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James Knowles

James Knowles

adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
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Sorry for your loss.

I know absolutely 0 about the fifties, but do you have a name for your grandad? Might help some of the older posters remember.

Edit, just seen the title of the thread 😬 apologies
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...
I’ve just had a search on Google but can’t find much. It seems he only made 2 first team appearances, does that sound right?
 
https://www.besoccer.com/player/jim-knowles-854963

If you search ‘Jim Knowles Preston player’ on Google, he played in the 1958, making 2 appearances for the club, including a 4-4 draw played on Christmas Day vs Sheffield Wednesday.

Sorry I cant expand more that. But he did contribute to us finishing second in what is now the Premier League.

Tried to follow links on Google to see where else he played with no luck.
 
Double J said:
https://www.besoccer.com/player/jim-knowles-854963

If you search ‘Jim Knowles Preston player’ on Google, he played in the 1958, making 2 appearances for the club, including a 4-4 draw played on Christmas Day vs Sheffield Wednesday.

Sorry I cant expand more that. But he did contribute to us finishing second in what is now the Premier League.

Tried to follow links on Google to see where else he played with no luck.
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We didn’t qualify for Europe either. Wolves as champions qualified automatically and Manure who finished 9th were “invited” to join them.
 
adamhague1987 said:
That sounds about right. I know he said he was the back up goalie and Fred Else never got injured
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That’s my limit of knowledge from my searches on Google, I’m glad you posted about your Grandad, I’d never have heard of him if you hadn’t and it prompted me to find out about him.
I hope you get more from other posters, as StickyBrick said, @ernest might be able to help

May his memory live on.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...
Sorry for your loss. I didn't start going until the 1970s, but, if anyone remembers your grandad I'd guess @ernest and @royribble would be a couple of possibles.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...
Hello Adam. Sorry for your loss. Can't help you very much I'm afraid. Would suggest that you contact the club directly and ask if they can put you in touch with the Club Historian and/or thes ex players association, who may be able totally help you. Good !uck.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...

Sincere condolences but I didn't start to support PNE until a few years later - I can date my first match at Deepdale quite precisely Easter Monday 1963 - so I can't say anything about you grandad from first hand experience. I would hazard a guess my dad who passed from this life in 2007 would have been able to recall him. But I hope that your grandad had a fulfilling life after his football career. After all he would have been able to say to people 'I played for Preston North End' and most of us here would give just about anything to be able to say that.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...
Sorry for your loss.
Looks like he played for Barrow after leaving us, maybe they have some info on his playing days.
 
I am always sorry to hear about past players dying. Sorry for your loss adam.

With regard to your Grandad, I have no recollection of him at all. As someone else said, Fred Else our regular Goalie, was very seldom unavailable, therefore, quite easy to miss someone with only a few appearances, sorry.

RIP to your Grandad James Knowles. Thoughts and prayers going to you and your family.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...
Taken from The Whos Who of PNE by Dean Hayes. In 1957/58,when pne finished the campaign as runners up in the First Division to the mighty Wolves,goalkeeper James Knowles played in two games as deputy for the ever dependabe Fred Else.His first game saw him keep a clean sheet in a 2 0 win over Notts Forest but four days later he was between the posts on Christmas Day when north end drew 4 4 at Sheffield Wednesday.Knowles returned to the reserves before making to Barrow in the Close Season.He spent a couple of seasons at Holker Street but again was never first choice.I personally had never heard of your Grandfather I must admit and I started watching that same season.Hope this has helped youa little at this sad time for all your family,my condolences to you all.
 
adamhague1987 said:
My Grandad has just passed and played for PNE in the late fifties. We don’t know much about his playing days so we’re wondering if any of the older members had seen him play. He was a goalkeeper.
Click to expand...

Sincerest of condolences. RIP Mr Knowles.

Personally, I didn't know of your grandfather; it was always Fred Else, Alan Kelly, and a 16 year old John Barton (who made his first team debut against Arsenal in December 1958) who were in competition with each other.
 
It seems he played for just the one season, 57/58.John Barton is shown in the squad for the following season.

As well as playing for the famous Preston North End, your grandad could quite possibly say (can't find the lineups for his 2 appearances) that he played alongside the best footballer in the world in Tom Finney.
 

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Details for his games:

21.12.1957 Forest (h) W2-0 (Tommy Thompson, Mayers)
Line-up: Jim Knowles, Willie Cunningham, Joe Walton, Tommy Docherty, Joe Dunn, Frank O'Farrell, Derek Mayers, Tommy Thompson, Tom Finney, Jimmy Baxter, Sammy Taylor.

25.12.1957 Birmingham (a) D4-4 (Finney 2, Thompson 2)
Line-up: Jim Knowles, Willie Cunningham, Joe Walton, Tommy Docherty, Joe Dunn, Frank O'Farrell, Derek Mayers, Tommy Thompson, Dennis Hatsell, Jimmy Baxter, Tom Finney.
 
Brian Gloomy said:
Details for his games:

21.12.1957 Forest (h) W2-0 (Tommy Thompson, Mayers)
Line-up: Jim Knowles, Willie Cunningham, Joe Walton, Tommy Docherty, Joe Dunn, Frank O'Farrell, Derek Mayers, Tommy Thompson, Tom Finney, Jimmy Baxter, Sammy Taylor.

25.12.1957 Birmingham (a) D4-4 (Finney 2, Thompson 2)
Line-up: Jim Knowles, Willie Cunningham, Joe Walton, Tommy Docherty, Joe Dunn, Frank O'Farrell, Derek Mayers, Tommy Thompson, Dennis Hatsell, Jimmy Baxter, Tom Finney.
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Excellent 'digging'👍 So he did play with Sir Tom.

(I think the Christmas Day match was Sheff Weds rather than Birmingham)
 
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