Jack Wheeler (association football)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William John Wheeler | ||
| Date of birth | 13 July 1919 | ||
| Place of birth | North Littleton, near Evesham, England | ||
| Date of death | 10 January 2009 (aged 89) | ||
| Place of death | Nottingham, England | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 193?–1938 | Cheltenham Town | ||
| 1938–1948 | Birmingham City | 12 | (0) |
| 1948–1956 | Huddersfield Town | 166 | (0) |
| 1956–1957 | Kettering Town | 47 | (0) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1968–1969 | Notts County (caretaker manager) | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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William John Wheeler (13 July 1919 – 10 January 2009) was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Cheltenham Town, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Kettering Town. He helped Huddersfield Town to promotion to the First Division, and played more than 150 matches in the Football League for the club. After his playing career finished, he spent more than 25 years with Notts County, in a variety of roles including coach, trainer, caretaker manager and scout.
Wheeler was born in North Littleton, near Evesham, Worcestershire. He died in Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham on 10 January 2009 at the age of 89. A minute's applause was observed before Notts County's League Two game with Exeter City later the same day.
Wheeler started playing in village and mid week football in the Evesham area for teams such as Cleeve Prior Amateurs and Evesham Early Closers, he also played in the Evesham Town reserve team before returning to mid week football. While at Evesham Early Closers he had a trial with Coventry City. He joined Cheltenham Town in the summer of 1937 and played for them in the Southern League before joining First Division Birmingham as a professional in 1938. He was signed as understudy and potential successor to England goalkeeper Harry Hibbs, but played only five first-team matches – as the youngest goalkeeper in the First Division – before the Second World War interrupted his career. During the war he served in the 6th Armoured Division in North Africa and Italy, but when he returned to his club, future England international Gil Merrick had established himself as first-choice goalkeeper. Wheeler played six matches in Birmingham's Second Division championship-winning 1947–48 season when Merrick was injured, but before the next season started he was transferred to Huddersfield Town.
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