| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Horsley Anderson[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1870 | ||
| Place of birth | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Date of death | 10 February 1937 (aged 66) | ||
| Place of death | Edinburgh, Scotland | ||
| Positions | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1889–1892 | Leith Athletic | 27 | (5) |
| 1892–1896 | Blackburn Rovers | 131 | (11) |
| 1896–1897 | New Brighton Tower | ? | (?) |
| 1897 | →Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 1897–1898 | New Brighton Tower | 8 | (0) |
| 1898–1901 | Blackburn Rovers | 45 | (8) |
| 1901–1904 | Blackpool | 78 | (29) |
| International career | |||
| 1892 | Scottish League XI | 1 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
George Horsley "Geordie"Anderson (16 April 1870 – 10 February 1937) was a Scottish professionalfootballer. He played as adefender and, later, as aforward.
Anderson was born inEdinburgh and played as acentre half, initially forLeith Athletic in the inaugural seasons of theScottish Football League.[2] In 1892, he played for theScottish League XI against the rivalScottish Football Alliance[3][4] a short time before joiningBlackburn Rovers. He replacedJack Barton at centre-half, forming a half-back line-up withJimmy Forrest andGeordie Dewar which was to remain at the heart of the Rovers' defence for the next three seasons, during which their league campaigns ended with finishes in ninth, fourth and fifth places, respectively. Although Rovers reached theFA Cup semi-finals in 1893 and 1894, their cup-winning exploits were over until1928. However, it has been reported that his off-field decisions gave concern to the club hierarchy.[5]
Anderson left Blackburn Rovers for the first time in 1896; during his initial spell at the club he scored 11 goals in 131 league games. He then spent a few seasons moving back and forth between Blackburn andNew Brighton Tower, who had joined theLancashire League at the start of the1897–98 season. After finishing as champions in their first season, the club were elected to theSecond Division ofThe Football League when the League was expanded by four clubs. Anderson returned permanently to Blackburn midway through the1898–99 season.
In 1901 Anderson joinedBlackpool. He made his debut on 2 March 1901, in a 10–1 defeat atSmall Heath, scoringthe Seasiders' goal. He went on to make a further seven appearances in the1900–01 season, scoring one more goal.
In1901–02, Anderson was moved into a forward position. He made 29 league appearances and scored twelve goals. Two of these goals were game-winners: firstly, in a single-goal victory overBurslem Port Vale atBloomfield Road on New Year's Day, 1902, and then in another one-goal game atNewton Heath on 25 January.
For the1902–03 campaign, Anderson was moved back to centre-half. He made 21 appearances and scored eight goals — including ahat-trick in a 3–3 draw withBarnsley at home on 13 September 1902. He was the first Blackpool player to achieve the feat in a League game.[6]
In1903–04, Anderson made 21 appearances and scored seven goals, including another hat-trick, this time in a 4–1 home victory overBurton United on 20 February 1904. He played as both a forward and centre-half in what was his final season as a player. His last appearance occurred on 30 April 1904, in a single-goal defeat atPreston North End in theWest Lancashire derby. It has been reported that he disappeared from his family home inBlackpool in 1920 and was not heard of again[5] until his death in 1937 in Edinburgh, aged 66.[7][8]