Ivan Sharpe

Ivan Gordon Sharpe (15 June 1889 – 9 February 1968) was an English amateur footballer. Although an amateur himself, he played for several professional clubs, including Watford, Derby County— with whom he won the Football League First Division in 1911–12–and later Leeds United. He represented the England national amateur football team, and also the Great Britain Olympic football team, with whom he won an Olympic gold medal at the 1912 games in Sweden. He is also one of very few players to have played for both Leeds City (65 appearances and 17 goals) and Leeds United (1 appearance 0 goals).[1]

Ivan Sharpe

Sharpe was part of Great Britain's 1912 Olympic gold medal winning football team.
Personal information
Full name	Ivan Gordon Sharpe
Date of birth	(1889-06-15)15 June 1889
Place of birth	St Albans, Hertfordshire, England
Date of death	9 February 1968(1968-02-09) (aged 78)
Place of death	Southport, Lancashire, England
Position(s)	Left winger
Youth career
–1907	St Albans
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1907–1908	Watford	7	(1)
1908–1911	Glossop North End
1911–1913	Derby County
1913–1919	Leeds City	65	(17)
1920	Leeds United	1	(0)
National team
	England amateur
1912	Great Britain
Olympic medal record Men's football Representing  Great Britain 1912 Stockholm Team competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

After retirement he enjoyed a long career as a sports journalist, becoming president of the Football Writers Association. He served as editor of the Athletic News Football Annual and also of the Athletic News Cricket Annual. In 1936 he was selected by the BBC to be one of two journalists (the other being Norman Creek) who for the first time provided live commentary on the FA Cup Final.[2] He continued to contribute a hard-hitting article to the Wolverhampton Wanderers match day programme for many years right up to his death. He produced a volume of memoirs "40 Years in Football"[3] in 1954, as well as writing "Soccer Top Ten[4]" in 1962, detailing his ten favorite players.