Ruecroft: Jacob (Jake)

WW2 Guest: 1944-1945 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Centre Half

Born: Lanchester, Co. Durham: 01-05-1915

Debut: v Sheffield United (h): 12-05-1945

5'10" 11st 7lb (1940)

Ruecroft started his career with Non-League Goole Town before signing for Third Division North Halifax Town in May 1938 and had scored one goal in thirty-five League games, mainly at Left Half, and also played in six F.A. Cup ties before World War Two brought an end to the Football League fixtures. He continued to play regularly for Halifax Town regularly throughout the war years. He had played in all three of the 1939-40 aborted Football League fixtures and when the season was restarted on a regional basis he went on to score once in eighteen games in that season. He went on to play thirty games in 1940-41, score once in thirty games in 1941-42, score once in thirty-three games in 1942-43, played thirty-eight times in 1943-44, thirty-six games in 1944-45, scoring in neither season but managed one in thirty-four games in 1945-46, a total of four goals in two hundred and ninteen war time games. During the War years he also guested for Leeds United in the final two games of the 1944-45 Football League Northern Section (Second Championship), making his debut at Centre Half on 12th May 1945 in a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United at Elland Road and kept his position for the final game as United were soundly beaten 1-6 by Chesterfield at Saltergate. In the 1945-46 season he also guested for Bradford Park Avenue twice and played once for Lincoln City in a 4-1 win at Hartlepools United on 1st January 1946. It was back to the Football League in Third Division North with Halifax Town after the Second World War, after having played two F.A. Cup games in 1945-46, and in the first season of 1946-47 he scored once, from the penalty spot, in twenty-five League games while also playing four F.A. Cup games before leaving to join Non-League Scarborough. He returned to the Football League in January 1948 when he joined Third Division North Bradford City. He played until the end of the following season, making forty-three league and three F.A. Cup appearances before again joining his initial club Non-League Goole Town, where he played out his career. He died in February 2005.