Misplaced Pages

William Michael Purves (1870 – after 1900) was an Irish professional footballer who played as a right back. He made 40 appearances in the Football League, playing for Small Heath in the 1890s. He played three times for the Irish Football League representative side.

Purves was born in Belfast and played for Glentoran before coming to England to join Small Heath in March 1894. He played in the last three matches of the 1893–94 Football League regular season and in the test match that confirmed their ascent to the First Division. He played every game of the club's first top-flight season, but lost his place to Frank Lester in 1895–96 and returned to Glentoran. From 1900 he acted as Glentoran's trainer.

Notes

1. The Matthews source misattributes to Purves a League appearance made by Bernard Pumfrey on 30 December 1893, some time before Purves joined Small Heath.

References

1. ^ "Purves, W (William)". English National Football Archive. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
2. Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
3. ^ Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
4. "Small Heath". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
5. Matthews, pp. 142–143.

This biographical article relating to Northern Irish association football is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• 1870 births
• Association footballers from Belfast
• Men's association footballers from Northern Ireland
• Irish association footballers (before 1923)
• Men's association football fullbacks
• Glentoran F.C. players
• Birmingham City F.C. players
• English Football League players
• Northern Ireland association football biography stubs