Lewis Caunce (20 April 1911 - 1978) was an English professional association football goalkeeper of the 1930s. Born in Earlestown, he joined Rochdale from Huddersfield Town in 1932, where he made 18 appearances for the club. He left to join Wigan Athletic in 1933, spending two seasons with the Cheshire League club before returning to the Football League with Oldham Athletic in 1935.

Lewis Caunce
Personal information
Full name Lewis Caunce
Date of birth 20 April 1911[1]
Place of birth Earlestown, Lancashire, England
Date of death 1978 (aged 66–67)
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1931–1932 Huddersfield Town 0 (0)
1932–1933 Rochdale 18 (0)
1933–1935 Wigan Athletic
1935–1939 Oldham Athletic 134 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

On Boxing Day 1935, Caunce played in goal for Oldham in their 4–13 defeat against Tranmere Rovers, a Football League record for most goals scored in a game.[3] Caunce notably saved a penalty during the game to prevent Tranmere centre forward Bunny Bell from scoring 10 goals, and Caunce's teammate Tommy Williamson remarked years later that despite the scoreline, the keeper had "played a blinder".[4]

Caunce played 134 league games for Oldham before his football career was ended prematurely by the outbreak of the Second World War.

References

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  1. ^ Lewis Caunce at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ "Oldham are an unknown quantity". Sunday Dispatch Football Guide. London. 23 August 1936. p. xiii – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Football League Records: Goals". The Football League. Archived from the original on 10 February 2007. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  4. ^ Doyle, Paul (24 December 2016). "Struggling Oldham urgently seek a solution to their Boxing Day blues". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 February 2020.