*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.
Lionel Phillips
Appearances: 55 Goals: 37
Date / Year of birth: 13th December 1929
Position: Striker
Season of first appearance: 1954/55
Season of last appearance: 1956/57
Also played for: Yeovil Town, Portsmouth (4,1), Tonbridge, Headington United, Hastings United and Ramsgate Athletic
Fast forward born in Much Dewchurch who started with Yeovil before moving into league football with Portsmouth in February 1953. Lionel made four 1st Division appearances for Pompey during the 1953/54 season but then dropped back into non-league football and joined Tonbridge.
He played for the Angels for around 18 months before moving to Margate in January 1955.
Lionel enjoyed one of the most memorable debuts of any Margate player when he scored a remarkable five times in an 8-4 win over Chatham at Hartsdown Park on 22.1.55. His tally included a first half hat-trick and Lionel went on to score a total of 13 goals in 23 appearances before the end of the 1954/55 season.
He managed a further 13 goals in the 17 games he played early in the 1955/56 campaign, including an opening day hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Canterbury at Hartsdown Park, and Lionel also emerged unscathed from a minor car crash in August 1955. On 19.11.55 he was in the Margate side that drew 2-2 with visitors Walsall in the FA Cup 1st Round and on 24.11.55 Lionel scored in the replay at Walsall as the home side won 6-1.
However in December 1955 Lionel signed for Headington, financial problems forced Margate into letting him go for a fee reported as £250 in the local press although secretary Alan Kay said that the actual figure "fell far short" of that amount. A month before a Football League club had made an offer which Almer Hall turned down due to Margate still being involved in the FA Cup.
In January 1957 Lionel returned to Hartsdown for a second spell after 13 months with Headington. He'd scored 25 goals in a total of 48 appearances there. The local press described him as a "mercurial sharpshooter" and Lionel's first game back on 2.2.57 could hardly have gone much better. He scored twice in the opening nine minutes to secure Margate a 2-1 win over Ashford at Hartsdown. In fact his first goal came after just two minutes of his 'comeback'. However his return wasn't all plain sailing as he was dropped to the reserves in March 1957 for what was perceived to be a lack of effort. Considering Lionel had scored four goals in five appearances at the time it seemed a little harsh but as it turned out his demotion only actually lasted for one match.
When Lionel was restored to the first team he returned in style by scoring a hat-trick in the second game of his return - a 5-0 win at Whitstable in on 23.3.57. He then suffered something of a barren run of only one goal in seven games and the local press took the opportunity to describe him as "sultry", "enigmatical", "reluctant to chase" and "a shadow of the player he once was".
A thigh injury didn't help matters but on 4.5.57 Lionel hit back at his critics with another hat-trick, this time in a 3-0 win over Deal at Hartsdown Park. The Isle of Thanet Gazette was then rather more impressed and praised Lionel's chasing and "amazing bursts of speed". He finished the season with a tally of 11 goals from only 15 appearances, keeping up his impressive strike rate for the club.
At the end of the season Lionel joined Hastings in a part exchange deal that saw Rex Cherry move to Hartsdown Park, Hastings also paid a fee. In September 1957 Lionel played an entire game in goal for Hastings Reserves.
He joined Ramsgate for the 1958/59 season and scored against Margate on 4.9.58 when the Rams lost a Kent League Cup match 2-1 at Hartsdown Park.
Lionel then rejoined Tonbridge for the 1959/60 season.
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1954/55 (MFC) |
23 (46) |
N/A |
13 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (5TH OF 17) |
2QR |
2R |
RU |
RU |
|
Played in Kent
League Cup Final (30.04.55 - lost 3-2 to Tunbridge
Wells). Played in Kent Senior Shield Final (14.05.55 - lost 2-1 to Tunbridge Wells). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1955/56 (MFC) |
17 (45) |
N/A |
13 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (2ND OF 17) |
1R |
1R |
RU |
1R |
|
Played in FA Cup
1st Round (19.11.55 - drew 2-2 with Walsall at
home). Played and scored in FA Cup 1st Round replay (24.11.55 - lost 6-1 at Walsall). | |||||||||
|
SEASON (CLUB) |
FULL (MAX) |
SUB |
GLS |
|
FAC |
KSC |
KLC |
KSS |
|
|
1956/57 (MFC) |
15 (47) |
N/A |
11 |
KENT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE (8TH OF 17) |
2R |
1R |
SF |
SF |
|