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Villa memories No 13 Freddy Wheldon- All rounder

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Wakadowakado

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Freddy Wheldon, a County cricketer and International footballer joined the ranks of Devey, Welford, George, Ducat and Eric Houghton as a high level all rounder at both sports. Born at Langley Green, the youngest of ten children he arrived from Small Heath and cost Villa £100 in 1896. The deal also included a match against the 'Blues' worth another £250 The new inside
left promptly celebrated the signing by scoring two goals against his old club
Who has news about the descendants from this outstanding player from
both Midlands clubs? WAK
 
Tony Matthews in Birmingham City - a Complete Record relates this amusing, if scarcely believable tale about 'Diamond' Wheldon:

He was involved in an unusual incident early in his career when one of his shots struck the referee on the pocket where he kept his matches for his pipe. The matches set alight and the official's jacket went up up in flames!

I've seen a few refs down the years at St Andrews I would have liked to see go up in flames

Bob
 
WAK a further comment on Wheldon but relevant to footballers of that era generally. Picking up your comment about his descendants I had a look at the 1901 which showed him to be married and living with his wife and only son in Langley Green - typically hadn't gone far.

Despite being at the height of his football career his occupation is listed as 'Beer House Keeper'. I then looked up a top Blues player of the time and he is listed as an 'Ale House keeper'! Now I know that in years gone by many footballers went into the licensed trade after their careers had finished, many Villa players were looked after by Ansells for instance.

I wonder why they didn't describe themselves as footballers in that census. Yes it was early days of the Football League but was it perhaps a profession looked down on? Did Ale House keeper perhaps bestow a greater social standing?

Any thoughts anybody?
 
Hi Glaciermint, As professionalism gathered momentum in the 1880's it is quite likely that a stigma was attached to footballers and indeed other sportsmen accepting payments for their efforts. The styling of their occupations on official forms appeared obscure. Even the top names of the period W.G Grace, Lord Harris, Lord Hawke , P.F.Warner and C.B.Fry were embroiled in Players v Gentlemen affairs maintaining separate entrances to the dressing rooms and not describing themselves as cricketers. This was a period of serious class distinction Edwardian sports associations were occupied with amateurs versus
professionals. Lets remember that Tom Dollery was appointed as the first
professional cricket captain at Edgbaston as late as the 1950's Link up soon WAK
 
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