- Birthdate: 11 April 1895
- Birthplace: Peasley Cross, St Helens, England
- Date of death: 19 August 1971
- Other clubs: St Helens Recreation, Heywood, St Helens Town, Alexandra Victoria, Leicester City (1924-27), Tranmere Rovers (1927-30), Prescot Cables (1930-32)
- Signed from: Alexandra Victoria
- Signed for LFC: Free, 04.12.1915
- International debut: 14.03.1921 vs. Wales
- International caps: 1/0
- Liverpool debut: 13.09.1919
- Last appearance: 15.12.1923
- Debut goal: 14.02.1920
- Last goal: 11.09.1920
- Contract expiry: 08.02.1924
- Win ratio: 45.57% W:36 D:25 L:18
- Total games/goals opposite LFC: 3 / 0
- Wartime games/goals: 118 / 8
- League games / goals: 71 / 2
- Total games / goals: 79 / 2
Player Profile
Bamber started out his career as a right-winger but developed into a right-half of good repute. He joined Liverpool during World War I and did not cost the club a penny. He made 23 appearances in 1919/20 as competitive League football in England resumed after a four-year absence. Bamber was so described in March 1920 in the club programme: "Since coming to Anfield his consistency has been remarkable. Never really brilliant, but always very effective, Bamber is the type of player who is bound to make a name for himself; he discards all idea of ornamentality for efficiency, and seldom is it that the keenest critic can find fault with his work in the field." Thirty League matches followed the next season as he established himself in the side and was even chosen to represent England against Wales in March 1921. After playing the first four League matches of the 1921/22 season Bamber was stricken down with appendicitis. His illness paved the way for Jock McNab so once Bamber recovered he was only in the side if McNab was unavailable. Bamber missed out on medals as Liverpool won the Championship twice in 1922 and 1923.
In February 1924 Bamber joined Leicester who won the Second Division. He played for the Foxes in two seasons in the First Division before returning to Merseyside in 1927 to play for Tranmere. In April 1921 the Derby Daily Telegraph praised Bamber for being "a powerful defender, a sixth forward, a breaker-up and forager rolled into one. Has a wonderful stock of energy, delights in loading upon his forwards the choicest of delicate ground passes, and is an artist."
Appearances per season
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
7 |
630 |
Oldham Athletic |
6 |
540 |
Sunderland |
6 |
540 |
Manchester United |
5 |
450 |
Aston Villa |
5 |
450 |
Sheffield United |
5 |
450 |
Blackburn Rovers |
4 |
360 |
Huddersfield Town |
4 |
360 |
Bolton Wanderers |
3 |
270 |
Manchester City |
3 |
270 |
Chelsea |
3 |
270 |
Middlesbrough |
3 |
270 |
Derby |
3 |
270 |
Everton |
3 |
270 |
Bradford City |
2 |
180 |
Notts County |
2 |
180 |
Gateshead |
2 |
180 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
2 |
180 |
Tottenham |
2 |
180 |
WBA |
2 |
180 |
Burnley |
2 |
180 |
Arsenal |
1 |
90 |
Birmingham City |
1 |
90 |
Cardiff City |
1 |
90 |
Luton Town |
1 |
90 |
Newcastle United |
1 |
90 |
Preston North End |
Total |
Venue |
43 |
Away |
36 |
Home |
Goals per season
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Wartime Appearances / Goals
Season |
Appearances |
Goals |
1915-1916 |
14 |
0 |
1916-1917 |
31 |
4 |
1917-1918 |
36 |
2 |
1918-1919 |
37 |
2 |
Milestone Appearances
# |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
13.09.1919 |
Aston Villa |
Anfield |
League |
50 |
05.03.1921 |
Huddersfield Town |
Leeds Road |
League |
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
67 |
14.02.1920 |
Blackburn Rovers |
Anfield |
League |
Scrapbook
Profile on John Bamber in the Echo in 1928
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
St Helens Recreation |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Heywood |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
St Helens Town |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Alexandra Victoria |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Leicester City |
1924-1925 |
England Second Division |
39 |
2 |
45 |
2 |
Leicester City |
1925-1926 |
England First Division |
42 |
3 |
43 |
3 |
Leicester City |
1926-1927 |
England First Division |
16 |
2 |
16 |
2 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1927-1928 |
England Third Division North |
39 |
0 |
42 |
1 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1928-1929 |
England Third Division North |
13 |
1 |
13 |
1 |
Tranmere Rovers |
1929-1930 |
England Third Division North |
34 |
0 |
34 |
0 |
Prescot Cables |
1930-1932 |
Lancashire Combination 1 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Total |
183 |
8 |
193 |
9 |