Norman Uprichard
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Norman McCourt Uprichard | ||
| Date of birth | 20 April 1928 | ||
| Place of birth | Lurgan, Northern Ireland | ||
| Date of death | 31 January 2011 (aged 82) | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Glenavon | |||
| Distillery | |||
| 1948–1949 | Arsenal | 0 | (0) |
| 1949–1952 | Swindon Town | 73 | (0) |
| 1952–1959 | Portsmouth | 182 | (0) |
| 1959–1960 | Southend United | 12 | (0) |
| – | Hastings United | ||
| – | Ramsgate Athletic | ||
| National team | |||
| 1951–1958 | Northern Ireland | 18 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. | |||
William Norman McCourt Uprichard (20 April 1928 – 31 January 2011) was a football player for Arsenal, Portsmouth, Swindon Town and Northern Ireland.
Uprichard was born in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, and as a teenager played both soccer and Gaelic football. He won a district minor league medal with St. Peter's GAC, but was subsequently banned by the GAA and told he would not receive his medal because he had signed for Glenavon. The GAA's 'rule 27' prohibited adult members at the time from playing or watching so-called foreign games. Uprichard was finally awarded his medal in 2004.
Uprichard played in goal for Glenavon and later for Distillery before signing for Arsenal in 1948 for £1,500. He never played an Arsenal first-team game, with Ted Platt and George Swindin being higher in the pecking order. He was transferred to Swindon Town in November 1949, later becoming the first choice goalkeeper.
The 1952–53 season was his last at Swindon before his transfer to Portsmouth in November 1952.
Uprichard was Eddie Lever's first signing as Pompey manager. He was later followed by Derek Dougan from Distillery. Uprichard played nearly 200 first-team games for Portsmouth in seven seasons. He later played for Southend United, Hastings United and Ramsgate Athletic.
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