bryant_william_01
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Name: Willie Bryant |
Nationality: England |
Position: outside-right |
Signing Information: Transferred from: Rotherham Town, 04/1896, £ |
Birthdate: 00-00-0000 |
Years at Club: 1896-1900 |
Age: () |
Debut: 01/09/1896 v Gainsborough Trinity (Bank Street) 2-0 (League Division Two) |
Birthplace: Masborough, Rotherham, England |
Previous clubs: Wath FC, Chesterfield FC, Rotherham Town |
Height: 5' 8" (1.73m) |
Farewell to Manchester United: Transferred to Blackburn Rovers, 03/1900, £50 |
Weight: 11st 2lbs (70.76kg) |
Passed Away: 25/10/1918 |
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Outside-right Willie Bryant holds the distinction of being the first player in Manchester United's history to represent the Football League. He achieved that feat on November 6th, 1897, when the Irish League were thrashed 8-1, and he got one of the goals "with what was probably the best shot of the day".
Willie was born in Rotherham and made his breakthrough at nearby Wath FC. Chesterfield signed him in 1893 and, in one season there, he scored 10 goals in 23 appearances in the Sheffield League, which led to a return home with Rotherham Town in time for the 1894-95 Second Division campaign. Bryant proved a prolific wingman as he notched 19 goals in two years, before the club folded in 1896.
That April, Newton Heath picked him to replace the departing John Clarkin, and Bryant proved a model of consistency, missing just 4 league and cup games in the first three seasons. In 1897-98 he won a Lancashire Senior Cup medal to go with his Football League call up, but he enjoyed an even better campaign in 1898-99, grabbing hat-tricks in the league (against Darwen) and the Cup (against Spurs).
The club's hierarchy, however, decided to suspend Bryant in March 1900 for reasons unknown, and he was quickly snapped up by Blackburn Rovers for £50. Alas, he gradually lost his first-team spot at Ewood Park and was mostly a reserve in 1901-02, the club deciding not to re-sign him that summer.
However, Bryant still had much to offer so he returned home and played for Thornhill United for three seasons, frequently getting on the scoresheet as had regularly been the case throughout his career. Finally, the man they nicknamed "Mickey" left the club in 1905, the year they became Rotherham County. In typical footballer fashion "Willie" ran a pub in Rotherham (The Fitzwilliam Hotel) from 1903-13. Thanks to Mr Ian Bryant for Information provided. Biography kindly provided by Charbel Boujaoude. |
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League |
League Cup |
FA Cup |
Charity Shield |
European Cup |
Europa League |
Super Cup |
Cup Winners Cup |
Inter-Continental Cup |
World Clubs Cup |
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No |
Season |
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Season
Goals |
Season
Apps |
1 |
1896-1897 |
3 |
33 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
41 |
2 |
1897-1898 |
10 |
29 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
32 |
3 |
1898-1899 |
10 |
32 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
34 |
4 |
1899-1900 |
4 |
19 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
20 |
TOTALS |
27 |
113 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
127 |
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