Henry Augustus Anstiss (22 August 1899 – 9 March 1964) was a much-travelled English footballer who played as an inside-forward for Hammersmith Athletic, Brentford, Millwall, Watford, Rochdale, Sheffield Wednesday, Port Vale, Swansea Town, Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham, Tunbridge Wells Rangers and Cray Wanderers in the 1920s and 1930s. His most significant spell was with Port Vale, with whom he won the Third Division North title in 1929–30.
Career Anstiss played for Hammersmith Athletic, before joining Brentford, Millwall, Watford, Rochdale and The Wednesday, before joining Port Vale in February 1927, along with 'a substantial financial consideration' in exchange for Alfred Strange. Strange went on to become an England international. Anstiss did not head in the same direction. He had a great start to his Vale career, though, scoring on his debut at the Old Recreation Ground in a 6–2 win over Notts County on 26 February. He went on to score a hat-trick in a 7–1 home win over Fulham on 2 April and claimed 11 goals in 15 Second Division games in the 1926–27 campaign. This was the end of his purple patch, as he scored five goals in 32 games in the 1927–28 season. Injury brought him down in November 1928 and limited him to three goals in 17 matches in the 1928–29 relegation season. He scored 15 goals in 37 appearances in the 1929–30 season, as the "Valiants" were crowned champions of the Third Division North. He fell from favour in October 1930 and was limited to six goals in 17 games in the 1930–31 season. He was transferred to Swansea Town in May 1931. Later he played for Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham, Tunbridge Wells Rangers and Cray Wanderers.
Personal life Anstiss served as a Boy 1st Class in the Royal Navy during the First World War. Aged just 16, he saw action at the Battle of Jutland in 1916 and served on HMS Royal Oak. He joined the crew of HMS Powerful the following year.
Career statistics + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupN/S CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBrentford1920–21Third Division19400—1941921–22Third Division South231520—2515Total421920004419Millwall1922–23Third Division South1930000193Watford1923–24Third Division South18540—225Rochdale1924–25Third Division North422320—45231925–26Third Division North301600—3016Total723920007439The Wednesday1926–27First Division12500—125Port Vale1926–27Second Division151100—15111927–28Second Division29332—3251928–29Second Division17300—1731929–30Third Division North331332—36151930–31Second Division15620—176Total10936840011740Swansea Town1931–32Second Division22610—2361932–33Second Division6000—60Total2861000296Crewe Alexandra1933–34Third Division North3070010317Gillingham1934–35Third Division South3361000346Career total36312618410382130
Honours Port Vale Football League Third Division North: 1929–30
References