Harry Wilkes
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Harry Theodore Wilkes | ||
| Date of birth | 24 June 1907 | ||
| Place of birth | Sedgley, England | ||
| Date of death | 5 April 1984 (aged 76) | ||
| Place of death | Derby, England | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1925–1926 | Sedgley Congregationals | ||
| 1926–1927 | Wellington Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1927–1934 | Derby County | 208 | (0) |
| 1934–1935 | Sheffield United | ||
| 1935–1936 | Rhyl Athletic | ||
| Heanor Town | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Harry Theodore Wilkes (24 June 1907 – 5 April 1984)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, most notably for Derby County.
Career[edit]
Early career[edit]
Wilkes started his footballing career at playing for hometown Sedgley Congregationals in 1925, before joining Wellington Town in 1926.[2]
Derby County[edit]
In February 1927, Wilkes would join First Division Derby County to start his professional football career.[1] Initially, Wilkes would act as backup to Ben Olney[2] and he would make his senior league debut in a 4–0 victory at the Baseball Ground against Arsenal on 24 September 1927.[3] Olney would soon after leave to join Aston Villa and Wilkes would take over as first choice keeper.[2] He would make 31 appearances in the 1927–28 season.[4] In the 1928–29 season, Wilkes would only miss one game as he played 44 games.[4] In the 1929–30 season, Wilkes would only miss five games as Derby would finish runners-up in the league championship,[1][2][5] playing in 40 first team matches.[4] Another 40 appearances were made in the 1930–31 season[4] and 43 in the 1931–32 season[4] Wilkes would start the 1932–33 season as first choice but would lose his place in the team to Jack Kirby in December 1932.[2][6] Wilkes made the last of his 220 appearances[7] for Derby in a 4–1 loss at Blackpool on 27 December 1932.[8]
Later career[edit]
Wilkes would join Sheffield United in March 1934.[8][1][2] He would make 14 appearances in total, as he was mainly used as a back up to Jack Smith and Roy John.[2] He play three times in United's 1933–34 season relegation season, which ended his top flight career, after making 211 career First Division appearances.[9] Wilkes joined Rhyl Athletic in October 1935,[1][2] before ending his career at Heanor Town, joining them in 1936.[1][2]
Personal life[edit]
After football, Wilkes lived in Derby and owned a fish and chip shop with his wife Effie in Cowsley Road, Chaddesden. He was a part of the congregation in the funeral of former teammate Tommy Cooper who died in a motorcycle crash in June 1940, whilst playing for Liverpool.[10]
Death[edit]
Wilkes died on 5 April 1984, in Derby aged 76.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Mortimer, Gerald (2006). Derby County: The Complete Record. nreedonbook. p. 198. ISBN 1859835171.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Harry Wilkes". Vintage Football Players. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Derby County v Arsenal, 24 September 1927". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Harry Wilkes". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Club History". Derby County. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Derby County Football Club: A Grand History 1924 – 1955". issuu.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ Mortimer, Gerald (2006). Derby County: The Complete Record. nreedonbook. pp. 280–291, 486. ISBN 1859835171.
- ^ a b "Blackpool v Derby County, 27 December 1932". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "Harry Wilkes". World Football. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "The funeral of Tommy Cooper". Play Up Liverpool. 29 June 1940. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
External links[edit]
- 11v11 profile
- Harry Wilkes at WorldFootball.net
- Vintage Footballers profile