England Football Online

Contact Us Page Last Updated 29 August 2020
1872-1914
1919-39
 
  1946-60
1960-70
1970-80
1980-90
1990-2000
2000-10
2010-20
2020-30
 
All Captains Chosen By The FA International Committee
1872-76
1 30 November 1872 0-0 vs. Scotland, The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Glasgow
Fr
HW

Cuthbert Ottaway (1)
 Oxford University

2 8 March 1873 4-2 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HW GK Alec Morten (1)
 Crystal Palace
3 7 March 1874 1-2 vs. Scotland, The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Glasgow AL

Cuthbert Ottaway (2)
 Oxford University

4 6 March 1875 2-2 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HD Charles Alcock (1)
Wanderers
5 4 March 1876 0-3 vs. Scotland, The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Glasgow AL Hubert Heron (4)
 Wanderers & Swifts
Some less reliable sources give the captaincy to Hubert's younger brother, Frank Heron.  More reliable sources give the captaincy to Hubert.

1877-80
6 3 March 1877 1-3 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr
HL William Rawson (2)
 
Oxford Univ., Wanderers & Old Westminsters
7 2 March 1878 2-7 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AL
Arthur Cursham (3-4)
 
Notts County
8 18 January 1879 2-1 vs. Wales, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HW
9 5 April 1879 5-4 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HW Henry Wace (3)
 
Wanderers & Clapham Rovers
10 13 March 1880 4-5 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AL Charles Wollaston (4)
 
Wanderers, Lancing Old Boys & Clapham Rovers
11 15 March 1880 3-2 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW Francis Sparks (3)
 
Hertfordshire Rangers & Clapham Rovers

1880-81
12 26 February 1881 0-1 vs. Wales, East Lancashire Cricket Ground, Blackburn Fr HL Jack Hunter (4)
Heeley, Providence, Wednesday & Sheff. Albion
13 12 March 1881 1-6 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HL Norman Bailey (5)
 
Clapham Rovers

1881-82
14 18 February 1882 13-0 vs. Ireland, Knock Ground, Belfast
Fr
AW Charlie Bambridge (4)
 
Swifts
15 11 March 1882 1-5 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AL Norman Bailey (6-7)
 
Clapham Rovers
16 13 March 1882 3-5 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AL

1882-83
17 3 February 1883 5-0 vs. Wales, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr
HW Norman Bailey (8)
 
Clapham Rovers
18 24 February 1883 7-0 vs. Ireland, Liverpool Cricket Ground, Liverpool HW Jack Hudson (1)
 Heeley, Sheffield & Wednesday
19 10 March 1883 2-3 vs. Scotland, Bramall Lane, Sheffield HL Norman Bailey (9)
 
Clapham Rovers

1883-84
20 23 February 1884 8-1 vs. Ireland, Ulster Ground, Belfast
BC
AW Norman Bailey (10-12)
 
Clapham Rovers


21 15 March 1884 0-1 vs. Scotland, Cathkin Park, Glasgow AL
22 17 March 1884 4-0 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW

1884-85
23 28 February 1885 4-0 vs. Ireland, Manchester Football Ground, Manchester
BC
HW Norman Bailey (13-15)
 
Clapham Rovers
24 14 March 1885 1-1 vs. Wales, Leamington Street, Blackburn HD
25 21 March 1885 1-1 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HD

1885-86
26 13 March 1886 6-1 vs. Ireland, Ulster Ground, Belfast BC AW Percy Walters (3)
 
Old Carthusians & Corinthians
There is a small possibility that the debuting Tinsley Lindley was the captain. It would make him the youngest ever. At least three sources name Percy Walters, another names George Shutt.
27 27 March 1886 1-1 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow   AD Norman Bailey (16 & 17)
 
Clapham Rovers & Corinthians
28 29 March 1886 3-1 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW

1886-87
29 5 February 1887 7-0 vs. Ireland, Bramall Lane, Sheffield
BC
HW Charlie Bambridge (16)
 
Swifts & Corinthians
30 26 February 1887 4-0 vs. Wales, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HW Norman Bailey (18 & 19)
 
Clapham Rovers & Corinthians
31 19 March 1887 2-3 vs. Scotland, Leamington Street, Blackburn HL

1887-88
32 4 February 1888 5-1 vs. Wales, Alexandra Recreation Ground, Crewe
BC
AW
Tinsley Lindley (7-9)
Cambridge University, Nottingham Forest & Corinthians
33 17 March 1888 5-0 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AW
34 7 April 1888 5-1 vs. Ireland, Ulster Ground, Belfast AW

1888-89
35 23 February 1889 4-1 vs. Wales, victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent BC HW Percy Walters (10)
Old Carthusians & Corinthians
a small minority list the captain as Arthur Walters
36 2 March 1889 6-1 vs. Ireland, Anfield Road, Liverpool BC HW Jack Brodie (1)
 Wolverhampton Wanderers
37 13 April 1889 2-3 vs. Scotland, Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington HL Percy Walters (11)
Old Carthusians & Corinthians

1889-90
38 15 March 1890 9-1 vs. Ireland, Ulster Ground, Belfast BC AW Unknown
After extensive research in the newspaper, March 1890, there is not a single contemporaneous record of England's captain.
39 15 March 1890 3-1 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham   AW Percy Walters (12)
Old Carthusians & Corinthians
 A small minority list the captain on 15 March 1890 as Arthur Walters
40 5 April 1890 1-1 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow   AD Arthur Walters (9)
 
Old Carthusians &
 Corinthians
Almost certain it was Arthur Walters, instead of his brother, Percy - but there is doubt.  The London Times, The Sportsman, Sporting Chronicle, Alcock's Annual 1890, Athletic News Annual 1891-92, Preston Herald and Glasgow Herald decline to mention any England captain. In The Field, Arthur Walters is listed as captain in the line-up, the Athletic News reads as 'PM and AM Walters (Capt)'. But Arthur Walters is usually no. 2 in the line-up, and this publication could have got the brothers mixed-up. Besides, The Field notes that it was Percy who gave the post-match dinner speech, not Arthur

1890-91
41 7 March 1891 6-1 vs. Ireland, Molineux, Wolverhampton
BC
HW Tinsley Lindley (13)
Nottingham Forest & Corinthians
42 7 March 1891 4-1 vs. Wales, Football Ground, Sunderland HW John Goodall (5)
 Derby County
43 4 April 1891 2-1 vs. Scotland, Ewood Park, Blackburn HW GK Billy Moon (7)
 
Old Westminsters & Corinthians

1891-92
44 5 March 1892 2-0 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AW Unknown
After extensive research in the newspaper, March 1890, there is not a single contemporaneous record of England's captain.
45 5 March 1892 2-0 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham   AW Arthur Dunn (3 & 4)
 Old Etonians & Corinthians
46 2 April 1892 4-1 vs. Scotland, Ibrox Park, Glasgow AW

1892-93
47 25 February 1893 6-1 vs. Ireland, Wellington Road Football Ground, Handsworth
BC
HW George Cotterill (3)
 
Old Brightonians
& Corinthians
48 13 March 1893 6-0 vs. Wales, victoria Ground, Stoke-upon-Trent HW Bob Holmes (4)
 
Preston North End
49 1 April 1893 6-1 vs. Scotland, Athletic Ground, Richmond HW George Cotterill (4)
 
Old Brightonians
& Corinthians

1893-94
50 3 March 1894 2-2 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AD Bob Holmes (6)
 
Preston North End
51 12 March 1894 5-1 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham   AW Disputed
Various sources cannot decide who was captain for this match, probably Charles Wreford-Brown, but possibly Cunliffe Gosling.  Wreford-Brown was by far the oldest in an inexperienced team, but neither Sporting Life, Manchester Guardian, North Wales Guardian, The Times, The Field, The Sportsman, Sporting Chronicle, and Northern Whig make mention of a captain
52 7 April 1894 2-2 vs. Scotland, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AD John Goodall (9)
 Derby County

1894-95
53 9 March 1895 9-0 vs. Ireland, Derbyshire County Cricket Ground, Derby BC HW Bob Holmes
 
Preston North End
54 18 March 1895 1-1 vs. Wales, Recreation Ground, West Kensington HD Charles Wreford-Brown
 Old Carthusians
&
 Corinthians
55 6 April 1895 3-0 vs. Scotland, Goodison Park, Liverpool HW Cunliffe Gosling
 Old Etonians & Corinthians
1895-96
56 7 March 1896 2-0 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AW Disputed

The captaincy on 7 March 1896 was probably given to George Raikes, at least according to Irish Saturday Night and The Irish TimesThe London Times gives a first captaincy to Gilbert Smith, and Vaughan Lodge is also a possibility.  Many other sources do not specify any captain.

57 16 March 1896 9-1 vs. Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff BC AW Unknown

Football historian Cris Freddi, himself the author of a book on the England team, has done extensive research in the English and Welsh newspapers of the time and has not found a single contemporaneous record of England's captain for this match.  Possibly Gilbert Smith.

58 4 April 1896 1-2 vs. Scotland, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AL Gilbert Smith
 Oxford University, Old
 Carthusians & Corinthians
1896-97
59 20 February 1897 6-0 vs. Ireland, Trent Bridge, Nottingham BC HW Gilbert Smith
 Old Carthusians & Corinthians
60 29 March 1897 4-0 vs. Wales, Bramall Lane, Sheffield HW
61 3 April 1897 1-2 vs. Scotland, Sports Arena, Penge HL
1897-98
62 5 March 1898 3-2 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AW Gilbert Smith
 Old Carthusians & Corinthians
63 28 March 1898 3-0 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW
64 2 April 1898 3-1 vs. Scotland, Celtic Park, Glasgow AW Charles Wreford-Brown
 Old Carthusians
&
 Corinthians

The London Times and Sporting Life say Gilbert Smith was captain on 2 April 1898, but the Northern Whig and the Ulster Football & Cycling News say Wreford-Brown, as does The Sportsman, Glasgow Herald, and Manchester Guardian. The Guardian sums it up: 'Wreford-Brown, the captain, was said to be the weak spot... but he justified his selection.'  The FA's own minutes, also confirm Wreford-Brown as captain.

1898-99
65 18 February 1899 13-2 vs. Ireland, Roker Park Ground, Sunderland BC HW
Gilbert Smith
 Old Carthusians & Corinthians
66 20 March 1899 4-0 vs. Wales, Ashton Gate, Bristol HW  
67 8 April 1899 2-1 vs. Scotland, Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham HW
1899-1900
68 17 March 1900 2-0 vs. Ireland, Lansdowne Road, Dublin BC AW Gilbert Smith
 Old Carthusians & Corinthians
69 26 March 1900 1-1 vs. Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff AD
70 7 April 1900 1-4 vs. Scotland, Celtic Park, Glasgow AL
1900-01
71 9 March 1901 3-0 vs. Ireland, The Dell, Southampton BC HW Bill Oakley
 
Corinthians
72 18 March 1901 6-0 vs. Wales, St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne HW Ernest Needham
 Sheffield United
73 30 March 1901 2-2 vs. Scotland, Sports Arena, Penge HD Gilbert Smith
 Old Carthusians & Corinthians
1901-02
74 3 March 1902 0-0 vs. Ireland, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham BC AD Reginald Erskine Foster
 Old Malvernians & Corinthians
75 22 March 1902 1-0 vs. Wales, Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast AW Frank Forman
 Nottingham Forest
76 3 May 1902 2-2 vs. Scotland, Aston Lower Grounds, Birmingham HD Steve Bloomer
 
Derby County
1902-03
77 14 February 1903 4-0 vs. Ireland, Molineux, Wolverhampton BC HW Howard Spencer
 Aston Villa
78 2 March 1903 2-1 vs. Wales, Fratton Park, Portsmouth HW Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
79 4 April 1903 1-2 vs. Scotland, Bramall Lane, Sheffield HL
1903-04
80 29 February 1904 2-2 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham BC AD Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
81 12 March 1904 3-1 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast AW
82 9 April 1904 1-0 vs. Scotland, Celtic Park, Glasgow AW
1904-05
83 25 February 1905 1-1 vs. Ireland, Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough BC HD Stanley Harris
 
Old Westminsters &
 Corinthians
84 27 March 1905 3-1 vs. Wales, Anfield Road, Liverpool HW Howard Spencer
 Aston Villa
85 1 April 1905 1-0 vs. Scotland, Sports Arena, Penge HW
1905-06
86 17 February 1906 5-0 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC HD Stanley Harris
 
Old Westminsters &
 Corinthians
87 19 March 1906 1-0 vs. Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff HW  
88 7 April 1906 1-0 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow HW
1906-07
89 16 February 1907 1-0 vs. Ireland, Goodison Park, Liverpool BC HW   Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
90 18 March 1907 1-1 vs. Wales, Craven Cottage, Fulham HD
91 6 April 1907 1-1 vs. Scotland, St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne HD OG
1907-08
92 15 February 1908 3-1 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AW Vivian Woodward
 Tottenham Hotspur
93 16 March 1908 7-1 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW
94 4 April 1908 1-1 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AD  
95 6 June 1908 6-1 vs. Austria, Cricketer Platz, Wien Fr AW
96 8 June 1908 11-1 vs. Austria, Hohe Warte Stadion, Wien AW
97 10 June 1908 7-0 vs. Hungary, Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-pesth AW
98 13 June 1908 4-0 vs. Bohemia, Stadión Letná, Praha AW  
1908-09
99 13 February 1909 4-0 vs. Ireland, Horton Park Avenue, Bradford BC HW Vivian Woodward
 Tottenham Hotspur
100 15 March 1909 2-0 vs. Wales, City Ground, Nottingham HW  
101 3 April 1909 2-0 vs. Scotland, Sports Arena, Penge HD Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
102 29 May 1909 4-2 vs. Hungary, Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-pesth Fr AW Vivian Woodward
 Tottenham Hotspur
103 8 June 1909 8-2 vs. Hungary, Millenáris Sportpálya, Buda-pesth AW
104 10 June 1909 8-1 vs. Austria, Hohe Warte Stadion, Wien AW
1909-10
105 12 February 1910 1-1 vs. Ireland, Cliftonville Gardens, Belfast BC AD Vivian Woodward
 
Chelsea
106 14 March 1910 1-0 vs. Wales, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff AW Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
107 2 April 1910 0-2 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AL
1910-11
108 11 February 1911 2-1 vs. Ireland, Baseball Ground, Derby BC HW Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
109 13 March 1911 3-0 vs. Wales, The Den, New Cross HW Vivian Woodward
 
Chelsea

The match on 13 March 1911 was Vivian Woodward's last ever England appearance, yet some sources give his captaincy to Bob Crompton.

110 1 April 1911 1-1 vs. Scotland, Goodison Park, Liverpool BC HD Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
1911-12
111 10 February 1912 6-1 vs. Ireland, Dalymount Park, Dublin BC AW Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
112 11 March 1912 2-0 vs. Wales, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham AW
113 23 March 1912 1-1 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AD
1912-13
114 15 February 1913 1-2 vs. Ireland, Windsor Park, Belfast BC AL Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
115 17 March 1913 4-3 vs. Wales, Ashton Gate, Bristol HW
116 5 April 1913 1-0 vs. Scotland, Stamford Bridge, Fulham HW
1913-14
117 14 February 1914 0-3 vs. Ireland, Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough BC HL Bob Crompton
 
Blackburn Rovers
118 16 March 1914 2-0 vs. Wales, Ninian Park, Cardiff AW
119 4 April 1914 1-3 vs. Scotland, Hampden Park, Glasgow AL

 

England's Captains by Club Affiliations 1872-1914
* denotes Player appeared for two or more clubs at the time of his captaincy, thus the total amount of captaincies below will NOT equal total amount of England matches
Corinthians 41* Blackburn Rovers 22 Old Carthusians 20*
Clapham Rovers 16* Tottenham Hotspur 12 Disputed/Unknown 5
5 Nottingham Forest* & Old Westminsters*
4 Oxford University* & Wanderers
3 Aston Villa, Cambridge University*, Derby County, Preston North End, Old Etonians* & Swifts*
2 Notts County, Old Brightonians* & Chelsea
1 Crystal Palace, Old Malvernians*, Sheffield, Heeley, Sheffield United & Wolverhampton Wanderers.
 

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