|
Francis
Sparks |
Hertfordshire Rangers FC & Clapham Rovers
FC
3 appearances, 3 goals
P 3 W 2 D 0 L 1 F 12:
A 11
67% successful
1879-80
captain:
one (two goals)
minutes played: 270 |
 |
|
Timeline |
| Pic
courtesy of SFA museum |
Francis John
Sparks |
|
Birth |
Wednesday, 4 July 1855 at Bradfields in North Benfleet, Billericay, Essex |
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registered in Billericay
July-September 1855 |
|
"4th inst, at Bradfields, North
Benfleet, Mrs. John Sparks, of a son." - The Chelmsford
Chronicle, Friday, 20 July
1855. |
|
Baptism |
Friday, 11 April 1856 at All Saints' Church in North Benfleet |
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|
According to the 1861 census, Francis John is
the youngest of three children to John and Eleanor (née Curtis) living at
Bradfields in North Benfleet with three servants. His father is a farmer
employing 250. |
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Cannot be found on the 1871 census. |
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According to the 1881 census,
Francis J. is now a clerk for his father, and with his older sister, Marion,
they are living with their parents, and two servants at Somerset
Road in Chipping Barnet, Barnet. His father is a General Commission
Agent. |
|
First marriage |
to Jane Sarah
Billinghurst, on 5 July 1884 |
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registered in Islington
July-September 1884 |
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"SPARKS―BILLINGHURST.―On the 5th inst,
at St. Mary's, Islington. Francis John, younger son of John Sparks, Esq.,
of Eversfield, New Barnet, to Jane Sarah, elder daughter of J.W
Billinghurst, Esq., of Highbury place."
- The Morning
Post, Wednesday, 9 July 1884. |
|
Children |
Francis and Jane
Sparks had two sons together. Frank Evans (b.1885)
and Edward John (b.23 March 1886). Jane left the marital
home shortly after. |
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|
According to the 1891 census,
Francis J., although 'married', is still with his sister, living with their mother at Dudley House on Manor Road in Chipping Barnet. Two
of his nephews and two servants all live with them. He seems dependent on
his mother. |
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|
According to the 1901 census,
Francis J., stated as 'widowed' (Jane is still very much alive: see
below!), is a coal traveller, living on his own at
141 Clarendon Place in Dover. |
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According to the 1911 census,
Francis John is now lodging with John Taylor, also a widower, at 2 Norman
Cottages, in Upper Deal, Kent.
(His eldest son, Frank Evans, died
in Ypres, 13 May 1915) |
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Second marriage |
to Matilda
Gertrude Wright, on 21 November 1917 |
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registered in Rochford
October-December 1917 |
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According to the 1921 census,
Francis John, a retired clerk, is married to Matilda Gertrude, and they
both live at 16 New Road in the Seven Kings area of Ilford. |
"A
MARRIAGE TANGLE
"At Southend on Tuesday, William Deares, of Hamilton Bungalow, Vange,
renewed his application for the discharge of a maintenance order in
respect to Mrs. Matilda Gertrude Deares, Shaftesbury Avenue, Southend.
"The case had been before the Court on three previous occasions, and it
had been alleged that Mrs. Dawes was already married to a Mr. Sparkes at
the time of the ceremony with the present applicant. At the hearing on
Friday, Mrs. Jane Sarah Sparkes, of Finsbury Park, said she was married on
July 5, 1884, to Francis John Sparkes. She left her husband in 1886, and
had not seen him for many years.
"Respondent said that on Nov. 21,
1917, she went through a form of marriage with a Francis John Sparkes. At
that time, her surname was Wright, and she was a widow. Subsequently, Mr.
Sparkes told her he had a wife alive, she
then left him. After that she met
William Deares, and married him in October, 1922.
"Mr. Hurrell (for the
respondent) said the case was somewhat complicated, but he thought the
Bench would be satisfied there was no such thing as a bigamous marriage
between Mr. and Mrs. Deares, but that a bigamous marriage took place
between Mr. Sparkes and Mrs. Deares. Mr. S. Wortly (for the
applicant), urged that there was no evidence that the man Sparkes who was
married to Mrs. Sparkes was the man Sparkes who was married to Mrs.
Deares. The Bench dismissed the application, and allowed £5/10/ - costs." -
The Essex Chronicle/Chelmsford Chronicle, Friday, 25 July 1930 & The
Essex Newsman, Saturday, 26 July 1930. |
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Death |
Tuesday, 13 February
1934, at 1 Oldchurch Road in Romford, Essex |
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aged 78 years 224 days |
registered in Romford
January-March 1934 |
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Funeral |
Monday, 19 February 1934 at All Saints' Church, North
Benfleet. |
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Probate |
"SPARKS
Francis John of 6 Pembroke-road Sevens Kings
Essex died 13 February
1934 at 1 Oldchurch-road Romford Essex Probate
London 6 April to
the reverend Wolston Dixie Churchill clerk.
Effects £64 12s. 10d."
[2019 equivalent: £4,615] |
|
|
Jane Sparks died in Islington on 22 May 1941; Matilda
Deares died in mid-1952. |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An
English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &
 |
|
Playing Career |
|
Club(s) |
Began in 1873
playing for St. Albans Pilgrims FC. He switched to play for
Brondesbury within the year for the rest of the season. He played
for Upton Park FC between 1876 and 1878, before joining Hertfordshire
Rangers FC. He joined Clapham Rovers FC for their successful 1879-80
campaign; |
|
Club honours |
FA Cup winners 1879-80; |
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Individual honours |
Essex FA
and London FA; |
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Height/Weight |
not known |
|
Source |
Douglas Lammings' An English
Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]. |
|
England Career |
|
Player number |
One of
eight who became the
62nd players
(69) to appear
for England. |
|
Position(s) |
Forward |
|
First match |
No. 9, 5 April
1879, England 5 Scotland 4, a friendly match at
The
Surrey Cricket Ground, The Oval, Kennington, London, aged
23 years 275 days. |
Last match
344 days |
No. 11, 15
March 1880, Wales 2 England 3, a friendly match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham,
aged 24 years 255 daysᶜ |
|
Individual honours |
England's Top
Goalscorer (three 1879-80). |
|
Distincions |
The first captain to
score more than two goals for England.
The youngest captain to score
until Charlie Bambridge in 1882.
The
most appearanced Englishman at Hertfordshire Rangers. |
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Beyond England |
|
Served on the FA
Committee 1878-80. He was employed as a clerk, according to the 1881
census, in Barnet. and became a coal traveller in Kent by 1901. -
An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming
(1990). Hatton Press, p.230/1./FindMyPast.com |
England
Football Online