1927–28 Southampton F.C. season

April 2022 Southampton F.C. 1927–28 Wyndham Portal Arthur Chadwick The Dell Second Division 17th FA Cup Third round Bill Rawlings (20) Bill Rawlings (21) 15,763 v West Bromwich Albion (9 April 1928) 4,619 v Fulham (19 November 1927) 10,309 5–0 v Grimsby Town (4 February 1928)6–1 v Barnsley (24 March 1928) 1–6 v Manchester City (28 April 1928) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _band_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 003366 003366 1926–27 1928–29 The 1927–28 season was the 33rd season of competitive football by Southampton, and the club's sixth in the Second Division of the Football League. The season was the club's worst in the division to date, as they finished in 17th place just two points above Fulham in the first relegation spot. After a poor start in which they lost their first four games of the campaign, the Saints continued to drop points against teams throughout the Second Division, remaining in the bottom six positions for most of the year. A number of wins in the second half of the season over fellow mid-table sides helped to offset notable losses against those aiming for promotion, ensuring that the club avoided returning down to the Third Division South. Southampton finished the season in 17th place with 14 wins, seven draws and 21 losses. In the 1927–28 FA Cup, Southampton entered at the third round away to First Division side Cardiff City, who had beaten Arsenal to win the tournament the previous season. The game ended 2–1 to the Welsh side, with Bill Rawlings scoring a consolation goal for visitors as they were eliminated in their first fixture in the cup for the second time in three seasons. The club ended the season at Fratton Park for the Hampshire Benevolent Cup match against local rivals Portsmouth, who had just completed their first year as a top-flight side. Pompey thrashed the Saints 6–1, with Charlie Petrie scoring the sole goal for the visitors. Southampton also played five friendly matches during the season, losing to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Corinthian and Millwall, and drawing with Guildford City and Wimborne Town. Southampton used 27 different players during the 1927–28 season and had twelve different goalscorers. Their top-scorer was centre-forward Bill Rawlings, in his final season with the club, who scored 20 goals in the Second Division and one in the FA Cup. Sam Taylor scored ten goals in the league, followed by Jimmy Bullock with eight league goals. Jerry Mackie, who joined the club in March 1928 after Rawlings left for Manchester United, scored six goals in his seven league appearances. Eight players were signed by the club during the campaign, with four released and sold to other clubs. The average attendance at The Dell during the 1927–28 season was 10,309. The highest attendance was 15,763 against West Bromwich Albion on 9 April 1928; the lowest was 4,619 against Fulham on 19 November 1927. Background and transfers Southampton manager Arthur Chadwick signed several new players after the end of the 1926–27 season. The first addition was right-back James Ellison, who joined on amateur terms in May from Welsh club Rhyl United, before signing a professional contract in October.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 66 The following month the club signed half-back Jack Mitton from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £150,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 134–135 and inside-forward Charlie Petrie from Swindon Town.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 150 Five more players arrived at The Dell in August: wing-half Bill Luckett from Liverpool County Combination side Skelmersdale United,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 118 full-back Ted Robinson from Lancashire Combination side Chorley,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 161 inside-forward Tommy Taylor from Manchester City,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 184 goalkeeper George Thompson from Midland League club York City,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 185 and half-back Arthur Wilson from Scotswood.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 206 During the summer, goalkeeper James Thitchener left the club for Peterborough-based side Celta Mills. Also departing the club were right-half Ernie King, who signed for Southern League side Guildford City,Chalk Holley Bull 2013 111 and inside-left Frank Matthews, who joined Third Division North club Chesterfield.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 129 Shortly before the end of the season, in March 1928, centre-forward Bill Rawlings left the club to join First Division side Manchester United for a new club record fee of £3,860.Chalk Holley 1987 304 In a nine-year career at Southampton, Rawlings made a total of 377 appearances and scored 198 goals in all competitions, making him the club's top scorer at the time.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 154–155 To replace their top scorer, the Saints signed Jerry Mackie from local First Division rivals Portsmouth, who introduced himself by scoring a hat-trick on his debut.Chalk Holley Bull 2013 124 Players transferred in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.James EllisonEnglandFB Full-backWAL Rhyl UnitedMay 1927FreeJames Ellison initially joined on amateur terms in May 1927, before turning professional that October.Jack MittonEnglandHB Half-backENG Wolverhampton WanderersJune 1927£150Charlie PetrieEnglandFW ForwardENG Swindon TownJune 1927UnknownBill LuckettEnglandHB Half-backENG Skelmersdale UnitedAugust 1927UnknownTed RobinsonEnglandFB Full-backENG ChorleyAugust 1927UnknownTommy TaylorEnglandFW ForwardENG Manchester CityAugust 1927UnknownGeorge ThompsonEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG York CityAugust 1927UnknownArthur WilsonEnglandHB Half-backENG ScotswoodAugust 1927UnknownJerry MackieScotlandFW ForwardENG PortsmouthMarch 1928Unknown Players transferred out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.James ThitchenerEnglandGK GoalkeeperENG Celta MillsMay 1927UnknownErnie KingEnglandHB Half-backENG Guildford CityJune 1927UnknownFrank MatthewsEnglandFW ForwardENG ChesterfieldJune 1927UnknownBill RawlingsEnglandFW ForwardENG Manchester UnitedMarch 1928£3,860 Second Division 1927–28 Football League Southampton's campaign in the 1927–28 Football League Second Division started with four straight losses, combining with the defeat on the last day of the previous season to mark their joint longest run of losses in league football.http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/records Southampton scoring and sequence records Statto.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150905092224/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/southampton/records 5 September 2015 live 21 April 2018 The first game of the season was a 6–3 loss at home to Stoke City on 27 August 1927, who had been recently promoted to the Second Division as Third Division North champions. Bill Rawlings (twice) and Sam Taylor scored for the home side in the club's highest-scoring draw to date.Chalk Holley 1987 79 The next three matches saw the Saints lose 2–0 away to Clapton Orient and Leeds United, and 3–1 in the return fixture against Orient at The Dell, leaving the team in 20th place in the Second Division table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/05-september-1927/ League Division Two table after close of play on 05 September 1927 11v11.com 21 April 2018 A 5–2 win over Oldham Athletic and three draws saw Southampton move up three places in the standings to 17th by October,https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/01-october-1927/ League Division Two table after close of play on 01 October 1927 11v11.com 21 April 2018 although by the next month they were back in close proximity to the relegation zone following defeats against Blackpool, Chelsea, Port Vale and South Shields.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/05-november-1927/ League Division Two table after close of play on 05 November 1927 11v11.com 21 April 2018 The club continued to struggle throughout November and December, when they remained in the bottom six of the table facing the prospect of a battle against relegation. Fortunes began to turn in late January when the Saints beat Notts County 5–1 (in which debutant Bill Luckett scored twice),Chalk Holley 1987 78 followed by a 5–0 defeat of Grimsby Town and 2–0 victories over Blackpool and Chelsea in February, all of which combined to help the side escape the bottom six for the first time during the campaign.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/25-february-1928/ League Division Two table after close of play on 25 February 1928 11v11.com 21 April 2018 The remaining fixtures of the season saw Southampton pick up enough wins to remain out of the relegation zone and therefore safe in the second flight. Notable games included a 6–1 victory over Barnsley in which new signing Jerry Mackie scored a hat-trick on his debut, and a 2–1 away win over promotion hopefuls Preston North End. The Saints finished the season in 17th place in the Second Division league table – their lowest position in their six seasons in the division to date – with 14 wins, seven draws and 21 losses. List of match results 1 27 August 1927 Southampton 3–6 Stoke City Rawlings S. Taylor The Dell Southampton 12,000 L 2 29 August 1927 Clapton Orient 2–0 Southampton Clapton Stadium London 13,711 L 3 3 September 1927 Leeds United 2–0 Southampton Elland Road Leeds 20,000 L 4 5 September 1927 Southampton 1–3 Clapton Orient Petrie The Dell Southampton 7,982 L 5 10 September 1927 Notts County 0–0 Southampton Meadow Lane Nottingham 10,000 D 6 17 September 1927 Southampton 5–2 Oldham Athletic Rawlings S. Taylor Murphy The Dell Southampton 10,000 W 7 24 September 1927 Grimsby Town 2–2 Southampton S. Taylor Blundell Park Cleethorpes 10,000 D 8 1 October 1927 Southampton 0–0 Reading The Dell Southampton 10,000 D 9 8 October 1927 Blackpool 1–0 Southampton Bloomfield Road Blackpool 12,000 L 10 15 October 1927 Southampton 2–4 Chelsea Petrie The Dell Southampton 14,000 L 11 22 October 1927 Southampton 4–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Rowley Rawlings The Dell Southampton 8,000 W 12 29 October 1927 Port Vale 4–0 Southampton Old Recreation Ground Hanley 9,000 L 13 5 November 1927 Southampton 3–5 South Shields Rawlings S. Taylor The Dell Southampton 8,000 L 14 12 November 1927 Barnsley 0–1 Southampton Rowley Oakwell Barnsley 8,000 W 15 19 November 1927 Southampton 5–2 Fulham Rawlings Bradford Rowley Murphy The Dell Southampton 4,619 W 16 26 November 1927 Hull City 1–0 Southampton Anlaby Road Kingston upon Hull 10,000 L 17 3 December 1927 Southampton 0–0 Preston North End The Dell Southampton 10,000 D 18 10 December 1927 Swansea Town 2–0 Southampton Vetch Field Swansea 13,000 L 19 17 December 1927 Southampton 1–1 Manchester City S. Taylor The Dell Southampton 12,000 D 20 24 December 1927 Nottingham Forest 1–1 Southampton Rawlings City Ground West Bridgford 4,000 D 21 26 December 1927 Bristol City 3–0 Southampton Ashton Gate Stadium Bristol 17,072 L 22 27 December 1927 Southampton 3–2 Bristol City Rawlings Bullock The Dell Southampton 10,132 W 23 31 December 1927 Stoke City 2–1 Southampton Own goal Victoria Ground Stoke-on-Trent 6,000 L 24 7 January 1928 Southampton 1–4 Leeds United Murphy The Dell Southampton 14,000 L 25 21 January 1928 Southampton 5–1 Notts County Luckett Rawlings The Dell Southampton 10,000 W 26 31 January 1928 Oldham Athletic 3–1 Southampton Bullock Boundary Park Oldham 6,365 L 27 4 February 1928 Southampton 5–0 Grimsby Town S. Taylor Rawlings Bullock Murphy The Dell Southampton 8,000 W 28 11 February 1928 Reading 0–0 Southampton Elm Park Reading 8,000 D 29 18 February 1928 Southampton 2–0 Blackpool Rawlings Bullock The Dell Southampton 12,000 W 30 25 February 1928 Chelsea 0–2 Southampton Rawlings Stamford Bridge London 40,000 W 31 3 March 1928 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Southampton Rawlings Molineux Stadium Wolverhampton 13,000 L 32 10 March 1928 Southampton 1–3 Port Vale S. Taylor The Dell Southampton 10,000 L 33 17 March 1928 South Shields 2–1 Southampton Bullock Horsley Hill South Shields 3,000 L 34 24 March 1928 Southampton 6–1 Barnsley Mackie Woodhouse Petrie Cribb The Dell Southampton 11,000 W 35 31 March 1928 Fulham 1–0 Southampton Craven Cottage London 7,000 L 36 7 April 1928 Southampton 2–0 Hull City Mackie Cribb The Dell Southampton 11,000 W 37 9 April 1928 Southampton 3–2 West Bromwich Albion Mackie Bullock Cribb The Dell Southampton 15,763 W 38 10 April 1928 West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Southampton Bullock The Hawthorns West Bromwich 10,000 L 39 14 April 1928 Preston North End 1–2 Southampton Mackie Petrie Deepdale Preston 10,000 W 40 21 April 1928 Southampton 0–2 Swansea Town The Dell Southampton 8,000 L 41 28 April 1928 Manchester City 6–1 Southampton T. Taylor Maine Road Manchester 40,000 L 42 5 May 1928 Southampton 2–1 Nottingham Forest Rowley T. Taylor The Dell Southampton 10,000 W Final league table Second Division y SOU Results by matchday table b Round Ground H /A /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /H /A /A /H /A /H /H /A /H /A /H /A /A /H /A /H /A /H /H /A /A /H /A /H Result L /L /L /L /D /W /D /D /L /L /W /L /L /W /W /L /D /L /D /D /L /W /L /L /W /L /W /D /W /W /L /L /L /W /L /W /W /L /W /L /L /W Position 18/20/20/20/19/17/18/17/18/19/18/19/20/19/18/19/17/18/18/19/20/18/18/20/18/19/17/18/16/16/17/18/18/17/19/18/16/17/15/18/18/17 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 11v11.comhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/ 11v11 league table generator 11v11.com 18 April 2018 FA Cup 1927–28 FA Cup Southampton entered the 1927–28 FA Cup in the third round against defending champions Cardiff City, who had beaten Southampton's semi-final opponents Arsenal in the final the previous year. The meeting took place on 14 January 1928 at Ninian Park, marking the first time the Saints had been drawn into the tournament away from home since the 1923–24 season.https://www.fchd.info/SOUTHAMP.HTM Southampton Football Club History Database 21 April 2018 The Second Division side put up "a good show", but lost 2–1 to the top-flight Bluebirds. Bill Rawlings scored the only goal for the visitors, which marked his final cup goal for the club before leaving in March. Round 3 14 January 1928 Cardiff City 2–1 Southampton Rawlings Ninian Park Cardiff 20,000 L Other matches Outside of the league and the FA Cup, Southampton played six additional first-team matches during the 1927–28 season. The first was a friendly match against local side Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic on 28 September 1927, which they lost 3–1.Chalk Holley 1987 212 In January the Saints travelled to face amateur club Corinthian, who thrashed them 5–0. Two away friendlies in April ended in draws: Arthur Wilson scored twice alongside Bert Shelley in a 3–3 draw against Southern League side Guildford City, and a week later a 2–2 draw with Dorset League side Wimborne Town included goals from Fred Lohse and Shelley. A final friendly took place against Millwall at The Dell on 2 May. A benefit for Michael Keeping and Ted Hough, it ended in a 2–1 win for the visitors, with Southampton's consolation scored by Jim Swinden. Five days after the loss to Millwall, Southampton ended their season at Fratton Park with the annual Hampshire Benevolent Cup fixture against local rivals Portsmouth. The home side took the lead in the first minute through a header from Jack Weddle, with a Bobby Irvine volley doubling their advantage and Dave Watson adding a third before half-time.Juson Aldworth Bendel Bull 2004 123–124 After Weddle scored a second and third goal after the break, Charlie Petrie pulled one back for the travelling Saints, although the Pompey forward later scored his fourth and his side's sixth to secure a 6–1 victory. For the first time since its introduction in the 1922–23 season, the Rowland Hospital Cup was not contested between the sides in 1927–28, with a local newspaper explaining that "Southampton could not find it convenient to field a team" for the fixture. Friendly 28 September 1927 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 3–1 Southampton Rawlings Dean Court Bournemouth L Friendly 28 January 1928 Corinthian 5–0 Southampton The Crystal Palace London L Friendly 23 April 1928 Guildford City 3–3 Southampton Wilson Shelley Joseph's Road Guildford D Friendly 30 April 1928 Wimborne Town 2–2 Southampton Lohse Shelley The Cuthbury Wimborne Minster D Friendly 2 May 1928 Southampton 1–2 Millwall Swinden The Dell Southampton L Hampshire BC 7 May 1928 Portsmouth 6–1 Southampton Weddle Irvine Watson Petrie Fratton Park Portsmouth 3,000 W. E. Stone L Player details Southampton used 27 different players during the 1927–28 season, twelve of whom scored during the campaign. The team played in a 2–3–5 formation throughout the campaign, using two full-backs, three half-backs, two outside forwards, two inside forwards and a centre-forward. Half-back and captain George Harkus made the most appearances during the season, playing in all but one league match. Arthur Bradford and Stan Woodhouse appeared in all but six games in the league. Centre-forward Bill Rawlings finished as the season's top scorer with 20 goals in the Second Division and one in the FA Cup. Jimmy Bullock was the second-highest scorer of the season, with eight goals in 17 league appearances. The highest-scoring half-back of the season was new signing Bill Luckett, who scored twice in the league. Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupHampshire BCTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsBill AdamsHB Half-backENG10000010Tommy AllenGK GoalkeeperENG3201000330Arthur BradfordHB Half-backENG3611010381Jimmy BullockFW ForwardENG1781000188Cuthbert CoundonFW ForwardENG1500000150Stan CribbFW ForwardENG1030000103James EllisonHB Half-backENG10000010George HarkusHB Half-backENG4101010430Bill HendersonFW ForwardENG2300000230Ted HoughFB Full-backENG2500000250Michael KeepingFB Full-backENG2801010300Bill LuckettHB Half-backENG62101082Jerry MackieFW ForwardSCO76000076Jack MittonHB Half-backENG80000080Billy MurphyFW ForwardENG2941000304A. Newman"princenewman" Players named "A. Newman" and "Prince" are listed in the lineup for the Hampshire Benevolent Cup match, however no first names are given.FW ForwardENG00001010Charlie PetrieFW ForwardENG1550011166Prince"princenewman"FW ForwardENG00001010Ted RobinsonFB Full-backENG10000010Dick RowleyFW ForwardIRL2050000205Bert ShelleyHB Half-backENG3300010340Jim SwindenFW ForwardENG20000020Sam TaylorFW ForwardENG301010003110Tommy TaylorFW ForwardENG42001052George ThompsonGK GoalkeeperENG1000010110Stan WoodhouseHB Half-backENG3611010381Players with appearances who left before the end of the seasonBill RawlingsFW ForwardENG322011003321 Most appearances RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupOtherTotalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of total1George HarkusHB Half-back4197.621100.001100.004397.732Arthur BradfordHB Half-back3685.711100.001100.003886.36Stan WoodhouseHB Half-back3685.711100.001100.003886.364Bert ShelleyHB Half-back3378.5700.001100.003477.275Tommy AllenGK Goalkeeper3276.191100.0000.003375.00Bill RawlingsFW Forward3276.191100.0000.003375.007Sam TaylorFW Forward3071.431100.0000.003170.458Billy MurphyFW Forward2969.051100.0000.003068.18Michael KeepingFB Full-back2866.671100.001100.003068.1810Ted HoughFB Full-back2559.5200.0000.002556.82 Top goalscorers RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupOtherTotalGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per game1Bill RawlingsFW Forward200.6211.0000.00210.632Sam TaylorFW Forward100.3300.0000.00100.323Jimmy BullockFW Forward80.4700.0000.0080.444Jerry MackieFW Forward60.8500.0000.0060.85Charlie PetrieFW Forward50.3300.0011.0060.376Dick RowleyFW Forward50.2500.0000.0050.257Billy MurphyFW Forward40.1300.0000.0040.138Stan CribbFW Forward30.3000.0000.0030.309Tommy TaylorFW Forward20.5000.0000.0020.40Bill LuckettHB Half-back20.3300.0000.0020.25 Footnotes References Bibliography Chalk Gary Holley Duncan A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club: 1885–1987 Derby, England Breedon Books 10 August 1987 978-0907969228 Chalk Gary Holley Duncan Bull David All the Saints: A Complete Who's Who of Southampton FC Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 28 November 2013 978-0992686406 Juson Dave Aldworth Clay Bendel Barry Bull David Chalk Gary Saints v Pompey: A History of Unrelenting Rivalry Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 10 November 2004 978-0953447459 External links Southampton F.C. official website Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton