England Players - 169. Fred Geary

England Football Online
Players Index	Page Last Updated 9 July 2023

Fred Geary	Everton FC 2 appearances, 2 to 5 goals all on his debut P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 11: A 2 100% successful 1890-91 captain: none minutes played: 180

Timeline
	Fred Geary
Birth	Thursday, 23 January 1868 on Sheraton's Row, in Hyson Green, Radford, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
	registered in Radford January-March 1868
	According to the 1871 census, Frederick is the fourth of five children to Arthur and Ann (née Hardy). His father is a fitter, and the seven of them live at Sheraton's Row in the Hyson Green area of Radford.
	According to the 1881 census, Fred, a bleacher, and the third child, now has five younger siblings. They live at 80 Saville Row in Radford. His father is a machine fitter.
	According to the 1891 census, Fred cannot be found, but he should be in the Liverpool area. In the meantime, his father has died, as his widowed mother was now a caretaker at St Paul's Avenue School in Radford. She lives in the schoolhouse along with five of his siblings.
Marriage	to Winifred Cecilia Rainford, on Tuesday, 1 September 1891 at St. Andrew's Church, Nottingham
	registered in Nottingham July-September 1891
Children	Fred and Winifred Geary had five children together. Doris May (b.4 February 1894), Frederick (b.13 June 1896), Dorothy (b.2 June 1898), Winifred (b.1904) and Laurence Walter (b.16 October 1905)
	On 26 December 1893, Fred is initiated as a Freemason. His address stated as being 66 Thirlmere Road in Everton and he is a licensed victualler. Then, according to Kelly's Directory of Liverpool 1894, Fred is still at 66 Thirlmere Road and before the end of the year, he had lost his eldest daughter, Doris, less than six months-old. According to the 1901 census, Fred, now a publican, is married to Winifred with two children, Frederick and Dorothy. They live at 66 Thirlmere Road.
	According to Liverpool Electoral Registers, between 1904-10, Fred Geary is stated as living at Cabbage Hall Inn, 20 Breck Road in Anfield, as confirmed by the 1911 Gore's Directory of Liverpool. The public house itself, is owned by Liverpool FC chairman, John Goulding.
	According to the 1911 census, Fred is still a publican with two more children, Winifred and Laurence. They live at The Stanley Arms, 306/308 Westminster Road in Kirkdale, Liverpool.
	According to the 1921 census, Fred is a licensed victualler, still married and with his four children, they all still live at The Stanley Arms. (His mother died 2 August 1929)
	Again, according to Liverpool Electoral Registers, from at least 1914 until at least 1938, Fred, Winifred Cecilia, Frederick Jnr and Lawrence Walter, are living at 306-308 Westminster Road. Kelly's Directory in 1938 gave a telephone number:- Bootle 487.
	"PRESENTATION TO MR. AND MRS. FRED GEARY. "At the Stanley Arms, Westminster Road, at a social and smoke, the president of the Bowling Club made a presentation of easy chairs to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Geary (the old Everton centre forward), late host and hostess of the hotel, now of the Fountain's Abbey, Walton Road. Many old friends of Mr. Geary from the Thirlmere Road and Cabbage Hall houses were there." - The Liverpool Echo, Saturday, 3 September 1938.
	According to the 1939 register, Fred and Winifred C. are still married at Fountain's Abbey, 87 Walton Road in Kirkdale.
	Again, according to Liverpool Electoral Registers, from at least 1939, Fred, Winifred and Frederick were now living at 89 Walton Road.
	"GOLDEN WEDDING OF EX-SOCCER STAR. "Mr. and Mrs. Fred Geary (left) of the Fountains Abbey Hotel, Walton-road, Liverpool, have celebrated their golden wedding. Known to countless older Everton and Liverpool football 'fans,' Mr. Geary shared almost every honour which goes to a professional footballer except playing in the F.A. Cup final. He played centre-forward for Everton, Liverpool and England. AMong his most treasured trophies is the football which was used in the Everton v. Aston Villa Cup final of 1896-97, presented to him by one of his friends. Another treasure is one of the first medals ever presented by the Football League. 'We had to forfeit our fee in those days to get the medal,' said Mr. Geary to an Evening Express representative. Although Mr. Geary is nearly 74, he has taken an active interest in sports of all kinds from his earliest boyhood, and it iso only recently that he gave up playing bowls for the Stanley Arms Bowling Club, which has won more honours than any other bowling club on Merseyside. As well as his golden wedding Mr. Geary this year celebrates two other jubilees―50 years a Freemason and 50 years a licensee." - The Evening Express, Wednesday, 3 September 1941.
Death	Saturday, 8 January 1955 at 69 Sunnyside Road, Great Crosby, Liverpool, Lancashire
aged 86 years 350 days	registered in Crosby, January-March 1955
Obituary
"Led Everton in Eighties―Mr. Fred Geary Dies At 86. "Mr. Fred Geary, a famous Everton centre-forward of more than 60 years ago, died this morning at 69 Sunnyside Road, Great Crosby. He would have been 87 in a fortnight's time. A native of Nottingham, Fred Geary was spotted by Everton when he was playing for Notts Rangers, and signed for the Goodison Park club in 1888, when he was 20. He was capped for England against Ireland in 1890 and against Scotland the following year, and was the proud possessor of the first gold medal struck for an England representative eleven. It was awarded for the inter-league game against Scotland, which England won 4-3, in 1893. After several seasons with Everton, Mr. Geary was transferred to Liverpool when that club was formed, and he ended his playing days at Anfield. What was probably his last appearance before the football public was at Anfield in 1946. Aston Villa were the visitors that day, and before the match Mr. Geary presented to Villa the ball used in the 1897 F.A. Cup Final, when Villa beat Everton 3-2. In later years Mr. Geary made a name for himself in bowling circles, and played for Lancashire in county matches along with his two sons, Lawrence and Fred. Associated with the licensing trade for more than half a century, he was for 28 years licensee of the Stanley Arms, Westminster Road, before going to the Fountain's Abbey, Walton Road, Liverpool. He retired in 1946. Mr. Geary celebrated his golden wedding in September, 1951, and is survived by his widow, who is 83. He also leaves two daughters." - The Liverpool Echo, Saturday, 8 January 1955.
Probate	"GEARY Fred of 69 Sunnyside-road Great Crosby Liverpool died 8 January 1955 Probate Liverpool 15 February to George Edge retired ships storekeeper and Stanley Skelton Edge fruiterer. Effects £521 16s. 6d." [2019 equivalent: £13,772]
Funeral	Buried at Anfield Cemetery.
	Winifred Geary died in early 1958 and is buried with Fred.
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career
Club(s)	Began his football career playing schoolboy football in Nottingham. He joined Balmoral FC (Nottingham) and then Notts Rangers FC from the 1886-87 season. He then joined Grimsby Town FC in July 1887, returning to the Rangers in the October. Turning professional in September 1888, Derby County FC made attempts to sign Geary at the same time. It was from Rangers that Everton FC signed him in May 1889. The two teams had played a friendly match on 6 May as part of the transfer deal...
	..."ACCIDENT TO FRED GEARY "In the course of the International Trial Football Match, played on the Gregory Ground, Nottingham, to-day, a sad accident befell Fred Geary, formerly centre forward of Notts Rangers, but now fulfilling the same position for Everton. He was chosen to play centre for the side designated the Whites. Early in the first half Geary was endeavouring to centre from the corner, when Brayshaw charged him. It was not a heavy or a foul charge, being perfectly legitimate, but the consequences were unlooked for. Geary fell backwards, and his head, narrowly missing the iron piping which surrounds the enclosure, came in violent contact with one of the wooden seats of forms. He at once became unconscious, and his condition was evidently dangerous. He was carried on a board into the dressing-room, and made as comfortable as possible on carriage cushions and rugs. He was promptly attended to by Drs. Ashwell and Stewart, who pronounced him suffering from concussion of the brain. His condition is undoubtedly serious, although Dr. Ashwell does not anticipate a fatal termination. The patient will have to be carefully nursed, and kept exceedingly quiet." - The Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, 24 March 1890. "In the course of Monday night Fred Geary, of Nottingham, the Everton Club professional, who was so seriously injured in the international trial match at the Gregory Ground on Monday, recovered consciousness, and he is now considered to be out of immediate danger. The improvement in his condition appears to be steadily maintained, but the medical men enjoin strict quiet, and only near relatives have been permitted to visit him at the [Sheffield] General Hospital." - The Sheffield and Rotherham Independent, Wednesday, 26 March 1890. "A rather strange incident in connection with the relations of the Liverpool and Everton clubs has come to light during the last day or so. It was thought and hoped that the 'hatchet had been buried.' Circumstances, however, show that it is not so. It is well known to everybody who takes an interest in football that Fred Geary, while being a signed player for Everton, has held the position of manager of one of Mr. John Houlding's public houses. There is an old saying that it is impossible to properly serve two masters. Up to now, however, Geary has fulfilled his dual duties pretty satisfactorily to both parties. Mr. Houlding has allowed him a free hand with regard to his football. This, however, will no longer suit the Everton committee, and Geary has been instructed to throw up his employment with Mr. Houlding. The Everton club has got his signature attached to a document which says he must give his 'sole time to the Everton club.'" - The Liverpool Echo, Saturday, 1 September 1894.
	...Everton FC, at the end of the season, sent Geary's transfer papers to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, however, Geary had joined Liverpool FC on 22 May 1895 for a £65 transfer fee, but not before Newcastle United FC made an attempt to bring him to the North-East. Geary then retired through injury in January 1900....
	..."Fred Geary, the famous forward, has probably played his last game. He appeared in a Reserve fixture for Liverpool against Manchester the other day, and received such an injury as will, it is feared, put an ignominious end to his long and distinguished football career. A City back accidentally "kneed" him in the stomach , with the result that Geary has been ruptured. Even if his injury is less serious, Fred Geary is unlikely to be seen in the football field again. His career really ended some years ago, when as an Evertonian, he met with an accident at Sunderland. We well remember the incident: A minute from time—it was a Cup tie—he dashed up the field like lightning if so be he might score at the last and save the game. He came an awful bang against one of the Sunderland backs—or the back banged against him—it comes to the same thing—and down went Fred, his head striking the side post with a sickening thud. They picked him up senseless, and from that shock Geary never fairly recovered. It had knocked all the fight out of him; he grew timorous, shirked a charge, and bye-and-bye Everton got rid of him, and he went over to Liverpool." - The Sunderland Daily Echo, Saturday, 6 January 1900.
	...Reinstated as an amateur on 23 August 1902.
League History 130 appearances, 92 goals	Everton FC 1889-95 91 appearances, 78 goals. debut: 7 September 1889, Everton FC 3 Blackburn Rovers FC 2. Liverpool FC 1895-98 39 appearances, fourteen goals. debut (second division): 7 September 1895 Notts County FC 2 Liverpool FC 3. last: 17 September 1898 Liverpool FC 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 0.
Club honours	Football League runners-up 1889-90 (18ᵃ 21ᵍ), Champions 1890-91 (22ᵃ 20ᵃ); Division One runners-up 1894-95 (8ᵃ 4ᵃ); Division Two winners 1895-96 (19ᵃ 11ᵃ), runners-up 1898-99 (1ᵃ); FA Cup runners-up 1892-93 (3ᵃ 4ᵃ);
Individual honours	Football League (two appearances); Nottinghamshire FA.
Distinctions	Also played cricket with T.I. Birkin's in 1888 and Nottingham Commercial CC in 1890. Older brother of George Geary (Nottingham Forest FC & Chesterfield Town FC, 1894-1901). *Following his transfer from Everton FC to Liverpool FC, he became the first International* player to cross Stanley Park. Though he never then played against his former club...** He was the fifth player, following Tom Wylie, Duncan McLean, Patrick Gordoan and John Whitehead.
Height/Weight	5' 2", 9st 6lbs [1892]
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA.
England Career
Player number	One of four who became the 167th players (169) to appear for England.
Position(s)	Centre-forward
First match	No. 38, 15 March 1890, Ireland 1 England 9, a British Championship match at Ulster Cricket Ground, Ballynafeigh Park, Belfast, aged 22 years 51 days. maybe upto 3 more?
Last match	No. 43, 4 April 1891, England 2 Scotland 1, a British Championship match at Ewood Park, Ewood, Blackburn, aged 23 years 71 days.
Major tournaments	British Championship 1889-90, 1890-91;
Team honours	British Championship shared 1889-90, winners 1890-91;
Individual honours	The Whites (two appearances 4ᵍ, March 1890-March 1891) The North (one appearance 2ᵍ, January 1891); The Stripes (one appearance 1ᵍ, March 1891); England's Top Goalscorer (three 1890)
Distinctions	The first Everton player to represent England, beating Johnny Holt by 35 minutes.
Beyond England
He was for many years a Liverpool licensee, including 28 years at one hostelry, retiring in 1946. Latterly too an excellent bowls player good enough to represent Lancashire, as well as exponent at Billiards. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.105.

The Numbers
parties	Appearances	comp. apps	minutes		goals ave.min	comp. goals	captain
2	2	2	180	3 to 5	60 to 36 min	3 to 5	none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.

FTS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

5.5

100

Both of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue

FTS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

Home

2.00

1.00

100.0

Away

9.00

1.00

100.0

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	FTS	CS	FAv	AAv	Pts%	W/L
BC 1889-90	1	1	0	0	9	1	+8	0	0	9.00	1.00	100.0	+1
BC 1890-91	1	1	0	0	2	1	+1	0	0	2.00	1.00	100.0	+1
BC All	2	2	0	0	11	2	+9	0	0	5.50	1.00	100.0	+2

All Competition

Type

FTS

FAv

AAv

Pts%

W/L

5.50

1.00

100.0

5.5

100

Match History

Club: Everton F.C. - two full appearance (180 min) 2-5ᵍ

F.A. International Select Committee - two full appearance (180 min) 2-5ᵍx

apps	match	match details	comp	res.	rundown	pos

Age 22

15 March 1890 - Ireland 1 England 9
Ulster Cricket Ground, Belfast

A not altogether coherent match report in The Field credits Geary with four goals, and The Athletic News maintains that 'the clever little Everton centre was responsible for five of the goals. The Northern Whig also credits him with five. The Sporting Chronicle, only two....

one of four who became the 167th player (169) to appear for England

the first player from Everton FC represent England

the 26th player to score on his England debut - the tenth competitive

the scorer of the 24th or 25th brace for England

the tenth player to score two or more goals on his England debut

probably the scorer of the eleventh hattrick for England

so probably the seventh player to score three goals on his England debut

his two-five goals in 1890 makes him top goalscorer for the year/season

trial
two appearances - The Whites vs. The Blues, 24 March 1890; The North vs. The South, 12 January 1891;

Age 23
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 24 March 1891; Geary began the match with The Stripes, scoring their second goal. He was then moved into The Whites side for the second half and proceeded to equalise and score a hattrick.

2	43	4 April 1891 - England 2 Scotland 1 Ewood Park, Blackburn	BC	HW		cf