Wikipedia

Jackie Stamps

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bungle (talk | contribs) at 18:09, 28 December 2024 (expand late career at Burton and mention war injuries). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

John David Stamps (2 December 1918 – 19 November 1991) was an English footballer who scored two goals in the 1946 FA Cup Final for Derby County in a 4–1 win against Charlton Athletic. Stamps was famous for his powerful shot and is a cult figure in Derby County history, with the club's annual Player of the Year award being named after him.

Jackie Stamps
Personal information
Full name John David Stamps
Date of birth (1918-12-02)2 December 1918[1]
Place of birth Thrybergh, England
Date of death 19 November 1991(1991-11-19) (aged 72)
Place of death Winshill, England
Position(s) Centre-forward
Youth career
–1937 Silverwood Colliery
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1937–1938 Mansfield Town 1 (0)
1938–1939 New Brighton 12 (5)
1939–1953 Derby County 233 (100)
1942–1943 → Southampton (war guest) 14 (11)
1953–1954 Shrewsbury Town 22 (4)
1954–1956 Burton Albion 37 (39)
Total 305 (159)
Managerial career
1957–1959 Burton Albion
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Early career

Stamps started his career as an amateur with Silverwood Colliery[2] before joining Mansfield Town after being scouted while working as a miner, when it was reported he was playing "exceptionally good games" for a reserves team.[3] Making just a single senior appearance for the club,[4] he struggled to break in to the first team and was released at the end of the season.[5]

He was subsequently signed by New Brighton on a free transfer, with manager William James Sawyer announcing the signing on 11 August 1938.[6] After initially playing for the reserve team,[2] he made his senior debut on 12 November 1938 against Southport, following encouraging performances with the club's reserve team,[7] where he scored 11 goals in 13 matches.[8] By late January 1939, he had scored six league goals in nine games[4] and his performances came to the attention of other clubs in the region,[7] including Liverpool.[9]

Derby County

After attracting interest from clubs such as Everton, Leeds and Newcastle, Stamps joined first division leaders Derby in January 1939 for a fee reportedly around £2,500,[5] although other sources suggest it was closer to £1,500.[10] He made his league debut in March 1939 against Charlton Athletic, scoring two second-half goals in a 3-1 win. His debut performance was reviewed favourably by Jack Haddon, writing for the Sunday Dispatch, who described him as a "thrustful, go-ahead opportunist who is a mighty useful chap to have on your side".[11] His debut was also viewed favourably by Evening Telegraph writer Charles Mann, who commented that Stamps's performance "brought back a lot of the life to a jaded attack".[12]

During World War II, he was wounded at Dunkirk[13] and was one of the last men of the British Expeditionary Force to be evacuated in 1940.[1] He also later severed a ligament in his leg while playing for an army team. Despite being told after the latter injury that it was career ending, he made a quick recovery on both occasions and returned to football.[13] In 1942–43, he made 14 wartime guest appearances for Southampton, scoring 11 goals.[14] He led the attack in Derby's 1946 FA Cup Final win,[15] where he scored two goals in extra time.[10] He came close to scoring in regular time but the ball burst as he shot, making it easier to save.[16] His FA Cup run included nine goals in eight matches.[17] In August 1947, Aston Villa enquired about Stamps, to which Derby responded that "£25,000 would not buy him".[13]

He finished at Derby's highest scorer in 1950 and as the joint highest scorer in the league that season.[13] He ended his Derby career with 100 league goals in 233 games and 26 goals in 29 FA Cup games.[10]

Late career

In December 1953, Stamps transferred to Shrewsbury Town for a reported "moderate fee",[18] joining under the management of his former Derby teammate Sammy Crooks.[13][15] In July 1954, after barely a single season at the club, it was reported that Burton Albion manager Reg Weston had approached Shrewsbury about signing Stamps, which was declined. Burton Albion had requested the release of Stamps, but Shrewsbury found the offer unacceptable. Despite this, they left the door open for any future satisfactory bids, which Burton was unable to afford.[19]

In early August 1954, it was reported that terms were agreed with Boston United for Stamps's transfer[20] after he rejected Shrewsbury's terms. However, this was denied by Shrewsbury, who indicated that Boston United had merely been given permission to talk to the player.[21] Less than a week later, on 11 August, news surfaced that Burton Albion planned to complete the transfer of Stamps,[22] which was possible after Stamps refused to re-sign for Shrewsbury.[23] The transfer fee was funded by the Burton Albion Supporters' Club and he made his debut on 14 August in a charity fundraising practice match.[24] Upon joining Burton, he was also granted a temporary license to run the Dog and Partridge Hotel in New Street, Burton.[25]

During the 1954–1955 season, Stamps scored 12 goals (including two penalties) in the Birmingham League and six goals in cup ties by Christmas.[26] However, in October 1955, he suffered a serious injury to his left foot during an FA Cup second qualifying round match against Bedworth Town. Twisting awkwardly during a jump just before half-time, he broke five bones and severed several ligaments. Doctors informed him that he would never be able to play football again. At that point, Stamps was Burton's top scorer, with 39 league goals in 37 appearances, along with seven goals in cup ties.[27] Following his injury, he began coaching at the club[28] and formally retired as a player in May 1956,[29] although later played in a charity match against Derby Corinthians in October 1956.[30] He was appointed as team-coach in April 1957.[31]

In November 1957, while assistant manager, Stamps took over as caretaker manager following the sacking of Sammy Crooks.[32] He was offered the role permanently in March 1958,[33] but was asked to tender his resignation just over 18 months later in October 1959 after a poor run of results, with the club facing severe financial difficulties and the threat of collapse.[31]

He was elected as honorary vice-president of Derby F.C. in January 1983.[34][35]

Personal life

Stamps began losing his sight around 1970, initially in one eye. Despite over twenty visits to various specialists, none were able to offer a solution. His vision problems were believed to be the result of repeated heading of a football during his playing career.[36] In September 1970, The Sunday People published a feature article to draw attention to Stamps’s struggles, shedding light on his financial difficulties as he was surviving on disability and unemployment benefits. Additionally, he received two one-time hardship grants of £50 from the Football Association and the Football League respectively. Former Charlton Athletic goalkeeper Sam Bartram, whom Stamps had scored against in the 1946 FA Cup Final, made attempts to organise a testimonial match to help raise funds and awareness of Stamps's condition.[37] The benefit match took place the following month in October, with Burton Albion playing an all-stars team in front of a crowd of 12,000 at Derby's Baseball Ground.[17] The match raised nearly £5,000 with Bobby Charlton being the standout star.[38]

Stamps died on 19 November 1991 at his home in Winshill,[34] shortly before his 73rd birthday. Although blind for the final 20 years of his life, he continued to attend Derby County games.[10] He was remembered fondly by former teammates at Derby County, with Raich Carter highlighting his strength and Tommy Powell describing him as a "gentle giant and a wonderful man".[17]

A pub in Derby city centre, opened in 1998 was named after him but in the early 2000s was changed to a Walkabout bar.[39]

References

  1. ^ a b "Stamps, John David: Centre-forward". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 27 April 1996. p. 63.
  2. ^ a b "New Brighton in transfer deal". Evening Express. Liverpool. 19 January 1939. p. 10.
  3. ^ "Mansfield scouts make promising discoveries". The Sunday People. 10 October 1937. p. 21.
  4. ^ a b "Derby's New Forward". Leicester Evening Mail. 20 January 1939. p. 14.
  5. ^ a b "Given free transfer, set for fame". Daily Mirror. 20 January 1939. p. 30.
  6. ^ "New Brighton Trial Teams". Liverpool Echo. 11 August 1938. p. 9.
  7. ^ a b "John Stamps' successful debut". Evening Express. Liverpool. 19 November 1938. p. 6.
  8. ^ "New Brighton team debutant". Evening Express. Liverpool. 10 November 1938. p. 2.
  9. ^ "Liverpool take fancy to John Stamps". The Sunday People. 2 October 1938. p. 17.
  10. ^ a b c d "Jack Stamps dies at 72". The Daily Telegraph. 21 November 1991. p. 32.
  11. ^ "New player led Derby revival". Sunday Dispatch. 19 March 1939. p. 20.
  12. ^ "Much more fight shown against Charlton". Evening Telegraph. 20 March 1939. p. 7.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Jack Stamps signs for Shrewsbury: Ex-Colleague Crooks pays only small fee". Evening Post. 17 December 1953. p. 8.
  14. ^ Holley, Duncan; Chalk, Gary (1992). The Alphabet of the Saints. ACL & Polar Publishing. p. 391. ISBN 0-9514862-3-3.
  15. ^ a b "Testimonial for Jackie Stamps". Lincolnshire Echo. 13 February 1954. p. 3.
  16. ^ "FA Cup Winners 1946". Derby County F.C. 26 March 2009. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  17. ^ a b c "Jack Stamps: a Derby County legend". Evening Telegraph. 21 November 1991. p. 66.
  18. ^ "Stamps joins Shrewsbury". Liverpool Daily Post. 18 December 1953. p. 8.
  19. ^ "Albion's bid for Jack Stamps fails". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 27 July 1954. p. 54.
  20. ^ "Boston to sign Jack Stamps". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 6 August 1954. p. 6.
  21. ^ "Stamps and Boston reports denied". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 7 August 1954. p. 6.
  22. ^ "Mr. Reg Weston goes to Shrewsbury". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 11 August 1954. p. 32.
  23. ^ "Jack Stamps signs for Burton Albion". Burton Observer and Chronicle. 12 August 1954. p. 1.
  24. ^ "Stamps signs: In Albion practice game". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 12 August 1954. p. 40.
  25. ^ "Jack Stamps - mine host". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 20 August 1954. p. 108.
  26. ^ Burton Albion FC v Gresley Rovers FC Matchday Programme 26/12/54.
  27. ^ "Stamps may not play again". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 11 October 1955. p. 9.
  28. ^ "Stamps plan for Burton". Birmingham Evening Mail. 5 December 1955. p. 22.
  29. ^ "Stamps gives up football". Nottingham Evening News. 16 May 1956. p. 8.
  30. ^ "Stamps not finished". Evening Post. 11 October 1956. p. 18.
  31. ^ a b "Stamps quits at Board's request". Evening Telegraph. Derby. 28 October 1959. p. 11.
  32. ^ "Burton Town sack Sammy Crooks". Hull Daily Mail. 13 November 1957. p. 8.
  33. ^ "Jackie Stamps is sacked by Burton Albion". Nottingham Evening News. 28 October 1959. p. 9.
  34. ^ a b "Rams cup hero dies". Evening Telegraph. 20 November 1991. p. 40.
  35. ^ "Soccer mourns legend". Burton Mail. 20 November 1991. p. 24.
  36. ^ "The Plight of Jackie Stamps". Football Post. 19 September 1970. p. 4.
  37. ^ "I'm going blind, says cup hero". The Sunday People. 13 September 1970. p. 17.
  38. ^ "Jack Stamps's benefit match". The Sunday People. 18 October 1970. p. 20.
  39. ^ "Tenants of Derby city centre's oldest pub moving on to new spot after 20 years". DerbyshireLive. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jackie_Stamps&oldid=1265794353"