John Starsmore

John George Starsmore (20 December 1901 – 1983), also commonly known as Jack Starsmore, was an English footballer who scored 32 goals from 126 appearances in the Football League playing for Coventry City, Swindon Town and Barrow in the 1920s and 1930s. He also played in non-league football for Kettering Town and Dartford. He played as a centre forward or inside forward.[1]

John Starsmore
Personal information
Full name John George Starsmore[1]
Date of birth (1901-12-20)20 December 1901[1]
Place of birth Kettering, England
Date of death 1983 (aged 81)
Place of death Corby, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
192?–1925 Desborough Town
1925–1928 Kettering Town
1928–1930 Coventry City 51 (17)
1930–1931 Kettering Town
1931–1933 Swindon Town 66 (14)
1933–1934 Barrow 9 (1)
1934–1935 Dartford
1935–19?? Kettering Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Life and career

Starsmore was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, in 1901.[1] He played non-league football for Desborough Town and Kettering Town before signing for Coventry City of the Third Division South in September 1928 for a "substantial" fee.[3] He made his debut on 6 October, at home to Brentford, and scored the only goal of the match.[4] He played regularly throughout the remainder of the 1928–29 season and at the start of 1929–30, but once Jimmy Loughlin established himself in the team, Starsmore made only five appearances in 1930,[4][5] and left the club at the end of the season.

After a season back with Kettering Town, Starsmore signed for another Third Division South club, Swindon Town.[1] He was ever-present in league and FA Cup in 1931–32,[6] but played less the following season and was transfer-listed. He moved on to Barrow of the Third Division North,[2] and scored once in nine league appearances,[1] but spent several months in hospital in mid-season after breaking his upper arm in a road accident.[7][8] He spent the 1934–35 campaign with Southern League club Dartford,[9] scoring twice in the final to help his side win the Kent Senior Cup,[10] and then returned to Kettering.[11]

Starsmore died in Corby in 1983 at the age of 81.[1][12]

References
  1. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 248. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  2. "Barrow's new players". Lancashire Evening Post. 8 July 1933. p. 5.
  3. "Barrow's new players". Northampton Mercury. 28 September 1928. p. 8. Kettering Town have transferred John G. Starsmore, their inside right, to Coventry City, for a substantial fee. ... He is a hard worker, and a splendid shot. He first became prominent with Desborough Town, but has been with Kettering for several seasons.
  4. "John Starsmore". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  5. "Jimmy Loughlin". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. "John Starsmore". Swindon-Town-FC.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  7. "Barnsley absentees. Youngsters introduced for Barrow match". Leeds Mercury. 18 November 1933. p. 9. Unfortunately for Barrow they will be short of Starsmore, their inside right, who last Sunday in collision on the road near Kettering had his left arm broken above the elbow.
  8. "Kettering". Northampton Mercury. 9 February 1934. p. 4. Jack Starsmore, formerly of the Kettering and Coventry football clubs, and now a Barrow forward, has left Kettering Hospital where he has been under treatment for several months following a motor accident.
  9. Ajax (31 August 1934). "Great win at Dartford". Kent and Sussex Courier. p. 14. Dartford have got a very useful team, the newcomers including Starsmore (Coventry), May (Crystal Palace), King (York),...
  10. "Dartford win back the Cup". Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald. 27 April 1935. pp. 10–11.
  11. "No title". Biggleswade Chronicle. 30 August 1935. p. 5. Incidentally, J. Starsmore, the old Kettering and Swindon player, leads the Kettering attack.
  12. "John George Starsmore". England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837–2007. Retrieved 13 December 2017 – via FamilySearch.org.
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