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THREAD about what I've found out from McGuinness, the @RealSociedad star striker from the early 20th century.
1. Yesterday I was reading this small Tweet thread from @atotxaorg and it struck me that very little was known about of McGuinness, a player that not only every good Real Sociedad fan has read about, but all those interested in the beginnings of football. https://twitter.com/atotxaorg/status/1247879918915969025
2. I started to search on the internet and it didn’t take me long to make a promising start. I got in touch with @atotxaorg and we agreed that, however little I discovered, it would be worth publishing our findings, so, let’s get on with it.
3. So I don’t repeat myself unnecessarily about what we already know of McGuinness, I thought it would be appropriate to attach this article published in ‘Mundo Deportivo’ to mark Real Sociedad’s Centenary by Erik Bretos; a high ranked Real official, back then a journalist.
4. We made a start finding out what McGuinness’ full name was. His signature (see image below) barely reveals a ‘G’. ‘George’ was the first name that came to my mind and I took a punt on my hunch.
5. From there, and tinkering with the search criteria, I managed to find someone who matched the profile of the Real Sociedad player, where his stint was short-lived. The findings are scarce and mainly related to his personal life so therefore we’ll make this thread a short one.
6. George McGuinness was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, on the 6/10/1887, to Edward, a headmaster, and Catherine. He was the second of three boys and went to Saint Francis Xavier's College.
7. Other than his brief spell at Real Sociedad, we only know he also played for the extinct Harrowby FC. He was a passionate and committed footballer who played on the right wing.
8. After he left San Sebastian, just turned 23, George McGuinness became a schoolmaster like his dad. He taught at St Lawrence Roman Catholic School in Birkenhead, a Merseyside town not far from Liverpool. (Picture below Year 5s at St Lawrence RC School).
9. But when WWI broke out, McGuinness was called up and posted as a private with the 30th Division King’ Regiment (Liverpool) Infantry, 18th Battalion On 2 September 1914, about to turn 27.
10. Fourteen months later, on the 7th September 1915, the SS Invicta carrying George McGuinness (Number Service 16665) and his battalion crossed the Channel, bound for France.
11. The 1st of July 1916, was the start of one of the longest and bloodiest battles of WWI that took place on French soil: The Battle of the Somme. More than two million soldiers from both sides were involved during the four month and seventeen day battle.
12. Two weeks later, Edward and Catherine McGuinness received a letter. His death was reported on the pages of the Birkenhead News on the 16th of July. John Caulfield, a fellow soldier in George’s battalion, told the account of the death in combat of their second son.
13. Caulfield said that his friend, who was struck by a bullet, died nobly and had been rewarded already in Heaven. He was 28 and passed away on the 1st of July at Mountauban-de-Picardie, Department of the Somme.
14. All the McGuinness’s children were on the front line. James Furneux, the youngest, was hospitalised in Bath with shellshock. He fought in France, was awarded three medals and discharged on the 16/81917. Edward, the eldest, was in Egypt and was demobilised on the 27/3/1917.
15. The whereabouts of George McGuinness’ remains are unknown as he didn’t have his own burial. But his death in combat, along with other 70,000 British soldiers, is remembered at the Thiepval Memorial in the French town with the same name.
16. At the bottom of the memorial, you can find the name of Private George McGuinness, the player that gave Real Sociedad so much glory in two years. Now any Real Sociedad fan can pay him tribute by visiting the site and send us a photo of his name featuring amongst many others.
17. But life has twists and turns… or may be not so. During the last year McGuinness was in San Sebastian, Nicasio Goitisolo arrived at the club in March. He was born in Liverpool to Basque parents on the 10/10/1889 (Below on the bottom right with Stadium Club Avilesino, 1920).
18. Nicasio played for Racing FC (Liverpool), Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Third Lanark Athletic Club (Glasgow). After he returned to Racing FC, he was a trialist at Athletic Club, played a friendly but never made the cut. Afterwards he was on the Real Sociedad books.
19. Not only were both originally from Liverpool but there were two years difference between them, so they could have known each other from school or been friends from their teen years, but they also went to St Francis Xavier College. Too much of a coincidence? Maybe not?
20. I hope this small thread compiling some unknown facts of George McGuinness’ past helps Real Sociedad to fill some gaps in a chapter of its history and also that @atotxaorg and other faithful fans have enjoyed reading it. Finally, thanks to @yorkshitarra for his selfless help.
