John Whibley
English footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Whibley (7 July 1891 – 1972) was an English professional footballer who played in both the Southern League and Football League for Crystal Palace, as an outside left.[1] He also played non-league football for Sittingbourne.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Whibley[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 7 July 1891 | ||
| Place of birth | Sittingbourne, England | ||
| Date of death | 1972 (aged 80–81) [1] | ||
| Position | Outside left | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ?–1911 | Sittingbourne | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1911–1923 | Crystal Palace | 146 | (27) |
| 1923–? | Sittingbourne | ? | (?) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Playing career
Whibley was born in Sittingbourne, Kent and began his youth career with local club Sittingbourne F.C.[2] He signed for Crystal Palace, then playing in the Southern League, in 1911,[3] and over the following seasons, up until the outbreak of World War I, was a reserve player making only 20 appearances, scoring three times.[2]
Whibley's career was then interrupted by military service,[4] but he returned to play for Crystal Palace in the 1919–1920 season (35 appearances, nine goals).[2] He made a total of 55 appearances in the Southern League scoring 12 goals.[2]
In 1920, Crystal Palace became a founder member of the Third Division and Whibley made the transition to professional football.[2] He became a regular in the side that won the inaugural Third Division title in 1920–21,[5] making 32 appearances and scoring five times.[2] Over the next two seasons Whibley made a further 59 appearances scoring 10 goals but towards the end of the 1922–23 season was no longer first choice outside-left[2] and in May 1923, returned to Sittingbourne.[6] He had made a total of 146 League appearances for Crystal Palace, scoring 27 goals.[2]