The streets of Jarrow were a mournful sight as crowds gathered to bid farewell to a shining star taken before his time
February 1936 was an emotional period for everybody connected with Sunderland AFC, and by the tenth of the month, it was time for everyone to pay their final respects to Jimmy Thorpe, the much-loved goalkeeper that had died the previous week following complications with injuries he’d suffered when playing for the Lads against Chelsea on the fifth.
Thorpe was a supremely gifted and extremely popular figure among teammates and supporters alike, and the tragic nature of his passing proved difficult to process. His funeral, which was attended by countless representatives of the game and members of the local community, showed just how much he was admired and missed, with people rallying to pay tribute to a young man that had been taken from his family much too soon.
Although he’d been living in Cleadon with his wife May and son Ronnie, Thorpe was a Jarrow native.
The journey to Jarrow Cemetery began at May’s parents’ home on York Avenue in the Monkton area of the town and the cortege was observed by throngs of well-wishers that had lined the streets — many of whom had walked from Sunderland to be present. Although impeccably behaved, the numbers there meant police officers often had to hold back mourners to enable the procession to continue.
Once the invited attendees had reached the cemetery, the gates were locked so that the burial could be carried out in solitude.
The curate of Jarrow, Rev. Brittian, led proceedings before Thorpe’s oak casket was lowered into the ground next to a quiet spot by a tree; the pallbearers being his teammates Bobby Gurney, Alex Hastings, Bert Johnston, Harry Shaw, Billy Murray and fellow goalkeeper Matt Middleton.
Alongside the current playing staff, many former players were attendance, as well as a raft of coaching and administration staff, with a slew of over one hundred names being listed in later editions of that days’s Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette.
Numerous floral tributes were also sent, including one designed by manager/secretary Johnny Cochrane that depicted a football field inside a six-inch border (green to match Thorpe’s jersey) and a full-sized ball made from brown leaves that was placed in front of an empty goal-shaped wreath.
Sunderland Borough Police and Fire Brigade, the Sunderland players and staff, the Sunderland directors, the Roker Park gatemen, Ald FW Taylor, Chelsea, Hartlepools United, Newcastle United players officials and staff, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth, West Ham United, Everton, the Jarrow Junior Imperial League, and Jarrow AFC officials and players were amongst those also reported to have sent flowers — alongside various supporter groups.
The sheer volume of mourners, officials and tributes spoke to how popular a character Thorpe was, and how hard his death had hit the community.
For once, results and form seemed insignificant, as the focus in the region shifted away from the football and towards one of the people that made the game so special. Ninety years on from his funeral, we hope that Jimmy is still resting in peace.
*The following is an abridged version of attendees as listed by the Echo, recreated now to underline Thorpe’s status, and the significance of his passing.
Family: J.H.A Thorpe (father), G.Lockhart (father-in-law), A.Thorpe (uncle), G.Maughan (uncle), E and A. Maughan (cousins) and J.Lockhart (brother-in-law)
Sunderland AFC: Sir Walter Raine (chairman), Cllr W.E Ditchburn, L.Wolfe, I.G Modlin (club doctor), Colonel J.Prior, G.Purvis and D.White (directors).
J.Cochrane (Secretary-Manager), G.Crow (Assistant Secretary) G.Ainsley, W.Burbanks, N.Coyd, J.Connor, H.Carter, H.Davis, R.Ferry, G.Goddard, P.Gallacher, A.Hall, L.McDowall, A.McNab, R.Royston, J.Russell, J.Spuhler, P.Saunders, C.Thomson, T.Urwin, J.Wilkinson, S.Scott, L.Duns, R.Bell, A.J Lockie, T.Morrison, C.E Thompson, R.Rodgerson and R.G Hood (players)
A.Reid and W.Dunlop (trainers)
R.Nash, J.Connor, W.Dryden, L.Chisholm, P.Curran, A.Wright, W.Robinson, R.Trevitt and J.W Sowerby (ground staff)
J.Jackson, R.Watson and F.Stafford (gatemen)
Newcastle United: J.McPherson (trainer), H.Tapken, Livingstone, Gallantree and others
Hartlepools United: J.Hamilton (Manager) and N.Evans (Assistant Manager)
Chelsea: J.Fraser (Assistant Manager)
Manchester United: W.Fyfe
Bolton Wanderers: A.Campbell
Portsmouth: R.Stansfield
Durham FA: W.Spedding
North-Eastern League: T.W Bell
Wearside League: R.Wood (Secretary)
Blyth Spartans: W.Dexter
League Referees: H.Nattrass
City of Durham FA: R.Luke
Jarrow and Hebburn Referees Society: R.Burbeck
Hexham AFC: W.J Rutherford and W.A Henderson
Jarrow AFC: J.W Graham, Coun. C.Reaveley, W.Donnelly, R.Charlton and E.Rust
Jarrow Cricket Club: F.Shaw, J.Kelly, R.Blakey, R.Rolf, S.Rowan and J.Wright
South Shields St. Andrew’s AFC: A.Brennan
Whitley and Monkseaton AFC: S.Thompson and H.Corridine
Jarrow Junior Imperial League: H.Turnbull, W.Taylor and E.Adcock
Jarrow Imperial FC: R.Thompson
Jarrow St. Bede’s AFC: M.Mackin
Bohemians AFC: D.Mason
Walker Park AFC: C.Robertson
Hebburn Victoria East End AFC: A.Reed
Hood Street AFC Sunderland: E.Stoker and W Douglas
Jarrow Conservative Association: R.Suddick
Jarrow: Cllr J.W Gordon, Ald J.Hall, Cllr S.Whitefield and D.Mason
Sunderland Echo and Shipping Gazette: J.Anderson (“Argus”)
Sunderland: J.P Bell, J.Bennett, R.Naisbitt and Cllr J.G Potts
LNER: W.Lowry
Sunderland Licensed Victuallers’ Association: J.B Logan, E.Reaveley and Mrs S.Vickery
Sunderland Police Recreation Club: J.Cutter and C.I. EV Smith
Seaham: J.Stewart
Stockton: G.Round
Wheatley Hill Wembley Fund: L.Young (Secretary)
For further reading about Jimmy Thorpe’s death, please see:
On This Day (5th Feb 1936): Remembering The Tragic Life Of Jimmy Thorpe | Roker Report
On This Day (8 Feb 1936): Sunderland Do Their Fallen Teammate Proud | Roker Report
N:B Sunderland had actually been due to play on 8 February against Leeds United in a fixture that had been rearranged from its original scheduled date of Christmas Day 1935. The players were already in Yorkshire, with some of the directors actually at Elland Road, when news of Thorpe’s death was confirmed.
Although it was decided that Sunderland should complete their next game at Liverpool as planned, it was agreed that the Leeds game should again be postponed as a mark of respect.
Category: General Sports
