Biography
Goalkeeper Ernest Storey was born in Birtley to a father who worked as a stone mason. Like so many of his contemporaries in Hull City’s early years, Storey was found playing in the North East league football scene – a statuesque figure, Ernest stood six foot two inches tall, height that would have given him advantages despite his tender years. He signed for the Tigers from North Eastern League side Shildon Athletic in October 1908 and made his Division Two debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers on the following Boxing Day, also playing the next two league games in early January against Clapton Orient and Leeds City. He remained on the Tigers’ books for the 1909/10 season but did not make further first team appearances.
In August 1910 Storey returned to the North East and signed for recently crowned North Eastern League champions Spennymoor United. Storey showed fine form for Spennymoor and in December 1911 he joined Division One side Bradford City. Eight months at Valley Parade yielded a further three league appearances, all during March 1912 against Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City. He left the Bantams in 1912 close season.
In June 1912 Ernest signed for Irish League side Belfast Distillery, a year later ticked off another home country when he joined Southern League side Swansea Town after briefly being on the books of newly-elected North Eastern League side Blyth Spartans. After spending the 1913/14 season in the Swans’ first team he returned to Distillery in May 1914 and served the Belfast side through much of World War One while working in a munitions factory – Storey left Distillery in August 1917 after three seasons in the first team. In October 1917 he signed for Irish League side Belfast United but by December 1917 he was out of the side and his trail runs cold.
He returned to his Gateshead roots where he died in August 1954.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 21 February 1888, Birtley
Hull City First Game: 26 December 1908, Wolverhampton Wanderers A (Division Two), 20 years, 309 days old
Hull City Final Game: 9 January 1909, Leeds City H (Division Two), 20 years, 323 days old
Clubs
Birtley FC, Shildon Athletic, Hull City (1908-1910), Spennymoor United (1910-1911), Bradford City (1911-1912), Belfast Distillery (1912-1913), Blyth Spartans (1913), Swansea Town (1913-1914), Belfast Distillery (1914-1917), Belfast United (1917)
Hull City Record
Career: 3 apps, 0 goals
Ernest Storey| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908/09 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1909/10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |