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Harry Wilkes

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Harry Wilkes
Personal information
Full name Harry Theodore Wilkes
Date of birth (1907-06-24)24 June 1907
Place of birth Sedgley, England
Date of death 5 April 1984(1984-04-05) (aged 76)
Place of death Derby, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
1925–1926 Sedgley Congregationals
1926–1927 Wellington Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1927–1934 Derby County 208 (0)
1934–1935 Sheffield United
1935–1936 Rhyl Athletic
Heanor Town
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Harry Theodore Wilkes (24 June 1907 – 5 April 1984)[1] was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, most notably for Derby County.

Career

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Early career

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Wilkes started his footballing career at playing for hometown Sedgley Congregationals in 1925, before joining Wellington Town in 1926.[2]

Derby County

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In February 1927, Wilkes would join First Division Derby County to start his professional football career.[1] Initially, Wilkes would act as backup to Ben Olney[2] and he would make his senior league debut in a 4–0 victory at the Baseball Ground against Arsenal on 24 September 1927.[3] Olney would soon after leave to join Aston Villa and Wilkes would take over as first choice keeper.[2] He would make 31 appearances in the 1927–28 season.[4] In the 1928–29 season, Wilkes would only miss one game as he played 44 games.[4] In the 1929–30 season, Wilkes would only miss five games as Derby would finish runners-up in the league championship,[1][2][5] playing in 40 first team matches.[4] Another 40 appearances were made in the 1930–31 season[4] and 43 in the 1931–32 season[4] Wilkes would start the 1932–33 season as first choice but would lose his place in the team to Jack Kirby in December 1932.[2][6] Wilkes made the last of his 220 appearances[7] for Derby in a 4–1 loss at Blackpool on 27 December 1932.[8]

Later career

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Wilkes would join Sheffield United in March 1934.[8][1][2] He would make 14 appearances in total, as he was mainly used as a back up to Jack Smith and Roy John.[2] He play three times in United's 1933–34 season relegation season, which ended his top flight career, after making 211 career First Division appearances.[9] Wilkes joined Rhyl Athletic in October 1935,[1][2] before ending his career at Heanor Town, joining them in 1936.[1][2]

Personal life

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After football, Wilkes lived in Derby and owned a fish and chip shop with his wife Effie in Cowsley Road, Chaddesden. He was a part of the congregation in the funeral of former teammate Tommy Cooper who died in a motorcycle crash in June 1940, whilst playing for Liverpool.[10]

Death

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Wilkes died on 5 April 1984, in Derby aged 76.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Mortimer, Gerald (2006). Derby County: The Complete Record. nreedonbook. p. 198. ISBN 1859835171.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Harry Wilkes". Vintage Football Players. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Derby County v Arsenal, 24 September 1927". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Harry Wilkes". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Club History". Derby County. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Derby County Football Club: A Grand History 1924 – 1955". issuu.com. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  7. ^ Mortimer, Gerald (2006). Derby County: The Complete Record. nreedonbook. pp. 280–291, 486. ISBN 1859835171.
  8. ^ a b "Blackpool v Derby County, 27 December 1932". 11v11. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Harry Wilkes". World Football. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  10. ^ "The funeral of Tommy Cooper". Play Up Liverpool. 29 June 1940. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
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