Halifax, Yorkshire 1889

Forward

Clifford Brooksbank born in Halifax, signing from Blackburn Rovers and leaving to join Bristol City played in the Southern League for Exeter City between 1912 and 1914.

Son of a mechanic, he won a science scholarship to Halifax Grammar School where he was 220 yards athletics champion and played football for England schools against Ireland and Wales. After leaving school he worked in a solicitors' office and signed for Huddersfield Town as an amateur before the club secured admission to the Football League.

Subsequently, when his family moved to Blackburn, he played for Oswaldtwistle Rovers in the Lancashire Combination before signing professional forms for Blackburn Rovers in 1909. Although a regular scorer for the reserves he never played for the first team and, in the summer of 1912, became one of Exeter City manager Arthur Chadwick's many signings from Lancashire. 

Scoring on his debut against Crystal Palace on 21 September 1912, he  netted three goals in ten first-team appearances during his first season and went on make 25 league appearances (2 goals) in the 1913/14 season.

He then spent a single campaign with Bristol City prior to the suspension of football due to the Great War during which time he scored seven goals from just 10 Football League appearances.

Clifford Brooksbank died in Darwen near Blackburn in 1965.

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