A RELATIVE of a Town player from more than 100 years agois anxious to find out more about him.
Although Simon Beaton played well over 100 times for Town, he notched up only one goal.
But there again, according to records he wore the number 4 shirt so was probably in defence.
His relative, Mary Beaton, who lives in Morpeth, Northumberland, said Simon’s Town career ended abruptly during one of history’s most momentous years – 1914 – which marked the outbreak of World War One.
But he did play in the 1913/14 season which was the first one that Town wore their blue and white striped shirts.
The team had been playing in white shirts with blue collars and cuffs.
Mary said: “Simon was born, according to my records, in 1883 in Inverness, although he may have taken five years off his age as other records say 1888.
“He seems to have started his football career with a local team in the Inverness area, but then played professionally with Middlesbrough and also signed for Newcastle United.
“It was one of the most prestigious clubs of the early 1900s, although I’m not sure if Simon actually got a game for them.
“Newcastle sold Simon and Bill Hughes to Huddersfield Town for £75, but only Simon made it into the first team.
“He played for Huddersfield from 1910 until 1914, taking part in some 111 matches and scoring his one and only goal in the 1910-11 season.
“His career seems to have ended suddenly in 1914.”
Mary has now turned to Examiner readers to try to shed some light on what happened to Simon.
She added: “I was wondering if any of your readers with an interest in football history might know what happened to Simon, where he went after he finished playing for Huddersfield.
“I wonder if the start of the First World War had any bearing on his decision?
“Did he return to Middlesbough, or did he go back to Inverness? His parents were dead before he came to England so there was no close family other than aunts and uncles to return to in Scotland.”
Contact Mary via her email which is fmbeaton@btinternet.com
