List of Doncaster Rovers F.C. players (1879–1918)

This list contains players who have appeared in nationally organised first-team competition for Doncaster Rovers from its creation in 1879 until the end of First World War. Players that also represented the club after the war are included.

Explanation of list

Players should be listed in chronological order according to the season in which they first played for the club, and then by alphabetical order of their surname. Initially, the club only played friendlies, their first cup match being in October 1885. Doncaster joined their first league, the Midland Alliance, in 1890. To varying degrees in subsequent years, friendlies still formed a significant part of the fixtures throughout the season. Further information on competitions/seasons which are regarded as eligible for appearance stats are provided below.

League appearances

League appearances and goals should include data for the following league spells:

Total appearances

The figures for total appearances and goals should include the League figures together with the following competitions:

History

First match as Doncaster Rovers

The first match was in September 1879 when Albert Jenkins got together a group of young men to play against The Yorkshire Institute for the Deaf and Dumb in which they drew 4−4 after being behind 4−0 at half time. It was after this match that the group of players decided to play further games and call themselves Doncaster Rovers on the walk back into the town. The first match played under this name was a 0−0 draw on 3 October 1879 at Rawmarsh F.C.. The line up in a 2−2−6 formation was:[1]

First Football League match

After already playing their first game of the 1901–02 season in the Midland League on 2 September, Doncaster were voted into the Football League following New Brighton Tower folding as a club. Continuing with the squad they already had, the first match was against Burslem Port Vale on Saturday 7 September 1901. The crowd at the Intake Ground was 2,000. It was 0–0 at half time, then Len Goodson scored two for Rovers. The Vale then scored 3 goals, with Frank Bailey getting the equaliser making the final score 3–3. The line up was a 2–3–5 formation of:[1]

Players

NamePositionClub careerLeague
apps
League
goals
Total
apps
Total
goals
Notes
William BedfordInside right1879–854During this time, not all scorers in games were recorded
Albert JenkinsRight Back1879–86?Also club founder, captain and secretary
John MitchellLeft Back1879–85Went on to play for Bolton Wanderers on the first day of the inaugural season of the Football League in September 1888
Patrick Stirling1885?–?Became Mayor of Doncaster in 1914
Billy BridgewaterInside Right / Centre Forward1886–87 1888–89 1891–93723During this time, not all scorers in games were recorded
Walter LangtonLeft Back / Centre Forward1887−190545284848Appearance stats not including seasons 1887−1901 nor 1903−04 which are likely to at least put him well over 200 total appearances
James GreshamForward1890–91712
Bob HerrodInside Right / Outside Right1890–911114
Tom KisbeyCentre Forward1890–91912
Jim MasseyGoalkeeper1890–9300
Harry ThickettFull Back18912020Doncaster born, he went on to play for England twice, and won the First Division title once and FA Cup twice with Sheffield United before managing Bristol City
William HopewellHalf Back1892–93
Billy CalderOutside Forward1893–9659First manager of Doncaster, in 1920
Richard FenwickGoalkeeper1893–9400
Jack EggettGoalkeeper1894–1903670700Appearance stats not including 1894−1901
Billy LinwardOutside Left1895−19015365
Ellis WrightLeft Half1895−1905803833Appearance stats not including 1895−1901, 1903−04
Billy LongdenOutside Right / Right Half1896−1902312332Stats only for 1901−02 season, he scored 17 League and 5 other goals in total
Arnold OxspringInside Right / Outside Right1897–19005156
Harry CrumpLeft Half1900−0101
Len GoodsonOutside Left1900–02 1905−06 1909386406Scored Doncaster's first goal in the Football League

Stats not including 1899–1901, 1905−06 and 1908−09 seasons where he scored 33 league and 14 other goals

John MurphyInside Left / Left Half1900−04628658Stats not including Midland League seasons 1900−01 and 1903−04 when he scored 22 league goals
George SimpsonFull Back1900−03642652Stats not including 1900−01
Tommy VailCentre forward1900−012026
Frank BaileyOutside Left1901–02226236
Arthur BirchRight Back1901−04340340Stats not including 1903−04 season
Ernest DowsonRight Half1901−022020
Arthur JonesCentre Half1901−02211231
Billy LanghamOutside Right1901–03 1906−0762166516Playing stats for first period, scored 9 League goals in second period
Manny LindleyOutside Right1901–021010
John McKenzieRight Half1901−022020
Ike MarshLeft Back1901−03332353
Frank PepperRight Half1901−021010
Jack PriceForward1901–0359176118
Jack AstonInside Forward1902–03303313
Fred BannCentre Half19021010
Phil BratleyCentre Half1902−033030
Alonzo DrakeForward1902–03367377
Frank FoxallInside Left1902–03122122
Andrew GordonCentre Half1902−05430460
Charlie LaverickFull Back1902−048080Stats not including 1903−04 season
Willie NettletonOutside Right1902–031111
John ParkerCentre Forward1902−032121
James PettitRight Half1902−031010
Arthur PyleInside Right1902–035252
George RatcliffeLeft Winger1902–03277287
Charlie RichardsInside Right1902–037070
Harry RobertsCentre Forward1902−09519522Includes all goals, but only Football League appearances
Albert RobinsonLeft Back1902−033030
Jack StablesGoalkeeper1902–031010
Tom WoodlandOutside Left1902−034040
E BradleyInside Left1903−054040Stats don't include 1903−04 where he scored 3 league goals
Jimmy DyerForward1903–041111
Joe MoranOutside Left1903–041212
Willie WraggWing Half / Full back1903?−04?00
Sam BedfordOutside Right1904−061010Stats only for 1904−05 season, he scored 1 league goal in 1905−06
Josh BurnRight Back1904–05190210
William ButlerLeft Back1904–067070Stats not including September 1905−October 1906
James CarnegieCentre Forward1904–05143153
George CrowcroftInside Left1904–050010
Harry DaviesLeft Back1904–05261281
Teddy DawGoalkeeper1904–052020
Charles FlowittInside Left1904−053030
James GouldInside Left1904−052020
Jimmy HansonInside Right1904−05142162
Eddie HarlingGoalkeeper1904–051010
Sinjon HawkinsRight Back1904−051010
David HowardRight Back1904−051010
Len HydeInside Right / Outside Right1904–05321331
Billy LawOutside Left1904–05262272
George McGheeInside Forward1904–05113113
James McIntyreInside Left1904–058080
Matt MoraleeHalf Back1904–06322342Stats for first season, also scored 1 League and 2 FA Cup goals in second season
Bob NorrisLeft Half1904−05213233
Laurie PemberInside Left1904−05170190
Joe RabyInside Forward1904–052020
John RussellInside Right1904–053040
Bert ShinnerInside Forward1904–05123143
Tommy ThorpeGoalkeeper1904–05310320
Tommy TompkinsForward / Half Back1904–05151172
George WhittakerOutside Right1904−052020
Alf WilkinsonCentre Forward1904−052020
Jack AlmondForward1905–0688
Bill BrelsfordCentre Half / Right Half1907−1056
Fred CharlesInside Forward1907–09711
Fred ThompsonGoalkeeper1908–0900
William JexInside Left1908−09 1910−11 1913−14654958Appearances not including 1913−14
John AllenFull Back1909−1000
John PattinsonWinger1909, 1912–131012
Tommy SimonsCentre Forward1909−101214
Peter TurnerInside Forward1909–1000
Billy BromageOutside Left1910–132026
Samuel GuntonFull Back1910−1100
Charlie WoodruffOutside Right1910–131820
Tommy AstillInside Left1911–131418
Harry BromageGoalkeeper1911–1300
Harold BudderyForward1911–132224
Fred ShreeveFull Back1911−1333
Bert CookOutside Left1912–1345
Arthur ReedForward19120012
Willis WalkerGoalkeeper1912–191400
Bob HewitsonGoalkeeper1913?–?00
Tommy BirtlesOutside Right1914–1568
Jack HallOutside Right1914–1555
Freddy HicksRight Half Back1914–1500
Horace HuslerGoalkeeper1914–1500
Charles AltonFull Back1915−1600
Bernard FrithOutside Left1915–?11
Alfred SmeltRight Back1915−?00


Notes

    References

    General
    • Bluff, Tony (2011). Donny:Doncaster Rovers F.C. The Complete History (1879−2010). Yore Publications. ISBN 978 0 9569848 3 8.
    • Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
    Specific
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