Joseph Spence Mawson (26 October 1905 – 10 September 1959) was an English footballer who played in the Football League for Crewe Alexandra, Nottingham Forest, Stockport County and Stoke City.[1][2]

Joe Mawson
Personal information
Full name Joseph Spence Mawson[1]
Date of birth 26 October 1905
Place of birth Brandon, Durham, England[1]
Date of death 10 September 1959(1959-09-10) (aged 53)[1]
Place of death Stoke-on-Trent, England[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1924–1925 Washington Colliery
1925–1926 Crook Town
1926–1927 Durham City 0 (0)
1928–1933 Stoke City 86 (46)
1934–1935 Nottingham Forest 2 (0)
1935–1936 Stockport County 3 (0)
1936 Linfield
1936–1937 Crewe Alexandra 11 (2)
Total 102 (48)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

edit

Mawson was born in Brandon, Durham and by the age of 24 he had already spent several years working at the coalface at Washington Colliery when he became one of a number of players discovered by Stoke City's north east scouts.[2] Mawson had previously played for Crook Town, his works team Washington Colliery and Durham City.[2] Raw and eager Mawson was given his debut in February 1929 at Swansea Town, in which he scored but his lack of guile and wayward passing soon relegated him to the reserves but his never say die attitude kept him in manager Tom Mather's plans.[2]

Eventually Wilf Kirkham's horrific leg break on the opening day of the 1931–32 handed Mawson his chance in his natural position of centre forward.[2] Stoke started the season poorly but the introduction of Mawson saw Stoke's fortunes turn around and he top scored with 24 goals.[2] Stoke clearly had a squad now capable of challenging for promotion and the following season again top scored with 16 as Stoke won the Second Division title.[2] However towards the end of the season Mawson, renowned for being a 'greedy' player squandered a number of easy chances against Plymouth Argyle as Stoke lost 1–0.[2] A furious Mather dropped Mawson and brought in Reading's Jack Palethorpe who scored eight goals in ten games which put paid to Mawson's career at the Victoria Ground. He went on to play for Nottingham Forest, Stockport County, Linfield and Crewe Alexandra before World War II broke out.[2]

Style of play

edit

His style was to run with the ball and he scored the majority of his goals in a head down thrust through the middle, only looking up to beat the goalkeeper.[2]

Career statistics

edit

Source:[3]

Club Season League FA Cup Other[A] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Stoke City 1928–29 Second Division 2 1 0 0 2 1
1929–30 Second Division 11 5 0 0 11 5
1930–31 Second Division 11 4 0 0 11 4
1931–32 Second Division 34 20 5 4 39 24
1932–33 Second Division 26 16 2 0 28 16
1933–34 First Division 2 0 0 0 2 0
Total 86 46 7 4 0 0 93 50
Nottingham Forest 1934–35 Second Division 2 0 2 1 4 1
Stockport County 1935–36 Third Division North 3 0 0 0 1 0 4 0
Crewe Alexandra 1936–37 Third Division North 11 2 0 0 1 0 12 2
Career Total 102 48 9 5 2 0 111 53
A. ^ The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Third Division North Cup.

Honours

edit
Stoke City

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287-55-4.
  3. ^ Joe Mawson at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)