| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David Liddle Fairhurst | ||
| Date of birth | (1906-07-20)20 July 1906 | ||
| Place of birth | Blyth, Northumberland, England | ||
| Date of death | 26 October 1972(1972-10-26) (aged 66) | ||
| Height | 5 ft7+1⁄2 in (1.71 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| New Delaval Villa | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 19??–1927 | Blyth Spartans | ? | (?) |
| 1927–1929 | Walsall | 56 | (0) |
| 1929–1946 | Newcastle United | 266 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 1933 | England | 1 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
David Liddle Fairhurst (20 July 1906 – 26 October 1972) was an English professionalfootballer, who played most of his career, as aleft back, withNewcastle United, who he helped win theFA Cup in1932. He also made one appearance forEngland in 1933.
Fairhurst was born inBlyth, Northumberland and started his football career atBlyth Spartans before being signed byJimmy Torrance[2] forWalsall in June 1927. After two seasons playing for Walsall in theThird Division South he was signed byFirst DivisionNewcastle United for a fee of £1750 in March 1929.
At Newcastle, Fairhurst was a consistent performer and gave the club over a decade of stout service. He took a while to get into the first team, and although he made his debut in a 2–1 victory atDerby County on 27 April 1929[3] his next appearance was not until December, when he displaced Scottish internationalBob Thomson. From then on, Fairhurst was the first choice left-back for several seasons.
He was an ever-present in the successful FA Cup campaign in1932, in which Newcastle defeatedArsenal in the final in rather controversial circumstances. Arsenal took an early lead, whenJoe Hulme beat Fairhurst and centred the ball toBob John who easily beat goalkeeperAlbert McInroy. Newcastle's equaliser came after a long ball had appeared to go over the goal line, and out for a goal kick;[4] Newcastle wingerJimmy Richardson nevertheless crossed the ball back into play andJack Allen levelled the match for the Magpies. The referee ruled that the ball had not gone out of play, even though photographic evidence later showed that the ball had actually crossed the line, and the goal stood. Allen scored again in the second half to win the match 2–1.
The following year, Fairhurst became an international when he won his solitary England cap in the friendly againstFrance on 6 December 1933 atWhite Hart Lane which England won 4–1, with two goals fromGeorge Camsell.[5]
For Newcastle, Fairhurst was ever-present in1932–33 and only missed two matches inthe following season, which ended in Newcastle being relegated toDivision Two. Fairhurst continued to be a first choice regular for the next few seasons, but theSecond World War brought his career to an end, although he did not officially announce his retirement until May 1946.
In his Newcastle career, he made a total of 285 appearances, scoring twice. Both goals came in a 5–1 victory overNottingham Forest on 30 November 1935.[6]
Fairhurst joined Birmingham City in 1946 as trainer and then as physiotherapist in 1950. He was still at Birmingham when he died at age 66[7]
Fairhurst came from a sporting family[7] and his elder brother,Billy Fairhurst, was a full-back with various teams in the 1930s includingNelson andHartlepools United.
