Born 7 January 1863 at Brook Street, Wrexham, son of James Trainer, master baker, and his wife Mary Ann Trainer. He was a coach body maker by trade. He began to play football with school teams; joined Wrexham Grosvenor football club in 1878; when the Grosvenor club amalgamated with Wrexham club in 1879 Trainer played for the new club as centre-half, but he was persuaded to take up goalkeeping. He played for Wrexham when the club defeated the Druids in the Welsh Cup final in 1882-3. Later Trainer joined Bolton Great Lever Football Club, then Bolton Wanderers, and, later still, became a member of the famous Preston North End football club when this club won the Football Association Cup and League Championship in 1888-9. Trainer's first match for Preston was on 13 August 1887. He appeared in their opening League match on 8 September 1888 at Deepdale and was a regular member of the championship side. He could not play in the Football Association Cup final, and his place was taken by another Welshman, R. H. Mills-Roberts. Trainer played for Wales in international matches on twenty occasions (six against England, nine against Scotland, and five against Ireland).
Published date: 1959
Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-RUU/1.0/
The Dictionary of Welsh Biography is provided by The National Library of Wales and the University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies. It is free to use and does not receive grant support. A donation would help us maintain and improve the site so that we can continue to acknowledge Welsh men and women who have made notable contributions to life in Wales and beyond.
Find out more on our sponsorship page.