William Ponting
William Robert Ponting (1872 – 21 March 1952) was an English amateur footballer who played as a half-back for Southampton St. Mary's in 1896–97, when they won the Southern League title for the first of six occasions over the next eight years.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Robert Ponting | ||
| Date of birth | 1872 | ||
| Place of birth | Andover, Hampshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 21 March 1952 (aged 79–80) | ||
| Place of death | Hendon, London, England | ||
| Position(s) | Half-back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Andover | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 18??–1897 | Ryde | ||
| 1897 | Southampton St. Mary's | 5 | (0) |
| 1897–???? | Andover | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Football career
Ponting was born in Andover, Hampshire where he became a schoolmaster. He was a leading amateur player for his local club and had been captain of the Hampshire County Junior XI in 1893.[1]
In March 1897, John Hodgkinson, the Southampton St. Mary's left-half was injured and the "Saints" called Ponting into the side for the remaining five matches of the season. Ponting made his debut in a 5–1 victory at Reading on 31 March[2] and played his part in the run-in to Southampton's first Southern League title.[1]
Later career
In the summer of 1897, Ponting returned to his teaching career. In the 1930s, he was working in the City of London as an insurance broker.[1]