George Heppell

George Heppell (2 September 1916 – 20 July 1993) was an English football goalkeeper who made 213 league and cup appearances for Port Vale either side of World War II. His father-in-law, Albert Pearson, and great-grandson, Tom Conlon, both also played for Port Vale.

George Heppell

Personal information
Full name	George Heppell[1]
Date of birth	2 September 1916[1]
Place of birth	Wingate, County Durham, England[1]
Date of death	20 July 1993 (aged 76)[1]
Place of death	Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Wolverhampton Wanderers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1937–1952	Port Vale	193	(0)
	Witton Albion
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Heppell joined Port Vale from Wolverhampton Wanderers in May 1937.[1] He made 25 Third Division North appearances in the 1937–38 season, as goalkeeping duties were split between himself and James Nicholls.[1] However, he played just three Third Division South games in the 1938–39 season, as new signing Arthur Jepson became the club's first choice goalkeeper.[1] Heppell was enlisted into the Army in February 1940.[1] Despite this he managed to guest for Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough during World War II, before returning to Port Vale following his demobilization in January 1946.[1] He was an ever-present during the 1946–47 season, as his form convinced the club to sell Jepson to rivals Stoke City.[1] He remained Gordon Hodgson's first choice goalkeeper, playing 40 games in the 1947–48 campaign.[1] He played 38 games in the 1948–49 season, ahead of reserves Ray Hancock and Harry Prince.[1] However, he then lost his place, and played just three games in the 1949–50 season as new signing Ray King proved to be in impressive form.[1] He featured 17 and 28 times in the 1950–51 and 1951–52 seasons, before being handed a free transfer away from Vale Park by new boss Freddie Steele in May 1952.[1] He later played non-league football for Witton Albion.[1]

Personal life

His father-in-law was Albert Pearson, who played for Port Vale and Liverpool from 1914 to 1922. Heppell's great-grandson, Tom Conlon signed with Port Vale in 2018.[2]

Statistics

Source:[3]

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Port Vale	1937–38	Third Division North	25	0	1	0	1	0	27	0
	1938–39	Third Division South	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	1946–47	Third Division South	42	0	5	0	0	0	47	0
	1947–48	Third Division South	39	0	1	0	0	0	40	0
	1948–49	Third Division South	37	0	1	0	0	0	38	0
	1949–50	Third Division South	3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
	1950–51	Third Division South	17	0	0	0	0	0	17	0
	1951–52	Third Division South	27	0	1	0	0	0	28	0
	Total		193	0	9	0	1	0	203	0

References

1. Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 135. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
2. Baggaley, Michael (16 March 2020). "Tom Conlon on family pride and his Port Vale history". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
3. George Heppell at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)