*Indicates unconfirmed information. Figures in brackets after English team names indicate all appearances made and goals scored in competitive matches for Football League clubs from 1888 onwards. For Scottish League clubs the figures show details of all competitive appearances and goals scored from 1946/47 onwards.
Doug Read
Appearances: 70 Goals: 0
Clean Sheets: 21
Date / Year of birth: 2nd April 1919
Position: Goalkeeper
Season of first appearance: 1946/47
Season of last appearance: 1948/49
Also played for: Oldham Athletic (0), Chester City (0), Bath City, Canterbury City and Ramsgate Athletic
Heavily built, 5' 11" tall keeper with an eccentric streak born in West Derby, Liverpool who started his career in Oldham's youth ranks.
Doug then moved on to Chester before signing for Western League club Bath in the summer of 1938. He made 48 appearances for Bath during the 1938/39 season before World War II interrupted his career.
At the start of the 1946/47 campaign Doug had a trial with Chelsea and in October 1946 he joined Margate.
When Doug made his debut on 12.10.46 he was already Margate's fourth keeper of the season but he went on to make the position his own during the remainder of the 1946/47 campaign. He made 31 appearances and impressed with his anticipation and consistency. However in April 1947 his Margate career seemed over when he returned home to Liverpool to assist with his family's business. Doug initially said that he wouldn't be able to play for the club anymore but quickly changed his mind and returned after missing only one match. Margate finished the season as Kent League champions.
Just before the start of the 1947/48 campaign Doug had the misfortune to dislocate his shoulder and as a result he missed the first two months of the season. That led to an amusing quote from player-manager Charlie Walker. Peter Hughes, one of Doug's temporary replacements in the Margate goal, had a poor game against Ramsgate on 25.10.47 and Walker said "Doug Read will be playing in goal next Saturday even if he has one arm in a sling." Sure enough Doug did take to the field for Margate's next game at Hartsdown Park (against Chatham on 1.11.47) but he ran out with his arm still in a sling, much to the concern of the crowd. However shortly before kick-off Doug removed it - it had been practical joke.
Doug went on to turn in some brilliant displays during the rest of the season, despite suffering a broken finger and a fractured rib, and he showed his sense of humour again in a home match against Maidstone on 1.5.48. Margate had already won the Kent League title so he frequently ran up field to join in with attacks during the match, playing as an extra centre-forward. However Maidstone had the last laugh, running out 7-3 winners. In total Doug made 33 appearances during the season, keeping 13 clean sheets, and he was part of the side that beat visitors Ramsgate 2-1 to win the Kent League Cup Final on 6.5.48. Doug also featured as Margate won 4-1 at Gravesend & Northfleet on 8.5.48 to claim the Kent Senior Shield and complete a three trophy haul for the season.
His injury jinx continued during the 1948/49 campaign and on the opening day of the season - 21.8.48 - Doug was carried off before half-time of a home game against Gillingham Reserves after being knocked out. Later in the campaign he sustained another dislocated shoulder, fractured another rib, suffered concussion, cut his head and also had recurring leg problems. His multiple ailments meant that Doug was rarely fit to play and he only appeared six times in total during the season. His final game for Margate was a Kent Senior Cup tie against Gillingham at Hartsdown Park on 5.2.49 which the Gills won 5-1. By then Ron Johnson had established himself as the first team keeper (he was cup-tied for the Kent Senior Cup) and in May 1949 Doug left the club and joined Canterbury.
He later returned to Thanet to join Ramsgate and played for them during the 1950/51 season.
Doug died in the Liverpool area on 2.3.86 aged 66.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1946/47 (MFC) |
31 (38) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 16) |
PR |
2R |
N/A |
SF |
|
Margate
won Kent League title. | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1947/48 (MFC) |
33 (47) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (1ST OF 18) |
1QR |
1R |
W |
W |
|
Margate
won Kent League title. Played in Kent League Cup Final (06.05.48 - beat Ramsgate Athletic 2-1). Played in Kent Senior Shield Final (08.05.48 - beat Gravesend & Northfleet 4-1). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1948/49 (MFC) |
6 (41) |
N/A |
0 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (10TH OF 18) |
PR |
2R |
2R |
1R |
|