George Parsonage
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Parsonage (November 1880 – 22 May 1919) was an English professional footballer, most notable for his time as a half back and player-manager in the Southern League with Brentford. He was banned from football for life by the Football Association in 1909, but later returned to the game.
|
Parsonage while a Brentford player | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Parsonage[1] | ||
| Date of birth | November 1880[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Darwen, England | ||
| Date of death | 22 May 1919 (aged 38) | ||
| Place of death | Darwen, England | ||
| Position | Half back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1899–1900 | Oswaldtwistle Rovers | ||
| 1900–1901 | Blackburn Rovers | 0 | (0) |
| 1901–1903 | Accrington Stanley | ||
| 1903–1908 | Brentford | 176 | (12) |
| 1908–1909 | Fulham | 22 | (3) |
| 1910–1911 | Oldham Athletic | 0 | (0) |
| 1911 | Darwen | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1907–1908 | Brentford (player-manager) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Early years
A half back, Parsonage began his senior career at local First Division club Blackburn Rovers in 1900, after joining from Oswaldtwistle Rovers.[1] He failed to make a league appearance for the club before dropping into the Lancashire Combination to sign for Accrington Stanley in 1901.[2]
Brentford
Parsonage moved to London to sign for Southern League First Division club Brentford in 1903.[3] He became captain of the club in the 1904–05 season and was a "tower of strength" for five seasons, before departing Griffin Park in 1908.[3][4] He made 194 appearances and scored 15 goals for the Bees.[5]
Fulham
Parsonage returned to League football with Second Division club Fulham in 1908.[1] He made 23 appearances and scored three goals during the 1908–09 season.[2]
"The Parsonage Affair"
While a Fulham player, Parsonage was the subject of transfer interest from Second Division club Chesterfield in 1909.[3] Reportedly not keen on a move to Derbyshire,[6] Parsonage submitted a request for a £50 signing-on fee (equivalent to £4,900 in 2023), which was £40 higher than the Football League's maximum.[3] Chesterfield reported the request to the Football Association,[3] who banned Parsonage sine die from football.[7] A petition signed by thousands of fans failed to see the ban overturned.[4]
Later career
Following an appeal from the Players' Union in January 1910, Parsonage's suspension was removed in July 1910.[8] He returned to football with First Division club Oldham Athletic in September 1910.[2][9] He ended his career with hometown Lancashire Combination Second Division club Darwen,[1] whom he joined in March 1911.[9]
Managerial and coaching career
Parsonage had a spell as player-manager of Brentford during the 1907–08 season.[4] He later coached at Oldham Athletic.[10]
International career
Parsonage's form while at Brentford saw him called up for two England trial games.[3] He played for Amateurs versus Professionals on 16 January 1905 and for the South versus the North the following month, but was passed over in favour of Charlie Roberts.[4]
Career statistics
Player
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brentford | 1903–04[5] | Southern League First Division | 34 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 5 |
| 1904–05[5] | Southern League First Division | 34 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 2 | |
| 1905–06[5] | Southern League First Division | 33 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 2 | |
| 1906–07[5] | Southern League First Division | 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | |
| 1907–08[5] | Southern League First Division | 38 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 4 | |
| Total | 176 | 12 | 18 | 3 | 194 | 15 | ||
| Fulham | 1908–09[2] | Second Division | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 3 |
| Career total | 198 | 15 | 19 | 3 | 217 | 18 | ||