Joseph English (athlete)
{{short description|British athlete}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Joe English
| birth_name =
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| sport = Athletics
| event = Middle-distance running
| club = Manchester AC
| birth_date = {{birth date|1883|1|7|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Manchester, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1942|6|7|1883|1|7|df=yes}}
| death_place = Manchester, England
| height =
| weight =
}}
Joseph English (7 January 1883 – 7 June 1942) was a British middle-distance runner who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/en/joe-english-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171205/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/en/joe-english-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Joseph English Olympic Results |access-date=19 November 2017}}
Biography
English was born in Manchester, England, and became the Northern Counties champion for the first time in 1906.{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69039 |title=Geoffrey Burton |work=Olympedia |access-date=14 April 2025}} The following year, he became the British steeplechase champion after winning the British AAA Championships title at the 1907 AAA Championships.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000728/19070708/006/0006 |title=Champion athletes |work=Daily Record |date=8 July 1907 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19070708/020/0002 |title=AAA Championships |work=Sporting Life |date=8 July 1907 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}
English represented the Great Britain team at the 1908 Olympic Games in London,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080612/073/0003 |title=The Olympic Games, British Representatives |work=The Sportsman |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19080612/187/0008 |title=Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}} where he participated in the men's 3200 metres steeplechase competition. In his heat he fell and was eliminated. He was also on the start list for the 800 metres but did not take his place.
English would win eight Northern titles in total, with wins coming from 1906 to 1910 and 1912 to 1914 and he would won a second AAA Championship at the 1910 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=14 April 2025}}
During World War I, English received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for repairing telephone lines under enemy fire, while serving as a sapper for the Royal Engineers. After the war, English continued to compete, finishing second to George Gray at the 1919 AAA Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19190707/133/0007 |title=AAA Championships |work=Daily Herald |date=7 July 1919 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}
English was a plumber by trade and became a life member of Manchester AC and later served as president for the club.
References
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Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Category:British male middle-distance runners
Category:British male steeplechase runners
Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain
Category:English male steeplechase runners
Category:English male middle-distance runners