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Players Index Page Last Updated
14 February 2023
 
 

Jimmy Sayer

Stoke FC

 1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 1 D 0 L 0 F 7: A 0
100% successful
1887

captain: none
minutes played: 90

Timeline
  James Sayer
  Evidently, the Sayer family are from Northumberland, moved to Durham c.1856, then to Rotherham before 1862, and to Mexborough in 1863 after James was born.
Birth Sunday, 7 September 1862 in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire
  registered in Rotherham July-September 1865
Baptism Sunday, 4 October 1863 at St. John the Baptist Church in Mexborough.
 

According to the 1871 census, James is the fourth of the seven children to Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Robinson), living at 164 Dotcliff Road in Mexborough. His father is a forgeman.
(His mother died in 1875, his father remarried on 27 July 1875 to Harriet Barron)
 

According to the 1881 census, James is a clerk at the local foundry and is the oldest of the three children from his father's first marriage. They live with their father, who is an iron worker and has since remarried, to Harriet, and they have four young children, they all live at 3 Chapel Walk in Mexborough.
Marriage to Eliza Maud Brown, in 1891 in Stoke
  registered in Stoke-on-Trent January-March 1891
Children Jimmy and Eliza Sayer had one son together. James (b.1892).
 

Despite just being married, neither James, or Eliza Maud, can be found on the 1891 census.
 

According to the 1901 census, James is now married to Maud, they have one son, James. He is a Pottery Commercial Traveller, and they live at Rose Villa, Regent Street in Stoke with one servant.
(His father died on 17 June 1902)
 

According to the 1911 census, James is still married and still have one son. He is still a commercial traveller, and along with one servant, they now all live at Hillcrest, 69 James Street in Stoke.
 

According to the 1921 census, James and Elizabeth Maud still live at 69 James Street with one servant. He is still a commercial traveller (for Fielding & Co) in earthenware.
Death Wednesday night, 1 February 1922, at Hillcrest, 69 James Street in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, of influenza.
aged 59 years 147 days registered in Stoke-on-Trent January-March 1922.
"SAYER.—On February 1st, at Hill Crest, James-street, Stoke. James Sayer in his 60th year. Internment at Hartshill Cemetery on Saturday at 2 15 p.m. Friends please accept this, the only intimation. Inquiries to Geo. Fleet and Co., Stoke-on-Trent." - Staffordshire Sentinel, Friday, 3 February 1922.

Obituary
"DEATH OF MR. JAMES SAYER, OF STOKE.—Famous Footballer of 30 Years Ago.
"Football memories of 30 or 40 years ago will be stirred by the news of the death, which occurred at Stoke, on Wednesday night, of Mr. James Sayer, of Hill Crest, James-street, Stoke, a director and secretary of the firm of Messrs. Fielding, Ltd., Devon Pottery, Stoke, and formerly a famous amateur footballer. Mr. Sayer had been ill about three weeks, being a victim of the prevailing epidemic of influenza, to which he eventually succumbed.
"He was a Yorkshireman, and came to the Potteries many years ago to take up a minor position in the firm in which he eventually became a director. He will be remembered by the older section of the sporting fraternity as the forward who played prominently for Stoke over 30 years ago. Those who remember him describe him as a fine, gentlemanly player, and he became famous as an English international. Many will recall the occasion when he broke Rowley's collar-bone—quite by accident, of course—in a match between Port Vale and Stoke, when Rowley was the goalkeeper for the Vale, before he joined the Stoke club.
"His death will be regretted by a large circle of friends." - Staffordshire Sentinel, Thursday, 2 February 1922.
Funeral
Saturday afternoon
4 February 1922
 Hartshill Cemetery
"LATE MR. JAMES SAYER—Funeral at Hartshill.
"The funeral of Mr. James Sayer, of Hill Crest, James-street, Stoke, secretary and a director of Messrs. Fielding, Ltd., Devon Pottery, Stoke, whose death was announced last week, took place on Saturday afternoon at Hartshill Cemetery, where there was gathered a large body, representative of the many phases of life in which Mr. Sayer was not only well known but highly esteemed. His death, it mat be remarked, came with painful and unexpected suddenness, and the news has been received with keen regret in a wide circle of friends and associates...The service was taken by the Rector of Stoke (the Rev. Preb. H. V. Stuart), assisted by the Vicar of Trent Vale (the Rev. E. H. Rogers)." - Staffordshire Sentinel, Tuesday, 7 February 1922
Probate "SAYER James of Hill Crest James-street Stoke-upon-Trent Staffordshire died 1 February 1922 Probate London 17 June to Eliza Maud Sayer widow and James Sayer manager.
 Effects £5474 6s." [2019 equivalent: £313,394].
  Eliza Sayer died in May 1926
"FUNERAL OF MRS. JAMES SAYER ...The funeral of Mrs. James Sayer, the widow of Mr. J. Sayer, earthenware manufacturer, of Tean Hurst, Tean, and until recently of Hill Crest, James-street, Stoke, took place on Saturday, at Hartshill Cemetery." - Staffordshire Sentinel, Tuesday, 18 May 1926

Source

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

Playing Career
Club(s) Began his career with Mexborough FC in 1880, before joining Heeley FC a year later, and Wednesday FC in 1884. Eventually joined Stoke FC in 1885. Returned to Mexborough in 1890.
League History
14 appearances, 1 goal		 Stoke FC 1888-90 fourteen appearances, one goal
debut: 8 September 1888 Stoke FC 0 West Bromwich Albion FC 2.
last: 24 March 1890 Stoke FC 1 Notts County FC 1.
Club honours None
Individual honours Staffordshire FA (1887)
Height/Weight not known

Source

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

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 134th players (138) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-right
Only match No. 29, 5 February 1887, England 7 Ireland 0, a British Championship match at Yorkshire County Cricket Ground, Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged 24 years 151 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1886-87;
Individual honours The Gentlemen (one appearance, 1ᵍ, December 1886)
The North (one appearance, 1ᵍ, January 1887)

Beyond England

Sayer was secretary of Devon Pottery company. He later became the director of Fielding Ltd (manufacturer of Devon pottery). Also a staunch churchman, being a warden of All Saint's Church, Boothen, a Freemason, and a member of the North Staffordshire Branch of the United Kingdom Commercial Travellers' Association. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.217/obituary


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
1 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 1 0 0 7 0 +7 0 1 7 0 100 +1
His only match was played in the British Championship competition and at an home venue

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1886-87 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 0 1 7.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC All 1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 0 1 7.00 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 7 0 +7 0 1 7.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 7 0 +7 0 1 7 0 100 +1

Match History

 Club: Stoke F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

Age 24 trial  
two appearances - The Players vs. The Gentlemen, 18 December 1886; The North vs. The South, 22 January 1887;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 29 5 February 1887 - England 7 Ireland 0
 Yorkshire County Ground, Sheffield		 BC HW   or
  

the one of five who became the 134th player (138) to appear for England
the third player from the Stoke FC to represent England

     

 
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