1897 - Thomas Herbert "Bert" Read

[Brummie1875]

Hi, I'm a new member here. I am a Birmingham City fan but I'm related to Thomas Herbert "Bert" Read.. A Man City player from the 1890's. Recently my family found a medal of his, dated 1897, marked with Runners-up and Lancashire Football Association. I have looked everywhere online to find out more about this medal and have come to a dead end. I'm hoping that one of you might be able to shed some light on this medal's origin and anything else I might not know about Bert Read.
All I know so far is that he spent 6-7 seasons with Man City before joining the rags down the road. He spent 2 seasons there, but become quite injury prone and was finished by injury shortly after this.
Any information about Bert Read and especially any information about this runners up medal would be greatly appreciated!

 

[squirtyflower]

bump

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Re: 1897 - Thomas Herbert "Bert" Read

City weren't runners up in anything significant that year, and Bert only
Played 8 times for the first team. I'd suggest this might be some kind of reserve team competition.....there is a poster here called Gary James who would be very interested in this as he is city's official(?) historian.

 

[Brummie1875]

Yes I have had Gary James name mentioned to me. I will send him a message. Man City Stats have him down as 115 league appearances and 4 fa cup appearances, I didn't think that they could be reserve matches. Thanks for the message and the bump.

 

[Mad Eyed Screamer]

Sounds like he could be one of the players (like Billy Meredith) who were banned for playing for City (having won the FA Cup in 1904) for financial irregularities and then joined the rags and won the league with the Swamp Dwellers in 07????????
Today players were banned full stop. Back then you were just banned from playing for the team you were currently with!
Or are the dates just coincidental?

 

[Gary James]

I've written about Read in my books and have material that will help. When I get chance later today I'll dig out what I have. In the meantime, here's his 1st team playing record <a class="postlink" href="http://bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/History/Players/Player.aspx?id=69" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/History/Play ... aspx?id=69</a>

 

[Gary James]

A brief update on Bert Read. Firstly his medal from 1897 - it is actually something quite significant. It was a runners-up medal in the Lancashire Cup (at that time the most senior competition the Blues realistically stood a chance of winning; City had never progressed beyond 1 tie in the FA Cup). First Division Everton beat Second Division City 2-0 and there would have been a decent crowd (not been able to check but I reckon it would have been greater than most league games for the Blues that year). The Lancashire Cup and the Manchester Cup were major trophies to the region's clubs at this time.

I'd be interested in a photo of the medal if it's possible?

As for Read's career at City...

Thomas Herbert Read
Role:Defender 1895-1902
b. Manchester

CAREER: Stretford, MCFC 31 Aug 1895, MUFC 25 Aug 1902 - one of the first new signings made by Utd following their formation in April 1902.

Debut v Newton Heath (h) 7.12.1895 - 2-1 win (Meredith & Hill)

Bert Read's League debut was the first ever MCFC victory in a League derby match. That was his only League game that season but the following one he appeared eight times and scored a goal against Burton Wanderers to give City a draw. He became a regular towards the end of 1896-97 and helped City to promotion in 1899 (and so there should also be a medal for that). He moved across the City to United in 1902 where he remained until 1908, but a knee injury limited his appearances. He later became the licensee of a pub in Levenshulme, Manchester.

Appearances:
FL:115 apps. 2 goals.
FAC:4 apps.
TOTAL:119 apps. 2 goals.
Res:2+ apps.
Other:41+ apps. 1 goal (this includes Lancs Cup, Manchester Cup etc.).

 

[Didsbury Dave]

There you go. Mystery solved. That medal is a piece of MCFC history, too.

 

[ph2v]

The Lancashire Cup Final between City and Everton was held at Ewood Park, Blackburn on Saturday, 27th March 1897 before an attendance of 8,000 with receipts of £160. City, who were in the Second Division, played their first team which was : Williams; Reed, Ray; Moffatt, Holmes, McBride; Meredith, Finnerhan, Gillespie, Gunn, Foster.

 

[Brummie1875]

Wow! Thanks for all the info. I'd like to find out the name of the pub so I can have a pint there next time I'm in Manchester. Sorry it's taken so long to reply, I will get a photo of the medal up soon. Thanks again.