Biography
Harry Vincent “Vinney” Townend was born in Selby and joined the Tigers in August 1909 from his local junior side Selby Mizpah, having previous played for Harrogate-based side Starbeck – a previous move to Stockport County in February 1909 was abandoned. An outside right with a turn of pace – he was a well known sprint winner in the Selby area – Townend made a favourable impression when appearing for the Reserves but the consistency of Joe Smith meant he got few first team opportunities. He started just two games in his first season, successive fixtures in November 1909, then returned to the first team in the second half of the 1910/11 season, a spell that coincided with a dip in form for Ambrose Langley’s side. In his last appearance of the 1910/11 season, an April 1911 2-2 draw against Huddersfield Town, Townend scored his only goal for the Tigers.
Vinney made three more starts in the 1911/12 season but when Joe Smith signed for Everton in March 1912 it was new signing Billy McDonald that Langley used to fill the vacant outside right berth, not Townend. Vinney left City in the 1912 close season.
In August 1912 he joined Midland League side Goole Town, then a year later in August 1913 he switched to Midland League rivals York City where he spent two seasons until League football came to a halt in 1915. After initially being rejected for military service because of a speech impediment and returning to Goole Town to play occasional wartime matches, Vincent served the Royal Army Medical Corps in France during latter stages of World War One. When he returned from the conflict he joined Yorkshire League side Selby Town and served the club for five seasons until 1924 – his involvement in a motorcycle accident in September 1923 may well have contributed to a reduction in, and eventual end to, his playing days.
Townend remained living in Selby and worked as a seed crusher, probably for the British Oil and Cake Mills company. He died in February 1958.
Details
Nationality: England
Date/Place of Birth: 20 June 1889, Selby
Hull City First Game: 13 November 1909, Derby County A (Division Two), 20 years, 146 days old
Hull City Final Game: 6 January 1912, Glossop A (Division Two), 22 years, 200 days old
Clubs
Starbeck (1907-1908), Selby Mizpah (1908-1909), Hull City (1909-1912), Goole Town (1912-1913), York City (1913-1915), Selby Town (1919-1924)
Hull City Record
Career: 12 apps, 1 goals
Vincent Townend| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909/10 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1910/11 | 7 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1911/12 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |