On January 2nd, 1922, 41-year old Cardiff football club trainer, George Latham, became the club's oldest debutant, when he filled in for his club's match against Blackburn. He was a half back having spells from 1897-1902. at Cardiff, Liverpool to 1909, Southport for a season, then Stoke 1910-11. During this period he played for Wales from 1905-1913, his last cap in a win over Ireland 1-0 on January 18th 1913, when as national team trainer he had to fill in at half back following a team injury.
Latham was born in Newtown, Powys, in 1881. He was the fifth of six boys born to William Latham, a general labourer originally from Shrewsbury, and Esther Latham, a laundress from Birmingham. He attended New Road School as a youngster, playing for the school's football team, before training as a tailor in Market Street. At the age of 16, he joined his hometown side, Newtown, where he played as an inside forward. In his first season, the side reached the fourth round of the Welsh Cup, before suffering defeat to Aberystwyth Town. In 1900, Latham volunteered to serve in South Africa during the Second Boer War as a private in the Fifth South Wales Borderers Regiment, which had a unit stationed in Newtown. He served 14 months in the division and was eventually promoted to the rank of corporal.
Latham returned to his first club, Newtown, for a short spell in 1902 after returning from military service in South Africa. His form at the time saw him offered a trial with Everton during which time he was set to be named in a friendly match against West Bromwich Albion, but the game was called off due to heavy snowfall in the area. A different friendly match was planned a fortnight later but by then Latham had decided to return to South Africa and he left the country on 22 March 1902. He spent his time there playing for Caledonians, again finishing as runner up in the league and losing the final of the Mayor's Cup to his former side Docks. He began his career as a teenager at Newtown FC, a club playing in the "Winter League", known as "The Docks". He also played a number of representative games, including in an England XI v a Scotland XI and for Britain v A Colonials XI.
On his return to Britain, he joined Liverpool, but was forced to wait three years before he made his debut for the club in an 8–1 victory over Burselm Port Vale on 8 April 1905. He struggled to establish himself in the team, making just 19 appearances, in all competitions, during a seven-year spell at the club. After leaving Anfield, Latham had spells with Southport, becoming the first player to win an international cap at the club. He joined Stoke in 1910 and played eight times for the club during the 1910-11 season.
Latham joined Cardiff City as a player-coach in February 1911, In his first season, the club won the Welsh Cup by defeating Pontipridd, 3–0 in a final replay. After the two sides had drawn the first leg, Bob Lawrie suffered an injury and was ruled out of the replay. Latham took his place for the victory but presented his winner's medal to Lawrie after the game. He appeared sporadically for the side in years preceding the First World War, usually filling in for injuries to the first team. He made 11 league appearances between 1912 and 1914, scoring once in a 6–0 win over Chesham on 1 April 1911.
During his career, Latham won 10 caps for Wales, making his debut on 6 March 1905 in a 3–1 win over Scotland. Nine of his ten caps came during his playing career, however his tenth and final cap came when he was forced into action in a 1–0 win over Ireland on 18 January 1913 while serving as a coach for the national team.
Latham was commissioned into the 7th battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the First World War and promoted to Lieutenant in 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 and was reportedly originally recommended for the VC, the highest military honour for British forces, for his gallantry in capturing enemy positions on the Turkish front while under heavy fire. Having charged and captured an entrenched position with his platoon, he was described as "cleared the cactus gardens and rounded up all the prisoners under heavy fire from snipers, helped Major Pemberton of the Cheshire Regiment, to organise all the men he could get hold of and built up a line of defence". Some of the troops captured were a Turkish general and his staff. The same night, orders were given to retreat from the position, but these never found their way to Latham and another captain who spent the night in position with the area still "seething with Turks". When daylight came the following morning, the pair found themselves alone but were able to make their way back to their lines.
He added a "Bar" in 1918 for his actions fighting in Beersheba (now in Israel). He later traveled with his regiment to fight in Palestine.
It was during his service in the First World War that Latham first met his longtime friend Harry Beadles. During their time in Palestine, Latham and Beadles played football for their division, the 7th battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, and won the British Forces in Egypt Football League Cup Final in 1919.
After returning to Wales, Latham took up a position as a coach at Cardiff City. He was given a benefit match in 1919, with the Cardiff side playing against local rivals Swansea Town. Latham received the gate receipts, a cheque from the club's directors and a commemorative clock from the players. While serving as a coach, Latham was forced into playing for the side in a 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers, on 2 January 1921 after two of the club's players were taken ill prior to the match, becoming the oldest Football League debutant in the history of the club at 41. To this day he also remains their oldest ever player.
Working alongside Fred Stewart, his spell at Ninian Park, coincided with one of the most successful spells in the history of the club, including reaching the FA Cup Final on two occasions, losing 1–0 to Sheffield United in 1925 before beating Arsenal 1–0 in 1927. During his spell with the club, Latham arranged annual charity matches in his hometown between Cardiff and Newtown to rise money for the Montgomery County Infirmary. He was let go by the club in 1932 due to financial reasons as they entered a period of decline.
He also managed the British team at the 1920 Olympic Games. After leaving Cardiff, Latham worked as a coach at Chester City until his retirement.
In 1936, Latham was seriously injured in a bicycle accident and was forced to give up his coaching role. He instead returned to his home town Newtown where he died three years later in July 1939 at Montgomery County Infirmary at the age of 58. His home town club, Newtown, later named their ground, Latham Park, in honour of him. Then, with the team away at Blackburn in January 1921 for a Division One match, two of their players became ill, requiring Latham to step in once again, one day after his forty-first birthday. Cardiff went on to win 3-1. While he never played again, he remained with the team and was an assistant coach under Stewart when Cardiff won the FA Cup over Arsenal in 1927.
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