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Willie Foulke |
Sheffield
United FC
1 appearance,
0 goals against
one clean sheet
P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F
4:
A 0
100% successful
1897
captain: none
minutes played: 90 |
 |
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Timeline |
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"The above portrait of the late
William Foulke (kindly lent by Mr. John Nicholson, of the United F.C.)
shows Foulke in his prime and wearing the United colours. It will be seen
that the photograph is signed 'Foulke' not 'Foulkes'." - The Green 'un,
Saturday, 6 May 1916. |
William Henry Foulke
Many variations will appear of his name, born
a Foulke, and died a Foulkes |
|
Using the 1871 census, we
can establish William's lineage. His mother, Mary A. is a seventeen year
old unmarried mother of nine month old Thomas living with her parents,
James and Jane 'FOULKE' (nee Fox), and they all lived in Stony Fold in Dawley Bank
Village. Her father, is a miner, as is her older brother, James, and
younger brother, Noah. Her older sister, Elizabeth, is a pit-girl, and
another younger brother, Alfred, is a scholar.
His father, William
Powell, is a puddler, living three homes away. |
|
Birth |
Sunday, 12 April
1874 in Stony Fold, Dawley Bank, Shropshire
Grew up in Blackwell,
Mansfield. |
 |
registered as Foulk in
Madeley April-June 1874. |
|
According to the
1881
census, William H. 'FAULKS' is now the youngest of two grandsons living with their
grandparents,
James and Jane, and three uncles. The other being his older brother,
eleven year-old Thomas, and they live at 122 Primrose Hill in the
Blackwell area of Mansfield. |
|
According to the 1891
census, William 'FOULKS' is a coal miner living with his grandmother,
Jane, who has since remarried to Joseph Fern. And with four boarders, they all
still live at 122
Primrose Hill. |
|
Marriage: to Beatrice Ellena Duff, in the 1896 Spring in
Sheffield. |
|
registered as Foulke in
Sheffield April-June 1896. |
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Children |
Willie and Beatie Foulke had five children
together.
John Robert (b.1897), William Redvers (b.8 March
1900), Selina (b.1903), James (b&d 1904) and
James Rigby (b.1908). |
|
|
According to the 1901
census, William 'FOULKES' is now a professional footballer for Sheffield United,
married to Beatrice with two sons, Robert and Redvers. They live at 8
Belgrave Square in Ecclesall Bierlow. |
,%20Bill.JPG) In 1910, Foulke had been questioned by the Sheffield magistrates for
holding stolen property, a horse and cart, at the stables at Duke Inn. The
perpetrator was sentenced to fourteen days in prison.
On 29 September,
the police raided The Duke Inn,
Foulke was searched and forty-five betting slips were found on his
person. He replied to questions from the police that he had "no idea how
they got there".
"EX-FOOTBALLER
FINED FOR BETTING.
"At Sheffield Police Court on
Wednesday William Henry Foulkes, formerly goalkeeper
,%20Bill.JPG) for Sheffield United,
was fined £25 for allowing his licensed premises, the Duke Inn, to
be used for gaming. Frank Greaves, bookmaker, of Ecclesfield, was fined £50,
and Harry Clayton, hawker, of Sheffield, £5 for betting on the
premises." - The Derby Daily Telegraph, Thursday, 20 October
1910.
"FOULKES AND HIS
LICENCE.
"The Sheffield magistrates yesterday had
before them an application for the transfer of the licence of the Duke
Inn, Matilda-street, from William Henry Foulkes to Fred Holt, carrying on
business and holding a beer-off licence at Hoyland, Barnsley. The police
objected to the transfer on the ground that on October 19th Foulkes was
fined £25 for permitting betting on the premises. The unused declined to
make a decision on the matter, leaving the case for decision by the
Licensing Justices in December." - The Nottingham Evening
News, Wednesday, 9 November 1910.
"FOOTBALLER AS LANDLORD.
"Very strong views were expressed by the Sheffield Licensing Justices,
yesterday, in regard to the supervision which had been exercised over the
management of the Duke Inn, Matilda Street. At the Sheffield Brewser
Sessions, that conviction [Foulke's guilt and fine] was made the ground
for opposing the renewal of the licence.
"Mr. A.B. Chambers applied for
the renewal of the licence, and asked that it should be made out in the
name of Harry Davis. Davis, he said, had recently entered into possession
in the place of Foulkes. He was a man thoroughly experienced in the
licensed trade, and had an unblemished record." -
Sheffield Daily Telepgraph, Thursday, 2 February 1911. |
|
|
According to
the 1911 census, William FOULKES, an unemployed labourer, is still married
and with two more children, Selina and James. They live at 25 Campbell
Road in Sheffield..
The census is completed and returned with a
signature bu B.E.Foulkes. |
"OLD
FOOTBALLER A VICTIM IN FURTHER ATTACKS.
"The story of how Billy
Foulkes who for many years was Sheffield United's goalkeeper, was
attacked by a Sheffield hooligan was told in the Police-court on Saturday
morning.
"Foulkes is a man of no mean
proportions and weight, but Samuel Garvin, of Alfred-road, Sheffield,
walked up to him in Exchange-street on Friday night and without the
slightest justification attacked him with a pocket-knife. He then took to
his heels, and a policeman chased and caught him.
"On this charge Garvin
received two months' hard labour...It was stated that Garvin was
associated with "Tearaway Jack's" gang, the leader of which was committed
to gaol last week. On this charge also Garvin was given two months' hard
labour." - The Leeds Mercury, Monday, 1 July 1912. |
|
Death |
Monday afternoon,
1 May 1916 at Sister Tate's Nursing Home, Glossop Road, Sheffield, West
Riding of Yorkshire, of
cirrhosis.
"...heart failure
being given as a cause of his death. His illness only extended over a few
weeks, and he was admitted to a private nursing home on Saturday last, and
passed away there on Monday afternoon." - The Green 'un,
Saturday, 6 May 1916. |
|
aged
42 years 21 days |
registered as Foulkes in
Ecclesall Bierlow April-June 1916. |
|
Obituary |
,%20Willie.jpg) "THE GIANT OF THE GAME—WILLIAM FOULKE, THE FAMOUS GOALIE, PASSES
AWAY.
"No player had a greater share in the splendid success of the Sheffield
United football club during the most glorious period in their history than
William Foulke, the greatest goalkeeper the Bramall Lane brigade ever had,
who died in a nursing home in Sheffield on Monday. Foulke was great in
stature and great in ability. Fancy six feet two inches of agility and
about twenty stones of bulk to stop the gap! United's famous custodian
loomed large in view of the boldest of forwards, and woe unto the man who
ventured to charge him. For a man of his gigantic stature his activity was
wonderful. He could stop a football with one hand as a fielder in the
slips stops a ball at cricket. He could throw it as far as some men can
kick, and he could kick it from goal to halfway line. And United
enthusiasts called him 'Little Willie.'
"The following interesting
impression of Foulke in his prime was written by C. B. Fry, some time
ago:—"Foulke is no small part of a mountain; you cannot bundle him through
ball and all; you cannot surprise or humbug him. He has a touch of genius,
and in spite of a suspicion of eagerness makes a last defence that is
almost impregnable.'
"Another interesting sketch of Foulke is found in
'Association Football—the Men Who Made It,' by Alfred Gibson and
William Pickford. Describing Foulke when he was captain of Chelsea, it
says:—'A football wonder is Willie. Perhaps the most talked of
player in the world. A leviathan (22½ stone) with the agility of a
bantam. Abnormal yet normal. The cheerest of companions; brims over with
good humour; at repartee is as difficult to score against as when between
the posts. His ponderous girth gives no inconvenience, and the manner in
which he gets down to low shots explodes any idea that a superfluity of
flesh is a handicap. At Chelsea has amused the crowd by punching the ball
from his goal to well over the halfway line! Scorns to pick the ball up
with both hands. By simply spreading out one hand over the ball Foulke
does all that is necessary."
-
The Sheffield Independent, Wednesday, 3 May
1916.. |
Funeral
Thursday, 4 May 1916
Burngreave Cemetery, Attercliffe |
|
"FUNERAL OF W. FOULKE.
"The funeral of the late
William Foulke, formerly goalkeeper for the Sheffield United Football
Club, and one of the greatest players in that position, took place
yesterday afternoon at the Burngreave Cemetery, and despite unfavourable
weather many sympathisers attended.
In addition to the family
mourners the following, among others, were present: Messrs J. Tomlinson,
J. Nicholson (representing the Sheffield United F.C.) I. Swallow, E.
Needham, G. Waller, T. Morren (old United players), J. Simmons (of the
present United team), J. Davies, C. F. Lamb, W. Hall, and J. Ensor."
- The Sheffielld Daily Independent, Friday, 5 May 1916. |
|
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Beatrice Foulke died on 3 February 1933 in Sheffield and is buried with
Willie in Burngreave, both have 'Foulkes' on their gravestone |
|
Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
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|
Biographies |
Colossus: The True Story of William Foulke - Graham Phythian
(Tempus Publishing, 2005) |
|
Playing Career |
Club(s) |
Began his career at
Alfreton FC before joining Blackwell Colliery FC. From there he joined
Sheffield United FC in 1894 for a £3 transfer fee and a £5pw wage, after he
had refused to sign a professional contract with Derby County FC.
Nottingham Forest FC attempted to sign Foulke' in the pit', but he had to
decline the 'excellent terms' as he had already signed with United.
Following eleven years at the club, Foulke decided to 'sever connection'
after they refused to retain him at the 'maximum wage', so Foulke joined
the newly formed Chelsea FC on 14 May 1905 for a £50 transfer fee and the
'maximum wage'. He joined Bradford City FC on 22 April 1906, retiring in November 1907. |
League honours
355 appearances |
Sheffield United FC
1894-1905 299 appearances
debut: 1 September
1894 Sheffield United FC 2 West Bromwich Albion FC 1.
Chelsea FC 1905-06 34 appearances
debut (division two): 2 September 1905 Stockport County AFC 1 Chelsea FC 1
Bradford City FC
1906-07 22 appearances:
debut (division two): 28 April 1906 Bradford
City FC 0 Barnsley FC 0
last (division two): 9 February 1907
Gainsborough Trinity FC 4 Bradford City FC 1. |
|
Club honours |
Football League runners-up 1896-97
(3ᵃ), 1899-1900 (33ᵃ),
Champions 1897-98 (29ᵃ);
Division Two third place 1905-06 (34ᵃ)
FA Cup winners 1898-99 (9ᵃ), 1901-02 (9ᵃ), runners-up 1900-01 (7ᵃ); |
|
Individual honours |
Football League
(two appearances, 1898-1900) |
|
Distinctions |
Also played cricket for Derbyshire CCC
(four appearances, 1900) |
Height/Weight |
6' 2", 15st.
0lbs [1892], 6' 2", 19st. 7½lbs [1899], 6' 2½", 21st.
0lbs [1901], 6' 3", 22st.
3lbs [1906].
"When Foulke
joined Sheffield United he stood 6ft. 2½in., and weighed 12st 10lb. He soon
pulled the beam at 15st. 10lb., then rose to 19st., next to 22st., and
simply staggered humanity when he played the game with 25st, to move
about. Yet he was always agile." -
The Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times, Friday,
12 May 1916. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of two
who
became 234th players (234) to
appear for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Goalkeeper;
28th goalkeeper to appear. |
|
Only match |
No. 60, 29 March 1897, England 4 Wales 0, a
British Championship match at
Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged
22 years
351 days. |
|
Major tournaments |
British Championship 1896-97; |
|
Team honours |
None |
|
Individual honours |
The
Professionals (one appearance 1ᵍᵃ March 1897) |
|
Distinctions |
Possibly the heaviest player to ever play for England |
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Beyond England |
|
Later ran a Penny-a-Penalty sideshow
on Blackpool beach, where he paid the successful marksman 3d. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.100. |
|
The Numbers |
|
parties |
Apps |
Comp
Apps |
minutes |
Goals
Against |
GA Av.
min |
Comp GA |
Clean
Sheets |
Cln
Sht Av |
captain |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
90 |
0 |
0 min |
0 |
1 |
100% |
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 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
100 |
+1 |
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His only match was played in the British Championship and at a home
venue |
Tournament Record
|
British Championship Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC 1896-97 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
BC
All |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
All Competition |
|
Type |
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
FTS |
CS |
FAv |
AAv |
Pts% |
W/L |
|
BC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4.00 |
0.00 |
100.0 |
+1 |
|
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
100 |
+1 |
Match History
|
apps |
match |
match details |
comp |
res. |
rundown |
pos |
|
|
England
Football Online