Biography
The impressively monikered Peter Henry Willino Havelock, commonly known as Harry, joined the Tigers in October 1923 having most recently played for local side Red Cross. Havelock was born in Hartlepool but his family soon moved to Hull and Harry grew up in the Albert Dock and Hessle Road areas of the City. He had already lived quite a life by the time his professional football career commenced, serving in the British Army and playing football in such exotic places as Turkey, India amd Mesopotamia, as well as several European countries. He made his Tigers debut in December 1923 against Coventry, and his surprise inclusion by manager Bill McCracken was rewarded with a winning goal from Harry in a 3-2 victory. He had a handful of further starts that seasons at centre forward, scoring again in a 1-0 win over South Shields in February 1924. However in 1924/25 Paddy Mills re-established himself as first choice centre forward and Havelock made no further apperances, leaving the club in the 1925 close season.
In June 1925 Harry joined Division Three North side Lincoln City and he quickly made a strong impression, scoring 18 goals from only 30 starts and ending the season as the Imps’ top goalscorer. In March 1926 his form attracted the attention of Division Two side Portsmouth and rather like his time at City, he played irregularly for Pompey but could be relied upon when he did start – he scored 8 times in 11 appearances over 20 months at Fratton Park. One of those goals was pivotal in Pompey winning promotion to the First Division in 1927.
In November 1927 he joined Crystal Palace and once again the regional Division Three level suited Harry as he scored 39 times in 67 starts over four seasons. He scored twice in 3 appearances at the end of 1927/28, then contributed 24 goals in 41 starts during 1928/29 and ended the season as the Eagles’ top scorer. His form continued in 1929/30 when he scored 12 times in 19 starts, however by 1931 he was used more sparingly as Scottish striker Peter Simpson rattled in 54 goals and Palace won promotion to Division Two.
Havelock rejoined Hull City in May 1931 and took up more withdrawn inside forward or right half roles. He started only three times for City in the 1931/32 season and was again on the move that summer. He saw out his career playing and coaching in the Kent non-league scene, returning to Hull in 1935 and coaching the Hull Daily Mail works XI. By 1939 he was manager of the Windmill Hotel on Witham. He later moved to the Yorkshire Wolds and died in May 1973.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 20 January 1901, Hartlepool
Hull City First Game: 8 December 1923, Coventry City H (Division Two), 22 years, 322 days old
Hull City Final Game: 16 September 1931, Darlington A (Division Three North), 30 years, 239 days old
Clubs
Red Cross, Hull City (1923-1925), Lincoln City (1925-1926), Portsmouth (1926-1927), Crystal Palace (1927-1931), Hull City (1931-1932), Folkestone (1932-1933), Ramsgate Press Wanderers (1933-1934), Folkestone (1934-1935)
Hull City Record
Career: 9 apps, 2 goals
Harry Havelock| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1923/24 | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1924/25 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1931/32 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |