Harry Hampton (footballer, born 1885)

Joseph Harry Hampton (21 April 1885 – 15 March 1963) was an English footballer who was born in Wellington, Shropshire. To this day Hampton remains Aston Villa's all-time leading goalscorer in the League.

Harry Hampton

Personal information
Full name	Joseph Harry Hampton
Date of birth	21 April 1885
Place of birth	Wellington, England
Date of death	15 March 1963 (aged 77)
Place of death	Rhyl, Wales
Height	5 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
	Shifnal Juniors
–	Lilleshall Iron Works
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1902–1904	Wellington Town
1904–1920	Aston Villa	339	(215)
1920–1922	Birmingham	57	(31)
1922–1923	Newport County	14	(2)
1924–1925	Wellington Town
Total		410	(248)
National team
1913–1914	England	4	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Playing career

Youth

According to a friend speaking to the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News after his death, Hampton began his playing career with Lilleshall Iron Works team then joined Wellington Town, before transferring to Aston Villa on a professional contract for £120 in April 1904.[2]

Aston Villa

Better known as "Happy" Harry Hampton or as "The Wellington Whirlwind," he played as a centre forward for Aston Villa from 1904 to 1920.[3] He scored both goals against Newcastle United in the 1905 FA Cup Final Hampton was a prolific goalscorer and once scored five goals when Aston Villa beat Sheffield Wednesday 10–0 in a First Division match in 1912.[3] He was joint top goalscorer in the First Division in the 1911–12 season.[4] Between 1913 and 1914 Hampton was capped by England four times, scoring two goals in games against Wales and Scotland.[5]

First World War

Hampton served on the Somme during the First World War and suffered from the effects of mustard gas poisoning.[3] Hampton was never the same player after the War and after scoring 242 goals in 376 games for Aston Villa, he moved to Birmingham.[3] Hampton guested for Stoke in 1918–19, scoring three goals in eight appearances.[6]

Birmingham

At Birmingham Hampton become the Second Division club's star player, his 16 goals made him their top scorer for the 1920–21 season and helped the club to the Second Division title.[7] He ultimately scored 31 goals out of 59 appearances in the club before transferring to Newport County in Wales.[3]

Later

He only achieved two goals out of 15 appearances for Newport County.[3] He returned to Wellington Town, only to appear for one season.[2]

Following his retirement from playing, Hampton was a coach at Preston North End and former club, Birmingham. He later ran a catering business in Rhyl, where he died in 1963 at the age of 77.[7]

Career statistics

Source:[8]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Aston Villa	1904–05	First Division	22	15	6	7	28	22
	1905–06	First Division	32	19	3	1	35	20
	1906–07	First Division	29	21	1	0	30	21
	1907–08	First Division	28	18	2	1	30	19
	1908–09	First Division	30	9	1	0	31	9
	1909–10	First Division	32	26	3	3	35	29
	1910–11	First Division	33	19	2	2	35	21
	1911–12	First Division	33	25	3	3	36	28
	1912–13	First Division	33	25	6	5	39	30
	1913–14	First Division	30	19	2	0	32	19
	1914–15	First Division	30	19	2	0	32	19
	1919–20	First Division	7	0	0	0	7	0
	Total		339	215	34	27	373	242
Birmingham	1919–20	Second Division	10	11	1	0	11	11
	1920–21	Second Division	29	16	1	0	30	16
	1921–22	First Division	18	4	0	0	18	4
	Total		57	31	2	0	59	31
Newport County	1922–23	Third Division South	14	2	1	0	15	2
Career total			410	248	37	27	447	275

Honours

Harry Hampton scored both goals in the 1905 FA Cup Final

Aston Villa

• 1904–05 FA Cup[3]
• 1909–10 Football League First Division[3]
• 1912–13 FA Cup[3]

Birmingham

• 1920–21 Football League Second Division[3]

References

General

• Entry on Aston Villa Player Database
• Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 113. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.

Specific

1. Brum (22 August 1921). "First Division prospects. Birmingham". Athletic News. Manchester. p. 5.
2. "The Great Harry Hampton". Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News. 23 March 1963.Report of his death, most information given based on interview with friend Jack Churm, former chairman of Wellington Town.
3. "Harry Hampton, Aston Villa and the First World War". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
4. Ross, James M (7 November 2008). "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
5. "Harry Hampton". englandstats.com. Retrieved 25 November 2008.
6. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
7. Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
8. Harry Hampton at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)