Fred Beardsley

Frederick William Beardsley (13 July 1856 – 1939) was an English footballer, chiefly associated with the foundation of Arsenal Football Club.[1] Beardsley was the first ever Vice-captain of what was to be Arsenal Football Club after beginning work as an iron turner at the Royal Gun factory, and helping to found the club in its early days.

Fred Beardsley
Personal information
Full name Frederick William Beardsley
Date of birth 13 July 1856
Place of birth Nottingham, England
Date of death 1939 (aged 82–83)
Place of death Plumstead, London, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1884–1889 Nottingham Forest 0 (0)
1886–1891 Royal Arsenal 0 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Nottingham Forest

Beardsley is known to have played for Nottingham Forest from at least 1884, and even through moving to London, continued to make guest appearances for the club. Famously in 1886, he asked Nottingham forest for some kits and a ball to help start what was to be Arsenal F.C. giving them the red kit which they wear to this very day.[2]

Dial Square/Royal Arsenal
Arsenal's squad for the 1888-89 season. Beardsley is standing, arms folded, at the back.

Fred Beardsley made his first ever appearance against Eastern Wanderers, in Arsenal's very first game, as the club's inaugural goalkeeper. He was the first-choice goalkeeper across the next 4 seasons, up until his retirement in 1891. With the Royal Arsenal, he won the Kent Senior Cup, the London Charity Cup and was a runner up in the London Senior cup. It is unclear as to how many appearances in total Beardsley made due to the paucity of the line-ups, however he made two FA Cup appearances, in Royal Arsenal's first ever FA cup matches.[3]

Continued Involvement in Football

Beardsley retired in 1891 from his playing career, but was elected to Vice-chairman and continued to sit on the board of directors for Royal Arsenal F.C. for another two decades as well as working as a scout for the club. He did not retire from the club entirely until 1910, at the age of 54.[2]

References
  1. Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  2. "Fred Beardsley". www.arsenal.com. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. James, Josh; Andrews, Mark; Kelly, Andy (2018). Arsenal: The Complete Record 1886-2018 (First Edition ed.). Liverpool: deCourbertin Books. ISBN 978-1-909245-75-4
  • Harris, Jeff (1995). Hogg, Tony (ed.). Arsenal Who's Who. Independent UK Sports. ISBN 1-899429-03-4.
  • Roper, Alan (2004). The Real Arsenal Story: In the Days of Gog. Wherry. ISBN 0-9546259-1-9.
  • Soar, Phil; Tyler, Martin (2005). The Official Illustrated History of Arsenal. Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-61344-5.
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