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Eastham: Henry (Harry)
WW2 Guest: 1942-1943
(Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)
Inside Forward
Born: Blackpool: 30-06-1917
Debut: v Doncaster Rovers (h): 14-03-1942
Height & Weight: Unknown
Eastham, a right-winger or inside-forward, was a younger brother of George R. Eastham, an
England international, whose son George E. Eastham also played for England. Like his
brother, Harry started his career with Blackpool who he joined as an amateur in September
1933, signing as a professional the following June. Though young, he failed to win a first
team place at Blackpool and joined Liverpool in February 1936. He made his Liverpool debut,
at Inside Right, in a 2-1 win over Arsenal at Anfield on 31st October 1936. He got his first
goal for Liverpool when he scored the second goal in a 5-2 win over Manchester United at Old
Trafford on 21st November 1936. He had figured in twenty-one First Division matches by the
end of his initial 1936-37 season, and scored twice. He was held his place at the start of
the following season, playing the first twelve games, but lost his place to Phil Taylor and
only played another three League matches that season. As well as occasionally playing for
Liverpool, for whom he scored once in eleven games, during the War years, he guested for
several other clubs. In 1939-40 he played twice for New Brighton and once for Southport. He
played several seasons with Brighton and Hove Albion with three games in 1940-41, eight in
1941-42, three goals in twenty appearancesin 1942-43 and scored once in eighteen games in
1943-44. In 1941-42 he played twice for Bolton Wanderers and once for Newcastle United. He
also guested for Leeds United, where he played on six occasions without scoring. He played
three consecutive games at Inside Left in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section
(Second Championship) in March 1942 and then played at Inside Left in the first two games
of the 1942-43 Football League Northern Section (First Championship) and then in his third
and final game he was at Outside Right. He sparingly turning out for Liverpool, once in each
of 1941-42 and 1942-43 and then scored once in six appearances in 1944-45 and three games in
1945-46. He also played for his former club, Blackpool, where he scored twice in fifteen
appearances in 1944-45. Throughout his career he was noted for his skill on the ball and his
ability to create chances for others and he was never a prolific goal-scorer. When League
football recommenced afterthe war, Eastham returned to Liverpool and qualified for a League
championship medal in the first season after appearing in nineteen of the games that
Liverpool played in 1946-47 to win their fifth First Division title. He did not make the
first team in the following season and was transferred to Tranmere Rovers in May 1948. At
Liverpool he played sixty-three League games, scoring three goals, either side of the war.
He also scored one goal in six F.A. Cup appearances. At Tranmere Rovers he served them for
five seasons and scored thirteen goals in one hundred and fifty-four League games and also
played in five F.A. Cup ties. He joined Accrington Stanley in July 1953 and, although in
the veteran stage of his career, he did an excellent job in two seasons at Peel Park. In
the 1953/54 season, he ran the midfield for the first team and the following season he
guided the reserves to a Lancashire Combination League and Cup double. He scored three times
in forty-two League games for Stanley and added one more goal in three F.A. Cup appearances.
He left Accrington Stanley in July 1955, and played non-League for Netherfield and Rolls
Royce (Lancashire Combination) and after retiring from soccer, he became a licensee in the
Bolton area. He died in Middlesbrough in September 1998.
| Appearances | Goals |
| War-time: | |
| League 6 | 0 |
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