311 Jack Wilkinson

Biography

Experienced outside left Jack Wilkinson joined the Tigers in October 1936, bought in by the directors immediately following the death of David Menzies. He retained his first team place for three months, scoring goals in November 1936 against Barrow and November 1936 against Hartlepools United. When new manager Ernest Blackburn took the helm in January 1937 he used Wilkinson sparingly – Jack moved on in the 1937 close season.

John “Jack” Wilkinson was born in Wath-on-Dearne in South Yorkshire coal mining country and made his name as a young player for local league side Dearne Valley Old Boys where he scored over 100 goals in five years. He joined Wath Athletic, a feeder club for Sheffield Wednesday, in February 1925 and impressed enough to earn a move to the Owls at the end of October 1925. Jack waited until April 1926 for his first taste of first team action, scoring on his senior debut against Hull City and netting two further goals as The Wednesday ended the season as Division Two champions.

Elevated to Division One, Wilkinson was a regular starter on the left wing, missing only six League games and scoring eight goals during the 1926/27 season as the Owls finished in mid-table. He was a support player during the 1927/28 season but was a peripheral figure during the next two seasons as Sheffield Wednesday twice lifted the Division One title. He left the Owls in May 1930 having scored 17 goals in 79 appearances.

In May 1930 he signed for Division One rivals Newcastle United and was a first team regular for much of the season, scoring a hattrick against Derby County in February 1931 before dropping out of the squad a month later after sustaining an injury in a League match against Blackpool. This absence lasted over a year and he was never able to regain his first team berth for the Magpies – Jack was placed on the transfer list by Newcastle United in May 1932 having scored seven goals in 32 starts.

In September 1932 Wilkinson joined Division Two side Lincoln City and made his Imps debut that month against Bury. A week later he enhanced his popularity with the Lincoln City support when scoring twice in a 6-3 victory over local rivals Grimsby Town. Jack was a first team regular for two seasons, although his goals were not enough to avoid relegation to Division Three North at the end of the 1933/34 season. He stayed at Sincil Bank for the first half of the 1934/35 season and took his Imps tally to 22 goals in 97 appearances. This consistent goalscoring form encouraged Division One title contenders Sunderland to sign Wilkinson in January 1935 for a four figure fee, adding depth to their wide options. In the event Jack did not make any first team appearances as Sunderland finished Division One runners-up at the end of the 1934/35 season, then went one further and lifted the league title in May 1936 assisted by the goals of future Hull City star Raich Carter. He left Sunderland in October 1936 to join Hull City.

Wilkinson joined Midland League side Scunthorpe United in August 1937 and served The Iron for two seasons. When World War Two broke out in September 1939 Wilkinson began playing for Newark-based Midland League works side Ransome & Marles before hanging up his boots in 1940.

When Wilkinson gave up football he returned to the Don Valley. He died in Swinton in April 1979.

Details

Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 13 June 1902, Wath-on-Dearne
Hull City First Game: 10 October 1936, Gateshead H (Division Three North), 34 years, 119 days old
Hull City Final Game: 3 April 1937, Carlisle United H (Division Three North), 34 years, 294 days old

Clubs

Dearne Valley Old Boys (1922-1925), Wath Athletic (1925), Sheffield Wednesday (1925-1930), Newcastle United (1930-1932), Lincoln City (1932-1935), Sunderland (1935-1936), Hull City (1936-1937), Scunthorpe & Lindsey United (1937-1939), Ransome & Marles (1939-1940)

Hull City Record

Career: 18 apps, 2 goals

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