Samuel "Sam" Brittleton (born 1885) was an English footballer who played at inside-left for various clubs in the 1900s. He was the brother of 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 Tom Brittleton

Tom Brittleton

John Thomas Brittleton was a professional footballer. He was one of the pioneers of the long throw-in. With a career spanning over 30 years, including 24 seasons in the Football League, he is the oldest person to play for Sheffield Wednesday in a competitive game.-Early years:Brittleton was born...

.

Football career

Brittleton was born at Winsford

Winsford

Winsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...

, Cheshire

Cheshire

Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...

 and started his professional career at Stockport County

Stockport County F.C.

Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...

 in August 1905, a few months after his brother had left County to join 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...

. After three years with Stockport County, without breaking into the first team, he moved to Preston

Preston North End F.C.

Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...

 in February 1908 followed by a further move in the summer of 1908 to join Chorley

Chorley F.C.

Chorley Football Club are a football club from Chorley, Lancashire, England. They were founded as a rugby union club in 1875 but switched to football in 1883. They have reached the FA Cup second round twice in 1986–87 and 1990–91. Their best performance in the FA Trophy was in 1995–96 when they...

 of the Lancashire Combination

Lancashire Combination

The Lancashire Combination was a football league founded in the North West of England in 1891–92. It absorbed the Lancashire League in 1903. In 1968 the Combination lost five of its clubs to the newly formed Northern Premier League...

.

At Chorley, Brittleton began to establish a reputation as a useful inside-forward and attracted the attention of several Football League clubs. In the summer of 1909, he had agreed to join 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...

, who had just been relegated from the Football League 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....

 with the two clubs arguing over the size of the transfer fee. Before a deal could be completed, he was signed by 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...

 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...

.

He made his debut for the "Saints" in a 1–1 draw at Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park Rangers F.C.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...

 on 25 September 1909, when he replaced Frank Jordan

Frank Jordan (footballer)

Frank Jordan was an English professional footballer who played at inside-left for several clubs during the years prior to World War I.-Football career:...

 at inside-left. Described as "sometimes brilliant, sometimes hopeless", Brittleton lost his place in the side after a run of nine matches, with Bob Carter

Robert Carter (footballer)

Robert Carter was an English footballer, nicknamed Toddler because of his small stature. He was the father of footballing legend Raich Carter.-Club career:...

 replacing him. In March, after an injury to John Bainbridge

John Bainbridge (footballer)

John Robert Bainbridge was a professional footballer who played as a forward for three Southern League clubs between 1903 and 1910....

, Carter moved to outside-right with Brittleton being recalled at inside-left. He marked his recall by scoring in a 1–1 draw at West Ham

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...

 followed by another goal a week later against 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 the summer of 1909, Brittleton decide to return to North West England

North West England

North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...

although Southampton retained his registration. He was released a year later, but failed to find further employment in professional football.