George Timmins who played football for West Bromwich Albion

Some people in the family think that George Timmins who played for West Bromwich Albion was one of my grandmother’s brothers. This is not so.

Lily Gertrude Hamilton (nee Timmins) ( 1890-1969) had seven brothers, one of whom was called George.

Thomas            1867-1948

Harry                1876-1940

Albert               1877-1882

Arthur               1876-?

George             1881-?

Albert J             1884-?

Alfred               1886-1924

This George appears on the census in 1901 living with his parents in Overend Street and working as a whitesmith. He does not appear in the 1911 census, (by which time both his parents are dead) but I can’t find a record of his death. He may have moved away from West Bromwich.

Gert’s father James was born in 1848, so was a contemporary of George Timmins the footballer. He worked at Salter’s as a whitesmith.  His parents James (also a whitesmith) and Ann had 7 children including a George who was born in 1843 and was – guess what, a whitesmith.

George Timmins the footballer was born in West Bromwich in 1858. The West Bromwich Strollers club was formed in 1879 by a group of young men from the Salter's. Initially they played cricket at Dartmouth Park but in 1882 they decided to form the West Bromwich Albion football club. George who worked at the factory, joined the club. He played in three consecutive FA Cup Finals at left half, leaving in 1891 to join Old Hill Wanderers. He worked at Salters, as did our ancestors, and therefore he was probably a whitesmith, so he was probably also related in some way, but Timmins is a common name in West Bromwich, and unless someone really wants me to follow him up, I'm only really prepared to spend the money on certificates for the immediate family.