Harry Dobinson

Dobinson was born in 1898 in Darlington, County Durham, the son of Thomas William Dobinson, a porter, and his wife Annie. He attended Darlington Grammar School, where he played for the school football team, before joining the Army in 1915. He served in France with 52 Brigade Royal Field Artillery as well as playing for the Brigade's football team. After the war, he worked as a shipyard clerk, played football as an amateur for Sunderland West End, and established a reputation in Yorkshire and the north-east of England as a middle-distance runner. Dobinson signed for Durham City ahead of their first season in the Football League. He made his debut on 3 September 1921, playing at centre forward in a 2–0 win at home to Southport in Durham's second match in the newly formed Northern Section of the Third Division. His first Football League goal came in his sixth appearance, on 22 October in a 7–3 loss to his home-town club of Darlington, and by Christmas he had five goals from a dozen matches. Amid interest from First Division clubs including Aston Villa and Everton, Dobinson signed for Burnley on 13 January 1922, for a reported fee of £600. He made his top-flight debut the following day, away to Aston Villa, and the Athletic News' Birmingham correspondent "felt sorry for [the debutant], who could scarcely hope to shine in such company and on such a field". He kept his place for the visit to Arsenal, which ended goalless, and thereafter played for the reserves, scoring five goals…