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Page Last Updated
26 September 2022
 
 
Arthur Cursham Notts County FC

6 appearances, 2 goals

P 6 W 2 D 0 L 4 F 12: A
17
33% successful

1876-83

captain: twice (one goal)
minutes played:
510

Timeline

  Arthur William Cursham
"In the late years Mr. Cursham had been known in the field as 'R. H. Venables'." - Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Monday, 19 January 1885.
Birth Monday, 14 March 1853 in St. Peters, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
  registered in Nottingham January-March 1853
Baptism 10 April 1853 at Holy Trinity Church, Nottingham. Living at Wheeler Gate.
  According to the 1861 census, Arthur is the fourth of ten children to William George and Harriette (née Nicholson), living in Wilford, with four servants. His father is a solicitor.
  According to the 1871 census, Arthur W. is the eldest of eight lodgers, seven of them Cursham's, living at Wilford Green in Wilford.
  According to the 1881 census, Arthur W., now a colliery manager is visiting his older brother Francis, who is now widowed, at Main Street in Cropwell-Butler in Basford.
Marriage to Emmeline Maria Whyte, in 1882, in London
  registered in Strand July-September 1882
Children Arthur and Emmeline Cursham had one son together. Arthur St. Wilfrid (b.9 May 1883 in Ambergate)
Death Christmas Eve, Wednesday, 24 December 1884 at Wilford Grove, Peru, Florida.
Evidence suggests that his brother, William, also died here at this time.
aged 31 years 285 days no registration found
CURSHAM.―At Wilford-grove. Peru, Florida, on Christmas Eve (of malaria), Arthur William Cursham died at Florida on Christmas Eve, but the melancholy intelligence did not reach Nottingham, late of Wilford, Notts, and Harthsay, Derbyshire." - The Derby Mercury, Wednesday, 21 January 1885.

Obituary

"DEATH OF MR. A. W. CURSHAM.―
"Footballers all over the country will learn with regret of the death of a famous exponent of the Association game Arthur William Cursham died at Florida on Christmas Eve, but the melancholy intelligence did not reach Nottingham, his native town, until Saturday morning. The cause of death was malarial fever, from which Mr. Cursham had lost one of his children only a short time before It is about ten months since the once-celebrated International forward left Nottingham for Florida, where he had embarked in an orange-growing speculation. His brother, members of the Notts Club, the Nottingham Forest, the Sheffield Club, and others raised a testimonial of £300 as a mark of the appreciation of his work in connection with football. Arthur Cursham first played for his country against Scotland in 1876, and he was subsequently the captain in International games between that year and 1883. He was also a good cricketer and played for his country, being one of the Notts eleven who defeated the first team of Australians. He was the captain of the Notts Football eleven during last season, and his last match was against Queen's Park in April 1884. His age was 3[1]."

-
The Athletic News, Tuesday, 20 January 1885/The Derby Mercury/Preston Herald/Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Wednesday, 21 January 1885
  According to the 1891 census, Arthur's wife Emmeline has returned to 197 Alfred Street in St Mary's, Nottingham. Stated as a widow, she lives with her parents, William Hall and Annie Whyte, and her and Arthur's son, also called Arthur.
  Harry Cursham died 6 August 1941
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
Playing Career
Club(s) Played for the Notts County FC club from 1875, becoming club captain, up until 1884. In his last season with County, he was known as R.H. Venables.
He also played occasionally for Grantham Town FC between 1876-79, and helped Nottingham Forest FC in their 1879-80 campaign. Throughout, he assisted other clubs, such as Oakham School FC, Nottingham Law FC, Nottingham Thursday Wanderers FC and Sheffield FC. In all, he played over 300 matches.
Club honours None
Individual honours Nottinghamshire FA (1875 against London), London FA and Sheffield FA.
His benefit match was on 3 April 1884 against Queen's Park FC, who defeated them 3-0, but had earned Arthur with £284 to emigrate with.
Distinctions Also played first-class cricket with Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Height/Weight not known.
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].
England Career
Player number One of nine who became the 34th player (42) to appear for England.
Position(s) Forward
First match No. 5, 4 March 1876, Scotland 3 England 0, a friendly match at The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Hamilton Crescent, Partick, Glasgow, aged 22 years 356 days.
Last match No. 19, 10 March 1883, England 2 Scotland 3, a friendly match at Yorkshire County Cricket Ground, Bramall Lane, Highfield, Sheffield, aged 29 years 361 days.
Individual honours England's joint-Top Goalscorer (one 1878)  - followed his brother Harry, would claim the record in 1884 to become the first brothers to each top the list.
The North (postponed, January 1879); The Probables (February 1879)
Distinctions Older brother of Harry Cursham. Brother-in-law of Harold Morse.
The youngest captain to score until Francis Sparks in 1880.
His untimely death meant he was the fifth England player to die, and first member of the 1876-79 and 1883 teams to die.
Beyond England
A mining engineer. A Colliery Proprietor/Manager in Ambergate, Derbyshire, according to the 1881 census. Emigrated to America in March 1884, and died shortly after. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.83/FindMyPast.com


The Numbers
parties Appearances withdrew minutes Goals ave.min captain
7 6 one 510 2 255 min two
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
6 2 0 4 12 17 -5 1 1 2 2.83 33.3 -2
All of his match were friendly matches

Match Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 4 2 0 2 10 7 +3 0 1 2.50 1.75 50.0 =0
Away 2 0 0 2 2 10 -8 1 0 1.00 5.00 00.0 -2

Captain Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 0 0 2.00 1.00 100.0 +1
Away 1 0 0 1 2 7 -5 0 0 2.00 7.00 00.0 -1
2 1 0 1 4 8 -4 0 0 2 4 50 =0

Match History
 
 Club: Notts County F.C. - six full appearances (540 min) 2ᶜ 2ᵍ F.A. Committee - six full appearances (540 min) 2ᶜ 2ᵍx

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 22
1 5 4 March 1876 - Scotland 3 England 0
The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Partick
Fr AL   for

one of nine who became the 34th (42) players to appear for England
the second player from Notts County FC to represent England

Age 23
2 6 3 March 1877 - England 1 Scotland 3
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HL   cf

Age 24
3 7 2 March 1878 - Scotland 7 England 2
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Fr AL 75 ͨ for

the sixth player to captain England
the second captain to score a goal for England - youngest until 1880
his goal in his third match makes him the most experienced player to score for England so far
his solitary goal in 1878 makes him joint-top goalscorer for the season and year

Age 25 trial  
postponed - The North vs. The South, 4/25 January 1879

4 8 18 January 1879 - England 2 Wales 1
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HW match lasted sixty minutes ͨ for
   

the first player to captain England in consecutive matches
the second player to captain England twice - first since 1874
the third player to make four England appearances
the second player to make four consecutive England appearances

Age 26 trial  
one appearance - The Probables vs. The Rest, February 1879

his brother Harry played for England in March 1880 - the first set of brothers to do so

Age 29
5 17 3 February 1883 - England 5 Wales 0
The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington
Fr HW 65 secured or

played with his brother Harry - the fourth/fifth set of brothers to do so
the third player to make five England appearances

18 24 February 1883 - England 7 Ireland 0, Liverpool Cricket Ground, Liverpool Fr HW replacement, then withdrew
6 19 10 March 1883 - England 2 Scotland 3
Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Sheffield
Fr HL   ir
   

again played with his brother Harry - the first set of brothers to do so twice
the third player to make six England appearances

  

 
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