Sam Wadsworth.

Sam was born in Darwen on the 13th September 1896, he would go on to became one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
When Sam ran out at the Anchor for a Lancashire Combination game on a cold winters day in 1913 on his debut for the Salmoners he little realised that this was the beginning of a lifetime in football, and a journey that would eventually see him lead out England at Hampden Park years later in front of some 92,000 partizan fans. But the road to Hampden would be a long and traumatic journey..............

He began his football career with Darwen football club in 1912 aged 16 and made his debut for the club the following year as a left winger. realising his potential Blackburn Rovers moved in for him, and he signed for them in 1914. Rovers were at the time one of the countrys top clubs winning the football league championship in the 1911/12 season, In his first season with the Rovers they would again win the championship1913/14.
With the outbreak of World War 1, football was suspended, and after active service in France Sam returned to the Rovers in 1919. but after his horrendous experiences during the war he returned suffering from blackouts and the effects of the then much-misunderstood post traumatic syndrome, with this and a lack of form Rovers decided to release him and he joined Nelson later that year, it was whilst at Nelson that Sam's health improved along with his game.
At the beginning of the 1920 season fate stepped in - with Nelson having a shortage of defenders due to injury he was forced to play in the left back position, it was playing in this position that he made his name as a confident, composed defender who timed his tackles to perfection and always used the ball well. Herbert Chapman the famous manager of the 20's and 30's, was watching one of these games and later signed him on for Huddersfield Town in 1921.

It was at Huddersfield that Sam would become a member of one of the greatest teams that ever played the beautiful game. In the ten years (1920 to 1930) Huddersfield would contest four FA cup finals 1920/22/28/30, win three Football League Championships in succsession 1924 - 1925 - 1926, and finish runners up twice 1927 - 1928. Sam becoming a regular of the team for some 8 years.
It was during the championship years that Sam won caps for England becoming Englands first choice left full back, he also represented the Football League many times. He captained England in his last 4 internationals, with his proudest moment leading England out at Hampden Park in front of a roaring 92,000 crowd in April 1925.
On the 24th March 1928 in a semi-final against Sheffield United at Old Trafford Sam was Injured, it was this injury that would stop him playing in the 1928 FA cup final against his old club Blackburn Rovers, and eventually end his football career.
Although Sam played a couple of games the following season he was transfered to Burnley, in total he made 281 league and 31 FA cup appearances with the Town scoring 4 goals. Now aged 33 he made just 7 appearances for Burnley before being forced to retire through injury.
In 1931 he moved to Lytham Lancs for a short spell as player/manager, and in 1934 he moved with his wife Gladys to Holland to take up the position of manager of PSV Eindhoven from 1934-38 when he joined another Dutch side DWS, he had a second spell with PSV after the war from 1945-51 after which he became the technical advisor to the Dutch F.A.

The only time Sam ever returned to Huddersfield after his playing career was in 1951 as manager of PSV the then Champions of Holland for a "festival of Britain match" with the Town. At a banquet after the game Huddersfied Director Dick Parker said of Sams time with the Town in the glorious twenties " Sam came into a team of stars and it was not long before he was a star in a team of stars", "all throughout our great days he was in my opinion the greatest left back - playing football." Also at the banquet Sam was reunited with many of his old team-mates from the 20's for the last time.
He lived in Holland for the rest of his life and died in Eindhoven of pneumonia in September 1961 aged 64. He was buried in Eindhoven and was so highly regarded in Holland that his grave was a "mass of flowers and tributes".
In 1938 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Football League a poll was taken to find the best "team" from all the players from 1888 to 1938. Sam was included in this team along with two other members of the Great Huddersfield side of the 20's ( W.Smith and Clem Stephenson )

For more on the great Huddersfield side click here
For a photo of Sam in action for Huddersfield click here
For a photo of Sam as captain of England click here
For a photo of Sam in Huddersfield colours click here
For a photo of Sam with the PSV team click here

Acknowledgements and special thanks for the history scource, photo's and information on Sam Wadsworth to Harold Heys, Huddersfield FC, PSV Eindhoven and www.englandonline.com