George Parsonage

George Parsonage (November 1880 – 22 May 1919) was an English professional footballer, most notable for his time as a half back and player-manager in the Southern League with Brentford. He was banned from football for life by the Football Association in 1909, but later returned to the game.

George Parsonage
Parsonage while a Brentford player
Personal information
Full name George Parsonage[1]
Date of birth November 1880[1]
Place of birth Darwen, England
Date of death 22 May 1919(1919-05-22) (aged 38)
Place of death Darwen, England
Position(s) Half back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1899–1900 Oswaldtwistle Rovers
1900–1901 Blackburn Rovers 0 (0)
1901–1903 Accrington Stanley
1903–1908 Brentford 176 (12)
1908–1909 Fulham 22 (3)
1910–1911 Oldham Athletic 0 (0)
1911 Darwen
Teams managed
1907–1908 Brentford (player-manager)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early years

A half back, Parsonage began his senior career at local First Division club Blackburn Rovers in 1900, after joining from Oswaldtwistle Rovers.[1] He failed to make a league appearance for the club before dropping into the Lancashire Combination to sign for Accrington Stanley in 1901.[2]

Brentford

Parsonage moved to London to sign for Southern League First Division club Brentford in 1903.[3] He became captain of the club in the 1904–05 season and was a "tower of strength" for five seasons, before departing Griffin Park in 1908.[3][4] He made 194 appearances and scored 15 goals for the Bees.[5]

Fulham

Parsonage returned to league football with Second Division club Fulham in 1908.[1] He made 23 appearances and scored three goals during the 1908–09 season.[2]

"The Parsonage Affair"

While a Fulham player, Parsonage was the subject of transfer interest from Second Division club Chesterfield in 1909.[3] Reportedly not keen on a move to Derbyshire,[6] Parsonage submitted a request for a £50 signing-on fee (equivalent to £5,300 in 2021), which was £40 higher than the Football League's maximum.[3] Chesterfield reported the request to the Football Association,[3] who banned Parsonage sine die from football.[7] A petition signed by thousands of fans failed to see the ban overturned.[4]

Later career

Parsonage returned to football with First Division club Oldham Athletic in September 1910.[2][8] He ended his career with hometown Lancashire Combination Second Division club Darwen,[1] whom he joined in March 1911.[8]

Managerial and coaching career

Parsonage had a spell as player-manager of Brentford during the 1907–08 season.[4] He later coached at Oldham Athletic.[9]

International career

Parsonage's form while at Brentford saw him called up for two England trial games.[3] He played for Amateurs versus Professionals on 16 January 1905 and for the South versus the North the following month, but was passed over in favour of Charlie Roberts.[4]

Career statistics

Player
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brentford 1903–04[5] Southern League First Division 34 3 5 2 39 5
1904–05[5] 34 2 3 0 37 2
1905–06[5] 33 1 4 1 37 2
1906–07[5] 37 2 4 0 41 2
1907–08[5] 38 4 2 0 40 4
Total 176 12 18 3 194 15
Fulham 1908–09[2] Second Division 22 3 1 0 23 3
Career total 198 15 19 3 217 18

Manager
Team From To Record Ref
GWDLWin %
Brentford January 1908 April 1908 17 8 3 6 047.06 [5]
Total 17 8 3 6 047.06 —

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 225. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. "Parsonage George Brentford 1905". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  3. Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. p. 101. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
  4. Brentford's Official Matchday Magazine versus Luton Town. 24 August 1996. p. 24.
  5. White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. pp. 357–359. ISBN 0951526200.
  6. "George Parsonage affair". Sky is Blue – Chesterfield FC history & statistics. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  7. Steen, Rob; Novick, Jed; Richards, Huw (4 July 2013). The Cambridge Companion to Football. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-01484-8.
  8. "The Football Association – Season 1910–11 – Summary Of Professional Registrations". Sky is Blue – The Chesterfield FC history resource. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  9. TW8: Brentford Official Matchday Programme versus Notts County. Charlton, London. 24 February 2001. p. 14.
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