Jimmy Hampson

Football player infobox2
playername = Jimmy Hampson


fullname = James Hampson
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date|1906|3|23|df=y
cityofbirth = Little Hulton
countryofbirth = England
dateofdeath = Death date and age|1938|1|10|1906|3|23|df=yes
cityofdeath = Fleetwood
countryofdeath = England
height =
currentclub =
position = Centre-forward
youthyears = -1925
youthclubs = Walkden Park
years = 1925-1927
1927-1938
clubs = Nelson
Blackpool
Career
caps(goals) = 064 0(42)
361 (248)
425 (290)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
nationalyears = 1930-1932
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 00(5)

James "Jimmy" Hampson (23 March 1906 — 10 January 1938) was an English professional footballer. He spent eleven seasons at Blackpool, where he remains record goalscorer with 252 goals in 373 games, and is still regarded as one of the best centre forwards to play for the club.cite book
last = Singleton
first = Steve
title = Legends: The great players of Blackpool FC
publisher = Blackpool Gazette and at heart publications
date =2007
location =
pages =11
isbn =978-1-84547-182-8 ] cite web
title = Blackpool Legends
publisher = Blackpool F.C.
date = 2007-08-02
url = http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegends/0,,10432~140692,00.html
accessdate = 2008-01-04 ]

Club career

Born in Little Hulton, Lancashire, Hampson began his career with Walkden Park. In 1925 he joined Football League Third Division, Nelson, and in his first season, 1925-26, he scored 13 goals in 20 league games. During his first season at Nelson, Hampson scored hat-tricks in three consecutive games. The following season, 1926-27, he scored 23 goals in 35 games.

In October 1927, he joined Blackpool for a fee of £1,000, scoring on his debut against Notts County on 15 October. He went on to score 31 goals in the remaining 32 games of the 1927-28 season, including two in his second game for the club, against Manchester City. He missed just one game in his first season for the club, and his goals helped Blackpool stave off relegation, finishing the season 19th in the Second Division.

The following season, 1928-29, he scored 40 goals to become the Second Division's top scorer. He scored five goals in the first four games that season, prompting other clubs to take an interest in signing him. In September, Blackpool denied that they had received an offer from Arsenal. After a 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on 13 October, 1928, Blackpool fans chaired him off the pitch and he was described as being the "darling of Blackpool". On 10 November, he scored a club-record five goals in a 7-0 victory over Reading. Blackpool finished the season in eighth place.

In July 1929, Millwall tried unsuccessfully to sign him. The following December, Derby County also tried to sign him but were also turned down.

In 1929-30, Blackpool won the Second Division championship and were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history. Hampson was the top goalscorer in England with 45 strikes in 41 games. He played one game, against local rivals Preston North End, at inside-right, but still scored one goal as Blackpool won 5-1.

At the end of their debut season in the First Division (1930-31), Blackpool drew their final game against Manchester City to escape relegation back to the Second Division. Although Blackpool conceded 125 goals, Hampson still managed to score 31 goals in 41 games. The following season, 1931-32, Blackpool again struggled against relegation, with Hampson scoring 23 league goals in 42 games as the club finished one place above the relegation places. Again the club had to deny transfer rumours. At the Supporters Club's annual dinner, held at the resort's Winter Gardens on 10 November, 1931, the club stated that they had "no intention of parting with Hampson".

The following season, 1932-33, Blackpool were relegated, finishing bottom of the league with Hampson scoring 18 league goals in 34 games. During the season, Hampson lost his position as centre-forward to defender Phil Watson before being moved to the right wing for the game against Sheffield United on 22 April, 1933. He was reinstated as centre-forward, however, for the final game of the season, at Newcastle United.

During the following 1933-34 season, it was reported that he had turned down turned down the club's terms for a new contract; however, the terms were soon sorted and he signed on again for the next season. After 21 games and 13 goals, he was injured and he made just one more appearance for the club that season.

He scored three goals in the opening game of the 1934-35 season against Bury; however, following a spell in which he did not score, he was dropped and Blackpool stated that they would be prepared to transfer him. He did not play again until February 1935, and ended the season on 21 goals from 25 starts. He missed the start of the 1935-36 season with an injury, coupled with the club signing Scottish international striker Bobby Finan. Hampson did not play until 9 October, 1935, against Charlton Athletic, when he scored in a 1-1 draw. He was not a regular starter that season and finished on just six goals from 21 games, although he had to play at inside-left for much of them.

Hampson and Finan scored 44 goals between them in the 1934-35 season, with Hampson scoring 16 of them as Blackpool finished as runners-up and were once again promoted to the First Division. Hampson started the 1937-38 season scoring four goals in 19 league games.

Hampson held the record for the fastest century of goals: 101 in 97 games between 1927 and 1930.fact|date=January 2008

International career

Hampson's international career was brief, due to the presence of Dixie Dean combined with Hampson's club playing in the League's second tier. He scored five goals in just three appearances. He scored one goal on his debut against Ireland on 20 October, 1930, which England won 5-1.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Match statistics: England 5-1 Ireland 20 October 1930
work =
publisher = The Football Association
date =
url =http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=173
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-04 ] He then scored twice against Wales on 22 November in a 4-0 win. His last appearance for his country came in December 1932 against Austria when he again scored twice. He also represented the Football League four times, scoring nine goals – including a hat-trick in a game against the Irish Football League held at Bloomfield Road. He also played for a Football League XI against a combined Wales and Ireland XI in a game held to celebrate the jubilee of King George V in May 1935. Hampson scored five goals in a 10-2 win for the Football League XI.

Death

On 8 January, 1938, Hampson played his last-ever match, an FA Cup tie for Blackpool against Birmingham City. His final contribution was a quick throw-in, seven minutes before the end of the match, from which Blackpool scored.

On 10 January, a day after visiting his wife who was ill in a nursing home, Hampson went out fishing with some friends off the Fleetwood coast. Their yacht collided with a trawler and Hampson was knocked overboard. He drowned, and his body was never recovered. He was 31.

Honours

Blackpool
*Second Division championship: 1929-30

References

Further reading

* Calley, Roy (1992-10-20). "Blackpool: A Complete Record, 1887-1992", Breedon Books Publishing Co Ltd, ISBN 978-1873626078

External links

* [http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/?pf=p&i=895&
]
* [http://www.blackpoolfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/SeasideLegendsDetail/0,,10432~140692,00.html Profile at Blackpool's official website]
*englandstats|id=432|name=Jimmy Hampson
* [http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=435 Profile at EnglandFC.com]