JOBEY, George (1916)

Overview

Born in July 1885, George was a “Geordie” as his place of birth was Heddon-on-Tyne. He commenced his career with Morpeth Harriers where he spent two seasons before being signed by Newcastle United in May 1906 for a fee of £10. Seven years later his value had substantially increased as Woolwich Arsenal had to pay £500 when he joined them on May 5th 1913.

Thirteen months later he was with Bradford and when World War one broke out he came to Douglas Park as a guest player in February 1916. He was a robust half back who occasionally played at centre forward. He made only 53 appearances for the St James Park side however one of them was in the 1911 FA Cup Final against Bradford City which the latter won. He had also appeared 10 times in the Magpies League Championship run in 1908-09.

When he signed for Woolwich Arsenal just as they were about to move to a new ground at Highbury and he had the honour of scoring the first goal for the Gunners when he made his debut at centre forward against Leicester Fosse, changed to City. Later in the match he received an injury which resulted in him being taken home in a milk cart. While with the Gunners he appeared in 28 League games, with 3 goals.

The war finished he signed up with Leicester City, though not quite as pacy as earlier he managed to make 34 appearances for them, and while there he was appointed as captain. In May 1920 he was offered and turned down the job of being player-manager to Ebbw Vale so that he could continue his League career with Northampton, where he made a further 77 outings as player manager.

His retirement came in September 1922 when he became manager-coach to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club had a terrible season and dropped into the Third Division. Jobey worked miracles the next season and they won the League Championship by a single point from Rochdale. George caused a few surprises when he parted company with club in May 1924.

He was out of the game for a year as a hotelier before Derby County persuaded him back into football as manager in August 1925. While there he made his name as a manager with his shrewdness in the transfer market. In his time at the Baseball Ground he produced some of the best known players ever to appear for the club, another of those he had to deal with was the famous Hughie Gallacher, who had quite a reputation. Jobey himself had a reputation as a very strict disciplinarian and he appeared to have no problems with Hughie as a result. In his first season in charge he took Derby back to the First Division, finishing as runners up in seasons 1929-30 and 1935-36 as well. He seldom attended training sessions preferring to leave that side of things to his training staff.

In May 1941 he was suspended for life when it was discovered that since 1925 he had been paying illegal bonuses to his players. The suspension was lifted in 1945 but he went into the hotel business again and did not return to the sport until January 1952, when Mansfield Town made him their manager. As the club struggled he was sacked by the Board as they accused him of being no longer interested in the game.

He died in his home in Cheddesden, Derby in March 1962.

He was 5’11” tall and weighed 12sts 1 lb.

Debut on 26th February 1916 in a Scottish League match away to Dumbarton.

Scottish League 6 Appearances 1 Goal

Accies Career

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