Prolific Scorers in the 19th Century


This list includes players who played mostly in the top level and scored around or over 200 goals in the 19th century (before May 1900)

See also the file Prolific Scorers Data.


Overview
Additional Data on Individual Players


Overview

Name                      YOB   YOD       Career        19th century*            total career
                                                       M       G     ?**           M       G
Devey, John (Jack)        1866-1940     1884-1902     458     308     94          500     326
Ross, James               1866-1902     1883-1902     403     275     26          452     287
McMahon, Alexander        1870-1916     1886-1904     297     250     28+         377     284
Wood, Harry               1868-1951     1881-1905     541     245     95          733     308
Wheldon, Frederick        1869-1924     1888-1907     387     238     45+         588     358
McPherson, John           1868-1926     1885-1902     363     232    186          405     247
Bloomer, Stephen          1874-1938     1892-1920     284     216                 755     504
Southworth, John (Jack)   1866-1956     1884-1894     213     212     30          213     212
Bell, John                1868-1956     1886-1908     378     209     86          582     258
Campbell, John            1869-1906     1886-1898     314     206     65          314     206
Campbell, John            1872-1947     1889-1906     330     191     98+         497     281
Stanfield, Olphert        1869-1952     1886-1898     228     181     96          228     181     

 * 1871-1900 (May)
** number of goals with unknown scorers in matches involving this player

All statistics of British football in the 19th century are based on publications in newspapers of the time. Reports of many matches were limited only to the results. Often newspapers published team lineups on the eve of a match or in a match report, but did not give the scorers.
Another feature of that time: newspapers often gave their own version of goalscorers in the game. It is therefore difficult or impossible to determine the top scorer in some seasons in all British leagues.
The situation with statistics in official matches improved significantly in the 1890s. In addition, newspapers often reported incorrect information about players when they transferred. As a result, erroneous information about the careers of a number of players (including some of the above) appears on the Internet.
The player statistics in the above list are not complete for the reasons stated. However, it is almost certain that the first and perhaps only player to score more than 300 goals in official games in the 19th century (at least on a professional level) was the famous Aston Villa captain John Devey. It is also very likely that Devey was the first to score 200 goals (in 1893).
It is almost impossible to determine the name of the football player who scored 100 goals in official games first. It is known that in the pre-league era (before 1888), John Brodie, the Wolverhampton Wanderers player, scored more than 100 goals. Between 1882 and 1888, at least 103 goals were found scored by Brodie for club (92) and regional selections Birmingham and Staffordshire. Brodie was perhaps the first to score more than 40 goals in official matches in a single season: 41 goals in 1883-84, incl. 39 in 17 appearances for the club in five different cup competitions and 2 goals in 4 games for Birmingham selection.


Additional Data on Individual Players

Additional Data on John Devey

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G  

Excelsior                        1884-1886          22+     4 (-45)     22      4
Aston Unity                      1886-1887           6+     3 (-10)      6      3
Mitchells St George's            1887-1891          84+    72 (-33)     84     72
Aston Villa                      1891-1902         324+   216 (- 5)    364    233
Aston Villa Res                  1902-1906           0      0            2      1
Burton Wanderers (as guest)      1890                2      1            2      1

Selection teams:                              
England                          1892-1894           2      1            2      1
International trial matches      1889-1896           4      1            4      1
English League XI                1894-1897           4      2            4      2
Football Alliance XI             1891                1      0            1      0
Staffordshire                    1887-1889           3      6            3      6
Birmingham                       1888-1890           6      2 (- 1)      6      2

total                                              458    308 (-94)    500    326

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  English League                 1891-1902         242    153          272    168
  Football Alliance              1889-1891          40     34 (- 9)     40     34 *
  The Combination                1888-1889          11     15 (- 2)     11     15 *
  Birmingham League              1902-1906                               2      1 **

Domestic Cups
  FA Cup                         1884-1902          44     25 (- 3)     52     27

Other Tournaments     
  Birmingham Cup                 1884-1899          33     21 (-46)     33     21
  Staffordshire Cup              1886-1901          23     20 (- 9)     24     20
  Birmingham Charity Cup         1886-1898           9     11 (- 2)      9     11
  Wednesbury Cup                 1884-1886           4      2 (- 8)      4      2
  Wallsall Cup                   1884-1888          10      1 (-14)     10      1
  Derby County Cup               1888-1890           6      3            6      3
  Bass Charity Vase              1890-1894           8      8            8      8
  Dewar Charity Shield           1899-1901           1      0            2      0
  World Championship (unoff.)    1894-1900           4      3            4      3

  abandoned/canceled matches     1891-1896           3      0            3      0

between brackets: missing goals of teams
 * League The Combination 1888-89 was not finished. 12 clubs from The Combination have formed 
   Football Alliance. This league was actually 2nd Division in 1889-1892.
** Devey played in game of Birmingham League on 17.04.1906 (Aston Villa Res - Stafford Rangers
   - 2:1) and scored 1 goal

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (England):      1892
Football League 1st Division:             1893-94, 1895-96, 1896-97, 1898-99, 1899-1900
FA Cup:                                   1895, 1897
World Championship (unofficial):          1894
Wednesbury Charity Cup:                   1885
Derby County Charity Cup:                 1888
Staffordshire Cup:                        1890, 1893, 1894, 1896, 1899
Birmingham Charity Cup:                   1893, 1894, 1895, 1898
Birmingham Cup:                           1896, 1899
Bass Charity Vase:                        1893, 1894
Sheriff of London (Dewar) Charity Shield: 1901

John Devey is the only player to score over 300 goals in official matches in the 19th century.
Devey is the best scorer of the English League in the 19th century.
Devey is first player to score 200 league goals.
John Devey is one of the most successful players in the 19th century.

Additional Data on James Ross

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

St Bernard's                     1882-1883           1+     ? (-23)      1      ?
Preston North End                1883-1894         198    173          198    173
Liverpool                        1894-1897          96     43           96     43
Burnley                          1897-1899          66     37 (- 3)     66     37
Manchester City                  1899-1902          37     19           77     26
Liverpool Reserves               1897                1      1            1      1
Manchester City Reserves         1901-1902                               9      5

Selection teams:                                        
International trial match        1896                1      1            1      1
Lancashire                       1886-1892           3      1            3      1

total                                              403    275 (-26)    452    287     

Data by Tournament (Official Only)                                        

Domestic Campionships                                        
  1st Division                   1888-1902         230    115          263    119 *       
  2nd Division                   1895-1899          61     56 (- 3)     61     56
  Test matches                   1894-1898          13      2           13      2
  Palatine League                1894-1895           7      4            7      4
  Lancashire Combination         1897-1902           1      1           10      6

Domestic Cups                                        
  FA Cup                         1885-1901          51     47           53     47**

Other Tournaments                                        
  Scottish 2nd XI Cup            1883                1      ? (-23)      1
  Lancashire Cup                 1885-1901          31     46           32     46***     
  Liverpool Cup                  1895                2      0            2      0
  Manchester Senior Cup          1900-1902           1      1            5      4
  World Champioship              1889                1      1            1      1

  * incl. 3 canceled matches, 1889, 1893, 1901
 ** incl. 1 canceled goal (1895). Ross scored the winning goal in extra time in the game
    Liverpool FC v. Barnsley St.Peters on 02.02.1895. After the opponent protested, extra
    time was canceled and the game was replayed. Liverpool won the replay 4-0 (Ross didn't score).
*** incl. 1 canceled match, 1 goal (1886)

Achievements and facts
Football League:                          1888-89, 1889-90
FA Cup:                                   1888-89 
Second Division:                          1895-96, 1897-98, 1898-99
Lancashire Cup:                           1887, 1893
Manchester Senior Cup:                    1901
Lancashire  Combination:                  1901-02

James Ross began his career with 2nd St. Bernard's from Edinburgh. This club played in the 
Scottish 2nd Eleven Cup in the autumn of 1883. Ross played at least in the 2nd round on 27/10/1883 
against Dunblane 2nd (12-1, goalscorers unknown).
Ross made his debut for Preston North End on 24 November 1883. For his first two seasons, Ross 
played only in friendlies. Reason: the club missed the FA Cup 1884-85, the 2nd club played in 
the Lancashire Cup (lost in 2nd round).
Ross's debut in the FA Cup was supposed to take place on October 26, 1885, but his opponent, 
Great Lever, withdrew from the tournament before the match. The teams played a friendly, which 
Preston won (3-2) thanks to the two goals from Ross in the last 5 minutes of the match.
James Ross is one of the best scorers in the history of the FA Cup and Lancashire Cup in total 
and in single season: 19 goals in the FA Cup 1887-88 (option - 20 goals) and 15 goals in the 
Lancashire Cup in 1886-87.
According to different versions of scorers in some matches, Ross scored between 44 and 50 goals 
in the FA Cup.
James Ross has never been the top scorer in the English league (1st division). In the 1889-90 
season, James's older brother Nick ("Jack") Ross became the top scorer.
James Ross was arguably the 2nd Division's top scorer in the 1897-98 season. According to book 
„The Clarets Chronicles: The Definitive History of Burnley FC“, he scored 23 goals that season. 
English newspapers reported in May 1898 that Ross became the top scorer of the 2nd division 
with 26 goals. A check of the club's game statistics from that season's press confirms this fact. 
Ross scored at least 2 goals that are not in the book. September the 6th against Arsenal (according
to the Burnley Express) and November the 13th ag. Luton Town (according to the Luton Reporter). 
The scorers of 3 goals FC Burnley are unknown.
James Ross was the oldest season top scorer (32 years) in the English league (1st and 2nd 
divisions) before the 1st World War.
Ross holds two unique records. He played test games for 5 seasons in a row. Also he won the 2nd 
division three times with three different teams within 4 seasons!
Ross ended the 1901-02 season with the 2nd team of Manchester City. Ross scored his last goal 
on April the 12th in a Lancashire Combination match against Blackburn Rovers reserve (7-1), 
two months before his sudden death.

Additional Data on Alexander McMahon

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Leith Harp/2nd Harp              1886-1889           3+     3 (- 3+)     3+     3
Edinburgh Harp                   1887-1888           5      ? (-10)      5
Hibernian                        1889-1890          16     18 (- 5)     16     18
Celtic                           1891-1903         251    215 (-10)    324    246
Partick Thistle                  1903-1904                               4      1

Selection teams:
Scotland                         1892-1902           4      2            6      4
Scotland (unofficial)            1891                1      0            1      0
International trial matches      1893-1900           4      3            4      3
Scottish League XI               1892-1900           9      4            9      4
East of Scotland                 1889-1890           2      4            2      4
Glasgow                          1892-1900           1      1            2      1
Scottish Players‘ Union          1898                1      0            1      0

total                                              297    250 (-28)    377    284

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  Scottish League                1890-1903         138    114 (- 9)    180    134
  Glasgow League                 1895-1899          18      7           18      7
  Inter-City League              1899-1902           8      4           17      5

Domestic Cups
  Scottish Cup                   1889-1903          38     50           54     56

Other Tournaments     
  Glasgow Cup                    1891-1901          34     26 (- 1)     39     30
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1892-1901          12     12           14     12
  League Charity Cup             1891                2      2            2      2
  Edinburgh 2nd XI Cup           1886                1+                  1     
  Edinburgh Consolation Cup      1887                1+     2 (- 3)      1      2
  Renton Cup                     1887-1888           5      ? (-10)      5
  Gibson Charity Cup             1889                1      1            1      1
  Edinburgh Shield               1889-1890           5      5 (- 5)      5      5
  Rosebery Cup                   1890                1      1            1      1     
  Edinburgh Exhibition Tourn.    1890                2      0            2      0
  Glasgow Exhibition cup         1901                                    1      0
  British League Cup             1902                                    1      1
  World Championship (unoff)     1894-1898           4      5            4      5

Canceled matches
  Scottish League                1891                1      1            1      1
  League Charity Cup             1891                1      3            1      3
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1892-1900           3      3            3      3
  Scottish Cup                   1903                                    1      0

between brackets: missing goals of teams

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (Scotland):     1894, 1902
Scottish League:                          1892-93, 1893-94, 1895-96, 1897-98
Scottish Cup:                             1892, 1899, 1900
Glasgow Cup:                              1891, 1894, 1895
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup:            1892, 1894, 1895, 1899
Inter-City League:                        1899-1900
Glasgow League:                           1899
British League Cup:                       1902

Scottish League Top Scorer:               1893-94 (19 goals)

Alexander McMahon is the best scorer of Scottish League (114+ goals) and perhaps of Scottish Cup 
(50 goals) in the 19th century. McMahon may be the only player to score 50 goals in National Cup 
in the 19th century (incl. 12 goals in 8 games for Hibernian).
McMahon probably began his career in the 2nd team of Leith Harp in 1886. The regional press 
published detailed reports quite rarely. In November 1886 he played in the Edinburgh 2nd XI
Cup match. In March 1887 McMahon scored at least 2 goals in the 2nd round match of the Edinburgh 
Consolation Cup against Royal Oak (5-4), but 4 days later he was suspended until the end of the 
season due to a complaint from the referee. Reason: “a foul charge against the Royal Oak 
goalkeeper”. Other McMahon - Ross - played center forward rest of season. Ross McMahon also 
played for Hibernians (1885-86), Erin Rovers Perth, Burnley FC (1888-89) and regional team East 
of Scotland.
Alexander McMahon extended his career in the Edinburgh Harp in the autumn of 1887. In January 1889 
he transferred to Hibernians FC for next 2 years.
On June 5, 1889 he played again for Leith Harp in the first round of Gibson Charity Cup against 
Leith Athletic (2-6) and scored one goal.

Additional Data on Harry Wood

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Wednesbury Old Athletic          1881-1883           3      0 (-10)      3      0  
Wednesbury Town                  1883-1885          23+    15 (-28)     23     15     
Wolverhampton Wanderers          1885-1898         380+   168 (-48)    380    168     
Walsall Town Swifts              1891               11      3           11      3     
Southampton FC                   1898-1905          91     39          271     91     
Wolverhampton Wanderers Res.     1891-1892           5      3 (- 5)      5      3     
Southampton Reserve              1899-1905           1      1           13     12
Burton Wanderers (as guest)      1890                2      2 (- 1)      2      2
                                        
Selection teams:                                        
England                          1890-1896           3      1            3      1     
International trial matches      1890-1893           3      2            3      2     
English League XI                1893-1898           4      1            4      1     
Birmingham                       1883-1890           6      3 (- 2)      6      3     
Staffordshire                    1886-1887           4      7 (- 1)      4      7     
Midland                          1892                1      0            1      0     
Sel. of English players          1889-1899           3      0            3      0     
United League XI                 1898                1      0            1      0     
                                       
total                                              541    245 (-95)    733    308     
                                        
Data by Tournament (Official Only)                                        
                                        
Domestic Campionships                              
  English League                 1888-1898         243    110          243    110 *  
  Football Alliance              1891                9      2            9      2     
  Southern League                1898-1905          52     25          162     65 **     
  Western League                 1898-1905           3      2           59     11     
  United League                  1898-1899          18      7           18      7     
  Southern District Comb.        1899-1900           8      5            8      5     
  United County League           1893-1894           6      2            6      2     
  Shropshire League              1891-1892           3      2 (- 5)      3      2     
  Champions Challenge            1892                2      1            2      1     
  Southern League 2nd Div.       1904-1905                               5      7     
  Hants League                   1904-1905                               3      2     
                                        
Domestic Cups                                   
  FA Cup                         1883-1904          66     21 (- 2)     79     24 ***
 
Other Tournaments
  Wednesbury Charity Cup         1881-1888          11      5 (-13)     11      5     
  Walsall Cup                    1882-1887          10      2 (-23)     10      2     
  Birmingham Cup                 1883-1898          40     22 (-27)     40     22     
  Staffordshire Cup              1884-1898          27     14 (-21)     27     14     
  Birmingham Charity Cup         1887-1898          14      7           14      7     
  Bass Charity Cup               1890-1892           3      3 (- 1)      3      3     
  Hants Senior Cup               1899-1905           1      1            5      3     
  Southern Charity Cup           1902                                    1      0

  * incl. 2 canceled matches, 1893, 1894
 ** incl. 4 canceled matches and 3 goals, 1898-1899
*** incl. canceled match on 10.02.1900

between brackets: missing goals of teams
Achievements and facts

British Home Championship:                1890
FA Cup Winner:                            1893. Runner-Up: 1889, 1896, 1900, 1902, 1903
Southern League championship:             1898-99, 1900-01, 1902-03, 1903-04
Wednesbury Charity Cup:                   1884, 1888
Birmingham Cup:                           1893, 1894
Staffordshire Cup:                        1888, 1897
Birmingham Charity Cup:                   1887, 1892
Hants Senior Cup:                         1905

Harry Wood and his older brother George began their careers in 1881 in 2nd team Wednesbury 
Old Athletic, which played in regional cups and friendlies. 
Harry first played in an official game (Wednesbury Charity Cup) on 19.11.1881 in a match 
against Spital Chesterfield (10:1). Goal scorers are unknown. If Harry was indeed born 
in 1868, he was under 13.5 years old on that day!
Harry played at least two more cup games in his first two seasons: on 18.02.1882 ag. Walsall 
Swifts (0:2, Walsall Cup) and on 10.03.1883 ag. Nottingham Forest (0:3, Wednesbury Charity Cup).
In the summer of 1883, a new club, Wednesbury Town, was founded on the basis of the 2nd 
team Wednesbury Old Athletic. The Woods brothers played for this team for the next two years.
The first season went quite well for the team. Wednesbury Town won the Wednesbury Charity Cup. 
Harry scored 4 goals in 6 games.
The team reached the fourth round of the FA Cup. In the replay of the 2nd round against 
Walsall Town on 08.12.1883 (6:0), Harry Wood scored 3 goals (the rest were scored by Woodcock (2) 
and George Wood). According to his date of birth, Harry played in this match at the age of 15,5 
years, making him possibly the youngest hat-trick scorer in the FA Cup history.
Harry scored also the only goal in the 3rd round match against Derby Midland on 29.12.1883 (1:0).
On 26.12.1883 Harry Wood made his debut for the regional team (District - Birmingham - 1:4). 
Harry Wood should not have played in this match. But due to the absence of several players, 
Wood and two other players of Wednesbury Town were urgently called up to take part in the match. 
„The District played four men short at the commencement of the game, and were one man short 
throughout the match.“
The second season was less successful for Wednesbury Town and in the spring of 1885 the team 
was disbanded.
The Wood brothers returned to Old Athletic for a short time. In early October 1885, the 
Wolverhampton press reported new Wolves players, brothers G. and H. Wood from Wednesbury Town.
Harry played for Wolverhampton for the next 13 years (with a short spell at Walsall Town). 
Harry Wood is likely the only player to have played more than 500 official matches in the 19th 
century. He was the first in the history of football to play 600 and 700 official games.
Harry Wood probably holds the record for the most national cup games in the 19th century: 65 
matches between 1883 and 1900.
„Harry Wood is perhaps one of the finest inside left forwards in England“ (Lancashire Evening 
Post, 25 March 1893).

Additional Data on Frederick Wheldon

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Langley Green Victoria           1888-1890           7+     4 (-32+)     7      4
Small Heath                      1890-1896         201    125 (-12)    201    125
Aston Villa                      1896-1900         169     98 (- 1)    169     98
West Bromwich Albion             1900-1901                              34      7
Queens Park Rangers              1901-1902                              25      8
Queens Park Rangers Res.         1901                                    1      2
Portsmouth                       1902-1904                              55     29
Portsmouth Reserves              1902-1904                              16     29
Worcester City                   1904-1907                              69     45

Selection teams:                                   
England                          1897-1898           4      6            4      6
English League XI                1894-1898           4      4            4      4
English Players‘ Union           1898-1902           2      1            3      1

total                                              387    238          588    358

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships                                  
  English League                 1894-1901         184*    86          210*    89
  Football Alliance              1890-1892          46     34           46     34
  2nd Division                   1892-1894          50     47           50     47
  United Counties League         1894                4      1 (- 1)      4      1
  Southern League                1901-1904                              46     17
  London League                  1901-1902                               7      4
  Western League                 1901-1904                              23     14
  Hampshire League               1902-1904                              10     25
  Southern 2nd League            1904                                    1      0
  Birmingham League              1889-1906           4      1 (-27+)    66     41
  Test matches                   1893-1896           7      5            7      5

Domestic Cups                                   
  FA Cup                         1890-1906          27     18           37     25

Other Tournaments                                   
  Birmingham Cup                 1888-1901          29     20 (-15)     31     21
  Staffordshire Cup              1896-1899           5      5            5      5
  Birmingham Charity Cup         1891-1901          17      9 (- 2)     20     12
  Dewar Charity Shield           1899                2      0            2      0
  Hants Senior Cup               1903                                    2      0
  Portsmouth Senior Cup          1902-1904                               3      4
  Southern Charity Cup           1902-1904                               3      2
  Worcester Cup                  1904                                    2      0
  World Championship             1899-1900           2      1            2      1

between brackets: missing goals of teams

*  incl. 2 abandoned matches (1895, 1896)

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (England):      1898
Football League 1st Division:             1896-97, 1898-99, 1899-1900
FA Cup:                                   1897
Western League:                           1902-03
Hampshire League:                         1902-03
Sheriff of London (Dewar) Charity Shield: 1899 (shared)
Southern Charity Cup:                     1903
Birmingham Cup:                           1899
Staffordshire Cup:                        1899
Birmingham Charity Cup:                   1898, 1899
Hants Senior Cup:                         1903
Portsmouth Senior Cup:                    1903, 1904

Top scorer:                               1st Division 1897-98, 2nd Division 1892-93

In 1898-99 and 1902-03 Wheldon won 5 titles.
Wheldon scored over 20 goals in single season in 5 diverse leagues.

Additional Data on John McPherson

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Kilmarnock                       1885-1888          16+    14 (-78)     16     14
Cowlairs                         1888-1890          14+    10 (-64)     14     10
Glasgow Rangers                  1890-1902         292    175 (-23)    331    188

Selection teams:
Scotland                         1888-1897           9      5            9      5
International trial matches      1888-1899          12      9           12      9
Scottish League XI               1897-1902           3      3            5      4
Ayrshire                         1886-1887           2      2 (-10)      2      2
Glasgow                          1888-1900           4      5            5      6
Scotland, other matches          1888-1889          10      9 (-11)     10      9
Scottish Player‘ Union           1898                1      0            1      0

total                                              363    232 (-186)   405    247

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  Scottish League                1890-1902         158     96 (-13)    182    107*
  Glasgow League                 1895-1899          30     19 (- 3)     30     19
  Inter-City League              1899-1902           5      2           13      2

Domestic Cups
  Scottish Cup                   1886-1902          52     29 (-70)     53     29

Other Tournaments     
  Glasgow Cup                    1887-1901          40     26 (-13)     45     28
  Ayrshire Cup                   1885-1887           3      3 (-33)      3      3
  Kilmarnock Charity Cup         1886-1888           5      4 (-14)      5      4
  Ayr Charity Cup                1888                2      3 (- 1)      2      3
  North-Eastern Cup              1888-1890           4      5 (- 2)      4      5
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1892-1901          18      7           19      7
  Brit. Leagues Championship     1899                1      1            1      1
  other tournaments              1888-1890           4      4 (-16)      4      4

between brackets: missing goals of teams                                        
* incl. 6 canceled matches, 4 goals (1890-1901)                                   

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (Scotland):     1889, 1894, 1897
Scottish League:                          1891, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902
Scottish Cup:                             1894, 1897, 1898
Glasgow Cup:                              1892-93, 1893, 1896, 1897, 1899, 1900, 1901
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup:            1897, 1900
Glasgow League:                           1896, 1898
British Leagues Championship (unoff.):    1899
Ayrshire Cup:                             1886
Kilmarnock Merchants Charity Cup:         1886
Ayr Charity Cup:                          1888
Glasgow Exhibition Trophy:                1888
Volunteer Cup:                            1889
Rangers Sport Tournament:                 1890
Port Glasgow Athletic Benefit Tournament: 1892

John McPherson made his debut for the regional selection in the game on March 20, 1886 (Ayrshire 
ag. Southern Counties - 7:1, goal scorers unknown) at the age of 17. In April 1886 he was named 
as a candidate for the Scottish national team.
McPherson played for national and league selects for 14 years (one of the longest period in those 
years), until his final season. In total he played 12 Scottish International trial matches, 
perhaps more than anyone else in 19th century.
According to information published in some sources, John McPherson played in the 1887-88 season 
simultaneously for three clubs (Everton, Kilmarnock and Cowlairs). This information is incorrect. 
John's older brother James McPherson played for the Cowlars. John became a Cowlairs player in 
April 1888. For Everton played (according to the club archives) one Rob McPherson.
John McPherson is one of the most successful Scottish players in the 19th century.

Additional Data on Stephen Bloomer

All teams                         period          19th century
                                                     M      G

Derby County                     1892-1900         258    178
Derby County Reserves            1891-1892           2      2
Tutbury Hawthorn                 1892                1      2
                    
Selection teams:                    
England                          1895-1900          12     20
International trial matches      1895-1900           4      6
English League XI                1896-1900           7      8

total                                              284    216

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships                    
  among which:
  Division One                   1892-1900         215    144
  Division One,abandoned matches 1896-1899           2      2
  Division One, test match       1895                1      1
  United Counties League         1894-1895          11      4
  Midland Alliance               1891-1892           2      2

Domestic Cups
  FA Cup (incl. 2 - 1 aband.)    1893-1900          24     24

Other Tournaments     
  among which:
  Burton Junior cup              1892                1      2
  Derbyshire Charity Cup         1893                1      1
  Bass Charity Vase              1893                2      1
  Birmingham Cup                 1896                2      1

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (England):      1895, 1898, 1899, 1901, 1904, 1905
English League:                           Runners-up 1896
2nd Division:                             1912
FA Cup:                                   Runners-up 1898, 1899, 1903
Derby Shield Competition:                 1892
Burton Junior Cup:                        1892
Derbyshire Charity Cup:                   1892
United Counties League:                   1894
Bass Charity Vase:                        1903, 1905
Derbyshire Senior Cup:                    1913
Derbyshire Association Medals:            1920

1st Division Top Scorer:                  1897, 1899, 1901, 1904

See also: Prolific Scorers Data — Stephen Bloomer — Additional Data

Additional Data on John „Jack“ Southworth

All teams                         period          19th century
                                                     M      G

Blackburn Olympic                1884-1887           7      4     
Blackburn Rovers                 1887-1893         162    156 (-29)
Everton                          1893-1894          36     42

Selection teams:                    
England                          1889-1892           3      3
English League XI                1893                1      0
International trial matches      1890-1894           2      2
Lancashire                       1888-1890           2      5 (- 1)

total                                              213    212 (-30)

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  English League                 1888-1894         139    133 (-10)
  Engl.League (canceled matches  1889-1891           3      4
  Palatine League                1894                1      0

Domestic Cups
  FA Cup                         1887-1894          25     28 (- 2)
  FA Cup (canceled matches)      1885-1891           3      5

Other Tournaments     
  Lancashire Cup                 1884-1894          23     25 (-13)
  East Lancashire Charity cup    1885-1893          11      7 (- 4)

Between brackets: missing goals of teams          

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (England):      1891, 1892
FA Cup:                                   1890, 1891
Lancashire Cup:                           1894
East Lancashire Charity Cup:              1889, 1890, 1891
1st Division Top Scorer:                  1891, 1894

Southworth made his official debut for Blackburn Olympic on the 4 October 1884 in a match of first 
round Lancashire Cup against Leigh (18-0, Southworth scored 4 goals). In the spring of 1885, 
Southworth retrained as a goalkeeper for 2 years.
In the autumn of 1885, Southworth joined the Chester FC as an amateur. He cited better 
opportunities for his musical career as the reason for moving to Chester. Southworth and his 
brothers were professional musicians. Because Southworth had a professional contract with 
Blackburn Olympic, he was suspended for 12 months and only played friendlies for Chester.
In the spring of 1887, Southworth returned to Blackburn as a striker.
Southworth was the first in football history to score 100 goals in the top league and 200 goals 
at the top level. The Lancashire Cup was the most representative regional cup. In the early 
seasons of the English league, every second team was from Lancashire.
The East Lancashire Charity Cup was a tournament of the top four teams in the region: Blackburn 
Rovers, Accrington, Darwen and Burnley. All played in the early 1890s in the English league. In 
the 1880s, Blackburn Olympic, winners of the FA Cup 1883, also played in the tournament.
Southworth apparently holds the 19th century scoring record in single season at top level. 
In 1890-91 he scored 47 goals in 32 official games, including 4 goals in two canceled games. 
Both matches - December 27th against Accrington (2-1, one goal of Southworth) and January 10th 
against West Bromvich (4-0, 3 goals) - were initially included in the league table, but were 
later replayed.
Southworth's transfer to Everton in the summer of 1893 caused such a stir that he was forced to 
publish an open letter to the press explaining the reasons for the transfer. The reason was the 
same as 8 years earlier - better opportunities for musical activity after the end of a football 
career.
In a benefit match on November the 19th, 1894 Preston North End v. Everton, Southworth badly 
injured his knee and effectively ended his career.
Many journalists and players, even several years later, called Southworth the best center forward 
in the world.
John Southworth's musical career as a member of various orchestras lasted more than half a century.

Additional Data on John Bell

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Dumbarton Union                  1886-1887           2+     1 (- 8)      2      1
Dumbarton                        1887-1893         110+    79 (-78)    110     79
Heart of Midlothian (guest)      1890                3      3            3      3
Everton                          1893-1903         162     73          218     85
Celtic                           1898-1900          70     37           70     37
New Brighton Tower               1900-1901                              24      9
Preston North End                1903-1908                             124     28

Selection teams:
Scotland                         1890-1900          12      5           12      5
Scottish League XI               1892-1899           2      1            2      1
International trial matches      1892-1899           5      2            5      2
Scotland (unofficial match)      1891                1      3            1      3
English Players' Union           1898                1      0            1      0
Scottish Players' Union          1899                1      0            1      0
Dumbartonshire                   1887-1890           8      5            8      5
Glasgow                          1898                1      0            1      0

total                                              378    209(-86)     582    258

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  Scottish League                1890-1900          87     63 (- 9)     87     63*
  English League                 1893-1908         130     56          254     81
  2nd Division                   1900-1904                              54     19
  Glasgow League                 1899                4      3            4      3
  Inter-City League              1900               10      3           10      3

Domestic Cups
  Scottish Cup                   1887-1900          39     23 (-19)     39     23
  FA Cup                         1893-1907          17      7           34     11

Other Tournaments     
  Dumbartonshire Cup             1886-1893          16      7 (-34)     16      7
  Dumbarton Tournament           1887                1      1            1      1
  Greenock Charity Cup           1889-1892           7      5 (-23)      7      5
  Rosebery Charity Cup           1890                3      3            3      3
  United Abstainers Gold Cup     1890                3      2            3      2
  Rangers Sports Tournament      1890                2      1 (- 1)      2      1
  League Charity Cup             1891                2      1            2      1
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1892-1900           4      2            4      2**
  Lancashire Cup                 1893-1907          13      9           22     10
  Glasgow Cup                    1898-1899           7      6            7      6
  West Bromwich Charity Cup      1897-1898           2      1            2      1

between brackets: missing goals of teams          
 * incl. 1 canceled match, 1 goal
** incl. 1 canceled match, 1 goal

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (Scotland):     1890, 1894, 1896, 1897, 1900
Scottish League:                          1891, 1892
Scottish Cup:                             1899, 1900
English League                            Runners-Up: 1895, 1902, 1906
English League, 2nd Division:             1904
Glasgow League:                           1899
Inter-City League:                        1900
Lancashire Cup:                           1894, 1897
Dumbartonshire Cup:                       1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893
Greenock Charity Cup:                     1890, 1891
Rosebery Charity Cup:                     1890
League Charity Cup:                       1891
West Bromwich Charity Cup:                1898

Scottish League Top Scorer:               1891, 1892

First two-time league top scorer in football history.
Bell is only goal scorer to score more than 50 goals in the Scottish and English leagues in 
the 19th century.
John Bell won at least twice the FC Dumbarton President's prize for attendance at training 
(98 attendances in 1888-89 and 76 in 1889-90).

Additional Data on John Campbell (1869)

All teams                         period          19th century
                                                     M      G

Renton 2nd                       1885-1886           1+     ? (- 4+)
Renton                           1886-1889          50+    29 (-61)
Sunderland                       1889-1897         226    159
Newcastle                        1897-1898          31     12

Selection teams:
International trial matches      1889-1896           2      2
Dumbartonshire                   1887-1889           3      2
Lancashire North                 1892                1      2

total                                              314    206 (-65)

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  English League                 1890-1897         188    133*
  2nd Division                   1897-1898          25      9
  Test matches                   1897-1898           7      1

Domestic Cups
  Scottish Cup                   1886-1889          18     10 (-46)
  FA Cup                         1886-1898          35     25**

Other Tournaments     
  Scottish 2nd XI Cup            1885                1+     ? (- 4+)
  Dumbartonshire Cup             1886-1888          10      4 (-14)
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1886-1889          14     10 (- 1)
  Edinburgh Exhibition Cup       1886                1      1
  Dumbarton Tournament           1887                1      1
  Durham Challenge Cup           1890                3      2
  World Championship (unoff.)    1888-1895           5      4

between brackets: missing goals of teams     
 *  incl. 2 canceled matches 
** incl. 2 canceled matches, 1 goal (1892)

Achievements and facts
Scottish Cup:                             1887-88
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup:            1886, 1887, 1888, 1889
World Championship (unofficial):          1888, 1892, 1893, 1895
1st Division:                             1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95
Edinburgh Exhibition Cup:                 1886
Dumbartonshire Cup:                       1887
Durham Challenge Cup:                     1890

1st Division Top Scorer:                  1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95

John Campbell is the first three-time top scorer in the top leagues.
Campbell has won the unofficial club world championship four times (record) with Renton and 
Sunderland.

Additional Data on John Campbell (1872)

All teams                         period          19th century             total
                                                     M      G            M      G

Benburb Glasgow                  1889-1890          13+     3 (-85+)    13      3
Celtic                           1890-1903         235    137 (-13)    337    202
Aston Villa                      1895-1897          66     47           66     47
3rd Lanark                       1903-1905                              51     18
Celtic Reserve                   1891                ?*

Selection teams:     
Scotland                         1893-1903           6      2           12      4
International trial matches      1893-1902           5      1            6      1
Scottish League XI               1893-1902           2      0            4      3
Scotland, other matches          1898-1902           1      0            2      1
Glasgow                          1892-1902           2      1            6      2

total                                              330    191(-98)     497    281

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  Scottish League                1890-1905         117     61 (- 4)    207    105
  English League                 1895-1897          55     39           55     39
  Glasgow League                 1897-1905          16     11           18     12
  Inter-City League              1899-1904           8      4           22     14

Domestic Cups                                
  Scottish Cup                   1890-1905          34     17 (- 1)     51     26
  FA Cup                         1895-1897           8      4            8      4

Other Tournaments
  Glasgow Cup                    1890-1904          30     21 (- 7)     43     33
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1892-1902          13     10 (- 1)     20     12
  League Charity Cup             1891                2      0            2      0
  Birmingham Cup                 1896                1      1            1      1
  Staffordshire Cup              1896                1      2            1      2
  Glasgow Exhibition cup         1901                                    2      1
  British League Cup             1902                                    2      1
  World Champioship              1896-1898           3      1            3      1
  Benefit Fund Tournament        1902                                    3      3
  other cups                     1889-1890          13      3 (-85)     13      3

Canceled matches                 1890-1903          13     13           16     13
  among which:                              
  Scottish League                1891-1902           3      2            4      2
  Scottish Cup                   1890-1903           5      4            7      4
  Glasgow Cup                    1891-1892           3      3            3      3
  Glasgow Charity Cup            1900                1      2            1      2
  League Charity Cup             1891                1      2            1      2

between brackets: missing goals of teams

* There is information that John Campbell scored 12 goals in one game for Celtic Reserves in 1891. 
  The original source of this information is unknown. Campbell may have played in the final of 
  Scottish 2nd XI cup (21.02.1891. Celtic Res. - St.Mirren Res. - 13-1). He didn't play for the
  1st team that day. Report of the final match in scottish press is not found.

Achievements and facts
British Home Championship (Scotland):     1900, 1902, 1903
Scottish League:                          1890-91, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1897-98, 1903-04
Scottish Cup:                             1892, 1899, 1900, 1905
English League:                           1895-96, 1896-97
FA Cup:                                   1897
Glasgow Cup:                              1891, 1892, 1894, 1903
Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup:            1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1899
Birmingham Cup:                           1896
Staffordshire Cup:                        1896
Inter-City League:                        1899-1900
Glasgow League:                           1899, 1905
British League Cup:                       1902
Ibrox Disaster Benefit Fund Tournament:   1902

Scottish League Top Scorer:               1892-93 (13 goals)
English League Top Scorer:                1895-96 (26 goals)

John Campbell was perhaps the first player to win at least three titles with every club and 
national team. Benburb won three cups in 1889-90: Glasgow Junior Cup, Govanhill & District Cup 
and Evening News Charity Cup. Benburb also played in the Scottish Junior Cup final. In total, 
Benburb has scored in 20 cup games about 100 goals , most of which the scorers are unknown.
John Campbell has won over 30 titles. He won at least one tournament every season.
Campbell was possibly the first player to win the 1st Division and National Cup of Scotland and 
England with three different clubs. Campbell helped 3rd Lanark win their only Scottish league 
title and their last Scottish Cup (didn't play in the final).
Campbell is only top scorer in the Scottish and English leagues in the 19th century.

Additional Data on Olphert Stanfield

All teams                         period          19th century
                                                     M      G

Genoa FC                         1883-1886
Distillery FC                    1886-1898         179+   153 (-78)

Selection teams:
Ireland                          1887-1897          30     11
Irish League XI                  1894-1897           5      0
International trial matches      1889-1892           3      3
Irish players Sel.               1887-1891           2      4 (- 3)
Antrim                           1887-1888           2      1 (-13)
Ulster                           1887-1896           5      4
Belfast                          1891-1892           2      5 (- 2)

total                                              228    181 (-96)

Data by Tournament (Official Only)

Domestic Campionships
  Irish League                   1890-1898          66     48 (-18)
  Irish League(canceled matches) 1890-1892           3      3

Domestic Cups
  Irish Cup                      1886-1897          33     30 (-32)

Other Tournaments     
  Belfast Charity Cup            1887-1897          24     20 (- 7)
  Antrim Charity Shield          1888-1898          26     29 (-19)
  Antrim Ch. Shield (canceled)   1891                1      2
  City Cup                       1894-1898          25     21 (- 2)
  League Championship            1893                1      0

between brackets: missing goals of teams     

Achievements and facts
Irish League:                             1895-96
Irish Cup:                                1888-89, 1893-94, 1895-96
County Antrim Shield:                     1888-89, 1892-93, 1896, 1897

British Home Championship Top Scorer:     1891 (4 goals)

Olphert Stanfield is the best Irish goal scorer in the 19th century.
Stanfield is the only player to play 30 games for the national team in the 19th century.
According to Dawson Simpson's book „White's: The History of the Distillery Club“, Stanfield 
scored 178 goals in 181 official games for the club. The source of these statistics is unknown. 
A check of all FC Distillery games in irish newspapers for the period 1886-1898 does not 
confirm this data. The newspapers regularly published team lineups, but did not always name 
the goal scorers. The scorers of 78 goals FC Distillery are unknown. Stanfield scored at 
least 153 goals in 179 matches, including 5 goals in 4 canceled matches. 6 more games possible 
from Stanfield (no lineups found).

See also the file Prolific Scorers Data.

About this document

Prepared and maintained by Vladimir Kolos and Dorian Leveque for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation

Authors: Vladimir Kolos (vkoloss@mail.ru) and Dorian Leveque
Last updated: 20 Aug 2024

(C) Copyright Vladimir Kolos, Dorian Leveque and RSSSF 2024
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All rights reserved.