John Lewis (footballer born 1881)
Encyclopedia
John Richard Lewis was a Welsh
international footballer, who played his club football as a forward for various clubs in the south of England.
and started his career with Bristol Rovers
in September 1899, before moving to the South coast to join Southern League
Portsmouth
in May 1900. After one season at Fratton Park
, he moved to the Midlands to join Burton United
playing in the Second Division of the Football League
.
After three seasons, he returned to the Southern League with Bristol Rovers
in August 1904 where he won a cap for Wales
in the match against England
on 19 March 1906. Shortly afterwards he moved back to the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion
, where he spent one season before arriving at Southampton
, his third south coast club.
Although rather small, Lewis was a clever forward but sometimes found his size a handicap against burly opponents. In his one season at The Dell
, he formed a useful partnership with Fred Harrison as well as linking up well with fellow forwards, Frank Jefferis
and George Smith. He made 24 Southern League appearances for The Saints and his 10 goals made him top scorer for the club in the 1907–08 league season.
Never able to settle long in one place, he spent the 1908–09 season with Croydon Common
before returning to Burton United (now out of the Football League) in 1909.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
international footballer, who played his club football as a forward for various clubs in the south of England.
Playing career
Lewis was born in AberystwythAberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
and started his career with Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in September 1899, before moving to the South coast to join 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...
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...
in May 1900. After one season at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
, he moved to the Midlands to join Burton United
Burton United F.C.
Burton United Football Club was an English football club from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire that played in The Football League between 1901 and 1907, before folding in 1910.-History:...
playing in the Second Division of 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...
.
After three seasons, he returned to the Southern League with Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
in August 1904 where he won a cap for Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
in the match against 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...
on 19 March 1906. Shortly afterwards he moved back to the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, where he spent one season before arriving at 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...
, his third south coast club.
Although rather small, Lewis was a clever forward but sometimes found his size a handicap against burly opponents. In his one season at The Dell
The Dell (Southampton F.C.)
The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club, between 1898 and 2001.-New stadium:Since 1896, Southampton had been tenants of Hampshire County Cricket Club at the County Ground, having vacated the Antelope Ground in the summer of 1896...
, he formed a useful partnership with Fred Harrison as well as linking up well with fellow forwards, Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis
Frank Jefferis was a football player.-Playing career:He initially played football for his local non-league team, Fordingbridge Turks, before being invited for a trial at The Dell by Southampton of the Southern League in March 1905...
and George Smith. He made 24 Southern League appearances for The Saints and his 10 goals made him top scorer for the club in the 1907–08 league season.
Never able to settle long in one place, he spent the 1908–09 season with Croydon Common
Croydon Common F.C.
Croydon Common Football Club were an amateur and then professional football club based in Croydon.-History:The team formed in 1897 as an amateur church team competing in local leagues. They turned professional in 1907, joining the Second Division of the Southern League...
before returning to Burton United (now out of the Football League) in 1909.