Harris Stanley Image 3 Gloucestershire 1905

Description

In his cricket career Bristol born Stanley Harris scored 375 runs at 14.42, with two half centuries and a high score of 76. He started off playing at Cambridge University, from 1902 to 1904 and in the first of those years also played a first class match for Gloucestershire in the County Championship. In a 1904 University match involving Cambridge, he switched sides and played with Surrey. During the same season he also appeared in a match for London County and in 1919, after a 15-year absence from first class cricket, Harris played three matches at Sussex.

He is mainly known for his football career, where he played at inside left. He had attended and played for Westminster School, making the XI in 1900 and 1901 and went on to attend Pembroke College in Cambridge University, earning his Blue in 1902, 1903 and 1904, being the captain in his final year. By default then, Harris became a player for the Old Westminsters team, as well as turning out for Casuals FC, Worthing FC, while he was headmaster there, and The Corinthians team between 1904 and 1910. He played with Portsmouth between 1905 and 1907, making 4 Southern League appearances for Pompey, as well as representing Surrey FA.

Stanley Harris’ England debut came in the match against Scotland at Celtic Park, Glasgow on 9th April 1904, which England had won 1-0 with a Steve Bloomer goal. He won 2 more caps in February and March 1905 captaining against Ireland at Middlesbrough and scoring in a 3-1 victory over Wales at Anfield. He won 3 further caps between February and April 1906 captaining his country in every game, scoring in a 5-0 win over Ireland in Belfast and also playing in a win over Wales in Cardiff and a defeat to Scotland at Hampden Park. He also captained England Amateurs scoring a remarkable 7 times as England won 15-0 against France in Paris in November 1906.

NB This photograph was taken on 8th January 1906 before an Amateurs v Professionals England trial match played at Craven Cottage, Fulham, which the Professionals XI won 1-0.

Amateurs (white shirts): Back Row – PH Farnfield, JG Witherington, CD McIver, HA Nulton

Middle Row – SH Day, Vivian Woodward, Herbert Smith, SS Harris (captain)

Front Row – EGD Wright, TS Rowlandson, GC Vassall

Professionals (striped shirts): Back Row – Jimmy Ashcroft, Joe Walton, Archie Cross, Peter Chambers

Middle Row – Walter Bull, Fred Blackburn, Riley, Fred Threlfall

Front Row – Arthur “Pat” Collins, Tim Coleman, Fred Harrison

Although a football photograph, it features Percy Farnfield, Sammy Day, Stanley Harris, Colin McIver and Gilbert Vassall, all of whom were first class cricketers as well as having notable football careers.