Ernest Bracegirdle

Ernest Bracegirdle (nicknamed "Pep or Pepper") Bracegirdle, of Moorside, Knutsford, was well a known sportsman of Lancashire and Cheshire - football and running.

• Went to Edgerton Boys' School, starring in the school football team as a centre-forward.
• Joined Knutsford A.F.C. as a sixteen year-old and played for Knutsford between the years 1902-05
• Joined Northwich Victoria for the 1905/06 season and picked up a Cheshire Senior Cup finalist's medal in a season that saw him score 13 goals.
• Selected to play for Cheshire against Lancashire. Cheshire won and Ernest scored three goals.
• Entered professional football with Blackburn Rovers in May 1906 for a fee of £25, making a spectacular debut, at inside left in November, against Arsenal, scoring twice in a 3-2 defeat. Ernest went on to play sixteen First Division games and score 4 goals in total that season, playing on either the right- or left-wing.
• Played in five FA Cup ties, scoring once against Spurs in a 1-1 second round tie.
• 07/08 season played 24 League games, scoring once against Arsenal in a 1-1 draw
• Took up running, competing in a footballers' handicap at Warrington and beating Jack Fish, a well-known Rugby player, Pullen of Bury and Ruddick of Salford in a 100 yards sprint.
• Won the Rufe Naylor's handicap. (Rufus ‘Rufe’ Naylor was a famous Australian sports promoter who took a stable of athletes to South Africa to compete in prize races, eventually bringing this concept to Britain).
• 1911/12 and 1912/13 saw him at Crewe Alexandra, who had just joined the Central League and, in two seasons, Ernest played 66 games and scored 10 goals, winning the Cheshire Senior Cup in 1911/12, where he scored in the 4-1 win over Stalybridge Celtic.
• Returne to Northwich Victoria for 1913/14 brought little success; third place in the Lancashire Combination and a finalist’s medal in the Altrincham and District Cup. This was followed in 1914/15 with a winner’s medal in the Altrincham and District Cup.
• Played war-time football, whilst on leave, for Manchester United (1915/16, 7 games and 1 goal), Northwich Victoria (1918/19) and Oldham Athletic, (1918/19, 2-0).
• Post WW1 Ernest rejoined Altrincham in October 1919 for their inaugural season in the Cheshire County League and was an ever-present on the left wing, playing 32 games, scoring twice.
• 1920/21 season he played a further 35 games and scored another 2 goals on the left wing.
• Winsford United - playing the 1921/22 season before he broke his leg in September 1922 in a match against Northwich Victoria, an injury which finished his active career in football.

He was held in high esteem by everyone who came into contact with him and, after his accident, Blackburn Rovers played a benefit match for him.

Once retired, Ernest played billiards and snooker and keenly followed football and sprinting. One son, Ernest, later played for Altrincham and another son, Chris, played for Knutsford.

References and Sources

• http://www.jlaidlar.webspace.virginmedia.com/legend28.htm