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John
Sutcliffe |
Bolton Wanderers
FC, Millwall Athletic FC
5 appearances,
3 goals against
P 5 W 4 D 1 L 0 F 22:
A 3
90% successful
1893-1903
captain: none
minutes played: 450 |
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Timeline |
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John William Sutcliffe |
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Birth |
Sunday,
12 April 1868 in Shibden, Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire |
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one of two John William Sutcliffe's registered in Halifax April-June 1868. |
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According to the 1871 census,
John William is the eldest son to James and Martha. With his younger sister, Ruth, they live at Shrogg's Terrace in Ovenden, Halifax. |
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According to the 1881 census,
John Wm. is the eldest of five children to James and Martha. They live at
Northowram in Halifax, and he is a millhand. |
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"John William Sutcliffe, of Heckmondwike, made the
acquaintance of the Dewsbury magistrate last week. It appears that the
champion kicker and another man were using 'obscene' language on Sunday,
the 3rd inst., and being spoken to by a policeman threatened to knockdown
the gentleman in blue. The latter set the machinery of the law in motion,
with the result that J.W.S. was fined ten shillings and costs". - The
Athletic News, Monday, 18 March 1889. |
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Marriage |
to Eliza Ann
Seddon,
in Bolton, late-1890 |
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registered in Bolton October-December 1890. |
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According to the 1891 census,
John W. is found living with his father in law, and brothers-in-law, the
Seddon's, at 217 Bolton Road in Kearsley, Bolton. He is a carter. |
"THE FAMOUS CUSTODIAN
ARRESTED
"SERIOUS OUT-LOOK FOR BOLTON WANDERERS
"Quite a sensation was caused
this morning at Bolton by the arrest of J.W. Sutcliffe, the famous
goalkeeper of the Bolton Wanderers, the charge against him being that of
assaulting his wife. Sutcliffe is adjudged by many to be the finest
custodian in England.
"Our Bolton correspondent
says Sutcliffe was arrested by the Bolton County Police, acting under a
warrant. He is alleged to have attacked his wife savagely, and will be
brought brought before the magistrates to-morrow. The arrest, on becoming
known in Bolton, created the greatest excitement and concern amongst the
football public, the Wanderers just now being engaged in a series of
important cup ties. Wanderers are somewhat in a pickle for a capable
substitute. The re-played tie in the English Cup between Grimsby Town and
the Wanderers is decided to-morrow at Sheffield, so that Sutcliffe will
not be able to officiate between the sticks." - The Daily
Mail, Wednesday, 10 February 1897.
"THE CHARGE AGAINST
SUTCLIFFE
"THE CASE WITHDRAWN.
"At Bolton County Sessions to-day,
J.W. Sutcliffe appeared on a warrant, charged with having committed a
serious assault upon his wife on the 7th inst. On the case being called,
Mr. Fielding, solicitor, who appeared for the wife, asked for permission
to withdraw the case.-The Bench, after some hesitation, granted the
application, and Sutcliffe hurried from the court, with a view of catching
a train to Sheffield, there to play with his team in the replayed English
Cup tie with Grimsby Town". - The Lancashire Daily Post,
Thursday, 11 February 1897.
Bolton Wanderers won the replay 3-2, but lost the next round tie against
Derby County played two days later. |
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According to the 1901 census,
John W. is a professional footballer living with a 23 year old servant,
Edith, at 5 Ainscow Street in Bolton. His wife and daughter, Ruth, are living
separately at
101 Bury New Road in Bolton. |
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"J.W. Sutcliffe, the well-known football player, was before
the Bolton magistrates yesterday morning charged with wife maintenance
arrears, he owing over £30 on a 15s per week order made in 1901. He
had not paid anything since last May. He was now with the Plymouth Arygle
and got full money. He was ordered to pay £5 on Saturday, and 10s
per week towards the arrears." - The Manchester Courier,
Tuesday, 9 May 1905 |
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According to the 1911 census,
John William, a professional footballer and still married [and still
separated], is living on
his own with a housekeeper, Eliza Pearce, at 9 Albany Place, in Plymouth. |
"ACCIDENT TO SUTCLIFFE
"Making his first appearance
on the Beck Lane ground, Heckmondwike, since he gained fame there as a
Rugby three-quarter in 1887-8-9, J. W. Sutcliffe, the ex-international
goalkeeper, met with an accident on Saturday while acting in the latter
capacity for the local club against Scarborough. About ten minutes before
the finish he fisted away the heavy, mud-laden ball, and immediately
reeled against one of the posts. He was conveyed to the surgery of Dr.
Prior, where an examination showed that the right collar bone was
dislocated, but that otherwise his injuries were less serious than had
been feared. It is hoped that he will be able to resume play in a
fortnight." - The Yorkshire Post, Saturday, 3 February 1913. |
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According to the 1921 census,
John William is now an out-of-work football trainer, still stated as being
married but boarding with the Wedgbury family at 60 Royd Street in the
Horton area of Bradford. |
"MYSTERIOUS
ATTACK
"Famous 'Rugger' & 'Soccer' Player
"The police are
investigating a mysterious assault on Saturday night on an ex-Rugby and
Soccer international Mr. John William Sutcliffe, who is living in
retirement in Lancaster Road, Torrisholme. Mr. Sutcliffe, who is 67, was
walking up the pathway to his home when he was struck a glancing blow on
the head. He had five stitches inserted in the wound, and is progressing
favourably. His wife stated that she had preceded her husband into the
house, and after taking off her coat and hat came outside to find him
staggering about. A man with a stick was near hime. She grabbed the stick,
but the man said 'Let it go,' and went away. She helped her husband into
the house and called for assistance. Mr. Sutcliffe formerly played with
Heckmondwike as a Rugby footballer, and later played 'Soccer' with Bolton
Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle." - The Northern Daily
Mail/Leeds Mercury, Monday, 26 April 1937. |
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According to the 1939 register, widowed John W. lives at 25 Whites View in
Bradford with various other people, none of which appear to be related. |
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Death |
Monday, 7 July 1947, in Bradford in West Yorkshire |
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aged
79 years 86 days |
registered in Bradford July-September 1947. |
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"One of the few footballers in history to have
been 'capped' for England in two separate codes died last week at
Bradford. He was 79-years-old John W. Sutcliffe, who, playing for
Heckmondwike as an amateur, was selected to play for England against a
Maori team. He later adopted the Soccer code, and played as a professional
for Bolton Wanderers, Manchester United and Plymouth Argyle in turn." -
Reveille, 22-27 July 1947. |
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Source |
 Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & |
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Playing Career |
Club(s) |
He started his career
playing rugby as a full-back for Kirkstall RFC, Bradford RFC for two
seasons and Heckmondwike RFC. He switched codes after he was suspended for
professionalism, and he was one of three players to join Bolton Wanderers
FC as a forward on 27 September 1889, the others being Jowett and Noble.
He made the switch to keeper and eventually became club captain. After
failing to agree terms for further service with Bolton, he signed for
Millwall Athletic FC on 5 June 1902 for a £400 transfer fee. Joined Manchester United FC in May 1903. Plymouth Argyle FC
then signed Sutcliffe in January 1905
and 214 Southern League appearances followed
before he signed for Southend United FC for the 1911-12 season. In January
1913, Sutcliffe signed with Heckmondwike. A new version of the Rugby club
he played for in 1889. |
League History
353 appearances
one expulsion |
Bolton
Wanderers FC 1889-1902 332 appearances
debut: 7 December 1889
Bolton Wanderers 7 West Bromwich Albion 0.
Manchester United FC
1903-04 21 appearances.
debut: 5 September 1903 Manchester United FC 2
Bristol City FC 2.
last:
26 March 1904 Manchester Uinited FC 2 Grimsby Town FC 0. |
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Club honours |
Football League third place 1891-92 (26ᵃ);
Division One fourth place 1895-96 (28ᵃ); Division
Two runners-up (33ᵃ), third place 1903-04 (21ᵃ);
FA Cup
runners-up 1893-94 (5ᵃ); |
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Individual honours |
Football League (five appearances) |
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Distinctions |
Eldest brother
of Sheffield United's 1925 FA Cup Final winner, CS Sutcliffe. |
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Height/Weight |
6' 0", 12st.
10lbs [1901]. |
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Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] & ENFA. |
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England Career |
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Player number |
One of
four who became the 206th
players (206) to appear for England. |
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Position(s) |
Goalkeeper; 23rd goalkeeper to appear for England. |
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First match |
No. 48, 13 March 1893, England 6 Wales
0, a British Championship match at Victoria Park, Boothen, Stoke-on-Trent, aged
24 years
335 days. |
Last match
9 years 354 days |
No. 85, 2 March 1903,
England 2 Wales 1, a British
Championship match at Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Southsea, Portsmouth, aged
34 years 324 days. |
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Major tournaments |
British
Championship 1892-93, 1894-95, 1900-01, 1902-03; |
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Team honours |
British
Championship winners 1892-93, 1894-95, 1900-01, shared 1902-03; |
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Individual honours |
The
Professionals (three appearances 4ᵍᵃ March 1893-March 1896) |
Distinctions |
The last player to play both Football and Rugby Union
(vs. New Zealand 1889) for England.
The last player born in the 1860's to represent England.
Sutcliffe set a record of not conceding in his first 318 minutes as an
England goalkeeper. The record remained in place until it was surpassed Nick Pope in March 2021.
Died sixteen days after
Percy
Fairclough. |
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Beyond England |
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Coached Arnhem in the Netherlands in
1914, and had a spell as trainer of Bradford City FC from May 1919. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who.
Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.241. |
