England Football Online
Players Index Page Last Updated
17 September 2023
 
 

Bill Oakley

Oxford University AFC & Corinthians FC

 16 appearances, 0 goals

P 16 W 10 D 3 L 3 F 47: A 16
72% successful
1895-1901

captain: one
minutes played: 1440

Timeline
  William John Oakley
Birth Sunday, 27 April 1873 at 34 Castle Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire
  registered in Atcham April-June 1873
Baptism 20 May 1873 in St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury
Education Attended Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford.
 

According to the 1881 census, William is the eldest of five children to William and Emilie Anne (née Pike), living at 34 Castle Street in Shrewsbury. They have four servants. His father is a malster brewer.
 

According to the 1891 census, William J. is a boarder at the Kingsland Grammar school in Atcham. His family now live at 'Lucerne', 116 Oakley Street in Shrewsbury.

 

According to the 1901 census, William J. is an assistant schoolmaster boarding at the Ludgrove School in Monken Hadley area of Barnet.
But his family now live at 76 Preston Gubbals in Shrewsbury.
 

(His mother died 14 May 1908 at Preston Gubbals)
According to the 1911 census, William is a schoolmaster at Ludgrove School, alongside Gilbert Smith.
His father is now widowed and is a farmer living at Lea Hale, Harmer Hill in Shropshire.

 

According to the 1921 census, William is still a schoolmaster at Ludgrove School, still alongside Gilbert Smith.
(His father died at Harmer Hill on 2 November 1922)
Death Tuesday, 18 September 1934 in Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, Cumberland
He died from his injuries the day after his car had overturned near Carlisle. He was returning from a holiday in Scotland.
aged 61 years 144 days registered in Carlisle July-September 1934
"MOTORIST'S DEATH IN CUMBERLAND INFIRMARY.
 "The death took place last night in Cumberland Infirmary of William John Oakley, of Ludgrove, Cockfosters, Herts, a retired schoolmaster, aged 61. On Monday afternoon he was motoring on Scotland-road, Carlisle, when passing a motorlorry his car skilled and collided with a motor 'bus. Mr. Oakley was picked out of the wreckage with severe head injuries." - The Lancashire Daily Post/Liverpool Echo, Wednesday, 19 September 1934.

Obituary
"FAMOUS FOOTBALLER DEAD
 "The death is announced to-day of William John Oakley, one of the most famous of football full-backs in the closing years of the last century. Oakley was injured in a motor-car accident at Carlisle on Tuesday. He had played for Oxford University, the Corinthians, and England. He gained five 'caps' against Scotland, six against Wales, and five against Ireland." - Hull Daily Mail/Derby Daily Telegraph/Gloucester Citizen, Thursday, 20 September 1934.
 "DEATH OF W. J. OAKLEY
"The world of amateur sport has been robbed of one of its greatest figures by the death, as a result of a motoring accident, of William John Oakley, the former international footballer. In almost every form of sport he excelled—football, athletics, cricket, rowing, fives, lawn tennis, golf. Oakley played football for for Oxford University, the Corinthians, and England. He gained five caps against Scotland, six against Wales, and five against Ireland. Beginning his international career in 1896, he represented his country until 1901. A wonderful tackler, Oakley was very fast and possessed a sure kick with either foot. He also represented Oxford in the 120yd. hurdles and the long jump against Cambridge, and was made president of the O.U.A.C. Rowed in the Oxford trial eights, and in the Christ Church eight; won the hurdles for Oxford against Yale, and played in the Christ Church lawn tennis team which won the Intercollegiate Cup." - Daily Mirror, Friday, 21 September 1934.
Funeral 21 September 1934 at St. Mary's Church, Shrewsbury.
Probate "OAKLEY William John of Ludgrove Cockfosters Hertfordshire died 18 September 1934 at Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle Probate Shrewsbury 3 November to Robert Charles Oakley retired schoolmaster and Henry Newcombe Oakley retired farmer.
 Effects £19089 0s. 3d. Resworn £19339 10s 2d." [2023 equivalent: £1,137,860]
"A FORMER OXFORD BLUE.
"William John Oakley, of Ludgrove, Cockfosters, Herts., formerly of New Barnet, the famous amateur footballer, who died on September 18 last, as the result of a motor accident near Carlisle, aged 61 years, left estate of the gross value of £19,089, with net personalty £16,293.
"He left, besides other bequests, £100 each to Dr Barnardo's Homes, the Church Army, and the Missions to Seamen." - The Scotsman, Monday, 26 November 1934.
Oxford University Alumni Oakley, William John, born at Shrewsbury 1873; 1S. William, gent,  CHRIST CHURCH, matric.
    14 Oct., 92, aged 19, from Shrewsbury school.
Source
Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career
Club(s) Attended and played for Shrewsbury School XI from 1887 until 1892, being captain in the final year. Went on to attend and play for Oxford University AFC from 1893 until 1896. After which, he played for Casuals FC from 1903.
Corinthians between 1894-1903.
Club honours None
Individual honours None

Distinctions		 Also famous in Athletics. Being President of the Oxford University Athletic Club in 1895, representing the University between 1893 and 1896, winning the AAA long jump in 1894 and represented England against United States in 1895 doing the long jump and in the 120 yard hurdles, he also appeared in the trial eights.  Oakley also rowed for Shrewsbury. Played in the Christ Church lawn tennis team, fives, weight-putting and hammer-throwing, as well as golf.
Height/Weight 6' 0", 11st. 7lbs [1901], "6' 1", nearly 14st. [in his playing days]."

Source

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

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 222nd player (223) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left/right-back
First match No. 54, 18 March 1895, England 1 Wales 1, a British Championship match at The Recreation Ground, Queen's Club, West Kensington, London, aged 21 years 325 days.
Last match
6 years 12 days		 No. 73, 30 March 1901, England 2 Scotland 2, a British Championship match at Sports Arena, Crystal Palace, Sydenham, London, aged 27 years 337 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1894-95, 1895-96, 1896-97, 1897-98, 1899-1900, 1900-01;
Team honours British Championship winners 1894-95, 1897-98, 1900-01;
Individual honours The Amateurs (three appearances, March 1895-March 1897);
The South (three appearances, 1ᶜ 1ᵒᵍ February 1899-February 1901).
Distinctions None

Beyond England
A schoolmaster by profession (MA (Oxon)), he was joint headmaster from 1902 with Gilbert Smith at the Ludgrove Preparatory School. The pair also shared the Corinthians' secretaryship (1898-1902) and the writing of a book Association Football. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.186.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
17 16 16 1440 0 one
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
16 10 3 3 47 16 +31 1 7 2.938 1 71.9 +7
all of his matches were played in the British Championship competition

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 7 4 2 1 23 4 +19 0 4 3.286 0.571 71.4 +3
Away 9 6 1 2 24 12 +12 1 3 2.667 1.333 72.2 +4

Captain Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 1.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 1 100 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1894-95 1 0 1 0 1 1 =0 0 0 1.00 1.00 50.0 =0
BC 1895-96 3 2 0 1 11 3 +8 1 1 3.667 1.00 66.7 +1
BC 1896-97 3 2 0 1 11 2 +9 0 2 2.667 0.667 66.7 +1
BC 1897-98 3 3 0 0 9 3 +6 0 1 3.00 1.00 100.0 +3
BC 1899-1900 3 1 1 1 4 5 -1 0 1 1.333 1.667 50.0 =0
BC 1900-01 3 2 1 0 11 2 +9 0 2 2.667 0.667 83.3 +2
BC All 16 10 3 3 47 16 +31 1 7 2.938 1.00 71.9 +7

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 16 10 3 3 47 16 +31 1 7 2.938 1.00 71.9 +7
16 10 3 3 47 16 +31 1 7 2.938 1 71.9 +7

Match History

 Club: Oxford University A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - four full appearances (360 min)  
  F.A. International Select Committee - sixteen full appearances (1440 min) 1ᶜx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 21
1 54 18 March 1895 - England 1 Wales 1
Recreation Ground, West Kensington (Corinthians' home ground)		 BC HD   lb
 

one of five who became the 222nd players (223) to appear for England
one of two who became the nineteenth Oxford University AFC player to represent England
one of five players to become the 52nd players from Corinthians FC to represent England

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 28 March 1895;

Age 22
2 56 7 March 1896 - Ireland 0 England 2
 Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   lb
3 57 16 March 1896 - Wales 1 England 9
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AW   lb


trial  
one appearance - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals,  25 March 1896;

4 58 4 April 1896 - Scotland 2 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AL   lb

 Club: Corinthians F.C. - twelve full appearances (1080 min) 1ᶜ  

Age 23
5 59 20 February 1897 - England 6 Ireland 0
Trentbridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham 		BC HW   rb

trial  
one appearance - The Amateurs vs. The Professionals,  15 March 1897;

6 60 29 March 1897 - England 4 Wales 0
 Bramall Lane, Sheffield		 BC HW   rb
7 61 3 April 1897 - England 1 Scotland 2
Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HL   rb

Age 24
8 62 5 March 1898 - Ireland 2 England 3
Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast		 BC AW   rb
9 63 28 March 1898 - Wales 0 England 3
The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW   rb
10 64 2 April 1898 - Scotland 1 England 3
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AW   rb

Age 25 trial
one appearance - The South vs. The North,  7 February 1899;

67 8 April 1899 - England 2 Scotland 1, Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham BC HW reserve

Age 26    
one appearance - The South vs. The North,  7 March 1900;

11 68 17 March 1900 - Ireland 0 England 2
Lansdowne Road, Dublin		 BC AW [0-2] shot hit bar rb
12 69 26 March 1900 - Wales 1 England 1
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff		 BC AD   lb
13 70 7 April 1900 - Scotland 4 England 1
Celtic Park, Glasgow		 BC AL   rb

Age 27 trial  
one appearance - The Southᶜ vs. The North,  25 February 1901;

14 71 9 March 1901 - England 3 Ireland 0
The Dell, Southampton		 BC HW   ᶜlb

the 26th player to captain England

15 72 18 March 1901 - England 6 Wales 0
St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne		 BC HW   lb
16 73 30 March 1901 - England 2 Scotland 2
 Sports Arena, Crystal Palace		 BC HD   lb
 


     

 
cg