Berens: Hugh Gray (Hugh)

1909-1910 (Leeds City Player Details)

Right Half

Born: Leith: 09-10-1892

Debut: v Fulham (a): 30-10-1909

5’8” 12st 7lb (1909)

Berens started with Musselburgh before joining Leeds City in June 1909, when he was just sixteen. He was one of many young players that Manager Frank Scott-Walford had signed from Scottish or Irish clubs as he scoured those countries for cheap bargains. Given his inexperience, it was understandable that he spent most of his time in City's reserves, though he was given his first team debut at Craven Cottage against Fulham on 30th October 1909, shortly after his seventeenth birthday. City lost the game 5-1, and a quick return to the reserves when he failed to justify his reputation. His next appearances were on 18th December 1909 in a 6-2 defeat at Filbert Street, home of Leicester Fosse, and then in 19th March 1910 at Turf Moor as City lost 3-0 at Burnley. He was described by Wanderer in the Leeds Mercury as being "rarely reliable" and lacking in experience, "although a thorough trier". It was far from being an illustrious start to his City career, and Berens remained well down the pecking order, below Tom McAllister and Welsh international Haydn Price, and soon Jimmy Horsley arrived as additional cover. It was dispiriting, but Berens had years ahead of him to make the grade. However, he quit City at the end of the 1909-10 season having made just three first team appearances and, apart from in the 1914-15 season when he was on the playing list of Pontypridd FC, is not understood to have played professionally again. He returned to Leith, where he died in 1961.