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Players Index Page Last Updated
29 December 2022
 
 

Charlie Spencer

Newcastle United FC

2 appearances, 0 goals

P 2 W 1 D 1 L 0 F 3: A 2
75% successful

1924-27

captain: none
minutes played:
180

Timeline

  Charles William Spencer
Birth 4 December 1899 at 7 Park Street in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham [registered as William in Houghton-le-Spring, December 1899].
  According to the 1901 census, William is the youngest of five children to Thomas and Matilda (née Carlton) living at 7 Park Street in Houghton-le-Spring. His father is a stoneworker at the coal mine.
  According to the 1911 census, William is now the oldest of the seven children at home. His mother had died in 1903 and his father remarried a year later to Elizabeth (née Maddison) (four of his youngest siblings are half-siblings). They live at 19 Glen Terrace in Washington. His father is still a miner.
First marriage to Doris Wilkinson [registered as Charles W. in South Shields, March 1918]. They had four children, Mary Millicent (b.24 October 1919), Charles Arthur (b.25 December 1920), Robert William (b.1923, d.18 October 1943), Thomas Wilkinson (b.17 July 1929). Doris died in Blackpool, 14 November 1932
  Cannot be found on the 1921 census, owever, his daughter, Mary Millicent is with her grandparents, Arthur and Mary Wilkinson, at 168 Cunliffe Road in Blackpool.
  According to the 1939 register, widowed Charles W. is a footballer manager living at 99 Lambert Road in Glandford Brigg, the home of John Bradley, a bread van driver.
Second marriage to Ann Rebecca Morton [registered in Louth, Linconshire, June 1942]. They had one daughter, Susan Morton (b.October 1942)
Death 9 February 1953 in York Hospital, aged 53 years 67 days [registered in York, March 1953]. Buried in Fulford cemetery, York.
Probate "SPENCER Charles William of 19 Avenue-terrace York died 9 February 1953 at The City General Hospital York Administration York 23 April to Ann Spencer widow.
Effects £1070 12s. 1d." [2022 equivalent £23,804]

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) Began his junior career with Washington side Glebe Rovers FC and played with his works team, Washington Chemical Works FC. Newcastle United FC signed him in October 1921. After 161 league appearances and eight goals, Manchester United FC paid £4000 for his signature in July 1928. Despite being club captain, he made just 46 league appearances when he was placed on the transfer list with an asking price of £2000 to a league side, however, he joined Kent League side, Tunbridge Wells Rangers FC as a player-manager, without a fee being paid, on 9 May 1930. His departure was announced on 8 April 1932, as his contract would not be renewed. Newly-formed Wigan Athletic AFC then signed him as their player-manager on 11 August 1932 until he left on 19 March 1937.
Club honours FA Cup winners 1923-24; Football League Champions 1926-27; Cheshire County League winners 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36;
Individual honours Football League (two appearances); FA Charity Shield runners-up with Professionals 1925 (captain);
Distinctions None
Height/Weight 5' 10", 11st. 7½lbs [1922].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

Management Career

Club(s) Joined Tunbridge Wells Rangers FC as a player-manager on 9 May 1930.
"PLAYER-MANAGER SUSPENDED
"Charles Spencer, player-manager of Tunbridge Wells Rangers F.C. and the former Manchester United and Newcastle United centre-half, has been suspended for 21 days by a joint commission of the Kent and Essex County F.A.'s. It is alleged that he struck a spectator in the face during a scene on Grays Thurrock ground on February 7. Spencer will not be able to assist his club in the Kent Senior Cup semi-final on March 21 at Maidstone." -
 Saturday, 14 March 1931, The Portsmouth Evening News
  Wigan Athletic AFC then signed him as their player-manager on 11 August 1932 until he left in March 1937. He was appointed manager at Lincoln City FC on 16 June 1936, however, the directors at Wigan refused to release him, stating he still had just signed a five year contract with them. Still, the same directors allowed him to be appointed as manager of Grimsby Town FC within a year, on 19 March 1937, and remained until ill health forced his resignation on 4 May 1951. Returned to management with Southern League side, Hastings United FC on 13 October 1951, he resigned again on 14 December, because of 'the worry and strain' of management. Spencer was the successful applicant from over thirty names for the vacant managerial position at York City FC, effective from 17 November 1952, until his death four months later.
Club honours Cheshire County League winners 1933-34, 1934-35, 1935-36;

England Career

Player number One of two who became the 472nd players (472) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-half
First match No. 140, 12 April 1924, England 1 Scotland 1, a British Championship match at Empire Stadium, Wembley, London, aged 24 years 130 days.
Last match No. 144, 28 February 1925, Wales 1 England 2, a British Championship match at Vetch Field, Glamorgan Street, Swansea, aged 25 years 86 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1923-24, 1924-25;
Team honours None
Individual honours FA Tour of Australia 1925;
Distinctions Spencer and Billy Butler were the first England debutants at Wembley.

Beyond England

Remained in football, in particular, management, until his death in 1952. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.231/232.

 

Charlie Spencer - Career Statistics
Squads Apps comp. apps Mins. Goals goals ave.min comp. goals Capt. Disc.
2 2 2 180 0 0 min 0 none none
minutes are an approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stick to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

 

Charlie Spencer - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
Away 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
All - British Championship 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 0 0 1.50 1.00 75.0 +1

 

Charlie Spencer - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1923-24 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC 1924-25 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC All 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 0 0 1.50 1.00 75.0 +1
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 0 0 1.50 1.00 75.0 +1
All 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 0 0 1.50 1.00 75.0 +1

 

Charlie Spencer - Match History
 Club: Newcastle United F.C. - 2 full appearances

F.A. International Select Committee - 2 full capsx

Age 24
1 140 12 April 1924 - England 1 Scotland 1, Empire Stadium, Wembley BC HD Start ch
Age 25
2 144 28 February 1925 - Wales 1 England 2, Vetch Field, Swansea BC AW Start ch
Age 27
- 157 22 October 1927 - Ireland 2 England 0, Windsor Park, Belfast BC AL reserve

Notes

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CG