Fred Spiksley

Frederick Spiksley (25 January 1870 – 28 July 1948) was an English footballer and coach, who played as a forward for Sheffield Wednesday and England. He also played for Gainsborough Trinity, Glossop North End, Leeds City, Watford. After retiring as a player in 1906, he worked as a coach and won national league titles in Sweden, Mexico and Germany. During the First World War he was arrested but escaped from a German Police prison.

Early life and family Spiksley was born in Gainsborough, the son of a boilermaker. His father Edward worked at the Britannia Ironworks in Gainsborough. Edward had been married to Frederick's mother Sarah for five years by the time he was born. Frederick had a younger sister named Florence Maud, who died on 18 December 1875, at the age of nearly five weeks.

Playing career

After playing for local teams in Gainsborough, including Gainsborough Trinity (for whom he had scored 131 goals in 126 appearances), he signed for Wednesday in 1891.

Coaching career After retiring as a player Spiskley joined the Fred Karno Company, and worked in a theatre with Charlie Chaplin. resuming his coaching career after the war ended. Spiksley was also a gambler who suffered heavy losses and was made bankrupt in 1909. Spiksley married Rose Reichel, on 3 June 1929, at Paddington Register Office.

Later life and death He died from a heart attack at the age of 78 whilst attending Ladies' Day at Goodwood Racecourse in 1948.