Gainsborough's Fred Spiksley was one of the first working class
youngsters in 1887 to live 'the dream' of becoming a professional
footballer, before later finding a role as a globe-trotting coach. He
thus dodged the inevitability of industrial, poorly paid, dangerous
labour.
Lightning fast, Spiksley created and scored hundreds of goals including,
to the great joy of the future Queen Mary who chased him down the
touchline, three against Scotland in 1893. The outside left scored both
Sheffield Wednesday's goals in the 2-1 defeat of Wolves in the 1896 FA
Cup Final at the Crystal palace.
Forced by injury to stop playing at aged 36, Spiksley adventured out
into the world. He acted with Charlie Chaplin, escaped from a German
prison at the start of the First World War and later made the first
'talking' football training film for youngsters.
As a coach/manager he won titles in Sweden, Mexico, the USA and Germany,
becoming the last Englishman to coach a German title-winning team with
1FC Nuremburg in 1927. He coached in Barcelona in 1932 and it was only
after his involvement had exceeded 50 years, during which time, as this
book explains, the game changed dramatically, did Spiksley's football
career end.
As an addicted gambler and womaniser, Spiksley had his problems away
from football. However, he was beloved by his football fans, including
Herbert Chapman, the greatest manager of that era in English football
who, towards the end of his life, picked him in his finest XI.
