▁occasions ▁over ▁the ▁next ▁eight ▁years . ▁ ▁Football ▁career ▁Pont ing ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁And over , ▁Ham pshire ▁where ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁school master . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁leading ▁amateur ▁player ▁for ▁his ▁local ▁club ▁and ▁had ▁been ▁captain ▁of ▁the ▁Ham pshire ▁County ▁Junior ▁XI ▁in ▁ 1 8 9 3 . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 1 8 9 7 , ▁John ▁H od g kin son , ▁the ▁South am pton ▁St . ▁Mary ' s ▁left - half ▁was ▁injured ▁and ▁the ▁" S ain ts " ▁called ▁Pont ing ▁into ▁the ▁side ▁for ▁the ▁remaining ▁five ▁matches ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁Pont ing ▁made ▁his ▁debut ▁in ▁a ▁ 5 – 1 ▁victory ▁at ▁Reading ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁and ▁played ▁his ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁run - in ▁to ▁South am pton ' s ▁first ▁Southern ▁League ▁title . ▁ ▁Later ▁career ▁In ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 1 8 9 7 , ▁Pont ing ▁returned ▁to ▁his ▁teaching ▁career . ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 0 s , ▁he ▁was ▁working ▁in ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁London ▁as ▁an ▁ins urance ▁bro ker . ▁ ▁Hon ours ▁South am pton ▁Southern ▁League ▁champions : ▁ 1 8 9 6 – 9 7 ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : 1 8 7 2 ▁birth s ▁Category : 1 9 5 2 ▁death s ▁Category : Pe ople ▁from ▁And over , ▁Ham pshire ▁Category : English ▁football ers ▁Category : Associ ation ▁football ▁def enders ▁Category : And