John Price (footballer, born 1854)

John Henry Price (1854 – 30 November 1907) was a Welsh footballer who played as a centre forward for Wrexham and made 12 appearances for the Wales national football team between 1877 and 1883, scoring four goals, all of which came in one match.

For the Liverpool and Aston Villa player, see John Price (footballer, born 1936).

John Price
Personal information
Full name John Price
Date of birth 1854
Place of birth Wrexham, Wales
Date of death 30 November 1907(1907-11-30) (aged 52–53)
Position(s) centre forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Wrexham Grosvenor F.C.
–1877 Civil Service (Wrexham)
1877– Wrexham
National team‡
1877–1883 Wales 12 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 Feb 2015
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 Feb 2015 (UTC)

Club career

Price was born in Wrexham and was employed in a local leather works. He started his football career with Wrexham Grosvenor before joining the local Civil Service club, for whom he played as a full-back.[1]

In 1877, he was persuaded by Charles Murless, the Wrexham captain, to switch allegiance. Murless decided to move Price to play at centre forward where his speed "made him a difficult opponent to stop in front of goal".[1] Price was equally good with his head and his feet and was said "never to have played a foul game".[1] With Price in the forward line, and his ability to bring the wing players into the game, Wrexham were able to move one player to the half-back line, to be one of the first clubs to play a 2–3–5 formation.[1][2]

In his first season, Wrexham entered the inaugural Welsh Cup tournament. After defeating Price's former club in the first round, they had victories over Oswestry and Gwersyllt Foresters (8–0). With only three teams remaining in the tournament at this stage, Wrexham received a bye to the final,[3] at Acton Park, Wrexham, on 30 March 1878 between Wrexham and Druids from Ruabon.[4] The match was a cliffhanger, with no score until the Wrexham forwards charged the Druids' defenders to take the ball over the line to win the game in the final minute, with James Davies being credited with the goal.[5][6]

The following season, Wrexham again reached the final of the Welsh Cup, where they lost by a single goal to Newtown White Star.[7]

International career

Price's first international appearance came in Wales' second match against Scotland on 5 March 1877.[8] He then became an automatic choice for the Welsh team over the next five seasons, missing only three of the first fifteen internationals.[1] He thus became the first footballer to make more than ten international appearances.

On 25 February 1882 at the Racecourse, Wrexham, Price scored four goals in the 7–1 victory over Ireland.[9] Price's final appearance for his country came against Ireland on 17 March 1883[10] by when he had ceased playing for Wrexham.[1]

International appearances

Price made twelve appearances for Wales in official international matches, as follows:[11]

DateVenueOpponentResult[12]GoalsCompetition
5 March 1877Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Scotland0–20Friendly
23 March 1878Hampden Park, Glasgow Scotland0–90Friendly
18 January 1879Kennington Oval, London England1–20Friendly
15 March 1880Racecourse Ground, Wrexham England2–30Friendly
27 March 1880Hampden Park, Glasgow Scotland1–50Friendly
26 February 1881Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn England1–00Friendly
14 March 1881Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Scotland1–50Friendly
25 February 1882Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Ireland7–14Friendly
13 March 1882Racecourse Ground, Wrexham England5–30Friendly
25 March 1882Hampden Park, Glasgow Scotland0–50Friendly
12 March 1883Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Scotland0–30Friendly
17 March 1883Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast Ireland1–10Friendly

Honours

Wrexham

References
  1. Davies, Gareth; Garland, Ian (1991). Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. Bridge Books. pp. 167–168. ISBN 1-872424-11-2.
  2. "Welsh Cup". 1877/78 season. IFFHS. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
  3. "Welsh Cup 1877/78". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. "Welsh Cup Final 1877/78 (30 March 1878)". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  5. "1877 Welsh Cup Action". The Story of Welsh Football: 1877–1879. www.wrexham.gov.uk. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  6. Who's Who of Welsh International Soccer Players. p. 38.
  7. "Welsh Cup Final 1878/79 (29 March 1879)". Welsh Football Data Archive. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  8. "Wales 0–2 Scotland". Welsh Football Data Archive. 5 March 1877. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  9. "Wales 7–1 Ireland". Welsh Football Data Archive. 25 February 1882. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  10. "Ireland 1–1 Wales". Welsh Football Data Archive. 17 March 1883. Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  11. Samuel, Bill (2009). The Complete Wales FC 1876–2008. Soccer Books. pp. 5–7. ISBN 978-1-86223-176-4.
  12. Wales score first
  13. https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=1
  14. https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/welshcup_final_detail.php?id=2
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