Fred Spiksley's various debuts for The Wednesday

 In Fred Spiksley The Wednesday had signed in 1891 from Gainsborough Trinity a rare talent, despite Fred still only weighing in at just under eight stone. He had four seasons of professional footballunder his belt and had survived a broken leg and was now stronger than ever. Although the Football Alliance  was considered a stronger league than the one Spiksley had just won with Gainsborough Trinity there was not too much between the two leagues, especially the top teams, and Wednesday would have been excited by the prospect of signing a player who had played 126 times for Trinityand had netted 131 goals. 

Despite his obvious raw talent there still would have been some question marks over Fred Spiksley and if he would fit into ‘the mould’ of his new team. Selection would have definitely been far more competitive than it was at Trinity. Arthur Dickinson had aspirations of gaining entry into the Football League,  which was more of a political challenge than an on-field one. Despite his obvious speed, skill and reputation Fred Spiksley, who was now 21, would have to prove that he had the strength and tenacity to compete against teams that also harboured the same dreams as Dickinson.

Fred first wore a Wednesday shirt on 18 August 1891 in a public trial match – the whites versus stripes at the Sheaf House Ground close to Bramall Lane, which was now being used regularly for football after United were formed on Friday 22 March 1889. He was very roughly treated by opposing right half Ernest Bartlett who continually used his considerable weight advantage in a series of heavy charges.

One Bartlett challenge had his opponent’s head scraping along the cinder running track surrounding the pitch. Fred years later commented, “This was the worst game I had to contend with.” Bartlett never made a first team appearance but, having been overpowered, Fred Spiksley’s name was not on the team sheet for the first friendly match of the season away to Sunderland Albion.

Fred had not turned down League football to play in the reserves and immediately sought out John Holmes to request to be released from his contract. When the Wednesday chairman was joined by Arthur Nixon the pair couldn’t persuade the impetuous young man to bide his time and he continued to demand his cards in order to seek another club. A desperate Nixon told the new Wednesday winger that the side wasn’t yet officially confirmed, bringing to an end an increasingly acrimonious meeting.

A few days later Fred received a postcard saying he was picked to play at Sunderland. The reason for the change was never clarified but the move proved a wise one as although Wednesday lost 2-1 their goal was scored by debutant Fred Spiksley, who thereafter never had to worry about his place in the Wednesday team when he was fit.

Fred made his competitive debut for Wednesday at home to Grimsby Town in the Football Alliance on 19 September 1891.

Wednesday: Smith, McConnachie, Mumford, Brandon,

Betts, Cawley, Gemmell, James Brandon, Thompson,

Woolhouse, Spiksley

Five of the side had played in the 1890 FA Cup final.

The home side beat Grimsby 4-2 with Woolhouse, scoring three times, repeating his feat from an earlier game against the Canadian touring side. 

On 17 October 1891, Fred Spiksley created two goals and opened the scoring with his first Alliance goal as Burton Swifts lost 5-2 at Olive Grove. 

On 23 January 1892 a 16,500 crowd crammed inside Olive Grove to see Wednesday face Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup first round. Playing his final game of a long career for the Lancashire side was Kenny Davenport. At 3.47pm on Saturday 8 September 1888, Davenport, an England international, had become the scorer of the first ever League goal as he put his side ahead at Pike’s Lane in a game that Bolton eventually lost 6-3 to Derby County.

Wednesday won 4-1 and their outside left scored twice – both from close in – but was left needing to visit the hospital when Sandy Paton’s boot inflicted a wound that required ten stitches. Dai Jones scored the single Bolton goal. In 1902 the Welsh international died of tetanus after he suffered a similar knee injury to Fred Spiksley’s in the 1891–92 season.