George Harrison

George Harrison was born in Church Gresley on 18th July, 1892. A burly left-winger, he played for Gresley Rovers and Leicester Fosse before joining Everton in 1913. He was an immediate success and was a member of the team that won the First Division League Championship in 1914-15.

Harrison's career was interrupted by the First World War. He returned to Everton at the end of hostilities Harrison had one of the hardest shots in football but he was mainly known for the chances he created for other players. In 1921 Harrison won his first international cap for England against Belgium. Later that year he got his second and final cap against Northern Ireland.

After playing 177 league games for Everton, Harrison joined Preston North End in 1923. He was a great success and retained his place in the first-team for the next eight years. He developed a good relationship with fellow forwards, Alex James, Tommy Roberts, Norman Robson and Alex Hair.

Harrison was Preston's penalty taker and during his time at the club he scored 33 out of 35. His method was to kick the ball as hard as possible at the centre of the goal. He argued that the goalkeeper would instinctively would go one way or the other and leave the middle of the goal undefended.

Harrison left Preston North End in 1931. During his time at the club he scored 72 goals in 274 games. He joined Blackpool but only played 16 games before retiring from the game.

George Harrison ran a pub in Preston before his early death in 1939.