Ernest Blenkinsop was an English professional footballer who played as a defender at left back.
16 Facts About Ernie Blenkinsop
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Ernie Blenkinsop joined Hull City in 1921; however, after one year with the club, he signed for Sheffield Wednesday, helping the club win promotion to the First Division before going on to win two Football League titles between 1929 and 1930.
3.
Ernie Blenkinsop was sold to fellow First Division side Liverpool in 1934 but his spell with the team was severely disrupted by injury.
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Ernie Blenkinsop later finished his professional career with a season at Cardiff City.
5.
Ernie Blenkinsop later stated his belief that if he had remained standing the debris would have killed him.
6.
At the age of fifteen, Ernie Blenkinsop began playing local football for Cudworth Village in the Senior Division of the Barnsley Association League alongside his brother.
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In 1921, several players from Cudworth were attracting attention from professional clubs, including Ernie Blenkinsop who was scouted by Doncaster Rovers.
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Ernie Blenkinsop was brought to the club by manager Percy Lewis, who had spotted Blenkinsop playing for Cudworth.
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In later life, Ernie Blenkinsop donated eight of his international caps to Lewis as a gift after the manager underwent an operation, in thanks for his part in advancing Ernie Blenkinsop's career.
10.
Ernie Blenkinsop remains the club's most capped outfield player of all time.
11.
However, Football Association guidelines did not permit club representatives to coach players along the boundaries of the pitch and the match referee was instructed to intervene if Ernie Blenkinsop attempted to influence play.
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Ernie Blenkinsop moved north to Derbyshire, where he played for Buxton.
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Ernie Blenkinsop then returned to Yorkshire, representing Halifax Town, Bradford Park Avenue and Bradford City as a wartime guest.
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Ernie Blenkinsop caught the eye of the Football Association selectors in 1928 who choose him to play for England in a friendly match against France on 17 May 1928, at the Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, Paris.
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Ernie Blenkinsop went on to captain England five times in total, including his final cap against Scotland, winning four and losing the other.
16.
Ernie Blenkinsop married Winifred Stewart at Wadsley Parish Church in Sheffield on 1 June 1926.