Harry Sharples
Harry Sharples (c. 1862 – ?) was an association footballer who played for Blackburn Rovers in the 1882 FA Cup final.
Career
[edit]Sharples was born in Blackburn in Lancashire in 1861 or 1862, and started playing for Rovers in the 1880–81 season;[1] in common with a lot of players for the Rovers, he had an easy job through which he was paid a disguised wage - Sharples was the son of a cotton manufacturer, and he had been made a cotton mill manager while still a teenager.[2]
He made his FA Cup debut for Rovers in the club's 6–2 first round win over Bolton Wanderers in 1881–82, as a half-back, and he scored the Rovers' final goal.[3] He was not however a regular player - he did not make another appearance in the Cup until the semi-final replay win against Sheffield Wednesday, as a late replacement for "Dock" Greenwood, who had been injured playing for England.[4] Greenwood had hoped to be fit for the final, but he failed a last-minute test, and Sharples deputed again.[5]
Sharples' last appearance in the competition was in the 11–1 win over Blackpool in the first round of the 1882–83 FA Cup.[6] Almost straight after the match Sharples emigrated to New Zealand,[7] which put an end to a promising career; although he returned after 12 months[8] he does not seem to have taken the game up again.
References and notes
[edit]- ^ "Sheffield Providence v Blackburn Rovers". Leeds Mercury: 3. 10 January 1881.
- ^ Census of England and Wales: Blackburn District 96. Blackburn: HMSO. 1881. p. 25.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers v Bolton Wanderers". Blackburn Standard: 6. 26 November 1881.
- ^ "Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn Rovers". Sheffield Daily Telegraph: 7. 16 March 1882.
- ^ "The Story of the FA Cup Final". Athletic News: 4. 24 November 1924.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool". Blackburn Standard: 3. 28 October 1882.
- ^ "En passant". Athletic News: 1. 1 November 1882.
- ^ "En passant". Athletic News: 1. 14 November 1883.