Jimmy Spoors

James Spoors was a professional footballer and manager, who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, and Rotherham County, as well as Worksop Town.

Jimmy Spoors
Personal information
Full name James Spoors
Date of birth 1887 or 1888
Place of birth Gingling Gate, Jarrow, England
Date of death 1960
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1908–1916 Sheffield Wednesday 235 (5)
1916 → Rotherham County (loan)
1916–1920 Sheffield Wednesday 18 (1)
1920–1922 Barnsley 23 (10)
1922– Worksop Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Sheffield Wednesday

Spoors joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1908 and played there for twelve years, with a brief period on loan to Rotherham County in 1916,[1] helping them to defeat Sheffield United for the second time that season.[2]

Barnsley

In June 1920 Spoors moved to Barnsley, overcoming a serious knee injury which appeared to have curtailed his playing career, at Sheffield Wednesday.[3] Spoors played primarily at Barnsley as a defender but was unorthodoxly occasionally played as a centre forward, in an experimental capacity by the club, with quite prolific results.[4] Alongside his duties as a player Spoors managed the reserve team, in the Midland League.[5]

First World War

After initially working in a munitions factory Spoors served with the 4th Depot, 302nd Battery Royal Garrison Artillery in France and Italy during the First World War, he was a qualified mechanic.[6] He also represented the army at football when in service.[7]

Post retirement

After retiring from football, Spoors became a talented bowls player, winning the Brewers Bowl in 1933.[8] Spoors was also a licensed victualler and associate member of the Sheffield, Rotherham and District Licensed Victuallers Association, running the Old Blue Ball on Bradfield Road, Hillsborough.[9]

Family

Parish records show that on 14 May 1914 Spoors married Winifred, the daughter of former England and Sheffield Wednesday footballer Jack Hudson. They gave their address as the Castle Inn, Dykes Hall Road, Hillsborough, the public house run by Hudson. Military records show that they had a daughter, Annie Margaret.

References
  1. "Spoors To Assist County". Sheffield Independent. 13 April 1916. p. 3.
  2. "Rotherham County Again Beat Sheffield United". Sheffield Independent. 17 April 1916. p. 3.
  3. "Wednesday Back Signs on for Barnsley". Sheffield Evening Telegraph. 10 June 1920. p. 3.
  4. "A Promising Goal Scorer". Sheffield Independent. 5 January 1922. p. 5.
  5. Dickinson, Jason (1 November 2005). The Wednesday Boys: A Definitive Guide to Sheffield Wednesday Football Club. Pickard Communication. ISBN 978-0-9547264-9-2.
  6. "Jimmy Spoors". Sheffield Independent. 30 October 1916. p. 3.
  7. "What Soccer Stars Did in Last War". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. 8 September 1939. p. 3.
  8. "Ex Wednesday Man Wins Bowls Trophy". Sheffield Independent. 6 September 1933. p. 10.
  9. "Active Associate Members". Sheffield Independent. 9 February 1934. p. 16.


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