Bernard Pumfrey
English footballer (1873–1930)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bernard Pumfrey (May 1873 – 18 July 1930) was an English professional footballer who made 133 appearances in the Football League playing for Small Heath and Gainsborough Trinity.[1] He played as a full back.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bernard Pumfrey | ||
| Date of birth | May 1873 | ||
| Place of birth | Birmingham, England | ||
| Date of death | 18 July 1930 (aged 57) | ||
| Place of death | Gainsborough, England | ||
| Position | Full back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Birmingham St Mark's | |||
| 1892–1894 | Small Heath[a] | 12 | (1) |
| 1894–1901 | Gainsborough Trinity[b] | 121 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Life and career
Pumfrey was born in the Stirchley district of Birmingham to Alfred, a carpenter and joiner, and his wife Sarah.[2] He worked in the family business and played recreational football for Birmingham St Mark's before joining Small Heath prior to their first season in the Football League.[3] He made his debut on 12 November 1892, in a 3–2 home win against Burton Swifts, and played in the test matches which deprived Small Heath of promotion to add to their Second Division title,[4] but after a few more games the following season, he left for Midland League club Gainsborough Trinity in 1894.[3]
Pumfrey contributed to Gainsborough's runners-up spot in the Midland League in the 1895–96 season which led to their election to the Football League.[5] In five seasons in the Football League, he played 121 games and captained the team.[6][7]
While a Gainsborough player Pumfrey started a joinery business in the town; he developed this into a large building contractors which was still in existence a hundred years later.[3] He married Jennie Clarke in March 1900,[7] and died in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, in 1930 at the age of 57.[3]
His older brother Harry, also a carpenter, who had studied at Birmingham School of Art, was responsible for the design of Birmingham F.C.'s new ground, St Andrew's, which opened in 1906.[3]
Notes
- The Matthews source misattributes to Bill Purves a League appearance made by Pumfrey on 30 December 1893, some time before Purves joined Small Heath.
- Pumfrey's Gainsborough Trinity statistics cover the Football League period only.