Charlie Athersmith

Personal life

Athersmith was born William Charles Athersmith Harper in Bloxwich, Staffordshire, to Isaac Harper and Mary Jane Wootton. Before becoming a professional footballer he was a clerk in Birmingham where he married Elizabeth Baggott in 1893. He is a first cousin of Rotherham United and Liverpool player Vic Wright. He died in Shifnal, Shropshire at the age of 38. His death was drink related.

Playing career

Aston Villa Athersmith played a key role in Villa's title-winning sides of 1894, 1896, 1897, 1899 and 1900 as well as reaching three FA Cup finals, finishing on the losing side in 1892 before gaining winners' medals in 1895 and the Double-winning final of the 1896–97 season. He was also a member of the team that were victims of a giant-killing in the 1899–1900 FA Cup at the hands of Millwall Athletic.

A league match in November 1894 against Sheffield United at Perry Barr was played in driving freezing rain. Villa's players had dry clothes available, and were given hot drinks, a courtesy apparently not extended to the visitors. The Sheffield players were worse affected, severalincluding goalkeeper Willie Foulkeneeding treatment for exposure, and by the end of the match only six were still on the field. before collapsing in the dressing-room afterwards.

Small Heath In 1901 he joined Small Heath for £150, where he made 106 appearances and scored 13 goals.

Representative football Athersmith represented England at outside right on 12 occasions and scored three goals, each of which came against Ireland.