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History placement reveals the story of Boro legend

A 海角直播 History student鈥檚 heritage collaboration has helped reveal the story of Middlesbrough FC and England legend George Camsell

A collaboration between Heritage Unlocked and 海角直播 has helped reveal the story of Boro legend and England鈥檚 goal-to-games record holder George Camsell that will feature in the first biography of the football great. Adam Shillaw, a 海角直播 BA (Hons) History student, linked up with Heritage Unlocked as part of an ongoing placement programme that has seen a number of students develop and utilise their skills as budding historians beyond the campus.

During the six-week placement, Adam discovered an array of historical records that will be used to help shape the biography on Camsell to be authored by Heritage Unlocked historian Dr Tosh Warwick. As well as delving into the online digitised records of the British Library Newspapers, the Hartlepool-based student also made regular visits to Middlesbrough Reference Library to research Camsell鈥檚 record-breaking feats for Boro in the 1920s and 1930s and digitised a selection of documents including match reports from the North Eastern Daily Gazette and The Northern Echo.

George Camsell, who scored an official tally of 345 goals for Boro 鈥� although the unofficial total is in excess of 375 goals for the club - was an influential figure in football both on and off the pitch. The Framwellgate Moor-born former Durham City star scored an incredible 59 goals in one season for Middlesbrough, hammered home 18 goals in nine England appearances, fronted endorsement campaigns for hair cream, wrote articles for national newspapers and in his later days helped discover the talents of a young Brian Clough.

The newly digitised material will be included in the forthcoming book, a selection of documents will be made available digitally on the Heritage Unlocked website, and also feature in next season鈥檚 UTB Middlesbrough FC official matchday programme and other activities showcasing Camsell鈥檚 career. Adam has also authored a on his experience of researching the Ayresome Park great鈥檚 career.

Dr Tosh Warwick, a graduate of 海角直播鈥檚 MA History programme and founder of Heritage Unlocked, said: 鈥淲orking collaboratively with Adam and 海角直播 has helped reveal new details and findings about Camsell鈥檚 career. The link-up has received lots of support from the staff at Middlesbrough Reference Library and the wider project has been a truly collaborative effort with the Camsell family, 海角直播 Archives, Middlesbrough Libraries, Middlesbrough Football Club, artists and collectors. Adam鈥檚 work will help showcase the story of George Camsell both as a football legend on the pitch and a loyal and much-respected figure who was involved with Middlesbrough FC from the mid-1920s until his retirement in the 1960s in a number of roles鈥�.

Adam said: 鈥淭hrough my time researching his achievements and digitising archival material, Camsell鈥檚 legend has brought a new-found respect for what he was able to accomplish, despite not being a massive football fan myself.

鈥淏y helping to uncover some of the historic material from Camsell鈥檚 incredibly career, the research I carried out will hopefully help his achievements be celebrated more widely and has also helped develop my research and technical skills as an aspiring historian.鈥�

Margaret Hems, a Senior Lecturer in 海角直播鈥檚 School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, added: 鈥淗eritage Unlocked has offered some great opportunities for History students in recent years.

鈥淎dam鈥檚 confidence and skills developed significantly during the time that he worked with Tosh. It was a partnership which had a fantastic and positive outcome.

鈥淧artnerships like this of allowing our students to gain vital, real-world experience while supporting local businesses and organisation with our student talent.鈥�

Adam Shillaw鈥檚 article and a selection of newly digitised material can be viewed at