Relatives of England’s hat trick hero v Scotland who enjoyed the passionate support of the future Queen Mary (1910-1936) will receive his legacy cap on Saturday at Wembley

 

Relatives of England’s hat trick hero v Scotland who enjoyed the passionate support of the future Queen Mary (1910-1936) will receive his legacy cap on Saturday at Wembley

 

The England legacy cap of Sheffield Wednesday legend Fred Spiksley, the first player to score a hat-trick against Scotland, will be presented on Saturday to Clive Nicholson at Wembley prior to the match against World Champions Spain. Spiksley is the great-great uncle of Clive, who will be accompanied on this highly special occasion by his son Freddie, aged 11.

England legacy caps are red commemorative caps awarded to every player who has represented the national team, marking their unique chronological legacy number. Spiksley’s cap will be numbered 209.

 


Gainsborough born Spiksley made his international debut against Wales in 1893 and from his outside left position scored three. It was a feat he repeated a few weeks later against Scotland at Richmond Athletic Ground, London when he was accompanied near to the touchline by a handkerchief waving Princess Mary of Teck who subsequently became Queen Mary from 6 May 1910 until 20 January 1936 as the wife of King George V. (see attached article from Sunday Express)

 



Spiksley went on to score 7 goals in 7 games in which England recorded 5 wins and 2 draws. His best game for his country was against Scotland in a 3-1 away win in 1898.

 

At club level, Spiksley scored both of Wednesday’s goals in the 2-1 win against Wolves at the 1896 FA Cup Final and was key to the First Division title win of 1902-03. He was a prolific goalscorer both with Gainsborough Trinity and Wednesday.

 

On finishing playing he acted alongside Charlie Chaplin and became an internationally renowned coach enjoying cup winning success in Sweden, Mexico, the USA and Germany, where he remains the last Englishman to win the German title. He also coached Badalona in a famous victory against local rivals Barcelona in 1931.

 

At the start of WWI when Spiksley, a gambler who often went bankrupt, was trapped in Germany he amazingly escaped from his imprisonment before making his way home.

Spiskley’s remarkable life is arguably unsurpassed by an English footballer to date. Little wonder that when Clive Nicholson and his dad Ralph supported by football historian Mark Metcalf combined in 2016 they enjoyed a runaway success on their book on him: FLYING OVER AN OLIVE GROVE – The Remarkable Life of Fred Spiksley, a flawed footballer.

 

England Players - 209. Fred Spiksley

 

Speaking about this coming Saturday, Clive Nicholson, has said:

“Myself and Freddie are incredibly proud to accept Fred's cap this weekend. The Legacy Cap project is a wonderful initiative because it recognises every player’s contribution to the story of the England national team — whether that was a single, long-forgotten appearance or a career as an England legend such as Kevin Keegan.

I have always been incredibly proud of Fred’s unique story with the England national team, as well as his contribution as a coach to the development of the game around the world. For more than three decades, I have been researching Fred’s life and career and sharing his story with others.

To be invited by The FA, alongside Freddie, to Wembley for such a prestigious match, and to see Fred recognised alongside the great names of English football, is something I will always remember. I will be incredibly grateful to The FA for ensuring that Fred's contribution to the story of English football continues to be remembered.”

 

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