David Hamer (footballer)
Encyclopedia
David Bowen Hamer (known as "Taffy
") was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a full-back
for Southampton St. Mary's in the early years of the Southern League
.
in Radnorshire
, mid-Wales and enlisted in the Royal Engineers
. Based at Aldershot
, he was a member of the Royal Engineers
team which won the Hampshire Senior Cup
for two successive years in 1889 and 1890.
In December 1891, he left the Armed Services and shortly afterwards he joined Southampton St. Mary's. He remained at the Antelope Ground
until the end of the season, playing in the final of the Hampshire County Cricket Club Charity Cup, when the "Saints" were defeated by Hamer's previous club, the Royal Engineers.
Hamer then moved to the Isle of Wight
where he spent two seasons with Cowes, before returning to Southampton in 1894 for their inaugural season
in the Southern League
. Described as "possessing a terrific volley and deceptive speed for a big man" (his weight was recorded as 13st. 4lb.
) he never commanded a regular place in the Saints' side making a total of twelve appearances over the next three seasons.
He made his first-class debut in the opening match of the 1894–95 season
, a 3–1 victory over Chatham on 6 October 1894, playing at left-half and retained his place for the following two league matches (at left-back) before losing his place to Bill Jeffrey
in November. Hamer also made three appearances in the early rounds of the FA Cup, including the 14–0 victory over Newbury
in the first qualifying round on 13 October 1894 – this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match.
In the following season
, Hamer made five appearances as cover for Lachie Thomson
, with his final game for the "Saints" coming on 13 March 1897 (replacing Samuel Meston
in a 6–2 victory over Northfleet). During his time with St. Mary's, Hamer won a total of twenty caps for the Hampshire F.A.
, including one run of thirteen matches in succession.
Hamer then returned to Cowes for a further season before re-joining Southampton
in 1898 in their new home at The Dell as assistant first-team coach
, turning out occasionally for the reserves.
where he saw action in the Boer War
.
After leaving the Army in November 1902, he settled in the Southampton
area.
Taffy
Taffy can refer to any of the following:* Taffy , a type of chewy, often colored, candy* Taffy is a sometimes pejorative term for a Welsh person or thing...
") was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a full-back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Southampton St. Mary's in the early years of the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
Football career
Hamer was born at RhayaderRhayader
Rhayader is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075, and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
in Radnorshire
Radnorshire
Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805...
, mid-Wales and enlisted in the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
. Based at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, he was a member of the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
team which won the Hampshire Senior Cup
Hampshire Senior Cup
The Hampshire Senior Cup is a cup competition open to football teams affiliated with the Hampshire Football Association. The competition was founded in 1888 and has been contested every year since, with the exception of 1914 to 1919 when it was postponed due to World War I.Despite the...
for two successive years in 1889 and 1890.
In December 1891, he left the Armed Services and shortly afterwards he joined Southampton St. Mary's. He remained at the Antelope Ground
Antelope Ground
The Antelope Ground, Southampton was a sports ground that was the first home of both Hampshire County Cricket Club, who played there prior to 1884, and of Southampton Football Club, who played there from 1887 to 1896 as "Southampton St...
until the end of the season, playing in the final of the Hampshire County Cricket Club Charity Cup, when the "Saints" were defeated by Hamer's previous club, the Royal Engineers.
Hamer then moved to the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
where he spent two seasons with Cowes, before returning to Southampton in 1894 for their inaugural season
Southern Football League 1894-95
The 1894-95 season was the first in the history of the Southern League. Sixteen clubs joined the new league, which was split into two divisions...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
. Described as "possessing a terrific volley and deceptive speed for a big man" (his weight was recorded as 13st. 4lb.
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) he never commanded a regular place in the Saints' side making a total of twelve appearances over the next three seasons.
He made his first-class debut in the opening match of the 1894–95 season
1894–95 Southampton St. Mary's F.C. season
The 1894–95 season was the tenth since the foundation of Southampton St. Mary's F.C. and their first in league football, being founder members of the Southern League....
, a 3–1 victory over Chatham on 6 October 1894, playing at left-half and retained his place for the following two league matches (at left-back) before losing his place to Bill Jeffrey
William Jeffrey (footballer)
William Walls Jeffrey was an English footballer who played in defence for various teams, including Burnley, Woolwich Arsenal and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:Jeffrey was born in Dalderby, near Horncastle, Lincolnshire...
in November. Hamer also made three appearances in the early rounds of the FA Cup, including the 14–0 victory over Newbury
Newbury Town F.C.
Newbury Town F.C. is a now-defunct football club based in Newbury, England. They won the Hellenic League title two times in their history. They also won the Isthmian League Division Two in 1994, but ceased to exist just before the start of the 1995–96 season...
in the first qualifying round on 13 October 1894 – this is still Southampton's biggest victory in a competitive match.
In the following season
Southern Football League 1895-96
The 1895-96 season was the second in the history of the Southern League. Millwall Athletic won Division One for the second successive season.-Division One:...
, Hamer made five appearances as cover for Lachie Thomson
Lachie Thomson
W.J.G. "Lachie" Thomson was an English professional footballer who played as a defender for Stoke in the Football League before joining Southampton St Mary's for the inaugural Southern League season in 1894.-Stoke:...
, with his final game for the "Saints" coming on 13 March 1897 (replacing Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston
Samuel Meston was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for Stoke and Southampton. Whilst with Southampton, he appeared in two FA Cup Finals and won six Southern League championship medals and was the only player ever to do so.-Playing career:Meston was born in Arbroath and...
in a 6–2 victory over Northfleet). During his time with St. Mary's, Hamer won a total of twenty caps for the Hampshire F.A.
Hampshire Football Association
The Hampshire Football Association, also known as Hampshire FA, is the governing body of football in the county of Hampshire. It was formed in 1887.-External links:* * *...
, including one run of thirteen matches in succession.
Hamer then returned to Cowes for a further season before re-joining Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1898 in their new home at The Dell as assistant first-team coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, turning out occasionally for the reserves.
Later career
In December 1899, Hamer was recalled to active service and was sent to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he saw action in the Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
After leaving the Army in November 1902, he settled in the Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
area.