Different league

WITH the outbreak of war, all League soccer was suspended and promising footballer Sam Wadsworth, like so many more young men, went off to fight.

The horrors of that conflict can today be only vaguely imagined. Few came out of it unscathed and Sam was no exception. His elder brother was killed in 1918. He had been wounded but had bravely volunteered to go back. "I came home, but Charlie didn't. He lies in Belgium. I had lost my only brother and my best friend and supporter."

Although the War ended in November 1918 Sam recovered slowly from the trauma of the conflict and the loss of his brother. He seldom recounted the desperation of those years in later life and, in hours of tapes he left, just says: "I began to realise that I had to forget all the rough times when we still stood up for more. I had to get on with my life."

But it was late in the summer of 1919 before he could face the thought of taking up his promising football career. He caught the bus from his home in Darwen, arrived at Ewood Park, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Bob Middleton, Rovers' long-serving club secretary, told him sadly: "Sorry, Sam. I have not a vacancy. You may have a free transfer."

The war marked the end of a glorious era for Blackburn Rovers; Sam Wadsworth was not to be part of the new era.

"It had been all I had lived for over four years of life and death in the mud of Belgium and France. My heart was broken. My life's dream had gone with the wind. I was very bitter after nearly five years' service. It was not very nice treatment."

When young Sam got home, he recalled, his father was there waiting for him or he would have thrown his boots on the fire. "Dad, I'll never kick another ball," he vowed.

However, Sam had fought hard to overcome the trauma of the First World War and his father was determined that his recovery was not going to be dashed. He managed to arrange a trial for his son with Nelson, who were then playing in the Central League, and the lad grasped the chance with both hands. He did well in the trial and had a very good game on his debut. It was his first-ever game at left full-back.

Sam played in several positions for Nelson, mainly at centre-half and left-back, and it wasn't long before top clubs came sniffing.

Ambrose Langley, the Huddersfield manager, made a good offer - it was £1,600 - in April 1921 and after three games in the reserves he made his first-class debut against Chelsea.

By then the soon-to-be-legendary manager Herbert Chapman had taken over and Sam, 5ft 8in and 12st 6lb, became a regular in one of the greatest club teams of all time. They won the FA Cup in 1922, three championships in 1924, 1925 and 1926 and were runners-up in 1927 and 1928.

The cup win was very sweet as Town knocked out Blackburn Rovers in the third round on the way to Stamford Bridge. The first leg had ended 1-1.

Town made no mistake in the replay, winning 5-0.

Wadsworth played a total of 312 games for Town and scored four goals - no mean feat for a full-back in those days!

He became England's regular left full-back, making his debut against Scotland at Villa Park in April 1922, and he captained the team on his last four appearances. He won nine caps in an era when international matches were much fewer than today. A rare clash with a team other than one in the home international series was against Belgium who were given a 6-1 hiding in March 1923.

Sam had learnt of his first selection for the prestigious Football League side when he read it in the evening paper. He learnt that he had been appointed captain of England when he saw it chalked on a shopkeeper's board while out in Huddersfield with his wife, Gladys.

"I was pleased. But we didn't fuss over these things in those days," he recalled. "I still continued wearing the same size of hat."

Wadsworth was injured in the three-game FA Cup semi-final in March 1928 against Sheffield United and didn't get to play in the final against Blackburn Rovers, the once-loved club that had shown him the door. He could only watch as Huddersfield foldedTheir league season tailed off and they were pipped for the title by Arsenal.

The knee injury virtually ended Wadsworth's career although he had a few games with Burnley, whom he joined in Sept 1929. It was a hard time for the Wadsworths. They had lost all their money in a failed garage venture which his wife had urged him not to go into and her health had suffered.

He was struggling and desperately missing his playing days when the FA told him that the Delft club in Holland were looking for an English manager. It was the start of a successful new career.

He moved to Holland in April 1934 and was manager of PSV from August 1935-1938 when he joined another Dutch side, DWS. He had a second spell with PSV from 1945-1951 and was highly regarded in Holland.

He returned to Huddersfield in 1951 as manager of PSV who were playing Town in a "Festival of Britain" match. At a banquet after the match Huddersfield director Dick Parker said: "Sam came into a team of stars and it was not long before he was a star in a team of stars. All throughout our great period he was, in my opinion, the greatest left-back playing football."

Sam Wadsworth stayed on in Holland and died there of pneumonia in September 1961 aged 64. An obituary in the Huddersfield Examiner the following day said: "Wadsworth had several wonderful attributes, among them a masterly sense of positional play. He was a wonderful kicker of judgment which made him supreme in the art of setting his own attack going from defensive positions."

Sam Wadsworth was also a gentleman - rare breed these days. He says in his recollections: "I was taught not only how to lose well, but how to live well."

He offers advice to younger players: "Never think you are the best. Always be ready to learn; always listen to good advice. I never think I know it all. I'm well into my 50s now but I can still learn - and I enjoy it.

"Please try to be sportsmen. Always play fair; be always ready to congratulate your conqueror and you'll never be sorry for it. I've always played fair and tried to play fair. Even today, many years since I left the field of play, I am still welcome in all circles. Why? Because I played fair. You do the same. You'll never regret it."

"I've enjoyed every minute. Memories never to be forgotten," he concluded.

PANEL

Fond memories of uncle

ONLY Jenny of the Wadsworth brothers and sisters had any children.

Jenny and Tom Holden, who lived on Blackburn Road, Darwen, had a son, Charles, who went to Darwen Grammar School and taught games there in the 50s before going on to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School where he taught from 1961 to 1989.

He and his wife lived in Clitheroe and then Chipping which he represented on Ribble Valley Council. They now live in Northwich, Cheshire, near to their family.

Charles Holden, now 78, has many fond memories of Uncle Sam. He recalls that he and his wife escaped from Holland to Hull on almost the last boat out before the Germans overran the country.

Charles has several of his uncle's England caps and medals and remembers him being technical adviser to the Dutch FA during and after his spells as manager of PSV.

"He was a real gentleman and very popular with the folk over there," says Mr Holden. "His grave was a mass of flowers and tributes."