Monday, August 25 – 1913
Although the policy of the Wednesday directorate in regard to David McLean receives general support in Sheffield, some anxiety and considerable curiosity prevails among the followers of the club as to how the centre forward position is to be filled in his absence.
How the sharp-shooting Scot asked for a three years’ engagement and a guarantee for a benefit of £400; how the Wednesday directorate offered him the maximum wages, £4 10s., and expressed willingness to give him a guarantee of £350 for a benefit when the time should come, but declined to sign him on for three seasons as a matter of club policy and justice to the other players; how they refused, and still refuse, to put him on the transfer list; and how McLean has signed and already played for Forfar Athletic, are matters of history. But who is to fill his place as the leader of the Owlerton vanguard?
The most likely candidate is J.D.L. Burkinshaw, a brother of the Wednesday right winger, who has been with Swindon Town for three seasons, and who is reputed to be a player of skill and possibilities of development with such men as he will have on each side of him. Of course there is just the bare chance that McLean may yet come back, but nobody in Sheffield is greatly worrying about the matter.
Should the important position of centre forward be satisfactorily filled there can be little doubt that the “Blades” will enjoy a successful season, for apart from McLean they will have the same men who proved themselves one of the best teams in the country last winter. There are only half a dozen recruits for the coming campaign, and four of these belong to the attack.
Of J.D.L. Burkinshaw I have already said something. Another new centre forward is H. Platts, of Silverwood Colliery, and formerly of Gainsborough Trinity, a youngster of promise transferred last April and re-engaged, while Horace Clark, obtained from Shirebrook, can also act as the pivot as well as at inside left.
Then there is J. Monaghan, who came from the Newburn Club, Northumberland, late last season, and who is able to play in any inside position. The other two new men are goalkeepers, namely, F. Mellor, a big young man 19 years of age, from Crick, and G.H. Street, only a year older, from Mansfield Mechanics.
A feature of interest is the big improvement which is being made at the Owlerton ground. A huge new stand is being erected in the place of the old “Olive Grove” structure, which will seat 5,000 people and provide cushioned tip-up chairs for 1,000 season ticket-holders. In front is a terrace to hold 10,000 onlookers.
The “sixpenny” public will also receive attention, the big bank at the Peniston-road end being extended and terraced. These improvements are consequent upon the splendid financial success of last season, when a profit of well over £5,000 was made. The new stand will not be complete for the first match, but it will be sufficiently advanced to be used.
The full list of players engaged by the club is appended: –
Teddy Davison.
Birthplace: Gateshead.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Height: 5ft. 7½in.
Weight: 11st. 10lb.
F. Mellor.
Birthplace: Crick.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Height: 6ft. 1in.
Weight: 12st. 7lb.
George Street.
Birthplace: Nottingham.
Position: Goalkeeper.
Height: 5ft. 9in.
Weight: 11st.
Ted Worrall.
Birthplace: Buxton.
Position: Right full-back.
Height: 5ft. 10in.
Weight: 11st. 4lb.
Jimmy Spoors.
Birthplace: Jarrow.
Position: Right or left full-back.
Height: 5ft. 9½in.
Weight: 13st.
Charles Brelsford.
Birthplace: Sheffield.
Position: Left full-back.
Height: 5ft. 7in.
Weight: 11st.
Tom Brittleton.
Birthplace: Winsford.
Position: Right half-back.
Height: 5ft. 9½in.
Weight: 12st. 4lb.
Bob McSkimming.
Birthplace: Lanark.
Position: Centre half-back.
Height: 5ft.10in.
Weight: 12st. 8in.
Jimmy Campbell.
Birthplace: Newhaven, Edinburgh.
Position: Left half-back.
Height: 5ft. 8½in.
Weight: 11st. 7lb.
Jimmy Miller.
Birthplace: Glasgow.
Position: Half-back.
Height: 5ft. 8½in.
Weight: 11st. 6lb.
John Lamb.
Birthplace: Clay Cross.
Position: Half-back.
Height: 5ft.11in.
Weight: 12st.
Harry Bentley.
Birthplace: Sheffield.
Position: Half-back.
Height: 5ft. 8in.
Weight: 11st.
Horace Nicholson.
Birthplace: Swinton.
Position: Centre half-back.
Height: 5ft. 10in.
Weight: 12st.
Sam Kirkman.
Birthplace: Bury.
Position: Outside right.
Height: 5ft. 7½in.
Weight: 11st.
Teddy Glennon.
Birthplace: Whitwick.
Position: Inside right.
Height: 5ft. 9½in.
Weight: 11st. 10lb.
Andy Wilson.
Birthplace: Govan.
Position: Inside left.
Height: 5ft. 10in.
Weight: 13st. 6lb.
George Robertson.
Birthplace: Menstrie.
Position: Outside left.
Height: 5ft. 9½in.
Weight: 12st.
Laurie Burkinshaw.
Birthplace: Kilnhurst.
Position: Outside right.
Height: 5ft. 6½in.
Weight: 11st.
Percy Wright.
Birthplace: Darley Dale.
Position: Outside left.
Height: 5ft. 7½in.
Weight: 10st. 12lb.
George Beech.
Birthplace: Sheffield.
Position: Inside right.
Height: 5ft. 8in.
Weight: 11st.
Henry Platts.
Birthplace: Sheffield.
Position: Centre forward.
Height: 5ft. 9in.
Weight: 11st. 5lb.
Jimmy Monaghan.
Birthplace: Newburn.
Position: Forward.
Height: 5ft. 6½in.
Weight: 10st. 8lb.
Horace Clarke.
Birthplace: Shirebrook.
Position: Centre forward.
Height: 5ft. 9in.
Weight: 11st.
Jack Burkinshaw.
Birthplace: Kilnhurst.
Position: Centre forward.
Height: 5ft. 8in.
Weight: 12st.
Jimmy Gill.
Birthplace: Sheffield.
Position: Inside right.
Height: 5ft. 9in.
Weight: 11st. 7lb.
Jack Pickering.
Birthplace: Clowne.
Position: Outside left.
Height: 5ft. 7in.
Weight: 11st.
T. Armitage.
Birthplace: Potter Hill.
Position: Centre forward.
Height: 5ft. 10in.
Weight: 11st. 7lb.
(The Athletic News, 25-08-1913)
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