Harry Beadles

Harry Beadles
Personal information
Full name George Harold Beadles
Date of birth (1897-09-28)28 September 1897
Place of birth Llanllwchaiarn, Wales
Date of death 29 August 1958(1958-08-29) (aged 60)
Place of death Sychdyn, Wales
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1919–1920 Newtown
1920–1921 Grayston's of Garston
1921–1924 Liverpool 17 (6)
1924–1925 Cardiff City 31 (14)
1925–1926 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (0)
1926–1929 Southport 92 (61)
1929–1930 Dundalk 14 (6)
National team
1925 Wales 2 (0)
Teams managed
1929–1930 Dundalk

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


George Harold "Harry" Beadles (28 September 1897 – 29 August 1958) was a Welsh professional footballer and Wales international. A World War One veteran, he served in the 7th battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers after enlisting at the age of just 16, taking part in operations in Turkey, where he was awarded the Serbian Gold medal for his actions in saving a Serbian officer,[2] and Palestine.[3]

On his return to Britain, Beadles played amateur football for his local side Newtown and Liverpool based side Grayson's before being spotted by First Division side Liverpool, where he was part of consecutive First Division title winning sides in 1921–22 and 1922–23. However, he struggled to establish himself in the first team,[4][5] making 18 appearances during his 3 seasons at Anfield. He joined Cardiff City in August 1924 where he spent less than two seasons, including playing in the 1925 FA Cup Final,[6] before being sold to Sheffield Wednesday in an attempt to raise funds as the club experienced financial difficulties.[3]

Beadles never played a senior game for the Owls first-team and he later finished his career with spells at Southport, where he was the club's top scorer for three consecutive seasons in the Third Division North,[7] and Irish side Dundalk.[4] During his career, he made over 100 appearances in the Football League and won 2 caps for Wales in 1925.[8][9]

Early life

One of seven children, George Harold Beadles was born in Llanllwchaiarn, on the outskirts of Newtown, Powys, to Thomas, a quarryman who worked on building dams in the Elan Valley Reservoirs among others, and Sarah Ann Beadles (née Pearce).[3][7] As a child he attended a local board school as his parents were keen on him receiving an education due to the economic climate in the area but he was forced to leave at the age of 12 in order to help support his family and he instead took up employment at a local warehouse, owned by Pryce Pryce-Jones, as a furrier.[5] His brother Albert had also previously worked at the warehouse but had been killed at the age of 12 after being hit by one of the carts used by the warehouse which was taking part in a parade. Pryce-Jones reportedly paid for the funeral.[3]

World War I

The Suvla Bay in 1915 where Bealdes took part in operations

Upon the outbreak of World War I in 1914 Beadles, along with two of his older brothers, Ewart and Ernie, enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, even though he was only 16 years old at the time, under the permitted age of enlistment. While his regiment were stationed in Britain on training exercises, Beadles was a bugle boy but, in 1915, his unit took part in the landing at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli where, despite still being under the minimum age, he served on the frontline as a rifleman. During this time, Beadles performed an action that would later see him awarded the Serbian Gold medal for gallantry.[10] He was awarded the medal after saving the life of a Serbian observer officer who had been wounded in no man's land and was unable to make it back to the line.[5] Under heavy rifle and artillery fire, Beadles helped the officer back, having his cap and epilates shot off in the process but remaining unharmed.[3]

He remained on the frontline until December 1915, when the area was evacuated due to the heavy fighting. Due to the extreme cold, Beadles was suffering from frostbite and was found floating and unconscious in the water at the time of the evacuation and was subsequently sent to a military hospital in Malta.[7] After recovering he was sent to re-join his regiment, who were now stationed in Palestine. He took part in all three attempts to capture Gaza and the eventual push to take Jerusalem under the command of Edmund Allenby. During the second battle of Gaza, Beadles witnessed the death of his uncle Richard Pearce who was shot in the head while standing next to him. His brother Ewart was awarded the Military Medal and promoted to the rank of Sergeant for his actions during the battle.[3]

After the conclusion of the war, his unit remained in Palestine until mid 1919. It was here that he met former Wales international George Latham who was a captain in the regiment and the pair would go on to be lifelong friends. During their time in Palestine, Latham and Beadles played football for their division, the 7th battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and won the British Forces in Egypt Football League Cup Final in 1919.[3][7]

Football career

Liverpool

On his return to Wales, Beadles played for his local side Newtown during the 1919–20 season, winning the Montgomeryshire & District Football League.[11] The following year, he moved to Merseyside, where he turned out for amateur team Graysons of Garston of the West Cheshire Association Football League, an amateur side that represented a local shipping company, whilst also working for the company. Beadles often commented on his role at the company, believing he was only employed due to his footballing skills as he would spend most working days making tea.[5] In June 1921, he signed for Liverpool, one of the leading teams in the country at the time, along with teammate Danny Shone.[3]

He made his debut on 24 September 1921 in a 1-0 victory over Chelsea and scored 6 goals in his first 11 appearances, including a brace against West Bromwich Albion on 6 May 1922,[4] for the side as they went on to win the Football League First Division title with Beadles being praised for a bright future at the club.[12] However he was never a regular in the side, making just 18 appearances in all competitions during his three years at the club, and struggled to displace the more established players. Following being part of back-to-back league titles, Beadles, along with each member of the squad, was given a gold watch by the club.[13] During his time at Anfield, he played in the 1922 FA Charity Shield defeat against Huddersfield Town, however he became frustrated with his lack of playing time and the club not allowing him to play for Wales in order to cover for players who were being called up by England.[3]

Cardiff City

He moved to Cardiff City in August 1924,[14] where his friend George Latham was working on the training staff. Signed as a replacement for Joe Clennell who had joined Stoke City, Beadles made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.[10] A consistent scorer at the club, including scoring in the quarter-final of the FA Cup against Leicester City, he was part of the side that reached the 1925 FA Cup Final before losing 1-0 to Sheffield United.[6] During his time at the club Beadles won two caps for Wales, playing in consecutive matches on 14 and 28 February 1925 against Scotland and England in the 1924–25 British Home Championship,[15][16] before being sold to Sheffield Wednesday in order to raise money due to the recession,[3] despite beginning the 1925–26 season by scoring four times in the opening six matches.[4]

Later career

Beadles never played in the first team at Sheffield Wednesday, only ever making appearances in the reserve team, and was allowed to join Southport in 1926, scoring on his debut during a 1–1 draw with Lincoln City on 28 August 1928.[17] Arriving alongside fellow Welsh international Jack Newnes, Beadles scored 20 league goals during his first season at the club, including hat-tricks during victories over New Brighton and Walsall. He also scored in the sides third round FA Cup victory over First Division side Blackburn Rovers. However, he was forced to miss their fourth round tie against Beadles' former club Liverpool due to injury.[18] He spent three seasons at Southport, finishing as the club's top scorer in all three seasons and setting a new club record by scoring in six consecutive matches,[13] between 21 April 1928 and 15 September 1928.[19][20]

Beadles left the club in April 1929 due to a persistent knee injury, scoring a hat-trick in his final ever game in the Football League,[13] a 6–2 victory over Hartlepool United on 27 April 1929. During his time with the Sandgrounders, Beadles scored 61 goals in 92 league matches.[21] He spent a short time as a player-coach at Dundalk, making his debut on 25 August 1929 in a match against Shamrock Rovers,[13] but soon retired from football at the end of the season after persistent injuries and his family being unable to settle in Ireland.[3][4]

Later life

After returning to Merseyside, Beadles spent a short time as a prison officer at Walton jail,[7] whilst also working at a local sports equipment retailer. After leaving the jobs he joined Bents Brewery, who at the time were recruiting former professional footballers to front their business. After training as a manager in one of the company's pubs and hotels, he was handed control of The Shakespeare pub in White Chapel and later the Cattle Market Inn in Stanley. Having become an avid Liverpool supporter, still attending games well into old age,[5] after his time at the club, Beadles became well known for his final bar calls at the pub, declaring "Time gentlemen please, and Evertonian's".[13]

He impressed the brewery's managers so much that he was put in charge of the company's main hotel, The Hillside in Huyton, Liverpool in 1939 and the pub later became popular with American officers who were stationed at nearby RAF Burtonwood during the Second World War. In the late 1940s, his health declined and he was unable to continue running such a large hotel and, after running a smaller pub, he was forced into early retirement in the 1950s. After a long illness, he died on 29 August 1958 at the age of 60 in the village of Sychdyn.[3][7]

Career statistics

Club

Club Season League FA Cup Other[nb 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool 1921–22[4] First Division 1160010116
1922–23[4] 40000050
1923–24[4] 20000020
Liverpool total1760010186
Cardiff City 1924–25[22] First Division 251082103412
1925–26[22] 64000064
Cardiff City total311482104016
Sheffield Wednesday 1925–26 Second Division 00000000
Southport 1926–27[1] Third Division North 332042003722
1927–28[1] 362340004023
1928–29[1] 231822002320
Southport total92611040010265
Dundalk 1929–30[13] League of Ireland 146311232910
Total 1548521714318997

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Wales 192520
Total20

Honours

Newtown
Liverpool
Cardiff City

Notes

  1. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Charity Shield, Welsh Cup, Leinster Senior Cup and League of Ireland Shield

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Harry Beadles". Port Online. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "George Harold Beadles". Newtown Remembers. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "George Harold Beadles". Penmon. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Harry Beadles". LFC History. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Harry Beadles". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 "1925 FA Cup Final". sportingchronicle.com. Retrieved 2 November 2008.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Our Sporting Heroes". RWF Museum. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Beadles-Bevan". Powys local history encyclopedia. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Harry Beadles". National Football Teams. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  11. 1 2 "MONTGOMERYSHIRE & DISTRICT LEAGUE TABLES 1919-20". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "A Strong Beadle". Derby Daily Telegraph. 24 October 1921. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Harry Beadles". Dundalk F.C. Who's Who. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "It is Cardiff for Beadles". Hull Daily Mail. 18 August 1924. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  15. ↑ "Scotland 3-1 Wales". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Wales 1-2 England". Welsh Football Data Archive. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Lineups 1926/27". Port Online. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "Season summary 1926/27". Port Online. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "1927/28". Port Online. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  20. ↑ "1928/29". Port Online. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  21. ↑ "Football League player list" (PDF). Southport FC stats. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  22. 1 2 Shepherd, Richard (2002). The Definitive: Cardiff City F.C. SoccerData Publications. ISBN 1-899-46817-X.
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