The Sheffield Wednesday player hated by rioting Sunderland fans

 With £5,000 having been raised amongst Wednesdayites then a new headstone to Ambrose Langley, Wednesday’s first captain when we moved to Hillsborough in 1899, will be unveiled in Burngreave Cemetery at the start of next season.

Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland programme for 28-02-2025 

Whilst Ambrose was loved by Wednesday followers his no nonsense aggressive style as a full back was not welcomed by opposing fans and especially amongst Sunderland supporters.

He’d helped Wednesday eliminate ‘The Team of All the Talents’ at Olive Grove in 1896 where along with Tom Crawshaw and Jack Earp he blocked out Sunderland goal scoring legend Johnny Campbell as the home side advanced 2-1 against the bookies favourites in the FA Cup as Wednesday moved forward to become the first Yorkshire side to win the most famous trophy in the world.

The sides met again in the competition at Newcastle Road two seasons later. Home fans were in a confident mood and a 17,893 crowd, including a strong away contingent, turned out for the big occasion. From the start Langley managed to anger the crowd with some robust tackling. One supporter threw his breakfast can at the Wednesday full back and when it hit a policeman, he, displaying not the slightest degree of surprise, simply pocketed it. No doubt it would come in handy for his lunch.

Langley and Crawshaw continued to battle away and when the former later prevented Hugh Morgan getting his shot away then he was again jeered and had missiles thrown at him. On 82 minutes when Albert Kaye beat Ted Doig for the only goal it was badly received by the disappointed Wearsiders, some of whom spilled on the pitch at the end to seek revenge on Langley, described in the Sunderland Echo on the Monday as ‘being just as rough as ever’, who required police protection to leave the field safely.

Langley was then secreted out of the ground with a police escort whilst it was felt necessary for the remaining Wednesday players to wait until an hour later to depart by a circuitous route in order to avoid the mob that had assembled outside the ground. On arriving at their hotel, the Wednesday party found Langley sitting sipping tea and consuming buttered toasted muffins.

Five seasons later the two clubs were in a three-way battle with Aston Villa for the title. Sunderland had won the title in 1901-02 at Roker Park and were again favourites to win it again when the sides met at Roker Park in late March 1903.

It proved a real thriller that was only decided when Andrew Wilson beat his Scottish counterpart Doig. It was one of the few chances in a fierce no holds barred affair in which, as to be expected Langley, now the Wednesday captain, was prominent and continued to be disparaged by Rokerites. When referee Mr. Armitt disallowed a number of home efforts the official was sworn at and pelted with oranges. Wednesday’s win put them top of the table, a place they were to hold on to and win the title for the first time.

Any initial wild celebrations for winning such an important game had to be put on hold as once the match concluded some home fans gathered outside the main stand on a road that was being repaired. They pelted the Wednesday team wagonette as it departed on its way to the railway station. How no one was seriously injured, including local residents whose windows were smashed from miss directed rocks, was a miracle. The police too were attacked as they helped the referee leave from the opposite side of the ground.

Sunderland’s next home match against Middlesbrough was ordered to be played at St James’ Park where on the final day of the season the Wearsiders were to be beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United to

miss out on a fifth title and leave Wednesday in top spot to take their first title. It became two the following season.

Number 3 – the headstone will be the third Wednesday player from the Victorian era in recent years to be publicly recognised. Last year a plaque was unveiled honouring Willie Layton in Blackwell Colliery and in November 2018, Gainsborough Trinity unveiled a plaque to their former player Fred Spiksley, scorer of both the Wednesday goals at the 1896 FA Cup Final in our 2-1 defeat of Wolves. For more on Langley view this short film:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teNniA9UmzA