Harry Deacon

Henry Deacon (25 April 1900 – 15 January 1946) was an English professional footballer who made 479 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Swansea Town, Crewe Alexandra, Southport, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United.[1] He played as an inside forward.

Harry Deacon
Personal information
Full name Henry Deacon[1]
Date of birth (1900-04-25)25 April 1900[1]
Place of birth Sheffield, England
Date of death 15 January 1946(1946-01-15) (aged 45)[2]
Place of death Rotherham, England
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[3]
Position(s) Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Hallam
1919–1920 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1920–1922 Birmingham 2 (0)
1922–1931 Swansea Town 319 (86)
1931–1934 Crewe Alexandra 118 (47)
1934 Southport 9 (2)
1934–1935 Accrington Stanley 25 (11)
1935–1936 Rotherham United 6 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Deacon was born in the Darnall district of Sheffield, and played football for Hallam before joining Sheffield Wednesday as an amateur.[1][3] He moved on to Birmingham in 1920,[3] and made his debut in the First Division on 4 February 1922, deputising for Johnny Crosbie in a home game against Liverpool which resulted in a 2–0 defeat.[4] After two games in two seasons, unable to dislodge Crosbie from the inside right position, Deacon moved on to Swansea Town where he found considerably more success.[3]

In nine seasons with the club, he scored 86 goals in 316 league games,[1] played a major role in their promotion to the Second Division as Third Division South champions in the 1924–25 season,[2] and helped them reach the final of the Welsh Cup and the semi-final of the FA Cup the following season.[5][6] In recognition of his service to the club, Swansea awarded him a testimonial match which was attended by 9,000 spectators.[3]

Deacon went on to spend three seasons with Crewe Alexandra where he scored 47 goals in 188 Third Division North games.[1] He then began the 1934–35 season at Southport,[7] finishing it with Accrington Stanley, where his 11 goals gave him runner-up spot in their scoring charts despite arriving midway through the season.[8] He ended his professional career with Rotherham United, making his last Football League appearance just before Christmas 1935.[2]

Deacon died in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1946 at the age of 45.[2]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "A–Z Past Players (Pre-1939)". Rotherham United F.C. Archived from the original (DOC) on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  3. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 82. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  4. Matthews, p. 164.
  5. "Welsh Cup Final 1925/26". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  6. "Club History". Swansea City A.F.C. 13 May 2008. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  7. "1934/35". SouthportFCStats. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  8. "League Record". Accrington Stanley History. Greger Lindberg. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
    "League Appearances D–H". Accrington Stanley History. Greger Lindberg. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
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