Charlie LEMONS was born on 3 December 1887 at Netherhorpe in Sheffield. He had various occupations in his lifetime one of them being a footballer and for a very short time, a professional at that. He first played for Beighton Recreation before joining Scunthorpe and Lindsey United shortly into the 1919-20 Midland League season. His debut for Scunthorpe was in the number 10 shirt on the 18th October in a 2-1 victory over Grimsby Town Reserves. Along with Jack Spavin, who left for Nottingham Forest, Charlie was a goal scorer.

During the 1919-20 season, Charlie scored 16 Midland League goals and United never lost whenever his name was on the scoring sheet. From making his debut he never missed a match during that season and he appeared in 29 Midland League plus an F.A. Cup game.

Throughout the 1920-21 season Charlie was to also be ever present in all 38 Midland League and 7 F.A. Cup ties. In virtually every game he used the same number 10 shirt, but occasionally was selected to play at centre forward, No. 9, or inside right, No.8. His tally of goals came to 17 in all competitions. He was to play along side Fred Tunstall at Scunthorpe, a player who went on to play for Sheffield United and England. At Sheffield United, Charlie's former team mate scored the only goal of the 1925 FA Cup Final.

Charlie played his best game at the Old Showground, the name of United's previous home venue, on 7 May 1922 against Halifax Town in a 5-0 success. Scunthorpe United's supporters cheered two of his goals and saw their team fourth in the table, one position down on the previous year.

Charlie was transferred to Lincoln City for one year in 1921. During the 1921-22 season he played 22 games in the Lincoln Third Division North season. Most of these were in the No.9 shirt, although twice he played at inside left, using the No. 10 shirt. His debut for Lincoln City was in their second match of the season in a 3-0 loss at Walsall on their old Fellowes Park ground, a match watched by 10,627 spectators. His first goal for Lincoln was on 31st December at Sincil Bank, Lincoln as City won 2-1 against Chesterfield. The Imps finished 14th in the League. Charlie also scored one goal at Wigan Borough and two more during the next match at Lincoln against the same opposition. This accounted for all of his four goals.

Charlie then found himself transferred to York City for the 1922-23 season, but their history does not quote pre league games prior to 1929. However, they have given their first league line up for a match on 6 September 1922, which was the first game played by the newly formed York City. It was a Midland League fixture at Notts County Reserves on a Wednesday evening and Charlie was in the No.10 shirt. The match was los 4-2 by York City and Charlie was not a goal scorer. From York there is no further trace of where Charlie turned up next.

Lincoln City Football Club

York City

Charlie late c1948

 
Charlie seemed to live most of his life in the Netherthorpe area of Sheffield at Bromley Street and Fawcett Street.

Although he was only 50 when his wife Lilian died in 1937 leaving him with a daughter Marjorie aged 13 and a son Charlie aged 9, he never remarried.

This photo on the right was taken of him at his son Bill's wedding in 1934.

My thanks go to John Staff at Scunthorpe & Lyndsey United F.C. Archives for the football history and Andrew Drake and his website for the team photo and for setting me in the right direction.

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