William Brindle	Darwen FC 2 appearances, 0 goals P 2 W 1 D 0 L 1 F 7: A 7 50% successful 1880 captain: none minutes played: 165
Timeline
	William Brindle
Notes	After extensive research, especially by Andy Mitchell, it was found that many of the footballing Brindle's in the late nineteenth century were in fact a W. Brindle. A contemporary source, the Paper Maker and British Paper Trade Journal in 1916 gives him a name, William.
Birth	Tuesday, 24 May 1853 in Over Darwen, Blackburn, Lancashire [registered in Blackburn, June 1853].
	According to the 1861 census, eight year old William is the fifth of six children to Thomas and Peggy (née Ward), living at 8 Hollins Bank in Lower Darwen. His father is a rag bleacher at the paper mill.
	According to the 1871 census, the seventeen year-old William is a labourer and is still with his parents, along with his younger sister Ann, living at Hollins Row. His father is still a rag bleacher.
	According to the 1881 census, William is working in the paper mill and living at home, still with his parents and his sister Ann and her new husband, Henry Haworth. They all live at 18 Hollins Row. His father is still a rag bleacher. According to New York City Passenger Lists, Wm Brindle, a paper maker, travelled to New York on board the Arabic, sometime in 1887.
Marriage	to Mary Ann Long, 5 October 1889 in Hilliadsville, Connecticut [registered in Massachusetts Marriages 1841-1915]. Mary was born in Ireland. They had two children - Ethel (b.August 1890) and Ester (b.January 1895).
Naturalised	Brindle became a naturalised citizen on 14 October 1896, living at 25 Clark Street in Holyoke in Hampden County, Massachusetts.
	According to the 1900 US Census, William and Mary are living with their nine year old daughter, Ethel May and Esther Grace, who is five years old, living at 25 Clark Street in Holyoke. William is a paper maker.
	"WILLIAM BRINDLE, who was so well known as one of the best full-backs in Association football, and who was a tower of strength to the Darwen Football Club, left the service of Messrs. Potter & Co., Hollins, a short time ago to seek his fortune in America as a paper maker, and has now taken full charge as manager of the Spring Lawn Mills, Pennsylvania". - September 1916, Paper Maker and British Paper Trade Journal, as traced by Andy Mitchell.
	Died: Sunday, 16 September 1900, aged 47 years 116 days. Confirmed by the Connecticut Death Records Index Buried in Buckland Cemetery (left), Manchester, Hartford Count in Connecticut.
	Andy Mitchell & Bob Pickett
Playing Career
Club(s)	Began with junior clubs in the Darwen area before joining the town's football club, Darwen FC. Brindle joined Blackburn Olympic FC in the mid-80's.
Club honours	Lancashire Cup winners 1879-80;
Individual honours	None
Height/Weight	not known
Source	Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number	One of five who became the seventieth players (71) to appear for England.
Position(s)	Left/right back;
First match	No. 10, 13 March 1880, Scotland 5 England 4, a friendly match at Hampden Park, Hampden Terrace, Glasgow, 26 years 294 days.
Last match	No. 11, 15 March 1880, Wales 2 England 3, a friendly match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 26 years 297 days.
Individual honours	The North (one appearance, March 1880)
Distinctions	Died seventeen days after Harry Lilley
Beyond England
Emigrated to USA with his successful papermaking business, becoming manager of a firm in Pennsylvania.

The Numbers
parties	Appearances	minutes		captain
2	2	165	0	none
minutes are approximation, due to the fact that many matches rarely stuck to exactly ninety minutes long, allowing time for injuries and errors.

Match Record

Age 26	trial
one appearance - The North vs. The South, 6 March 1880, Surrey Cricket Ground

apps	match	match details	comp	res	rundown	pos

1	10	13 March 1880 - Scotland 5 England 4 Hampden Park, Glasgow	Fr	AL		lb

one of five who became the seventieth (72) players to appear for England

the first player from Darwen FC to represent England

2	11	15 March 1880 - Wales 2 England 3 The Racecourse, Wrexham	Fr	AW	▼(3-0) 75	rb

 

It had long been believed that Brindle scored a goal in this match, but a Welsh newspaper report states a Hibbort own goal.