Fred Poland

Fred Poland was a professional association footballer who played as a centre forward. He was signed by Burnley in April 1888. He had played football in Scotland for Dundee Our Boys.

Fred Poland
Personal information
Full name Fred Poland
Place of birth Dundee, Scotland[1]
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1885 Dundee Our Boys ? (?)
1886 Burnley
1887 Newton Heath
1888 Burnley 9 (5[2])
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Pre-Football League

Poland moved to Lancashire from Scotland in search of work. He let it be known around Burnley that he was a footballer, having played at senior level in Scotland, and also that he was both a goalscorer and a goalkeeper. The football club heard about him and invited him to play in a friendly match against Newton Heath at Turf Moor. He played at centre-forward, exceeding expectations by scoring two goals in a 7-1 victory. He continued to play well and score goals as the 1887–1888 season drew to a close, and was retained by Burnley for the forthcoming inaugural Football League season.[3]

1888-1889

Poland made his league début on 8 September 1888, as a forward, against Preston North End at Deepdale. The home team defeated Burnley 5–2, Poland scoring his team's second. He made nine appearances, from a possible 22 league games played by Burnley in season 1888–89, and scored five league goals.[4]


References
  1. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 6 January 2018. (registration & fee required)
  2. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 6 January 2018. (registration & fee required)
  3. Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League. Amberley. pp. 192–193. ISBN 978-1-4456-1881-4.
  4. "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 6 January 2018. (registration & fee required)
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