Hughie Dow

Hugh Connor Dow (4 April 1906 – 1987) was an English footballer who made 42 appearances in the Football League in the 1930s playing as a full back for Grimsby Town and Darlington. He was on the books of Sunderland without playing for them in the League,[1] and played non-league football in the north-east of England.

Hughie Dow
Personal information
Full name Hugh Connor Dow[1]
Date of birth (1906-04-04)4 April 1906[1]
Place of birth Herrington,[1] England
Date of death 1987 (aged 81)[2]
Place of death Sunderland,[2] England
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1925–1930 Sunderland 0 (0)
1930–1932 Grimsby Town 2 (0)
1932–1934 Darlington 40 (1)
1934–1936 Shotton C.W.
1936–1937 Easington C.W.
1937–19?? Shotton C.W.
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Dow was born in Herrington, County Durham,[1] the eldest child of John Dow, a riveter in a shipyard, and his wife Mary Ann. At the time of the 1911 Census, the family was living in the Monkwearmouth area of Sunderland.[3] Described as a "sturdily built defender",[4] he began his senior football career with Sunderland, but never made a first-team appearance in several seasons with the club. In 1930, he was initially placed on the transfer list,[5] but on appeal to the Football League was allowed a free transfer. He then signed for Grimsby Town of the First Division.[6] He spent most of his Grimsby career playing for their reserves in the Midland League, at right half as well as his more normal right-back position,[7] and appeared only twice for Grimsby's first team.[1] At the end of his second season, he was listed as one of several "others who may be released",[8] and in September 1932, he signed for Darlington.[9]

He began his Darlington career in the reserves,[10] but soon established himself as first choice at right back.[11] In January 1933, they were a goal down to Stockport County and "ten seconds from the finish [when] with a splendid effort, Dow, the right back, ran the ball half the length of the field and put over a quick centre from the corner flag. Hurst headed the ball into the net and the referee blew the final whistle."[12] A first-team regular for the rest of the 1932–33 season, Dow was one of just five players on Darlington's retained list for the following campaign.[13] He appeared less frequently during 1933–34 after the arrival of Irish full-back Bill Scott in mid-September.[14] He lost his place to Scott after an unexpectedly heavy defeat at home to Mansfield Town,[15] and appeared only infrequently thereafter, sometimes replacing Bill Allison at left back.[16] Dow, like all but two of Darlington's reserve players, was given a free transfer at the end of the season.[17]

Dow then moved into non-league football with Wearside League club Shotton Colliery Welfare.[18] According to the Sunderland Echo's correspondent, he "rendered the club excellent service" over his first season,[19] After his second, he chose not to re-sign,[20] instead joining fellow Wearside League team Easington Colliery Welfare,[21] but after only a few months he returned to Shotton.[22]

Dow's death at the age of 81 was registered in the third quarter of 1987 in the Sunderland district.[2]

References

  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription". Hugh Connor Dow. Birth date: 2 Apr 1906. Death quarter: 3. Death year: 1987. District: Sunderland. County: Durham. Register number: 887. Volume: 2. Page: 1726. Retrieved 20 September 2015 via Findmypast.
  3. "1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription 34 Huddleston St Monkwearmouth Sunderland, Sunderland, Durham, England". Census reference: RG14PN30223 RG78PN1742 RD555 SD3 ED11 SN94. Retrieved 20 September 2015 via Findmypast.
  4. "Sport items. Dow and Dowsey". Derby Daily Telegraph. 23 February 1929. p. 10 via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Sunderland's retained. Considerable reductions in wages". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 2 May 1930. p. 11 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. 'Veritas' (5 July 1930). "Close season gossip. Grimsby Town's capture". Daily Mail. Hull. p. 5 via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "City reserves at Grimsby". Lincolnshire Echo. 8 November 1930. p. 5 via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Midland League football. Forest try new man against Grimsby". Nottingham Evening Post. 12 November 1931. p. 12 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Grimsby Town. Players who will be retained". Daily Mail. Hull. 14 April 1932. p. 13 via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. 'Argus' (27 September 1932). "A Scot for Darlington". Sunderland Echo. p. 11 via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "T.F.'s Sports Notes. "Quakers"' changes". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 6 October 1932. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. T.F. (11 November 1932). "Sailors don't care! Darlington's new man". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
    "T.F's Sports Notes. Eden in "Quakers"' team". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 1 December 1932. p. 7 via British Newspaper Archive.
    T.F. (31 January 1933). "Sports Notes. Hull at Darlington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 7 via British Newspaper Archive. Darlington hope to be at full strength ... Fielden; Dow, Allison; ...
  12. "Equalised with last kick". Yorkshire Post. 2 January 1933. p. 14 via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. Scarboro (5 May 1933). "Sports snaps". Daily Mail. Hull. p. 15 via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. T.F. (13 September 1933). "Sports notes". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 7 via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. T.F. (22 September 1933). "Bogy! "Quakers" visit 'Pools". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 10 via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. M.C. (2 February 1934). "Football topics". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. 'Argus' (27 April 1934). "Sports Review". Sunderland Echo. p. 15 via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. 'Argus' (22 September 1934). "Under the Searchlight". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. 'The Wanderer' (29 August 1935). "Usworth players who sould shine. Wearside League review". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. 'Wanderer' (29 August 1936). "Ouston's Wearside League's prospects". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. 'Argus' (31 August 1936). "Under the Searchlight". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Monthly meeting of Wearside League". Sunderland Echo. 25 January 1937. p. 9 via British Newspaper Archive.
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