Harry Bowl was one of those talented footballers who rose from the amateur to the professional game.

He started in humble surroundings in a park at Clanfield, near Witney, and later played at some of the leading grounds in the country.

Details of his career would have remained hidden in the mists of time had it not been for some diligent research by villager Tony Harrison.

He has pieced together his sporting progress from newspaper cuttings and photographs.

Harry, who was born on April 16, 1914, was one of the most successful schoolboy footballers in the area and secured a regular place in the Clanfield team at the early age of 14.

He was a versatile player, equally at home at centre forward or centre half.

Despite attracting the attention of other amateur teams, he stayed with Clanfield for five seasons, gaining 20 medals in league, cup and six-a-side competitions.

He joined Stanford in the Vale at the start of the 1933-4 season and in his third game he was watched by Swindon Town manager Ted Vizard.

Ted was so impressed with Harry that he signed him, first as an amateur and later as a semi-professional.

He played two games for Swindon in the 1933-4 season.

The following year he played 29 games and scored eight goals, and in the 1935-6 season he played 19 games and scored three goals.

He spent one season at Blackpool and was then transferred to Exeter City, where he scored 43 goals in 79 games in two seasons.

He returned to Swindon for the 1939-40 season, scoring 11 goals in 21 games, and he ended his professional career with Lancaster Town.

His career turned full circle when at the age of 41, he returned to play for Clanfield.

One newspaper report from his time at Swindon heaped praise on his skill.

It read: “Chesterfield returned North after their narrow Cup defeat at Swindon full of praise for a village boy who, they declared, had knocked them out off his own bat.

“The ‘yoker’ was Bowl, whose brilliant individual goal came at a moment when the Northern Section Club had threatened to get on top.

“Bowl executed a striking individual dribble in which he beat four opponents in Alex James fashion before crashing the ball home.

“I didn’t hurt Chesterfield’s pride that they had been so beaten – they are far too sporting for that.”

Harry wasn’t only a skilled footballer – he was also an expert long jumper and a talented oarsman.

Clanfield, who play in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 West, are planning to display details of Harry’s career in their clubhouse.