Vickers: Henry (Harry)

WW2 Guest: 1942-1943 (Leeds United War-time Guest Player Details)

Wing Half

Born: Holbeck: 03-02-1919

Debut: v Doncaster Rovers (h): 14-03-1942

Height & Weight: 5' 6 1/2": Unknown

“He attended Prince’s Field School in Holbeck and, in 1932 he captained the Leeds City Boys team, was awarded a Yorkshire Cap and was picked for international trials. In 1933-34 he captained the Leeds Minor League for fourteen and fifteen year-olds and represented Yorkshire as an amateur. He also captained a Leeds League representative side (open age) against Greenock Morton of Scotland. He won the WRC Minor FA, Championship in both 1933-34 and 1934-35 and also represented the West Riding County F.A Minor XI in those years. In 1935, after a trial with Bolton Wanderers, who offered him terms, he decided to join the Leeds United ground staff and signed for the Elland Road club instead. In 1936-37 he signed professional forms with Leeds United. He had just started to establish himself with the United Reserve team, having been an ever-present, when WW2 broke out and Football League competitions were suspended. He enlisted with the Army, but played for Millwall and Leeds, when available or chosen, when on leave. He returned to Leeds United in 1945-46 on demob from the Army to continue his career, now twenty-seven years old. In 1947, after ten years at Elland Road he was given a free transfer by Leeds, who cut their staff after relegation from the First Division. Now aged twenty-eight he was offered terms by Second Division side Plymouth Argyle, but he decided to finish his professional career.” (Information kindly supplied by Tony Vickers, nephew of Harry Vickers). Harry Vickers started with Beeston Hill Parish Church and was thought to have been on the Leeds United Ground-staff before, during and after the Second World War years. "He played in the Yorkshire League team as an Amateur, starting in 1935-36 and turned professional in the season before the Second World War and had just made his breakthrough into the Reserve team by the outbreak of war.” (Information kindly supplied by Neil Roche). He played four games for Leeds United in the 1941-42 Football League Northern Section Second Championship. He made his debut at Right Half for Leeds as they beat Doncaster Rovers 6-1 at Elland Road on 14th March 1942. He missed the next game but was back to play four consecutive games at Left Half as Leeds lost 0-1 at Doncaster Rovers, 1-2 to Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road, and 1-6 to Halifax Town at the Shay, before winning the reverse fixture with Halifax Town at Elland Road 3-1. He played his sixth and final game for Leeds in the opening fixture of the 1942-43 Football League Northern Section First Championship at Right Half on 29th August 1942, when Leeds were beaten 0-1 by Middlesbrough at Elland Road. He served in the Army during the War years and also guested twice for Millwall in the 1941-42 season.