George William Showell (9 February 1934 – 18 December 2012) was an English professional footballer who played in the Football League for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bristol City and Wrexham.[1] He spent the majority of his playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers, featuring in two league championship-winning seasons and in the 1960 FA Cup Final.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George William Showell | ||
| Date of birth | 9 February 1934 | ||
| Place of birth | Bilston, England | ||
| Date of death | 18 December 2012 (aged 78) | ||
| Place of death | Wrexham, Wales | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SE Staffordshire | |||
| 1949–19xx | Wolverhampton Wanderers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1955–1965 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 200 | (3) |
| 1965–1966 | Bristol City | 11 | (0) |
| 1966–1968 | Wrexham | 48 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editShowell was born in Bilston[1] and signed up by Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1949.[2] After several seasons in the reserves, he made his senior debut on 2 April 1955 in a 1–1 draw against Preston North End. This was the first in a run of games he had at the end of the 1954–55 season,.[3]
He did however play in two of the club's league championship triumphs, as well as in the 1960 FA Cup Final, where they beat Blackburn Rovers 3–0 at Wembley,[4] and the 1959 and 1960 Charity Shield matches.[5] He finally gained a regular first-team role after Billy Wright retired at the beginning of the 1959–60 campaign,[6] and over the first half of the 1960s was a first-choice player at Molineux, amassing 218 appearances in total.[2]
When the club were relegated in 1965, Showell moved to Bristol City. He spent just eighteen months there before joining Wrexham in November 1966, where he finished his playing career. He remained with Wrexham until 1990, as assistant manager,[1] trainer, caretaker manager,[7] and physiotherapist, and was one of 20 inaugural inductees to the club's Supporters Association Hall of Fame.[8][9]
He died on 18 December 2012 aged 78.[10] He collapsed while shopping at a supermarket and died later in Wrexham Maelor Hospital.[11]
Honours
editWolverhampton Wanderers
References
edit- ^ a b c "George Showell". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ a b "Players. A–Z". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ "Team Details: 1954–1955". Wolves-Stats. Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ "Wolves' Ruthless Drive Gives Blackburn No Chance Of Recovery At Wembley". The Times. 9 May 1960. p. 5.
- ^ "Aperitif To The New Season". The Times. 15 August 1960. p. 13.
- ^ "Wright Gives Up Football. England's Captain 21 Years With Club". The Times. 8 August 1959. p. 2.
Wolverhampton's policy is based in the development of new players and I must make way for George Showell.
- ^ "End of the road for Roberts". The Times. 23 March 1985. p. 24.
George Showell the trainer is in charge for today's home game with Torquay United and will look after the side until a new manager is appointed.
- ^ "George Showell". Wrexham Supporters Association. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ Currie, Mark (24 September 2002). "Hall of fame". Daily Post. North Wales. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2009.
- ^ "Shock Death Of George Showell". Wolves-Heroes. 18 December 2012.
- ^ "Ex-Wolves defender dies". Shropshire Star. 19 December 2012. p. 40.
- ^ Vernon, Leslie; Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 490. ISBN 0354 09018 6.
External links
edit- George Showell at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database