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16 March 2024
 
 

Percy Fairclough

Old Foresters AFC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 0 L 1 F 2: A 7
0% successful

1878

captain: none
minutes played:
90

Timeline

photo courtesy of Forest School Percy Fairclough
Birth Monday, 1 February 1858 in Essex House, Frederick Place, Bow, Stepney, Middlesex
registered in Mile End Old Town January-March 1858 Stepney was in Middlesex County Registration up until 1889
Baptism 6 April 1858 in St. George in the East Church, Cannon Street Road, Stepney. Address stated as Essex House in Stepney.
  According to the 1861 census, Percy is the youngest of eight children to Thomas M. and Henrietta (née Martin). They live at Essex House on Frederick Place in Stepney, with one Governess and four servants. His father is a Master Carman, employing 45 people.
  According to the 1871 census, Percy is the youngest of the seven children still living with their parents at Essex House with three servants. His father is still a Carman and Contractor.
  According to the 1881 census, Percy is now a clerk, and the seventh and eight children with their parents in a house in Croydon, with three servants. His father is now a General Carrier.
Marriage to Monella Bentley, on 18 May 1886, at St. James' Church, Woolwich
registered in Woolwich April-June 1886
"FAIRCLOUGH―BENTLEY.―On the 18th inst., at St. James's, ??, by the Rev. J. C. Leeke, M.A., Percy Fairclough, ?? son of T. M. Fairclough, of Pittarow, Croydon, to, Monella, daughter of H. W. Bentley, of 23, Kidbrook-park-??" - London Morning Post, Saturday, 22 May 1886.
Children Percy and Monella Fairclough had one son together. Martin Percy (b.4 May 1887)
  According to the 1891 census, Percy, a stockjobber, and his younger sister Susie, are visitors at the home of George, a copper tube manufacturer, and Ada Wilkins, living on Station Road in Knowle.
(His father died on 16 December 1891)
  According to the 1901 census, Percy, still a stockjobber, is a visitor at the home of Ernest & Frances Hunter, on Rayleigh High Street. His son Martin is a scholar at Forest School in West Ham.
  According to the 1911 census, Percy is still married, but his wife is not on this census. He is however living with their son, Martin Percy, and his own sister Amy, and two servants, at 29 Croham Road in Croydon. Percy is working in the Stock Exchange.
(Monella Fairclough died on 28 December 1911 in Brunswick Place)
  According to the 1921 census, Percy is now widowed, and is an Assistant Secretary for Fairclough, Dodd & Jones, Ltd.  He is living with his older sister, Amy, at 32 Emperor's Gate in Kensington.
  According to the 1939 register, Percy is an Assistant Secretary for a company on the Baltic Exchange. He lives at 84 Coleherne Court, on the Old Brampton Road in Kensington.
Death Sunday, 22 June 1947 at Sevenoaks and Holmesdale Hospital, on Hospital Road in Sevenoaks, Kent, in a road accident. Spent the last four years of his life living in Sevenoaks, at West Garth, The Rise.
aged 89 years 141 days registered in Tonbridge April-June 1947

Obituary

"PLAYED FOR ENGLAND IN 1878―OLDEST SOCCER INTERNATIONAL DEAD
"Taken to the Sevenoaks and Holmesdale Hospital following an accident near Tubs Hill Station, Mr. Percy Fairclough was placed in the Footballers' Bed, endowed before the war by Sevenoaks footballers. Unknown to the staff of the hospital, Mr. Fairclough was probably the oldest international in the country
[he was not, Henry Wace was still alive].
"Mr. Fairclough, who was 89 years of age, son of the founder of the firm of T. M. Fairclough, and the last of a family of 11, died in the hospital on Sunday. When, about four years ago, his home in Knightsbridge was bombed, the room on the third floor in which he was dressing was demolished, but he crawled from the wreckage unhurt. It was then that he came to Sevenoaks, to reside at West Garth, The Rise.
"Born in 1858 at Essex House, Bow, a one-time hunting box for Queen Elizabeth, Mr. Fairclough had a distinguished career as a sportsman. In 1878, he represented England against Scotland, and was on the same side as the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton. For many years, he was captain of the Old Foresters Football Club, and led them to victory on the day they won the London Cup. He was also a member for some years of the Corinthian's football club.
"A past-master of the Girdlers' Company, Mr. Fairclough was for almost 50 years a member of the London Stock Exchange and latterly was engaged in the firm of Fairclough, Dodd and Jones, Ltd. Football was not his only sporting activity, though it was his chief interest. He was known as a first-class hurdler, and for several years he was a member of the Old Surrey and Burstow Hunt.
"He leaves one son, Mr. Martin Fairclough, now living at Penshurst, but formerly of Ightham. At an inquest at Sevenoaks on Wednesday a verdict of 'accidental death' was recorded."
-
Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday 27 June 1947.
Probate "FAIRCLOUGH Percy of West Garth The Rise Sevenoaks Kent died 22 June 1947 at Sevenoaks and Homesdale Hospital Sevenoaks Kent Probate London 20 September to Kathleen Honor Mary Fairclough widow.
Effects £36961 3s. 9d." [2019 equivalent: £1,457,082]
Funeral: date not known, but he is buried at Kent & Sussex Cemetery and Crematorium (left), on the Benhall Mill Road in Royal Tunbridge Wells
"FAIRCLOUGH.―On July 28, 1947, very suddenly Martin Percy Fairclough, of 26, St. James'-road, Tunbridge Wells, late of Penshurst, very dearly loved, husband of Honor, aged 61 years." - Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser, Friday  1 August 1947.
Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career
Club(s) Captain of the Old Foresters FC;
Corinthians Apparently on their books - but there is no evidence.
Club honours None
Individual honours Essex FA & London FA
Height/Weight not known
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of seven who became the fiftieth players (54) to appear for England.
Position(s) Forward
Only match No. 7, 2 March 1878, Scotland 7 England 2, a friendly match at Hampden Park, Hampden Terrace, Glasgow, aged 20 years 29 days.
Individual honours The Probables (one appearance, Februray 1878);
The Whites (one appearance, February 1879);
Distinctions Despite his age when he died, he was not the last surviving member of the 1878 team, Henry Wace lasted a further five months.
Died seventeen days after Gordon Wright.
Beyond England
Was a partner in a stockbroking firm and member of the Stock Exchange for 40 years. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.96.


The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes captain
1 1 90 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
1 0 0 1 2 7 -5 0 0 2 7 0 -1
His only match was a friendly match and at a home venue

Match History
 
 Club: Old Foresters A.F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

Age 20 trial  
one appearance - The Probables vs. The Improbables, 20 February 1878

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 7 2 March 1878 - Scotland 7 England 2
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Fr AL   for
    

one of seven who became the fiftieth (54) players to appear for England
the first (of two) Old Forester represent England

Age 21 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 19 February 1879

  

 
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