Hughie Dow

Hugh Connor Dow (4 April 1906 – 1987) was an English footballer who made 42 appearances in the Football League in the 1930s playing as a full back for Grimsby Town and Darlington. He was on the books of Sunderland without playing for them in the League,[1] and played non-league football in the north-east of England.

Hughie Dow
Personal information
Full name Hugh Connor Dow[1]
Date of birth (1906-04-04)4 April 1906[1]
Place of birth Herrington,[1] England
Date of death 1987 (aged 81)[2]
Place of death Sunderland,[2] England
Position(s) Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1925–1930 Sunderland 0 (0)
1930–1932 Grimsby Town 2 (0)
1932–1934 Darlington 40 (1)
1934–1936 Shotton C.W.
1936–1937 Easington C.W.
1937–19?? Shotton C.W.
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Dow was born in Herrington, County Durham,[1] the eldest child of John Dow, a riveter in a shipyard, and his wife Mary Ann. At the time of the 1911 Census, the family was living in the Monkwearmouth area of Sunderland.[3] Described as a "sturdily built defender",[4] he began his senior football career with Sunderland, but never made a first-team appearance in several seasons with the club. In 1930, he was initially placed on the transfer list,[5] but on appeal to the Football League was allowed a free transfer. He then signed for Grimsby Town of the First Division.[6] He spent most of his Grimsby career playing for their reserves in the Midland League, at right half as well as his more normal right-back position,[7] and appeared only twice for Grimsby's first team.[1] At the end of his second season, he was listed as one of several "others who may be released",[8] and in September 1932, he signed for Darlington.[9]

He began his Darlington career in the reserves,[10] but soon established himself as first choice at right back.[11] In January 1933, they were a goal down to Stockport County and "ten seconds from the finish [when] with a splendid effort, Dow, the right back, ran the ball half the length of the field and put over a quick centre from the corner flag. Hurst headed the ball into the net and the referee blew the final whistle."[12] A first-team regular for the rest of the 1932–33 season, Dow was one of just five players on Darlington's retained list for the following campaign.[13] He appeared less frequently during 1933–34 after the arrival of Irish full-back Bill Scott in mid-September.[14] He lost his place to Scott after an unexpectedly heavy defeat at home to Mansfield Town,[15] and appeared only infrequently thereafter, sometimes replacing Bill Allison at left back.[16] Dow, like all but two of Darlington's reserve players, was given a free transfer at the end of the season.[17]

Dow then moved into non-league football with Wearside League club Shotton Colliery Welfare.[18] According to the Sunderland Echo's correspondent, he "rendered the club excellent service" over his first season,[19] After his second, he chose not to re-sign,[20] instead joining fellow Wearside League team Easington Colliery Welfare,[21] but after only a few months he returned to Shotton.[22]

Dow's death at the age of 81 was registered in the third quarter of 1987 in the Sunderland district.[2]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "England & Wales deaths 1837–2007 Transcription". Hugh Connor Dow. Birth date: 2 Apr 1906. Death quarter: 3. Death year: 1987. District: Sunderland. County: Durham. Register number: 887. Volume: 2. Page: 1726. Retrieved 20 September 2015 – via Findmypast.
  3. "1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription 34 Huddleston St Monkwearmouth Sunderland, Sunderland, Durham, England". Census reference: RG14PN30223 RG78PN1742 RD555 SD3 ED11 SN94. Retrieved 20 September 2015 – via Findmypast.
  4. "Sport items. Dow and Dowsey". Derby Daily Telegraph. 23 February 1929. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Sunderland's retained. Considerable reductions in wages". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 2 May 1930. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. 'Veritas' (5 July 1930). "Close season gossip. Grimsby Town's capture". Daily Mail. Hull. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "City reserves at Grimsby". Lincolnshire Echo. 8 November 1930. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "Midland League football. Forest try new man against Grimsby". Nottingham Evening Post. 12 November 1931. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Grimsby Town. Players who will be retained". Daily Mail. Hull. 14 April 1932. p. 13 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. 'Argus' (27 September 1932). "A Scot for Darlington". Sunderland Echo. p. 11 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "T.F.'s Sports Notes. "Quakers"' changes". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 6 October 1932. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. T.F. (11 November 1932). "Sailors don't care! Darlington's new man". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    "T.F's Sports Notes. Eden in "Quakers"' team". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. 1 December 1932. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
    T.F. (31 January 1933). "Sports Notes. Hull at Darlington". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive. Darlington hope to be at full strength ... Fielden; Dow, Allison; ...
  12. "Equalised with last kick". Yorkshire Post. 2 January 1933. p. 14 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. Scarboro (5 May 1933). "Sports snaps". Daily Mail. Hull. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. T.F. (13 September 1933). "Sports notes". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. T.F. (22 September 1933). "Bogy! "Quakers" visit 'Pools". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. M.C. (2 February 1934). "Football topics". Northern Daily Mail. West Hartlepool. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. 'Argus' (27 April 1934). "Sports Review". Sunderland Echo. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. 'Argus' (22 September 1934). "Under the Searchlight". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. 'The Wanderer' (29 August 1935). "Usworth players who sould shine. Wearside League review". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. 'Wanderer' (29 August 1936). "Ouston's Wearside League's prospects". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. 'Argus' (31 August 1936). "Under the Searchlight". Sunderland Echo. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Monthly meeting of Wearside League". Sunderland Echo. 25 January 1937. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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