George Mounsey was playing for his home-town club, while working as a hewer in Durham’s, Burnhope Colliery, when Southampton brought him south. The Portsmouth Evening News claimed at the time of his arrival

“(he) was much sought after and was responsible for Willington reaching the 5^th Qualifying Round of last season’s English Cup and is considered quite a capture.”

He was on the short side for a centre-half but soon made his Southern League debut in that position. A fortnight on, he was knocked unconscious, during a South-Eastern League match at Watford.

He recovered to complete the match. Excused training on the Monday, he died – of heart failure, the coroner said – on the Tuesday at his Milton Rd home. George had been married less than six months. Watford and seven other Southern League clubs donated to a fund for his widow, Matilda and a benefit against Portsmouth Reserves was played in the November. At the inquest it was recorded that “the heart was dilated, the right side being unusually thin for the muscularity of the man”. Verdict – natural causes.