Billy Mosforth

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Billy Mosforth
Billy Mosforth in his United kit
Personal information
Full name William Mosforth
Date of birth (1858-01-02)2 January 1858[1]
Place of birth Sheffield, England[1]
Date of death 11 July 1929(1929-07-11) (aged 71)[1]
Place of death Sheffield, England
Position(s) Inside or Outside Left
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1873–1879 Sheffield Albion
1878–1888 The Wednesday
1879 → The Zulus 1 (0)
1875–1884 → Hallam
1883 → Sheffield Rovers
1884–1886 → Heeley
1886–1889 → Lockwood Brothers
1889–1890 Sheffield United 0 (0)
International career
1877–1882 England 9 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

William Mosforth (2 January 1858 – 11 July 1929) was an English

outside left. Born in Sheffield he played for several Sheffield clubs but the majority of his career was spent at The Wednesday. He later joined Sheffield United, playing in their first season in existence before retiring in 1890. He won nine caps for England between 1877 and 1882, which was a record
at the time, scoring three goals for his country.

Club career

Playing in his home town of

"screw shot" that allowed him to bend the ball in the air,[3]
a technique that was developed in Sheffield at the time and is now commonplace in the game.

Mosforth began his career at Sheffield Albion and made his debut at 14 but was famous for swapping sides and profiteering from his play.

Sheffield Football Association in 1876 at the age of 18.[2]

Signing for The Wednesday in 1878 Mosforth would remain with the club for almost a decade, scoring their first ever goal at their Olive Grove ground, but continued to play for a number of other local teams during that period. In 1879 he played for The Zulus a touring side created to aid families of casualties of the Zulu War. The side became embroiled in controversy when it was revealed that the players were to make money themselves (a practice illegal at the time). Like many of the Wednesday players who were involved in the Zulu team, Mosforth was also one of the players who pushed them into becoming professional team. He played for the break-away team (Sheffield Rovers) that intended to become Sheffield's first professional side, but he returned to the Wednesday fold after professionalism was agreed upon.

After leaving

The Football League), having the distinction of scoring United's first ever goal at the ground and of being one of the first players to play for both leading sides in the city. Mosforth was also the first Blades player to be 'substituted' during a match (before substitutes were permitted) when a teammate was late arriving for a game against Bolton Wanderers, coincidentally the first game to be played under floodlights, meaning that Mosforth was asked to fill in until his teammate arrived.[1]

International career

Mosforth made his debut for England in March 1877, appearing in a friendly against Scotland. He went on to play nine times for his country and scored three goals.[5]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored
1 5 April 1879 Kennington Oval, London  Scotland 5–4 Friendly 1
2 13 March 1880 Hampden Park, Glasgow  Scotland 4–5 Friendly 1
3 13 March 1882 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham  Wales 5–3 Friendly 1

Records

Billy Mosforth holds a number of records in the game, these are as follows:

First player to play for both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.

First player to score for both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.

Scored the first goal at Sheffield United's ground Bramall Lane.

First Sheffield United player to be 'substituted'.

Record England Cap holder at the time.

Played in the first professional game to be played under floodlights.

Scored Sheffield Wednesday's first ever goal at the Olive Grove

Personal life

Mosforth was an engraver by trade and was an all round athlete, competing in both flat and hurdle races and playing for Hallam Cricket Club.[1] After he retired from playing Mosforth became a licensee in Sheffield.[1]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-900660-87-2
    .
  3. ^ "Football History". Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  4. ISBN 978-1-874718-13-0
    .
  5. ^ "Billy Mosforth". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 26 January 2008. Edit this at Wikidata
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