CHELSEA’S BIGGEST STAR – BILLY ‘FATTY’ FOULKE

 

CHELSEA’S BIGGEST STAR – BILLY ‘FATTY’ FOULKE

Chelsea’s biggest player ever is Billy Foulke, who topped 23 stone when owner Gus Mears persuaded the Sheffield United legendary ‘keeper to come south to join the new Football League side in May 1905. He had won the league title and twice captured the FA Cup with the Blades plus played once for England. His arrival at Stamford Bridge was a sign that a club that had only been formed in early 1905 had no intention of just making up the numbers.

In an era when ‘keepers could be knocked over whether they had the ball or not then Foulke’s size was an advantage and he could punch and kick the ball a considerable distance. He could also move quickly across the goal and his reach was considerable.

Foulke became an immediate hero with supporters amongst whom included a number of showbiz personalities. Winning games was important but doing so with a bit of razmataz was also welcome. Chelsea pioneered the use of ball boys and girls and the smaller the better as they had Foulke, who was a giant personality with a wicked sense of humour, walk out holding their hands and then positioned two of them behind his goal in order to further highlight his colossal girth.

Chelsea ended their first season in third place in Division Two and the club wanted Foulke, who made 35 appearances for the club, to stay but he wanted to move back north and subsequently signed for Bradford City where he played for a season before retiring from the game.

As a young man Foulke was a coal miner at Blackwell Colliery where he played for the local Colliery Welfare Football Club before joining Sheffield United in 1894 and where he made over 350 first team appearances.

The giant man was honoured with a plaque in Blackwell, near Mansfield, on Wednesday 17 April 2024 in an event where a plaque to his non-league team mate and miner Willie Layton, who went on to great success with Sheffield Wednesday, was also unveiled alongside one dedicated to seven miners who died in an explosion in November 1895 and who were close workmates of Layton. The event was organised by football historian Mark Metcalf.

For more on Foulke view this short film:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zei3KpirqW0


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