in (1.74 m)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Shifnal Juniors
Lilleshall Iron Works
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1902–1904 Wellington Town
1904–1920 Aston Villa 339 (215)
1920–1922 Birmingham 57 (31)
1922–1923 Newport County 14 (2)
1924–1925 Wellington Town
Total 410 (248)
National team
1913–1914 England 4 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Youth

According to a friend speaking to the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News after his death, Hampton began his playing career with Lilleshall Iron Works team then joined Wellington Town, before transferring to Aston Villa on a professional contract for £120 in April 1904.[2]

Aston Villa

Better known as "Happy" Harry Hampton or as "The Wellington Whirlwind," he played as a centre forward for Aston Villa from 1904 to 1920.[3] He scored both goals against Newcastle United in the 1905 FA Cup Final Hampton was a prolific goalscorer and once scored five goals when Aston Villa beat Sheffield Wednesday 10–0 in a First Division match in 1912.[3] He was joint top goalscorer in the First Division in the 1911–12 season.[4] Between 1913 and 1914 Hampton was capped by England four times, scoring two goals in games against Wales and Scotland.[5]

First World War

Hampton served on the Somme during the First World War and suffered from the effects of mustard gas poisoning.[3] Hampton was never the same player after the War and after scoring 242 goals in 376 games for Aston Villa, he moved to Birmingham.[3] Hampton guested for Stoke in 1918–19, scoring three goals in eight appearances.[6]

Birmingham

At Birmingham Hampton become the Second Division club's star player, his 16 goals made him their top scorer for the 1920–21 season and helped the club to the Second Division title.[7] He ultimately scored 31 goals out of 59 appearances in the club before transferring to Newport County in Wales.[3]

Later

He only achieved two goals out of 15 appearances for Newport County.[3] He returned to Wellington Town, only to appear for one season.[2]

Following his retirement from playing, Hampton was a coach at Preston North End and former club, Birmingham. He later ran a catering business in Rhyl, where he died in 1963 at the age of 77.[7]

Career statistics

Source:[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston Villa 1904–05 First Division 2215672822
1905–06 First Division 3219313520
1906–07 First Division 2921103021
1907–08 First Division 2818213019
1908–09 First Division 30910319
1909–10 First Division 3226333529
1910–11 First Division 3319223521
1911–12 First Division 3325333628
1912–13 First Division 3325653930
1913–14 First Division 3019203219
1914–15 First Division 3019203219
1919–20 First Division 700070
Total 3392153427373242
Birmingham 1919–20 Second Division 1011101111
1920–21 Second Division 2916103016
1921–22 First Division 18400184
Total 5731205931
Newport County 1922–23 Third Division South 14210152
Career total 4102483727447275

Honours

Harry Hampton scored both goals in the 1905 FA Cup Final

Aston Villa

Birmingham

References

General
  • Entry on Aston Villa Player Database
  • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 113. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
Specific
  1. Brum (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Birmingham". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
  2. "The Great Harry Hampton". Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News. 23 March 1963.Report of his death, most information given based on interview with friend Jack Churm, former chairman of Wellington Town.
  3. "Harry Hampton, Aston Villa and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  4. Ross, James M (7 November 2008). "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  5. "Harry Hampton". englandstats.com. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
  6. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  7. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  8. Harry Hampton at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
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