Henry Prince Devey (September - December 1864 – 1940) was an English footballer who played in The Football League for Aston Villa.[4][5][3]

Henry Devey
Personal information
Full name Henry Prince Devey[1][2]
Date of birth 25 September 1864[1][2]
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Date of death 1940 (aged 79–80)[1][3]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1881–1884 Aston Clarendon F.C
1884–1886 Montrose (Birmingham) F.C.
1886–1887 Birmingham Excelsior
1887–1892 Aston Villa 73 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Family

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He was one of five brothers who all played professional football, Ted and Will for Small Heath and Jack, Harry and Bob Devey for Aston Villa. Another brother, Abel, was a cricketer with Staffordshire.[6]

Playing career

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From 1881 to 1886 Devey played for two clubs for which there are no records, Aston Clarendon F.C. and Montrose F.C. (Birmingham). From 1886 to 1887 Devey played for Birmingham Excelsior a club founded in 1869.

Season 1888-89

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Harry Devey was a key member of the Aston Villa squad in the Football League inaugural season of 1888–1889. Devey played in the first ever Villa League match on 8 September 1888 at Dudley Road, Wolverhampton then home of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The match ended 1-1. Devey was described as a keen, hard-tackler who had the ability, then rare for a defender at bringing the ball forward. He only missed one game in 1888-1889 and was part of the excellent Aston Villa defence (as Centre-Half) that only conceded 43 goals in 1888-1889 the 3rd lowest in the League in 1888–1889. As a centre-half he played in a defence that achieved one League clean-sheet and kept the opposition to one-League-goal-in-a-match on no less than on eight occasions.[5] Aston Villa finished runners-up.[7]

Professional Baseball

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In 1890 Devey played professional baseball for Aston Villa in the National League of Baseball of Great Britain.

Statistics

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Source:[8]

Club Season Division League FA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 1888–89 The Football League 21 0 3 0 24 0
Aston Villa 1889–90 Football League 19 0 1 0 20 0
Aston Villa 1890–91 Football League 19 0 1 0 20 0
Aston Villa 1891–92 Football League 10 1 4 0 14 1
Aston Villa 1892–93 First Division 4 0 - - 4 0

References

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  1. ^ a b c Harry Devey at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b "FreeBirthsMarriagesDeaths". Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b Matthews, Tony (2004). Who's Who of Aston Villa. Mainstream Publishing. p. 82. ISBN 1-84018-821-9.
  4. ^ Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6.
  5. ^ a b "English National Football Archive". Retrieved 23 December 2017. (registration & fee required)
  6. ^ "Abel Devey". cricketarchive. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
  7. ^ Metcalf, Mark (2013). The Origins of the Football League. Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-1881-4.
  8. ^ Harry Devey at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)