Ernie Blenkinsop

Early life Blenkinsop was born in Cudworth, near Barnsley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England on 20 April 1902 to James Hollings Blenkinsop and Annie Elizabeth Blenkinsop (née Green). One of seven children, he attended St. John's School, Cudworth.

Club career Cudworth Village At the age of fifteen, Blenkinsop began playing local football for Cudworth Village in the Senior Division of the Barnsley Association League alongside his brother. By his late teens, he was regarded as the side's star player, earning 30 shillings a week, and helped them reach the final of the Barnsley and District Challenge Cup during the 1920–21 season. After appearing in the semi-final, he was forced to sit out a replay after opponents Wombwell Main registered a complaint that he had played despite being suspended. The claim was upheld resulting in Cudworth being fined and the match was replayed, Cudworth winning 2–1 to advance to the final. They met Monkwell in the final, played at Oakwell, suffering a 2–0 defeat but a reporter from the Barnsley Independent commented that Blenkinsop had "shone in the middle line."

After less than two full seasons and only 11 first-team appearances for Hull City, he was spotted by Sheffield Wednesday boss Bob Brown whilst playing in a reserve fixture as a forward.

Making his debut in a 4–0 defeat to Bury on 27 January 1923, Blenkinsop became a major force behind the rise of the Hillsborough club from struggling at the foot of the Second Division to being promoted as champions at the end of the 1925–26 season, During his eleven-year spell with Wednesday, he made over 400 appearances in all competitions, scoring five times, and was the club's most capped in player in history until his record was surpassed by goalkeeper Ron Springett. He remains the club's most capped outfield player of all time. Blenkinsop made his debut on 17 March 1934 in a 4–1 victory over Birmingham City at Anfield.

During a 2–1 victory over Derby County on 24 November 1935, he suffered a serious cartilage injury that was believed to have been career-threatening at the time. In January 1935, Liverpool looked to use Blenkinsop's experience despite his injury by appointing him as a non-playing captain for a league match against Blackburn Rovers with the remit of supporting and advising his teammates from the side of the pitch. However, Football Association (FA) guidelines did not permit club representatives to coach players along the boundaries of the pitch and the match referee was instructed to intervene if Blenkinsop attempted to influence play. After undergoing surgery, he returned to fitness and kept his place as club captain for the 1935–36 season. Blenkinsop suffered another serious cartilage injury in a Merseyside derby against Everton that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Having appeared in only two matches in the opening months of the 1937–38 season after being displaced by Benjamin Dabbs,

After 71 appearances in a red shirt, on 26 November 1937, completed a transfer to Welsh club Cardiff City in the Third Division South. He made his debut for the club on 4 December 1937 in a 3–2 victory over Millwall but his appearances throughout the season were sporadic, making eleven appearances in all competitions. At the end of the season, he retired from playing but took up a coaching role with the club before leaving a year later following the appointment of Cyril Spiers as manager.

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1921–22 Second Division

1922–23 Second Division

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1922–23 Second Division

1923–24 Second Division

1924–25 Second Division

1925–26 Second Division

1926–27 First Division

1927–28 First Division

1928–29 First Division

1929–30 First Division

1930–31 First Division

1931–32 First Division

1932–33 First Division

1933–34 First Division

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1933–34 First Division

1934–35 First Division

1935–36 First Division

1936–37 First Division

1937–38 First Division

71!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!71!!0 Cardiff City 1937–38 Third Division South

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Honours Sheffield Wednesday Football League Second Division winner: 1925–26 Football League First Division winner: 1928–29, 1929–30