Frank Sharp (footballer, born 1947)

Frank Sharp (born 28 May 1947) is a Scottish former footballer who scored 13 goals in 231 league games in a ten-year career in the Football League and Scottish Football League. A winger, he played for Heart of Midlothian, Carlisle United, Cardiff City, Barnsley, Grimsby Town, Port Vale, and Northwich Victoria.

Frank Sharp
Personal information
Full name Frank Sharp[1]
Date of birth (1947-05-28) 28 May 1947 (age 77)[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland[1]
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Left winger
Youth career
1961–1963 Tynecastle Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1963–1967 Heart of Midlothian 6 (1)
1967–1969 Carlisle United 32 (0)
1969–1970 Cardiff City 14 (1)
1970–1973 Barnsley 125 (7)
1973–1974 Grimsby Town 29 (2)
1974–1975 Port Vale 24 (2)
Northwich Victoria
Total 230 (13)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Sharp began his career at junior side Tynecastle Athletic before turning professional with Tommy Walker's Heart of Midlothian. Hearts finished seventh and 11th in the First Division in 1965–66 and 1966–67. He appeared in just six league games at Tynecastle, scoring one goal. In 1967, Sharp joined Carlisle United for a fee of £500 but struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Brunton Park. The "Cumbrians" finished mid-table in the Second Division in 1967–68 and 1968–69 under the stewardship of first Tim Ward and then Bob Stokoe. He then moved on to Jimmy Scoular's Second Division side Cardiff City.[3] Plagued by injury, Sharp spent just over one season at Ninian Park, his only goal coming in a 1–1 draw with Hull City in March 1970, before he joined Barnsley along with Leslie Lea. Johnny Steele's "Tykes" finished 12th in the Third Division in 1970–71, before suffering relegation in 1971–72 under the stewardship of rookie manager John McSeveney. Johnny Steele then returned to Barnsley and led the club to a 14th-place finish in the Fourth Division in 1972–73. Sharp scored seven goals in 125 league appearances at Oakwell. He then scored two goals in 29 Third Division games at Ron Ashman's Grimsby Town in the 1973–74 season. He left Blundell Park and joined Third Division side Port Vale in May 1974.[1] He opened the 1974–75 season with a goal in each of his first two games at Vale Park but lost his first-team place in November and went to finish the season with 27 league and cup appearances.[1] He was given a free transfer in May 1975 by "Valiants" manager Roy Sproson and moved on to Northern Premier League side Northwich Victoria.[1]

Career statistics

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Source:[4][5]

Club Season Division League National Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Heart of Midlothian 1963–64 Scottish First Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
1964–65 Scottish First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1965–66 Scottish First Division 6 1 1 0 0 0 7 1
1966–67 Scottish First Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 1 1 0 1 0 8 1
Carlisle United 1966–67 Second Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
1967–68 Second Division 27 0 0 0 1 0 28 0
1968–69 Second Division 4 0 0 0 1 0 5 0
Total 32 0 0 0 2 0 34 0
Cardiff City 1966–67 Second Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
1967–68 Second Division 9 1 0 0 1 0 10 1
Total 14 1 0 0 1 0 15 1
Barnsley 1970–71 Third Division 43 3 4 0 0 0 47 3
1971–72 Third Division 42 0 3 0 2 0 47 0
1972–73 Fourth Division 40 4 2 0 2 0 44 4
Total 125 7 9 0 4 0 138 7
Grimsby Town 1973–74 Third Division 29 2 4 0 4 1 37 3
Port Vale 1974–75 Third Division 24 2 2 0 1 0 27 2
Career total 230 13 16 0 13 1 259 14

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Kent, Jeff (1996). Port Vale Personalities. Witan Books. p. 262. ISBN 0-9529152-0-0.
  2. ^ Lamming, Douglas (1985). A Who's Who of Grimsby Town AFC 1890–1985. Hutton Press. p. 110. ISBN 0907033342.
  3. ^ Hayes, Dean (2006). The Who's Who of Cardiff City. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-462-0.
  4. ^ "Frank Sharp - Hearts Career - from 31 Aug 1963 to 01 Aug 1966". www.londonhearts.com. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  5. ^ Frank Sharp at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)