Francis Sparks	Hertfordshire Rangers FC & Clapham Rovers FC 3 appearances, 3 goals P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 12: A 11 67% successful 1879-80 captain: one (two goals) minutes played: 270
Timeline
Pic courtesy of SFA museum	Francis John Sparks
Birth	Wednesday, 4 July 1855 at Bradfields in North Benfleet, Billericay, Essex
	registered in Billericay July-September 1855
"4th inst, at Bradfields, North Benfleet, Mrs. John Sparks, of a son." - The Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday, 20 July 1855.
Baptism	Friday, 11 April 1856 at All Saints' Church in North Benfleet
	According to the 1861 census, Francis John is the youngest of three children to John and Eleanor (née Curtis) living at Bradfields in North Benfleet with three servants. His father is a farmer employing 250.
	Cannot be found on the 1871 census.
	According to the 1881 census, Francis J. is now a clerk for his father, and with his older sister, Marion, they are living with their parents, and two servants at Somerset Road in Chipping Barnet, Barnet. His father is a General Commission Agent.
First marriage	to Jane Sarah Billinghurst, on 5 July 1884
	registered in Islington July-September 1884
"SPARKS―BILLINGHURST.―On the 5th inst, at St. Mary's, Islington. Francis John, younger son of John Sparks, Esq., of Eversfield, New Barnet, to Jane Sarah, elder daughter of J.W Billinghurst, Esq., of Highbury place." - The Morning Post, Wednesday, 9 July 1884.
Children	Francis and Jane Sparks had two sons together. Frank Evans (b.1885) and Edward John (b.23 March 1886). Jane left the marital home shortly after.
	According to the 1891 census, Francis J., although 'married', is still with his sister, living with their mother at Dudley House on Manor Road in Chipping Barnet. Two of his nephews and two servants all live with them. He seems dependent on his mother.
	According to the 1901 census, Francis J., stated as 'widowed' (Jane is still very much alive: see below!), is a coal traveller, living on his own at 141 Clarendon Place in Dover.
	According to the 1911 census, Francis John is now lodging with John Taylor, also a widower, at 2 Norman Cottages, in Upper Deal, Kent. (His eldest son, Frank Evans, died in Ypres, 13 May 1915)
Second marriage	to Matilda Gertrude Wright, on 21 November 1917
	registered in Rochford October-December 1917
	According to the 1921 census, Francis John, a retired clerk, is married to Matilda Gertrude, and they both live at 16 New Road in the Seven Kings area of Ilford.
"A MARRIAGE TANGLE "At Southend on Tuesday, William Deares, of Hamilton Bungalow, Vange, renewed his application for the discharge of a maintenance order in respect to Mrs. Matilda Gertrude Deares, Shaftesbury Avenue, Southend. "The case had been before the Court on three previous occasions, and it had been alleged that Mrs. Dawes was already married to a Mr. Sparkes at the time of the ceremony with the present applicant. At the hearing on Friday, Mrs. Jane Sarah Sparkes, of Finsbury Park, said she was married on July 5, 1884, to Francis John Sparkes. She left her husband in 1886, and had not seen him for many years. "Respondent said that on Nov. 21, 1917, she went through a form of marriage with a Francis John Sparkes. At that time, her surname was Wright, and she was a widow. Subsequently, Mr. Sparkes told her he had a wife alive, she then left him. After that she met William Deares, and married him in October, 1922. "Mr. Hurrell (for the respondent) said the case was somewhat complicated, but he thought the Bench would be satisfied there was no such thing as a bigamous marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Deares, but that a bigamous marriage took place between Mr. Sparkes and Mrs. Deares. Mr. S. Wortly (for the applicant), urged that there was no evidence that the man Sparkes who was married to Mrs. Sparkes was the man Sparkes who was married to Mrs.  Deares. The Bench dismissed the application, and allowed £5/10/ - costs." - The Essex Chronicle/Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday, 25 July 1930 & The Essex Newsman, Saturday, 26 July 1930.
Death	Tuesday, 13 February 1934, at 1 Oldchurch Road in Romford, Essex
aged 78 years 224 days	registered in Romford January-March 1934
Funeral	Monday, 19 February 1934 at All Saints' Church, North Benfleet.
Probate	"SPARKS Francis John of 6 Pembroke-road Sevens Kings Essex died 13 February 1934 at 1 Oldchurch-road Romford Essex Probate London 6 April to the reverend Wolston Dixie Churchill clerk. Effects £64 12s. 10d." [2019 equivalent: £4,615]
	Jane Sparks died in Islington on 22 May 1941; Matilda Deares died in mid-1952.
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career
Club(s)	Began in 1873 playing for St. Albans Pilgrims FC.  He switched to play for Brondesbury within the year for the rest of the season.  He played for Upton Park FC between 1876 and 1878, before joining Hertfordshire Rangers FC. He joined Clapham Rovers FC for their successful 1879-80 campaign;
Club honours	FA Cup winners 1879-80;
Individual honours	Essex FA and London FA;
Height/Weight	not known
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number	One of eight who became the 62nd players (69) to appear for England.
Position(s)	Forward
First match	No. 9, 5 April 1879, England 5 Scotland 4, a friendly match at The Surrey Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London, aged 23 years 275 days.
Last match 344 days	No. 11, 15 March 1880, Wales 2 England 3, a friendly match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 24 years 255 daysᶜ
Individual honours	England's Top Goalscorer (three 1879-80).
Distincions	The first captain to score more than two goals for England. The youngest captain to score until Charlie Bambridge in 1882. The most appearanced Englishman at Hertfordshire Rangers.
Beyond England
Served on the FA Committee 1878-80. He was employed as a clerk, according to the 1881 census, in Barnet. and became a coal traveller in Kent by 1901. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.230/1./FindMyPast.com

P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	FTS	CS	FAv	AAv	Pts%	W/L
3	2	0	1	12	11	+1	0	0	4	3.667	66.7	+1
All of his matches were friendly matches

Venue	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	FTS	CS	FAv	AAv	Pts%	W/L
Home	1	1	0	0	5	4	+1	0	0	5.00	4.00	100.0	+1
Away	2	1	0	1	7	7	=0	0	0	3.50	3.50	50.0	=0

Captain Record