Frederick Titmuss (born 15 February 1898 in Pirton, Hertfordshire, England - died 2 October 1966) was an English footballer who played at full-back for Southampton and Plymouth Argyle, and also made two appearances for England. Events 590 - Khosrau II is crowned as king of Persia 1637 - Ferdinand III becomes Holy Roman Emperor Year 1898 ( MDCCCXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Pirton is a small village three miles north-east of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 1187 - Siege of Jerusalem: Saladin captures Jerusalem after 88 years of Crusader rule Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. For details of the current season see Plymouth Argyle FC season 2008-09 Plymouth Argyle Football Club, commonly known as Argyle The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football

Playing career

Southampton

As a youngster, Titmuss turned out for his local side, Pirton United in the Luton Alliance before joining Hitchin Town. Luton ( is a large town in the east of England, 32 miles (51 kilometres north of London. Hitchin Town is a football club based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, currently playing in the Southern League. During World War I he served with the Lancashire Fusiliers, where he played for the Army team, meeting Bert Lee who was instrumental in bringing Titmuss to The Dell. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The Lancashire Fusiliers was a British Infantry Regiment that was amalgamated with other Fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Ernest Albert (Bert Lee was a professional footballer who played in the 1902 FA Cup final for Southampton, and also made one appearance for England The Dell in Milton Road Southampton, England was the home ground of Southampton Football Club between 1898 and 2001

He joined Southampton as soon as hostilities were over and made a handful of appearances in friendly matches before the resumption of league football. Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. Although Titmuss considered himself to be a left-winger, he was soon converted into an outstanding left-back. He played his first competitive match on the opening day of the 1919-20 Southern League season and quickly formed a partnership with Tom Parker, who were described as "the best pair of backs in the South". History Professional football (and Professional sport in general developed more slowly in Southern England than in the north. Thomas Robert "Tom" Parker ( November 19, 1897 – November 1, 1987) was an English football player and manager ^[1] In 1920, Southampton joined the Football League, along with the other Southern League clubs. Titmuss missed only one match in the 1920–21 season, as Southampton finished second, missing out on the only promotion position.

On 13 March 1922 he was called up to play for England against Wales, making his debut in the same match as his Southampton colleague, Bill Rawlings. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 1922 ( MCMXXII) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football The Wales national football team represents Wales in international men's football. William Ernest "Bill" Rawlings ( 3 January 1896 &ndash 25 September 1972) was a professional footballer born in Andover This was the first time that two players from Division Three had appeared in the same England side, and the only occasion on which two players from the same Third Division club had played together for England. He was to make one further England appearance, also against Wales on 5 March 1923. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1923 ( MCMXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Southampton were champions of Division Three (South) in 1922 conceding only 21 goals, with Titmuss an ever-present. The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958 According to Holley & Chalk’s "Alphabet of the Saints", "his speciality was the slide tackle although his perfect positional play often meant that such 'last ditch' defending was hardly ever needed. "^[2]

Titmuss continued to be a virtual ever-present throughout the next few seasons as Southampton consolidated their place in Division Two, although his career almost came to an abrupt end in February 1924 when he nearly lost the sight in one eye after being struck in the face by the lace of a football.

By February 1926, he had lost his regular place in the starting line-up to Mike Keeping and he was sold to Plymouth Argyle for £1750. Alexander Edwin Michael "Mike" Keeping ( August 22, 1902 &ndash 28 March 1984) was an English footballer and For details of the current season see Plymouth Argyle FC season 2008-09 Plymouth Argyle Football Club, commonly known as Argyle

Plymouth Argyle

When Titmuss joined Plymouth, they were two-thirds of the way through a run of six consecutive finishes (between 1921–22 and 1926–27) in runners-up spot in the Third Division South, when only the champions were promoted. The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958 Each season they pushed hard for promotion but missed out narrowly. After finishing third and fourth in 1928 and 1929 respectively, Plymouth eventually secured the elusive championship in 1930 by a margin of seven points.

After six years of good service to the Devon club, Titmuss retired in 1932. He then settled in the Plymouth area to become a licensee, although he later assisted St Austell in neighbouring Cornwall. St Austell FC is a football club based in St Austell, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom.

Honours

As player

Southampton

• Football League Third Division South Champions: 1921–22

Plymouth Argyle

• Football League Third Division South Champions: 1929–30

References

External links

• Fred Titmuss England profile at Englandstats