Wilf Phillips
Wilfred John Phillips (27 August 1895 – 14 March 1976) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Bristol Rovers, Millwall, Clapton Orient, Thames, West Ham United and Stoke.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Wilfred John Phillips[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 August 1895[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Bradley, Staffordshire, England[1] | ||
| Date of death | 14 March 1976 (aged 80)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1918 | Bilston United | ||
| 1919–1920 | Stoke | 13 | (3) |
| 1920–1921 | Ebbw Vale | ||
| 1921–1922 | Darlaston | ||
| 1922–1923 | Bilston United | ||
| 1923–1925 | Bristol Rovers | 90 | (35) |
| 1925–1930 | Millwall | 110 | (58) |
| 1930–1931 | Thames | 35 | (7) |
| 1931–1932 | West Ham United | 21 | (3) |
| 1932–1933 | Clapton Orient | 24 | (4) |
| 1933 | Stourbridge | ||
| Total | 292 | (110) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Career
Phillips was born in Bradley, Staffordshire, and played non-league football with Bilston United before joining Football League side Stoke in 1919.[1] He played 14 matches for the "Potters" scoring three goals which included a brace against Coventry City on Boxing day.[1] However manager Arthur Shallcross was seemingly unimpressed by Phillips's performance during the 1919–20 and he was released by the club.[1] He went on to play for Ebbw Vale, Darlaston and made a return to Bilston United before he re-entered League football with Bristol Rovers in 1923.[1] He had an impressive first season at Rovers scoring 23 goals in 42 games and in December 1925 he joined league rivals Millwall for £500.[2] Phillips became a prolific forward for the "Lions" and his 27 goals in 1927–28 helped Millwall to claim the Third Division South title.
After scoring 62 goals in 119 matches for Millwall he joined the short lived Thames in June 1930, and then signed for West Ham United, for another £500 fee, in May 1931. He scored on his Irons debut, a 4–2 victory against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. His single season at Upton Park saw relegation to the Second Division.[2] He then joined Clapton Orient before returning to his native Midlands and played for Stourbridge.
Career statistics
Source:[3]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke | 1919–20 | Second Division | 13 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| Bristol Rovers | 1923–24 | Third Division South | 42 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 23 |
| 1924–25 | Third Division South | 36 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 11 | |
| 1925–26 | Third Division South | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 3 | |
| Millwall | 1925–26 | Third Division South | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1926–27 | Third Division South | 29 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 34 | 17 | |
| 1927–28 | Third Division South | 39 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 27 | |
| 1928–29 | Second Division | 22 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 12 | |
| 1929–30 | Second Division | 13 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 6 | |
| Thames | 1930–31 | Third Division South | 35 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 7 |
| West Ham United | 1931–32 | First Division | 21 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Clapton Orient | 1932–33 | Third Division South | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 4 |
| Career total | 292 | 110 | 20 | 6 | 312 | 116 | ||
Honours
- Football League Third Division South champion: 1927–28
References
- Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
- Hogg, Tony (2005). Who's Who of West Ham United. Profile Sports Media. ISBN 1-903135-50-8.
- Wilf Phillips at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)