George Hunt (forward)
Encyclopedia
George Samuel Hunt was an English
footballer who played at inside or centre forward.
Born in Barnsley
, Yorkshire
, Hunt spent his early career playing for local sides in his native county, having trials with both Barnsley
and Sheffield United
, both of whom rejected him. He eventually joined Chesterfield
in 1929 and in his only season there scored nine times in fourteen games.
He moved on from Chesterfield to Tottenham Hotspur
in June 1930 and spent seven seasons with the club, and was a prolific goalscorer, hitting 138 goals in 198 matches for Tottenham as they were promoted to the First Division
and becoming the club's top scorer for five consecutive seasons, from 1931–32 through to 1935–36. He also won three cap
s for England
during this time, scoring one goal.
His scoring form attracted the attention of Spurs' neighbours and rivals Arsenal
, who signed him in 1937, making him the first player to move directly from Spurs to Arsenal since the latter's move to Highbury
in 1913. Intended as a replacement for Ted Drake
(who was injured at the time), Hunt made his debut against Manchester City
on 2 October 1937 at Highbury
, having coincidentally played there for Spurs in a reserve match three days earlier, on 29 September.
In 1937–38, Hunt played 21 matches for Arsenal and earned a First Division
winners' medal; however, he only scored three goals and was sold to Bolton Wanderers
in the summer of 1938 after Drake's recovery, and to make way for the subsequent signing of Bryn Jones. At Bolton, Hunt returned to form and hit 23 goals in the 1938–39 season. After that his career was interrupted by the Second World War, although he still played wartime matches for Bolton. He finished his career with a one-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday
between 1946 and 1948.
After retiring from playing, he returned to Bolton as a coach
and trainer
in 1948, and was a member of the club's backroom staff when they won the 1957–58 FA Cup
. He died aged 86 in 1996, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease
for the last few years of his life.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
footballer who played at inside or centre forward.
Born in Barnsley
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, Hunt spent his early career playing for local sides in his native county, having trials with both Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
, both of whom rejected him. He eventually joined Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in 1929 and in his only season there scored nine times in fourteen games.
He moved on from Chesterfield to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in June 1930 and spent seven seasons with the club, and was a prolific goalscorer, hitting 138 goals in 198 matches for Tottenham as they were promoted to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
and becoming the club's top scorer for five consecutive seasons, from 1931–32 through to 1935–36. He also won three cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
s for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
during this time, scoring one goal.
His scoring form attracted the attention of Spurs' neighbours and rivals Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, who signed him in 1937, making him the first player to move directly from Spurs to Arsenal since the latter's move to Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
in 1913. Intended as a replacement for Ted Drake
Ted Drake
Edward Joseph "Ted" Drake was an English football player and manager. As a player, he first played for Southampton but made his name playing for Arsenal in the 1930s, winning two league titles and an FA Cup, as well as five caps for England. He was also a cricketer, but only ever played sparingly...
(who was injured at the time), Hunt made his debut against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 2 October 1937 at Highbury
Arsenal Stadium
Arsenal Stadium was a football stadium in Highbury, North London, which was the home ground of Arsenal Football Club between 6 September 1913 and 7 May 2006...
, having coincidentally played there for Spurs in a reserve match three days earlier, on 29 September.
In 1937–38, Hunt played 21 matches for Arsenal and earned a First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
winners' medal; however, he only scored three goals and was sold to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in the summer of 1938 after Drake's recovery, and to make way for the subsequent signing of Bryn Jones. At Bolton, Hunt returned to form and hit 23 goals in the 1938–39 season. After that his career was interrupted by the Second World War, although he still played wartime matches for Bolton. He finished his career with a one-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
between 1946 and 1948.
After retiring from playing, he returned to Bolton as a 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:...
and trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
in 1948, and was a member of the club's backroom staff when they won the 1957–58 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
. He died aged 86 in 1996, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
for the last few years of his life.