Donald Slade

Donald Slade (26 November 1888 – 24 March 1980) was an English footballer who played as a forward for various English clubs in the period prior to World War I, before a post-war career in Scotland.

Football career

Slade was born in Southampton and attended Foundry Lane school. After leaving school, he obtained employment as a bricklayer and played as an amateur for Southampton Ramblers. He joined Southampton, then playing in the Southern League, in 1910 and soon became a prolific scorer in the reserves, equally at home in the three inside forward positions. He eventually made his first-team debut in a 2–1 defeat at Norwich City on 1 April 1911, when he played at inside-left in place of Harry Brown. His next appearance, this time at inside-right, came in a 4–0 defeat at Millwall in the last match of the season, followed by an appearance at centre-forward (replacing Henry Hamilton) at home to Leyton in the following October, when he was finally on the winning side.

Slade spent the remainder of the 1911–12 season in the reserves, scoring 23 goals. Frustrated at the lack of first-team opportunities, Slade requested a transfer, but this was denied by the Southampton directors. After an appeal to the Football Association the transfer request was granted and Slade moved on a free transfer to Lincoln City in August 1912.