LITTLE, Dick (1919)

Overview

Dick was born on 30th May 1895 at Ryton, near Gateshead. A solid full back. He was with Clara Vale Juniors, Jarrow Croft and Newcastle United before coming to Douglas Park in August 1919 for a fee said to be £100. An able seaman in the First World War. Was entrusted with the job of taking the penalty kicks soon after his arrival at Hamilton and was usually successful. One of his main attributes was his speed. He came from Newcastle and was 26 years old when he joined Accies.

The Lanarkshire Cup was won in April 1920 and Dick collected a medal as a result. In October 1920 he was fined £2 and censured by the Scottish League as he had “spoken” to a referee at a recent Accies game. It came as a shock to officials and fans alike at Hamilton when in May 1921 he signed for Second Division Cowdenbeath, apparently after agreeing new terms at Douglas Park.

It would appear that he was still a registered Accies player because a year later he went to Motherwell and the Fir Park club had to pay Hamilton a transfer fee. £1000 was asked for, £500 was offered, it is probable that the figure finished up somewhere in the middle. The move suited the player as he was still living in Hamilton. The Fir Park fans took to him very quickly and he repaid them with many fine displays for a number of years. In 1927 he was tried at centre forward in their reserve side and in a Second XI Cup tie against Queen of the South he scored four times.

On leaving Motherwell he was signed by Morton in 1929. The following year he played a number of times for the reserve side at Hamilton before he was signed by Dunfermline Athletic in October. During part of the 1932-33 season he was once again assisting Accies reserve side with Sandy Hunter as his partner at the back.

In January 1933 he crossed the Irish Sea to sign for Glentoran and at the season’s close he appeared for them in the Final of the Irish Cup against Linfield and was one of their better players on the day. May have been a Dundee United player also in the 1930’s.

Among his other interests was billiards and he played in the Lanarkshire Billiards League. When he retired from football he took on the job of Greenkeeper at Bothwell Castle Golf Club.

5’8” and 11sts 10lbs.

Debut on 16th August 1919 in a Scottish League match away to St Mirren.

Scottish League 80 Appearances 6 Goals

Scottish Cup 4 Appearances 1 Goal

Lanarkshire Cup 6 Appearances 2 Goals

Accies Career

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