George
...Bushnell profile
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An inside right or centre forward who joined Rovers at the start of the 1927/28 season from Halesowen Town.
He had a prolific season, breaking the all time Rovers record for the number of goals in a season, formerly held by Bill Turner with 23 in the 1924/25 season. He achieved this feat netting his 24th goal by the end of February! He ended up with 34 goals.
In January 1928 he was picked to play for the Birmingham Combination in the annual inter league match against the London League. In the same month two goals at the Victoria Ground in a match against Sunbeam Motors enabled him to become the second player to reach the 50 goal milestone for the Rovers (Frank Stiles being the first). This was a feat he achieved in only 59 games.
He played in the final of the 1928/29 Worcestershire Senior Cup, against Worcester City, where Rovers lost 3-2.
In the 1929/30 season he was often played as a half back or on the wing, rather than as centre-forward, the position where he scored a huge amount of goals in the previous 2 seasons.
In December 1929 he was sent off in a match against Cannock Town. He was suspended by the Birmingham F.A. for 14 days and the club was fined £1 1s.
In January 1930, in a game against Atherstone Town, he became the 13th player to clock up 100 appearances for Bromsgrove Rovers.
On 22 February 1930 he scored against Rugby Town, this was his 66th goal for the club, breaking the all-time record held by Frank Stiles which had stood since before the First World War.
At the 1930 Rovers A.G.M. George was described by secretary B.C. Williamson as being the "one of the best, yet most criticised players Rovers had had in a long time. He was the life and soul of the party on out journeys and a whole hearted player whatever his position on the field"
He asked to be released from his contract at the end of the 1930/31 season. He then moved to Redditch Town at the start of the 1931/32 season.
He was the brother of fellow Rovers forward Jimmy Bushnell.
He also played cricket for Aston Fields in the summer.
Stats:
Debut: vs Rugby Town, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 27 August 1927, 3-2. He scored.
Last game: vs Hinckley United, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 2 May 1931, 2-4.
4 goals in a game:
Vs Walsall Phoenix, F.A. Cup extra preliminary round, Victoria Ground, 3 September 1927, 9-1. In his second game for the club.
Hat-tricks (4)
Vs Gresley Rovers, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 25 February 1928, 7-2.
Vs Bloxwich Strollers, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 7 April 1928, 5-1.
Vs Walsall LMS, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 19 January 1929, 6-1.
Vs Halesowen Town, Birmingham Combination, Victoria Ground, 6 April 1931, 6-3.
1927/28: 37 appearances, 34 goals
1928/29: 41 appearances, 27 goals
1929/30: 35 appearances, 6 goals
1930/31: 32 appearances, 6 goals
TOTAL: 145 appearances, 73 goals
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