Ernie Blenkinsop

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ernie Blenkinsop


fullname = Ernest Blenkinsop
dateofbirth = 20 April 1902
cityofbirth = Cudworth, Barnsley
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = death date and age|1969|4|24|1902|4|20
cityofdeath = Sheffield
countryofdeath = England
height =
nickname = Blenkie
position = Left-back
youthyears = 1917-19 1919-21
youthclubs = Brierley Colliery Cudworth United Methodists
years = 1921-23 1923-34 1934-37 1937-39 1939
clubs = Hull City Sheffield Wednesday Liverpool Cardiff City Buxton
caps(goals) = 393 (5) 071 (0)
nationalyears = 1928-33
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 026 (0)

Ernie Blenkinsop (20 April 1902 – 24 April 1969) was an English footballer who played as a defender at left back. He spent the majority of his career at Sheffield Wednesday, where he won two Football League titles. He also attained 26 caps playing for England.

Life and playing career

Blenkinsop was born in Cudworth, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. He started his career at Hull City, where he was spotted by Sheffield Wednesday boss Bob Brown whilst playing in a reserve fixture as a forward. Brown liked what he saw and promptly took him from East to South Yorkshire in 1922.

Brown played Blenkinsop at number 3, which proved to be a shrewd move as his umcompromising defensive quailities plus his adept control and pinpoint passing ensured that he would became a Wednesday legend and one of the best left-backs to ever don the blue and white striped shirt.

Ernie become a major force behind the rise of the Hillsborough club from languishing at the foot of the 2nd Division to being promoted as champions at the end of the 1925/26 season (42 appearances), they then followed this up by becoming back-to-back champions of England in 1928/29 and 29/30 (41 and 45 appearances respectively).

Blenkinsop caught the eye of the Football Association selectors who choose him to play for England in a friendly match in France on the 17 May 1928, at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, Paris, it turned out to be a debut to remember as the English taught the French a lesson in football, beating them by a resounding 5-1 scoreline.

Ernie was given the ultimate accolade when he was handed the captaincy of England for another friendly on 9 December 1931 at the Arsenal Stadium, Highbury. The visitors were Spain, with England, again, handing out footballing lessons as they thrashed the Spanish 7-1. Ernie went on captain England 5 times, winning 4 and losing the other. Ernie also set a record whilst playing for his country, all of his caps came in consecutive England fixtures; they played a total of 26 matches between the 17 May 1928 and 1 April 1933, with Blenkinsop appearing in them all.

Between 1922 and 1934 Blenkinsop made 424 appearances for Wednesday, scoring 5 goals. Then, much to the derision of the Wednesday faithful, Ernie was surprisingly transferred to Liverpool for £5000 in April 1934, with manager George Patterson hoping to recreate the England full-back partnership Blenkinsop and Tom Cooper had together. Blenkinsop's debut came on the 17 March 1934 in a 1st Division match at Anfield, the prolific Gordon Hodgson scored all 4 goals in the 4-1 victory making it a day to remember for Ernie and fellow debutant Vic Wright. Blenkinsop flitted in and out of the starting line-up but made the left-back spot his own during the 1935/36 season, however, this turned out to be the only season he could be called a 'regular.' Ernie, again, held the number 3 shirt at the beginning of the 36/37 campaign but soon lost out to Benjamin Dabb and never really regained his place.

After 71 appearances in a red shirt, Blenkinsop was granted a transfer and moved to Welsh club Cardiff City in November 1937. After a short spell at Ninian Park Ernie moved north to Derbyshire, where he played for Buxton. He then returned to Yorkshire, representing Halifax and Bradford City as a wartime guest.

Ernie died 4 days after his 67th birthday in April 1969, forever remembered as one of the greatest ever left-backs to play the beautiful game.

Career details

*Sheffield Wednesday F.C (1922 - 1933) - 474 appearances, 5 goals - Two Football League (level 1) championship winners medals (1929 and 1930), Football League Second Division (level 2) winners medal (1926)
*Liverpool F.C (1934 - 1937) - 71 appearances
*England 26 caps (5 as captain)

External links

* [http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SWFCLegendsDetail/0,,10304~345749,00.html Player profile at swfc.premiumtv.co.uk]
* [http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/past_players/players/blenkinsop/ Official player profile at liverpoolfc.tv]
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=541 Player profile at lfchistory.net]
* [http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamCapt/CaptBio/CaptBlenkinsopE.html Player profile at englandfootballonline.com England captains]