{{short description|English footballer}} {{About|the football player|the librarian|George Burwell Utley|the TV sitcom character|Newhart#Regular characters}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = George Utley | image = Georgeutley1915-2.jpg | fullname = George Utley | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}}<ref>{{cite news |title=First Division prospects. Sheffield United |author=Nemo |newspaper=Athletic News |location=Manchester |date=22 August 1921 |page=6}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1887|5|16}} | birth_place = Elsecar, Barnsley, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1966|1|8|1887|5|16|df=y}} | death_place = Blackpool, England | position = Half back | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1906 | years2 = 1907–1913 | years3 = 1913–1922 | years4 = 1922 | clubs1 = Sheffield Wednesday | clubs2 = Barnsley | clubs3 = Sheffield United | clubs4 = Manchester City | caps1 = 0 | caps2 = 167 | caps3 = 107 | caps4 = 1 | goals1 = 0 | goals2 = 8 | goals3 = 4 | goals4 = 0 | totalcaps = 275 | totalgoals = 12 | nationalyears1 = 1913 | nationalteam1 = England | nationalcaps1 = 1 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}
'''George Utley''' (16 May 1887 – 8 January 1966) was an English footballer who played for Barnsley, Sheffield United and England. He was a strong and powerful half back who could shoot at goal when required.<ref name="Unknown 1915">{{cite book|last=Unknown|title=Cup Final Programme|year=1915}}</ref>
Utley was born in Reform Row, Elsecar,<ref>{{cite book|last=Utley|first=George|title=Birth Certificate|year=1887}}</ref> which lies south of Barnsley. He was the 11th and final child of James and Mary Utley. His father was an engine tender at a colliery and his brothers worked in the local coal mines and foundries.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book |title=English Census James Utley Household|year=1901}}</ref>
==Club career==
===Barnsley=== On leaving school he became a joiner,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> but by 1907 he had signed with Barnsley. During his time with Barnsley the club made it to two FA Cup Finals. The first was in 1910, when they were beaten by Newcastle United 2–0 in a replay after a one all draw, and the second was in 1912, when Barnsley managed to defeat West Bromwich Albion by one goal in the replay after the first game ended in a goalless draw.<ref name="PFA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.givemefootball.com/display.cfm?article=4472&area=&type=1&page=2|title=The Uncompromising Legends| accessdate=31 October 2007| publisher=Professional Footballers Association| author=John Harding}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
He made a total of 167 league appearances for Barnsley, scoring eight goals.<ref name="ENFA"/>
=== Sheffield United === During the 1913–14 season, Sheffield United were looking to sign a new captain to change their fortunes, having struggled in both the league and cup since the retirement of Ernest Needham.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Clarebrough |first1=Denis |title=Sheffield United: the Complete Record |last2=Kirkham |first2=Andrew |publisher=Derby Books Publishing Company |year=2012 |isbn=9781780910192 |pages=236}}</ref> Following a letter of recommendation from United player Billy Gillespie, the man they targeted was George Utley.<ref name="blades biography">{{cite book |last1=Armstrong |first1=Gary |title=Sheffield United FC: The Biography |last2=Garrett |first2=John |date=March 2007 |publisher=The Hallamshire Press |isbn=978-1-874718-65-9 |pages=120–122}}</ref>thumb|Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final The committee were not unanimous about signing Utley, who they feared would fetch a large fee.{{cn|date=July 2023}} Bolton Wanderers had previously offered £1,500, which had been rejected by Barnsley.{{cn|date=July 2023}} The Blades offered more and were also turned down.{{cn|date=July 2023}} United offered £2,000 which was accepted, making him the joint-most expensive player in Britain at the time.<ref name="blades biography" /> Utley signed a five-year contract, with the promise of a benefit match at the end of it.<ref name="blades biography" />
He made his debut for Sheffield United against Manchester United at Bramall Lane on 22 November 1913, in a match the Blades won 2–0.<ref name="blades records">{{cite book|title=A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889–1999|author=Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham|publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=1999|isbn=0-9508588-2-X|page=118}}</ref>
In the semi-final of the 1914–15 FA Cup, Utley's goal in the 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers was described as "the best of his career",<ref>Clarebrough, Denis. (1989) Sheffield United F.C., The First 100 years. {{ISBN|0-9508588-1-1}}</ref> as he dribbled the ball 60 yards before scoring.<ref name="blades encyclopedia" /> Utley subsequently played in his third FA Cup final as the Blades defeated Chelsea 3–0 on 24 April 1915. Utley, as captain, worked hard and decisively throughout the game, breaking up many Chelsea attacks and providing many passes to the United forwards.<ref>{{Cite news | title = The Cup Final | newspaper = Manchester Guardian | pages = 9| date = 26 April 1915 }}</ref> Sheffield United's success in the cup when compared to previous seasons was credited to Utley.<ref name="Unknown 1915" />
He left Bramall Lane in 1922, transferring to Manchester City but retired within twelve months of the move.<ref name="blades encyclopedia">The Official Encyclopedia of Sheffield United by Tony Matthews, Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, {{ISBN|1-904103-19-7}}, Page 253</ref>
==Coaching== After leaving Manchester City, Utley went on to hold the position of trainer at Bristol City before moving to Sheffield Wednesday in May 1924 as coach. He then moved on to become a trainer at Fulham in July 1925, a position he remained in until 1927.<ref name="blades encyclopedia"/>
==International career== In February 1913, while still with Barnsley, Utley was selected to play for England against Ireland. England were defeated 2–1, Ireland's first victory over England; he was not selected to play for England again.<ref name="The Football Association">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=114|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071029051823/http://www.thefa.com/England/SeniorTeam/Archive/matchstats.html?m=114|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 October 2007|title=English International Database| accessdate=31 October 2007| publisher=The Football Association}}</ref> This remains the only England appearance by a Barnsley player.<ref name=":0" />
==Legacy== It could be argued that Utley's greatest impact on football in England was regarding the award of testimonial and benefit games. Usually players were awarded a benefit game for long service and allowed to choose a match, excluding derby games and large visiting clubs, from which to receive the gate receipts as recognition of their services.<ref name="blades biography" />
Utley challenged this in 1920 and was granted a benefit match against the then mighty Sunderland after only four seasons, eventually receiving around £1,000. The board had been willing to make an exception for Utley, citing his importance to the team and wishing to ensure he stayed with the club.<ref name="blades biography" />
This extraordinary move by the club caused unrest in the dressing room and nine of the first team signed a letter to the United directors, written by Billy Gillespie, complaining that this preferential treatment was unfair.<ref name="blades biography" /> The game went ahead a few days later without Utley, although ironically Billy Gillespie scored twice in a 3–1 win in front of over 36,000 spectators.<ref name="blades records 2">A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football club 1889–1999 by Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham, {{ISBN|0-9508588-2-X}}, Page 130</ref> Utley stayed at Bramall Lane for another two years.<ref name="blades biography" />
The Football League discovered the unrest this benefit had caused at the club and changed the rules governing such matches. They stipulated that testimonials could only be played after an agreed period of time stated within a players contract, or upon their career being unexpectedly cut short. This ruling remains to this day.<ref name="blades biography" />
==Life outside football== Utley worked as an assistant cricket coach at Rossall School from 1911 until 1931 and from 1929 until 1931 he also worked as assistant groundsman.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Utley Leaving Rossall | newspaper = Manchester Guardian | pages = 17 | date = 29 August 1931}}</ref>
Astute in financial matters, Utley married into a wealthy family following the death of his first wife. Having no children from either marriage he returned his second wife's money to her family upon her death claiming he had enough to keep him. Living in a large house he kept two housekeepers to whom he bequeathed a home on the estate for peppercorn rent upon his death.<ref name="blades biography" />
During the later part of his football career he authored articles for boys magazines including:<ref name="British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index">{{Cite web| url=http://contento.best.vwh.net/paper/s321.htm| title=British Juvenile Story Papers and Pocket Libraries Index| accessdate=30 October 2007| author=Steve Holland| url-status=dead| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020202922/http://contento.best.vwh.net/paper/s321.htm| archivedate=20 October 2007}}</ref>
*Football by Prominent Players: "Captaining the Cup-Winners", The Boys' Friend Feb, 14 1920 *"The Complete Half-Back", The Boys' Realm, 20 Mar 1920
Utley died in January 1966.
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {|class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="ENFA">{{ENFA|name=George Utley}}</ref> |- ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |FA Cup ! colspan="2" |Total |- !Division !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |- | rowspan="7" |Barnsley | 1908–09 | Division Two | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 |- | 1909–10 | Division Two | 35 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 44 | 1 |- | 1910–11 | Division Two | 36 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 1 |- | 1911–12 | Division Two | 34 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 46 | 4 |- | 1912–13 | Division Two | 36 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 39 | 1 |- | 1913–14 | Division Two | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total ! 167 ! 8 ! 26 ! 1 ! 193 ! 9 |- | rowspan="6" |Sheffield United |1913–14 |Division One |23 |1 |7 |4 |30 |5 |- |1914–15 |Division One |30 |1 |7 |1 |37 |2 |- |1919–20 |Division One |16 |0 |0 |0 |16 |0 |- |1920–21 |Division One |23 |2 |0 |0 |23 |2 |- |1921–22 |Division One |15 |0 |1 |0 |16 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !107 !4 !15 !5 !122 !9 |- |Manchester City |1922–23 |Division One |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !275 !12 !41 !6 !316 !18 |}
==Honours== '''Barnsley''' *FA Cup: 1911–12; runner-up: 1909–10
'''Sheffield United''' *FA Cup: 1914–15
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Utley, George}} Category:1887 births Category:1966 deaths Category:English men's footballers Category:England men's international footballers Category:Barnsley F.C. players Category:Sheffield United F.C. players Category:Manchester City F.C. players Category:People from Elsecar Category:Sportspeople from the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley Category:English Football League players Category:English Football League representative players Category:Sheffield Wednesday F.C. players Category:Men's association football wing halves Category:English carpenters