Harry Oliver (footballer)
{{short description|English footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Harry Oliver
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Henry Spoors Oliver{{Cite book|title = Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939|last = Joyce|first = Michael|publisher = Tony Brown|date = 2012|isbn = 978-1905891610|location = Nottingham|page = 221}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1921|2|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sunderland, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1994|1|11|1921|2|16|df=y}}
| death_place = Sunderland, England
| height =
| position = Centre half, left back
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Doxford Juniors
| youthyears2 =
| youthclubs2 = Hylton Colliery Juniors
| youthyears3 =
| youthclubs3 = Ditchburn Juniors
| youthyears4 = {{0|0000}}–1936
| youthclubs4 = Sunderland
| youthyears5 = 1936–1937
| youthclubs5 = Houghton Colliery Welfare
| years1 = 1937
| clubs1 = Sheffield United
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1937–1938
| clubs2 = Hartlepools United
| caps2 = 9
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1938–1948
| clubs3 = Brentford
| caps3 = 18
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1948–1952
| clubs4 = Watford
| caps4 = 122
| goals4 = 2
| years5 = 1952–1956
| clubs5 = Canterbury City
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| nationalyears1 =
| nationalteam1 = England Schoolboys
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
}}Henry Spoors Oliver (16 February 1921 – 11 January 1994) was an English professional footballer. He played at full back and centre half in the Football League for Hartlepools United, Brentford and Watford. He also played competitive football for Houghton Colliery Welfare and Canterbury City and represented England as a schoolboy.
Career
Born in Sunderland, Oliver played for the England schoolboys team, as well as for Houghton Colliery Welfare.{{Cite web|url=http://vintagefootballers.com/product/oliver-harry-image-1-brentford-1946/|title=Oliver Harry Image 1 Brentford 1946|website=Vintage Footballers|language=en-GB|access-date=24 December 2018}} He joined Hartlepools United—then in the Football League Third Division North—as a 16-year-old, and turned professional shortly after his 17th birthday. However, he did not remain there for long; after only 9 league games Oliver transferred to Brentford, who at the time were in the First Division, in 1938 for a £1500 fee. Unfortunately for Oliver, the Football League was suspended in 1939 due to the Second World War, and did not resume until 1946. During this period he played guest wartime football for Leeds United and York City.
In the first two seasons following the resumption of peacetime football, Oliver made 18 league appearances for Brentford. He transferred to Watford for a fee of £2,000 in May 1948, although Benskins brewery paid the money on Watford's behalf. Under the management of Eddie Hapgood, Ron Gray and Haydn Green, Oliver made 122 Watford appearances in the Third Division South, and a further 6 in the FA Cup, scoring four penalties. He joined Canterbury City at the end of the 1951–52 season, and remained there until his retirement in 1956.
Oliver died in the city of his birth on 11 January 1994, aged 72.
Personal life
Oliver served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War.{{cite book |year=2006 |title=Brentford Football Club Official Matchday Magazine versus Sunderland 28/01/06 |page=55}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Harry}}
Category:Footballers from Sunderland
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Hartlepool United F.C. players
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Canterbury City F.C. players
Category:Leeds United F.C. wartime guest players
Category:York City F.C. wartime guest players
Category:English Football League players
Category:British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Men's association football wing halves