Jimmy Carr (footballer)
Encyclopedia
James Edward Charles "Jimmy" Carr (19 December 1893 – 26 June 1980) was a Scottish footballer who played at outside left for Reading
and Southampton
in the 1920s.
, Glasgow
, but started his football career as a youth playing for Watford Orient, before joining Watford
as a 14-year old in 1908. He made his Southern League
debut for Watford at the age of 16. He moved to fellow Southern League club, West Ham United
, in 1914 and made nine appearances in the 1914–15 season.
During World War I
he was enlisted into the Army and played as a guest for Portsmouth
and Kilmarnock
in the wartime leagues. After the cessation of hostilities, Carr joined Reading
in 1919, where he formed an "exciting partnership" on the left with Len Andrews
. At the end of the 1919–20 season Reading, along with most of the Southern League clubs, formed the Third Division
of the Football League. Carr remained with Reading for four years until moving to Southampton
in June 1923.
At The Dell, Carr and Andrews briefly re-created their left-wing partnership, before Andrews was replaced by Cliff Price
in December 1923. Having played in every match from the start of the 1923–24 season, a serious knee injury in January, which required an operation, put Carr out for the rest of the season, with Elias MacDonald
replacing him.
Carr returned for the start of the next season, but his season was again disrupted by injuries, with either Fred Price
, (Cliff Price's nephew) or Stan Cribb
replacing him. Carr did, however, play a significant part in the Saints' run to the FA Cup Semi-finals
, where they were defeated 2–0 by Sheffield United
at Stamford Bridge
.
In the 1925–26 season, Carr linked up well on the left, firstly with Cliff Price and later with Frank Matthews
, before he was released at the end of the season.
Now in his mid-thirties, Carr placed an advertisement in the "Athletic News" stating that he wished to "assist a club outside the League in exchange for a business". This resulted initially in a transfer to Swansea Town where he played briefly before moving to Southall
to become the proprietor of the Red Lion Hotel.
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
and 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 the 1920s.
Football career
Carr was born in MaryhillMaryhill
Maryhill is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. The population of Maryhill is about 52,000. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, but started his football career as a youth playing for Watford Orient, before joining Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as a 14-year old in 1908. He made his 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...
debut for Watford at the age of 16. He moved to fellow Southern League club, West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, in 1914 and made nine appearances in the 1914–15 season.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was enlisted into the Army and played as a guest for Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
and Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
in the wartime leagues. After the cessation of hostilities, Carr joined Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
in 1919, where he formed an "exciting partnership" on the left with Len Andrews
Len Andrews
Leonard Thomas Alford "Len" Andrews was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward. During his career he had two spells with both Southampton and Reading, as well as playing for Watford....
. At the end of the 1919–20 season Reading, along with most of the Southern League clubs, formed the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
of the Football League. Carr remained with Reading for four years until moving to 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 June 1923.
At The Dell, Carr and Andrews briefly re-created their left-wing partnership, before Andrews was replaced by Cliff Price
Cliff Price
Ernest Clifford "Cliff" Price was an English footballer who played at inside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
in December 1923. Having played in every match from the start of the 1923–24 season, a serious knee injury in January, which required an operation, put Carr out for the rest of the season, with Elias MacDonald
Elias MacDonald
Elias MacDonald was an English footballer who played at outside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
replacing him.
Carr returned for the start of the next season, but his season was again disrupted by injuries, with either Fred Price
Fred Price (footballer)
Frederick Thomas "Fred" Price was an English footballer who played at outside left for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
, (Cliff Price's nephew) or Stan Cribb
Stan Cribb
Stanley Roy "Stan" Cribb was an English professional footballer who played for Southampton, Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City as an outside-left in the 1920s and 1930s. He later went on to help found and to manage Gosport Borough.-Early days:Cribb was born in Gosport, Hampshire and attended...
replacing him. Carr did, however, play a significant part in the Saints' run to the FA Cup Semi-finals
FA Cup Semi-finals
The FA Cup Semi-finals are played to determine which teams will contest the FA Cup Final. They are the penultimate phase of the FA Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world.- Location :...
, where they were defeated 2–0 by 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...
at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
.
In the 1925–26 season, Carr linked up well on the left, firstly with Cliff Price and later with Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews
Frank Matthews was an English footballer who played at inside-forward for various clubs in the 1920s.-Football career:...
, before he was released at the end of the season.
Now in his mid-thirties, Carr placed an advertisement in the "Athletic News" stating that he wished to "assist a club outside the League in exchange for a business". This resulted initially in a transfer to Swansea Town where he played briefly before moving to Southall
Southall
Southall is a large suburban district of west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Ealing. It is situated west of Charing Cross. Neighbouring places include Yeading, Hayes, Hanwell, Heston, Hounslow, Greenford and Northolt...
to become the proprietor of the Red Lion Hotel.