George Webb (footballer, born 1888)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = George Webb

| image =

| fullname = George William Webb

| birth_date = 18 July 1888

| birth_place = Poplar, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1915|3|28|1888|7|18|df=y}}

| death_place = Stratford, England

| height =

| position = Centre-forward

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 =

| clubs1 = Ilford Alliance | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = | clubs2 = Ilford | caps2 = | goals2 =

| years3 = | clubs3 = Wanstead | caps3 = | goals3 =

| years4 = 1905–1912 | clubs4 = West Ham United{{cite web|title=George Webb|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=678&united=George_Webb|work=The Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics|publisher=westhamstats.info|access-date=24 November 2011}} | caps4 = 52 | goals4 = 23 | years5 = 1912 | clubs5 = Manchester City{{cite book |title=Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 |last=Joyce |first=Michael |year=2004 |publisher=Tony Brown|location=Nottingham|isbn=1-899468-67-6|page=255}} | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1910–1911

| nationalteam1 = England Amateurs

| nationalcaps1= 5

| nationalgoals1 = 7

| nationalyears2 = 1911

| nationalteam2 = England

| nationalcaps2 = 2

| nationalgoals2 = 1

}}

George William Webb (18 July 1888 – 28 March 1915){{cite web |url=http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamPlyrsBios/PlayersW/BioWebbGW.html|title=George Webb|publisher=England Football Online|access-date=30 June 2018}} was an English amateur footballer who spent most of his career playing at centre-forward for West Ham United in the Southern League, as well as making seven appearances for the England national amateur football team and two for the full national side.{{cite book | title=England: Player by player | publisher=Green Umbrella Publishing|last= Betts|first= Graham | year=2006|isbn=1-905009-63-1|page=255}}

Football career

Webb was born in Poplar in the East End of London and educated at Shaftesbury Road School. He was the stepson of George Hone, who was involved in the creation of Thames Ironworks and became a director of West Ham United.{{cite web| last=Bloomfield |first=Pam|title=George Webb: West Ham United 1909 – 1911|url=http://theyflysohigh.piczo.com/familyalbum?cr=7&linkvar=000044 |work=West Ham United memorabilia collection|publisher=They Fly So High|access-date=24 November 2011}} In August 1905, Webb had a pre-season trial with West Ham, going on to make occasional appearances for their reserve team, while playing for various amateur sides in the Ilford area.

He made his debut for West Ham's first team on 9 April 1909, when he scored the only goal in a match against local rivals, Leyton.{{cite web|title=West Ham 1 – 0 Leyton|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=5&ham=394&united=09_Apr_1909 |publisher=westhamstats.info|date= 9 April 1909|access-date=24 November 2011}} On 5 February 1910, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Football League Second Division in the Second round of the FA Cup.{{cite web|title=Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 – 0 West Ham|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=5&ham=429&united=05_Feb_1910 |publisher=westhamstats.info|date= 5 February 1910 |access-date=24 November 2011}}{{cite book | title= The Complete Record of the FA Cup|last= Collett|first= Mike |year= 2003|publisher= Sports Books|isbn=1-899807-19-5|page=646 }} He repeated this a year later, scoring all the goals in a 3–0 victory over First Division Preston North End.{{cite web |title=West Ham 3 – 0 Preston North End|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=5&ham=472&united=04_Feb_1911 |publisher=westhamstats.info|date= 4 February 1911|access-date=24 November 2011}}{{cite web |title=West Ham United 3 – 0 Preston North End|url=http://www.freewebs.com/captainbeecher/1911.htm|work=The Giant Killers: 1911 |publisher=freewebs.com|access-date=24 November 2011}} Webb was described as "fast, had a great shot while a hefty physique made him even more redoubtable".

Webb represented the Southern League in representative matches and netted 7 goals in five appearances for the England national amateur football team, including the only goal of a 1–0 win over the Netherlands on 17 April 1911.{{cite web |url=http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslAm.html |title=England Matches – The Amateurs 1906-1939 |website=englandfootballonline.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 |archive-date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328123742/http://englandfootballonline.com/MatchRsl/MatchRslAm.html |url-status=live }} His first appearances for the full national side came in the Home Championship match against Wales on 13 March 1911. In the match, played at Millwall's The Den ground, Webb scored the second goal in a 3–0 victory, with England's other two goals coming from fellow-amateur, Vivian Woodward.{{cite web|title=England 3 – 0 Wales|url=http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=109 |publisher=englandstats.com|access-date=25 November 2011|date=13 March 1911}} He retained his place for the next match, against Scotland at Everton's Goodison Park stadium. The match finished 1–1, but the draw was sufficient for England to claim the championship trophy.{{cite web|title=England 1 – 1 Scotland|url=http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=110 |publisher=englandstats.com |access-date=25 November 2011|date=1 April 1911}} Webb's performance against Scotland was described as "a failure, largely due to the work of Low", who marked him out of the game.{{cite web|title=Championship goes to the Rose|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1911/1911040102.htm|work=England 1 Scotland 1 (Match report)|publisher=londonhearts.com|access-date=25 November 2011|page=2|date=1 April 1911}}

During his time with West Ham, Webb remained an amateur and his appearances were restricted by his business commitments. His fellow West Ham forward Danny Shea said that Webb "led too crowded a life". Illness in December 1911 ruled him out for most of the remainder of that season, with Fred Harrison taking over from him.{{cite web |title=Fred Harrison|url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=301&united=Fred_Harrison|work=The Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics|publisher=westhamstats.info|access-date=24 November 2011}}

In the summer of 1912, he moved to Manchester City of the Football League First Division, but after two games, both 1–0 away wins, against Notts County and Manchester United, he fell out with the club when he discovered that a transfer fee had been paid to West Ham United, which went against his principles as an amateur.{{cite web|title=George Webb |url=http://spartacus-educational.com/WHwebbG.htm |work=West Ham United |publisher=spartacus-educational.com |access-date=24 November 2011}}{{cite book|last=Hogg|first=Tony|title=West Ham United Who's Who|year=1995|publisher=Independent UK Sports Publications|location=London|isbn=1-899429-01-8|pages=212}} Part of the transfer deal also included the playing of a friendly game between West Ham and Manchester City at Upton Park in November 1912, the first-ever meeting between the two sides, which Manchester City won 4–2.

Life outside football

Webb worked in the family toy manufacturing business and was a freemason. He died of tuberculosis in 1915.

=International goals=

:England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Webb goal.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by George Webb{{cite web \|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22629 \|title=George Webb \|website=Eu-football.info \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}
scope=col \| No. ! scope=col \| Date ! scope=col \| Venue ! scope=col \| Opponent ! scope=col \| Score ! scope=col \| Result ! scope=col \| Competition ! scope=col class=unsortable\| {{abbr\|Ref\|Reference(s)}}
scope=row\| 1 \| 13 March 1911 \|\| The Den, London, England \|\| {{fb\|WAL}} \|\| {{center\|2–0}} \|\| style="text-align:center;" \| 3–0 \|\| 1910–11 British Home Championship \|\| {{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=109 \|title=England v Wales, 13 March 1911 \|website=englandstats.com \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by George Webb{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22629 |title=George Webb |website=Eu-football.info |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}

scope=col | No.

! scope=col | Date

! scope=col | Venue

! scope=col | Opponent

! scope=col | Score

! scope=col | Result

! scope=col | Competition

! scope=col class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}

scope=row| 1

| 13 March 1911 || The Den, London, England || {{fb|WAL}} || {{center|2–0}} || style="text-align:center;" | 3–0 || 1910–11 British Home Championship || {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=109 |title=England v Wales, 13 March 1911 |website=englandstats.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

=International goals=

:England Amateurs score listed first, score column indicates score after each Webb goal.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by George Webb
scope=col \| No. ! scope=col \| Date ! scope=col \| Venue ! scope=col \| Opponent ! scope=col \| Score ! scope=col \| Result ! scope=col \| Competition ! scope=col class=unsortable\| {{abbr\|Ref\|Reference(s)}}
scope=row\| 1 \| rowspan=2\| 9 April 1910 \|\| rowspan=2\| Park Royal Stadium, London, England \|\| rowspan=2\| {{fb\|SUI}} \|\| {{center\|?}} \|\| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" \| 6–1 \|\| rowspan=7\| Friendly \|\| rowspan=2 \|{{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-switzerland-09-april-1910-222790/ \|title=England v Switzerland, 09 April 1910 \|website=11v11.com \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}
scope=row\| 2 \|\| {{center\|?}}
scope=row\| 3 \| rowspan=2\| 4 March 1911 \|\| rowspan=2\| Crystal Palace Park, London, England \|\| rowspan=2\| {{fb\|BEL}} \|\| {{center\|2–0}} \|\| rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" \| 4–0 \|\| rowspan=2\| {{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-belgium-04-march-1911-222819/ \|title=England v Belgium, 04 March 1911 \|publisher=11v11.com \|accessdate=29 June 2022 \|archive-date=1 July 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701195725/https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-belgium-04-march-1911-222819/ \|url-status=live }}}}
scope=row\| 4 \|\| {{center\|3–0}}
scope=row\| 5 \| 14 April 1911 \|\| Viktoria field, Berlin-Mariendorf, Germany \|\| {{fb\|GER\|empire}} \|\| {{center\|1–0}} \|\| style="text-align:center;" \| 2–2 \|\| {{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-england-14-april-1911-222829/ \|title=Germany v England, 14 April 1911 \|website=11v11.com \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}
scope=row\| 6 \|\| 17 April 1911 \|\| Sportpark Oud-Roosenburgh, Amsterdam, Netherlands \|\| {{fb\|NED}} \|\| {{center\|1–0}} \|\| style="text-align:center;" \| 1–0 \|\| {{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-england-17-april-1911-222830/ \|title=Netherlands v England, 17 April 1911 \|website=11v11.com \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}
scope=row\| 7 \|\| 21 October 1911 \|\| Park Royal Stadium, London, England \|\| {{fb\|DEN}} \|\| {{center\|2–0}} \|\| style="text-align:center;" \| 3–0 \|\| {{center\|{{cite web \|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-denmark-21-october-1911-222845/ \|title=England v Denmark, 21 October 1911 \|website=11v11.com \|accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by George Webb

scope=col | No.

! scope=col | Date

! scope=col | Venue

! scope=col | Opponent

! scope=col | Score

! scope=col | Result

! scope=col | Competition

! scope=col class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}

scope=row| 1

| rowspan=2| 9 April 1910 || rowspan=2| Park Royal Stadium, London, England || rowspan=2| {{fb|SUI}} || {{center|?}} || rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 6–1 || rowspan=7| Friendly || rowspan=2 |{{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-switzerland-09-april-1910-222790/ |title=England v Switzerland, 09 April 1910 |website=11v11.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

scope=row| 2

|| {{center|?}}

scope=row| 3

| rowspan=2| 4 March 1911 || rowspan=2| Crystal Palace Park, London, England || rowspan=2| {{fb|BEL}} || {{center|2–0}} || rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 4–0 || rowspan=2| {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-belgium-04-march-1911-222819/ |title=England v Belgium, 04 March 1911 |publisher=11v11.com |accessdate=29 June 2022 |archive-date=1 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701195725/https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-belgium-04-march-1911-222819/ |url-status=live }}}}

scope=row| 4

|| {{center|3–0}}

scope=row| 5

| 14 April 1911 || Viktoria field, Berlin-Mariendorf, Germany || {{fb|GER|empire}} || {{center|1–0}} || style="text-align:center;" | 2–2 || {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/germany-v-england-14-april-1911-222829/ |title=Germany v England, 14 April 1911 |website=11v11.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

scope=row| 6

|| 17 April 1911 || Sportpark Oud-Roosenburgh, Amsterdam, Netherlands || {{fb|NED}} || {{center|1–0}} || style="text-align:center;" | 1–0 || {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/netherlands-v-england-17-april-1911-222830/ |title=Netherlands v England, 17 April 1911 |website=11v11.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}

scope=row| 7

|| 21 October 1911 || Park Royal Stadium, London, England || {{fb|DEN}} || {{center|2–0}} || style="text-align:center;" | 3–0 || {{center|{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-denmark-21-october-1911-222845/ |title=England v Denmark, 21 October 1911 |website=11v11.com |accessdate=30 July 2022 }}}}