Jack Whitley (1880–1955) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Aston Villa, Chelsea, Darwen, Everton, Lincoln City, Leeds City and Stoke.[1]

Jack Whitley
Personal information
Full name Jack Whitley[1]
Date of birth 1880[1]
Place of birth Seacombe, England[1]
Date of death 1955 (aged 75)[1]
Place of death London, England[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Liscard YMCA
1899–1900 Darwen 14 (0)
1900–1901 Aston Villa 11 (0)
1902–1904 Everton 11 (0)
1904–1906 Stoke 36 (0)
1906–1907 Leeds City 7 (0)
1907 Lincoln City 0 (0)
1907–1914 Chelsea 127 (0)
Total 206 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Whitley was born in Seacombe, Cheshire, and played amateur football with Liscard YMCA before joining Football League side Darwen in 1899.[1] He played 14 times for Darwen in the Second Division as they lost their Football League status and so he joined Aston Villa for £50.[1] He managed eleven appearances for Villa before signing for Everton where he played second fiddle to George Kitchen.[1] He joined Stoke in 1904 and played in 34 matches during the 1904–05 season before losing his place to Leigh Richmond Roose.[1] He then moved on to Leeds City and Lincoln City before finally finding regular football with Chelsea.[1]

Legacy

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Following his death in 1955, Whitley was buried in an unmarked grave at Brompton Cemetery, next to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground, the only Chelsea player known to be buried there. In 2017, the Chelsea Supporters Trust launched an appeal to fund the cost of a gravestone.[2]

Career statistics

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Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Darwen 1898–99 Second Division 14 0 0 0 14 0
Aston Villa 1900–01 First Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
1901–02 First Division 8 0 0 0 18 0
Total 11 0 0 0 11 0
Everton 1902–03 First Division 8 0 3 0 11 0
1903–04 First Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 11 0 3 0 14 0
Stoke[1] 1904–05 First Division 32 0 2 0 34 0
1905–06 First Division 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 36 0 2 0 38 0
Leeds City 1905–06 Second Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
1906–07 Second Division 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 7 0 0 0 7 0
Chelsea[4] 1907–08 First Division 23 0 2 0 25 0
1908–09 First Division 36 0 3 0 39 0
1909–10 First Division 35 0 2 0 37 0
1910–11 Second Division 1 0 2 0 3 0
1911–12 Second Division 26 0 2 0 28 0
1912–13 First Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
1913–14 First Division 3 0 0 0 3 0
Total 127 0 11 0 138 0
Career Total 206 0 16 0 222 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ "Chelsea goalkeeper Jack Whitley: Appeal for gravestone launched". BBC News. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  3. ^ Jack Whitley at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Jack Whitley". stamford-bridge.com. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
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