Ebenezer Harold Fuller "Ginger" Owers (21 October 1888 – June 1951) was an English footballer who played as a

centre forward Forwards (also known as attackers) are outfield positions in an association football team who play the furthest up the pitch and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals as well as assisting them. As with any attacking player, the role ...

. He made over 90 appearances in the Football League and over 30 appearances in the Scottish League in the years prior to the First World War.

Career

Born in West Ham, Ebenezer "Ginger" Owers played locally for Bashford and Leytonstone. He joined

Southern Football League The Southern League is a men's football competition featuring semi-professional clubs from the South and Midlands of England. Together with the Isthmian League and the Northern Premier League it forms levels seven and eight of the English fo ...

team Leyton in 1906 and then moved to

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the North West England, northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the Borough of Blackpool, borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, betw ...

in 1907. He moved to West Bromwich Albion in November 1907. He joined Chesterfield Town in January 1909 as they tried to retain their Football League status but failed, Owers made 15 appearances scoring 3 goals. Chesterfield Town dropped into the Midland League for 1909–10 and won the Midland League championship. Owers made 41 appearances scoring 40 goals including a club record run of scoring in 10 consecutive Midland League games, a spell broken by injury although he was fit enough to act as linesman in the game that he missed through injury. Only Jimmy Cookson in 1925–26 with 44 goals has scored more goals in a single season for Chesterfield. When in summer 1910 Chesterfield Town failed in their attempt to be elected back into the Football League it was inevitable that Ginger Owers would move on. He joined

Darlington Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, County Durham, England. The River Skerne flows through the town; it is a tributary of the River Tees. The Tees itself flows south of the town. In the 19th century, Darlington underwen ...

in 1909 (but this is disputed in another book which has Owers remaining at Chesterfield until moving to Bristol City in June 1910.)

Harry Thickett Henry Thickitt (or Thickett) (1872 – 15 November 1920) was a professional association football, footballer and Manager (association football), Manager. Born in Hexthorpe, Doncaster he played as a Defender (association football), defender prima ...

signed Owers in July 1910 from Darlington, or more likely Chesterfield, for Bristol City. Owers made his debut for Bristol City at centre forward in a 0–0 draw v Preston North End on 24 September 1910. He was the leading scorer for Bristol City in season 1910–11 as the "Babes" were relegated from Division One. Owers made 31 appearances scoring 16 goals including a hat-trick in a 3–2 victory over Middlesbrough on 21 January 1911. He rejoined Darlington in July 1911 from Bristol City. Ginger Owers scored 19 goals in the North Eastern League in season 1911–12 for Darlington who finished in 3rd place. Owers netted hat-tricks v. Carlisle United in a 7–1 win and at Wallsend Park Villa in a 5–2 win. He also scored all four goals in a 4–1 win at Jarrow on 30 December 1911. Owers returned to Bristol City again in March 1912. Owers replaced leading scorer

Jock Butler Jock may refer to: Common meanings * Jock (stereotype), a North American term for a stereotypical male athlete * Jock, a List of ethnic slurs by ethnicity, derogatory term for Scottish people mostly used by the English * Short for jockstrap, an i ...

at centre forward for the final games of the Second Division season scoring 3 goals in 8 appearances. Butler moved to the right wing and Owers retained the centre forward position from the start of season 1912–13 making 23 appearances and ending as leading scorer with 13 goals despite leaving the club in March 1913. Owers moved to Scotland and joined Clyde in March 1913. He had a loan spell with Celtic from December 1913, making 13 league appearances and scoring 8 goals to help the ''Bhoys'' win the double (although he was dropped for the

1914 Scottish Cup Final The 1913–14 Scottish Cup was the 41st staging of Scotland's most prestigious football (soccer), football knockout competition. The Cup was won by Celtic F.C., Celtic who defeated Hibernian F.C., Hibernian in the replayed final.

replay) before rejoining Clyde in May 1914. Owers served in one of the Sportsmen's Battalions in the First World War and a war wound finished his playing career.

Honours

;Chesterfield Town * Midland League: 1909–10 ;Celtic *

Scottish Football League The Scottish Football League (SFL) was a league featuring professional and semi-professional football clubs mostly from Scotland.One club, Berwick Rangers, is based in the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, which is located approximately 4 km south ...

: 1913–14 * Scottish Cup: 1913–14

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Owers, Ginger 1888 births 1951 deaths Military personnel from Essex English footballers Leytonstone F.C. players Leyton F.C. players Blackpool F.C. players West Bromwich Albion F.C. players Chesterfield F.C. players Darlington F.C. players Bristol City F.C. players Clyde F.C. players Celtic F.C. players Footballers from West Ham Association football forwards Midland Football League players English Football League players Scottish Football League players British Army personnel of World War I Royal Fusiliers soldiers