George Hunt (footballer, born 1910)

George Samuel Hunt (22 February 1910 – 19 September 1996) was an English footballer and coach. Hunt, who played at inside or centre forward, featured for Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday in his career.

Career

Born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, Hunt spent his early career playing for local sides in his native county, having trials with both Barnsley and Sheffield United, both of whom rejected him. He eventually joined Chesterfield in 1929 and in his only season there scored nine times in fourteen games.

He moved on from Chesterfield to Tottenham Hotspur in June 1930 and spent seven seasons with the club, and was a prolific goalscorer, hitting 138 goals in 198 matches for Tottenham as they were promoted to the First Division and becoming the club's top scorer for five consecutive seasons, from 1931–32 through to 1935–36. He also won three caps for England during this time, scoring one goal.

His scoring form attracted the attention of Spurs' neighbours and rivals Arsenal, who signed him for £7, 500 in 1937, making him the first player to move directly from Spurs to Arsenal since the latter club's move to Highbury in 1913. Hunt was intended as a replacement for Ted Drake of whom was injured at the time. He made his debut for Arsenal against Manchester City on 2 October 1937 at Highbury, having coincidentally played there for Spurs in a reserve match three days earlier, on 29 September.

In 1937–38, Hunt played 21 matches, with 18 in the league, scoring three goals for Arsenal and earned a First Division winners' medal in all. Hunt was then sold to Bolton Wanderers for 4,000 pounds in the summer of 1938 after Drake's recovery, and to make way for the subsequent signing of Bryn Jones. At Bolton, Hunt returned to form and hit 23 goals in the 1938–39 season. After that his career was interrupted by the Second World War, although he still played wartime matches for Bolton. He finished his career with a one-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday between 1946 and 1948.

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing, he returned to Bolton as a coach and trainer in 1948, and was a member of the club's backroom staff when they won the 1957–58 FA Cup. He died aged 86 in 1996, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for the last few years of his life.

Honours

Player

Arsenal

• First Division: 1937-38

Coach

Bolton Wanderers

• FA Cup: 1958

• ^