William Foulkes - Testimonial

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Had a quick search to see the connections between SUFC and Celtic FC.

From 1901.

http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1901-10-21+Sheffield+United+2-2+Celtic,+Fatty+Foulkes+Testimonial

 

[Chabuddy G]

Just saw the read title and immediately thought ‘it’s a bit late for that’

 

[1889]

Nah, fuck him, he hasn’t posted on here in over two year!

 

[HackeyBlade]

Reckon those 2 "backs" overlapped?

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Reckon those 2 "backs" overlapped?

Before 1960 they got a nosebleed if they crossed the halfway line!

 

[Silent Blade]

.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

I'm a fully subscribed member of the British Newspaper Archive - Click Here collection.
Well worth the money if you're looking at past times and information on the social history of Britain through the ages
This piece is from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday 21 October 1901.

FOULKES' BENEFIT. A GREAT GOALKEEPER'S CAREER. (By " Looker-On.")
William Foulkes, of Sheffield United, who takes his very well deserved benefit thus afternoon at Bramall Lane, with the Glasgow Celtic Club opposition, is man of few clubs, but of many admirers. He was born at Dawley, Staffordshire, 26 years ago, and has been goalkeeper all his football life. Early on, his family removed to Blackwell, in Derbyshire, through which fact he became qualified by residence for his occasional appearances with the Derbyshire cricket team, but he has now removed in turn to Sheffield. For Blackwell played in goal for some few seasons, doing so well that it was not all surprising that he was well talked of by the emissaries of various League clubs, who are always the look out for good youngsters. Three such clubs were Sheffield United, Notts Forest, and Derby County.
The race was a severe one, but it fell to the first named, and for seven full seasons Foulkes has worn the red and white stripes with complete credit to himself and with similar satisfaction his club. It was primarily due to the good offices of Mr. Swaine, of Heeley, now of Hathersage, who had been acting as referee a match Staveley, that United's attention was drawn to the big, rather raw, youngster, who was making such stir Derbyshire football circles. was, fact, after a match at Ilkeston that Mr. Tomlinson, I believe it was, signed Foulkes on the necessary and all important papers. As Mr. Tomlinson walked out of the room with the papers in his possession, the Derby people walked in, whilst during the next week the Notts Forest Club came over to Blackwell, sent for Foulkes out of the pit, only to find that they were a good deal too late, and that their bird had been bagged. Those who have followed Foulkes' career since then know full well what prominent part has played in the history of the club, and how on many occasions it has been through his exertions that defeat has been averted when United have had all the worst of the game. Wonderfully active for player of his great bulk, he is very smart with those bugbears of many custodians—low, fast shots— and in this has discounted many have argued that was impossible for him to here succeed. Of course, his amazing reach, his stupendous strength, make high shots matter of ease to him, and his ponderous thumping of the ball and his tremendous kicks over the half-way line, these are well enough known to those who have seen Foulkes at work.
His list of honours is a small one, smaller than one thinks man such undoubted brilliance deserves. He has played against Wales at Bramall Lane, has twice appeared for the English League against that of Scotland, at Birmingham and Crystal Palace; and has also played International Trial Match Queen's Club. This his only representative honours, apart from Sheffield Association matches, and his friends declare that be should undoubtedly have had the preference 'n. at least, one match against Scotland. Hp possesses great- record the League itself, three consecutive seasons he lost more than 93 goals, at follows:—3l—33—29—a record indeed, considering the calibre of many of the teams against which he had figure. His recollections are comparatively few, yet amongst them very vivid one of -that sensational match Aston, wherein United fairly snatched the victory over the Villa through two tremendous goals by Cunningham, who at that time was one of the most serviceable forwards on the United side. The other match of which preserves a strong recollection was against the Hibernians up north several years ago. It ended in a draw, but it is within one's memory that that draw was solely due to the superlative excellence of the United goalkeeper, whose work was supreme. It is be hoped that he will have good benefit. He deserves one, for, although he may have recently made mistakes, one can well afford this moment to overlook them in the warmer recollection of his splendid services through long series of seasons when he has stood out as one of the most prominent figures in a very prominent team.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Has anyone got any recollections of The Duke Inn, Matilda Street, Sheffield?

 

[Ndiayewillalwaysloveyou]

 

[Silent Blade]

1899 team not 1902

 

[Weasel]

1899 team not 1902

Is the definite? The picture is labelled up as being the 1902 side (bottom of step in the middle of the picture). Was there some players in the group who were there in 1899 but not in 1902?

 

[Silent Blade]

Is the definite? The picture is labelled up as being the 1902 side (bottom of step in the middle of the picture). Was there some players in the group who were there in 1899 but not in 1902?

Bernard Wilkinson, Bert Lipsham and Alf Common played in the 1902 final are not in the photo.

 

[Weasel]

All marvellous stuff. Back in the day when bowler hats, flat caps, and smoking a tobacco pipe was considered de rigueur by the footballing fraternity. Maybe only 124 years since that picture was taken, but in all reality it was a world away from today. Nice to see the SUFC heroes of yesteryear though. Obviously the main lads back in the day.

 

[8lade]

Modern day United should re enact this picture, for fun and luck.

 

[Weasel]

Modern day United should re enact this picture, for fun and luck.

Would Hecky have to supply his left arm on the extreme right of the picture? Who would take Needhams place and be updated Prince of Half Backs? Would that be Bash?

Traore would have to be the young small kid next to Needham in the original picture, and would need to be wearing light grey trousers and smoking a pipe.

Wes having the job of having to replace big William at the back of the picture.

 

[8lade]

Tom Davies and his jazzy fashion would be right up for something like this!

 

[Nick Jansky]

Mad to think that Charlie Chaplin played for us back in the day.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

Look very close.
Oliver Burke.
Omitted from the photograph, but you can just see his right arm.
He was deemed 'too handsome' and was known to make women
"euphoric with just one look!"

 

[dsr-burnley]

The race was a severe one, but it fell to the first named, and for seven full seasons Foulkes has worn the red and white stripes with complete credit to himself and with similar satisfaction his club.

A throwaway line, but it's one of the differences of early football. Apparently goalkeepers didn't wear different coloured jerseys until after WW1 (1918).

A history of goalkeeper kits and football shirts | Goalkeepers are Different

A rough guide to the history of goalkeeper shirts, football kits and the players who wear them

www.goalkeepersaredifferent.com