Date of Birth
01 Jan 1881
Birthplace
Newtown
Nationality
Welsh
Signed for LFC
1902
LFC Debut
08 Apr 1905
LFC Appearances
19
International Caps
10
During World War I George Latham was captain in the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who proved to be a useful football team and won the British Forces (Egypt) Football League Cup in 1919.
Latham was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on the Turkish front in 1917 and the Bar in 1918 for further bravery.
The defender joined Liverpool from his home town club Newtown in 1902. He made his debut on 8 April 8, 1905 when Burslem Port Vale were thrashed 8-1 at Anfield in a Second Division fixture. However, that was the only appearance he made during the 1904-05 season.
He was called upon only occasionally over the next three years and played in a total of 18 league games for the Reds, plus a single appearance in the FA Cup competition.
Latham played 10 games for Wales, making his debut against Sweden in 1905. His last international on January, 18, 1913, against Ireland in Belfast was a curious one, as he had travelled with the team as trainer, but ended up playing at right half back in a single goal victory!
Latham is the oldest League debutant in Cardiff's history at 41. When playing away against Blackburn, two of Cardiff's players took ill so Latham was pressed into service.
When Cardiff won the Welsh Cup in 1912, Latham featured in the final and made the unique gesture of giving his medal to Cardiff's regular Bob Lawrie who had missed the game.
He later coached the club, masterminding the club's finest hour when Cardiff beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 1927. The Bluebirds had lost the final two years previously against Sheffield United 1-0.
The County Times from 2 May, 1925, sayid: "There is no more painstaking football coach."
A Cardiff City cup final souvenir describes Latham as "probably the most popular and best loved man in football."
As a sign of respect for him in his home town, Newtown A.F.C.'s stadium, Latham Park is named after him.
Other clubs:
Newtown FC, Caledonian (South Africa), Southport Central (amateur), Stoke (amateur), Cardiff City