Jimmy Windridge
Encyclopedia
James Edwin "Jimmy" Windridge (21 October 1882 – 23 September 1939) was an English footballer who played as an inside forward
. He made more than 250 appearances in the Football League
for Small Heath/Birmingham
, Chelsea
and Middlesbrough
, and played eight times for England
.
, Windridge began his senior football career with his local club, Small Heath (now known as Birmingham City
), making his debut in 1903. In his first season the club were promoted to the First Division
. He became one of the first players to join the newly-formed Chelsea Football Club
in 1905, arriving for the sum of £190 and with fellow Small Heath players, Jimmy Robertson
and Bob McRoberts. His impact was immediate, scoring a hat-trick
for the club on his home debut against Blackpool
, the first competitive football match ever played at Stamford Bridge
.
Windridge scored 16 goals that season as Chelsea finished a respectable third in the Second Division
, and hit 18 in the next, helping the club earn promotion to the First Division
. Thereafter he was overshadowed by more high-profile forwards at the club, such as George Hilsdon
and Vivian Woodward
, and moved on to Middlesbrough
in 1911. Returning to Birmingham in 1914, he equalled a club record by scoring five goals in a league match against Glossop
in 1915.
He was also an England
international, making his debut in 1908 against Ireland. He scored in six consecutive matches for his country, equalling a record set by Tinsley Lindley
and never subsequently surpassed. The sequence included all four matches during England's first overseas tour, and Windridge ended his international career with an impressive seven goals from eight games.
for Warwickshire
. He was the cousin of fellow England international Alex Leake
.
He died in Small Heath, Birmingham, at the age of 56.
Inside forward
In football, the position of inside forward was popularly used in the late nineteenth and first half of the 20th centuries. The inside forwards would support the centre forwards, running and making space in the opposition defence, and, as the passing game developed, supporting him with passes...
. He made more than 250 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Small Heath/Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
, and played eight times 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...
.
Football career
Born in Small Heath, BirminghamSmall Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
, Windridge began his senior football career with his local club, Small Heath (now known as Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
), making his debut in 1903. In his first season the club 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....
. He became one of the first players to join the newly-formed Chelsea Football Club
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in 1905, arriving for the sum of £190 and with fellow Small Heath players, Jimmy Robertson
Jimmy Robertson (footballer born 1880)
James "Jimmy" Robertson was a Scottish professional footballer who played as an inside right.Born in Glasgow, he moved to England to join Crewe Alexandra, then playing in the Birmingham & District League, where he made his name as a goal-poacher...
and Bob McRoberts. His impact was immediate, scoring a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
for the club on his home debut against Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, the first competitive football match ever played 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...
.
Windridge scored 16 goals that season as Chelsea finished a respectable third in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
, and hit 18 in the next, helping the club earn promotion 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....
. Thereafter he was overshadowed by more high-profile forwards at the club, such as George Hilsdon
George Hilsdon
George Richard Hilsdon was a footballer who began his career at West Ham United, making his debut in the 1903-04 season. His brother Jack Hilsdon also played for West Ham at this time...
and Vivian Woodward
Vivian Woodward
Vivian John Woodward was an English amateur football player who enjoyed the peak of his career in the late 1900s and early 1910s.-Club career:...
, and moved on to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
in 1911. Returning to Birmingham in 1914, he equalled a club record by scoring five goals in a league match against Glossop
Glossop North End A.F.C.
Glossop North End A.F.C. are an English football club based in Glossop, Derbyshire. Former members of the Football League, they are currently in the North West Counties League and are members of the Derbyshire County Football Association. They play their home matches at Surrey Street, which has a...
in 1915.
He was also an 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...
international, making his debut in 1908 against Ireland. He scored in six consecutive matches for his country, equalling a record set by Tinsley Lindley
Tinsley Lindley
Tinsley Lindley was an English footballer. He was considered one of the 19th century's great centre forwards. His passes and shots at goal were very precise, he was very clever and an excellent team player. An elegant and technically superb player.He was the son of Leonard Lindley who was a lace...
and never subsequently surpassed. The sequence included all four matches during England's first overseas tour, and Windridge ended his international career with an impressive seven goals from eight games.
Outside football
Windridge also played cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
. He was the cousin of fellow England international Alex Leake
Alex Leake
Alexander Leake , known as Alex or Alec Leake, was an English professional footballer who won five caps for his country and made 407 appearances in the Football League playing as a half-back for Small Heath, Aston Villa and Burnley. After retiring from playing he took up coaching, both with...
.
He died in Small Heath, Birmingham, at the age of 56.