Harry Oliver (footballer)

Henry Spoors Oliver (16 February 1921 – 11 January 1994) was an English professional footballer. He played at full back and centre half in the Football League for Hartlepools United, Brentford and Watford. He also played competitive football for Houghton Colliery Welfare and Canterbury City and represented England as a schoolboy.

Harry Oliver
Personal information
Full name Henry Spoors Oliver[1]
Date of birth (1921-02-16)16 February 1921
Place of birth Sunderland, England
Date of death 11 January 1994(1994-01-11) (aged 72)[2]
Place of death Sunderland, England
Position(s) Centre half, left back
Youth career
Doxford Juniors
Hylton Colliery Juniors
Ditchburn Juniors
0000–1936 Sunderland
1936–1937 Houghton Colliery Welfare
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1937 Sheffield United 0 (0)
1937–1938 Hartlepools United 9 (0)
1938–1948 Brentford 18 (0)
1948–1952 Watford 122 (2)
1952–1956 Canterbury City
National team
England Schoolboys
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Born in Sunderland, Oliver played for the England schoolboys team, as well as for Houghton Colliery Welfare.[3] He joined Hartlepools United—then in the Football League Third Division North—as a 16-year-old, and turned professional shortly after his 17th birthday.[4][2] However, he did not remain there for long; after only 9 league games Oliver transferred to Brentford, who at the time were in the First Division, in 1938 for a £1500 fee.[5][6][7] Unfortunately for Oliver, the Football League was suspended in 1939 due to the Second World War, and did not resume until 1946. During this period he played guest wartime football for Leeds United and York City.[2]

In the first two seasons following the resumption of peacetime football, Oliver made 18 league appearances for Brentford.[6] He transferred to Watford for a fee of £2,000 in May 1948, although Benskins brewery paid the money on Watford's behalf.[2] Under the management of Eddie Hapgood, Ron Gray and Haydn Green, Oliver made 122 Watford appearances in the Third Division South, and a further 6 in the FA Cup, scoring four penalties. He joined Canterbury City at the end of the 1951–52 season, and remained there until his retirement in 1956.[2]

Oliver died in the city of his birth on 11 January 1994, aged 72.[2]

Personal life

Oliver served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War.[7]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 221. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. Jones, Trefor (1996). Watford Football Club Illustrated Who's Who. pp. 176, 270–271, 282. ISBN 0-9527458-0-1.
  3. "Oliver Harry Image 1 Brentford 1946". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 24 December 2018.
  4. "Hartlepool United history 1918 to 1945". Brown, Tony. Statto.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  5. "Brentford history 1918 to 1945". Brown, Tony. Statto.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  6. "Harry Oliver". Brown, Neil. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  7. Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Sunderland 28/01/06. 2006. p. 55.
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