28.1.15

Corinthians for England

Corinthian FC were formed very much along the lines of an Old Boys club. A de facto England XI for ex Varsity men, who were invariably products of the public schools' system.
Corinthian came into being in 1882. Professionalism was still outlawed, but the influence of the  northern and midland clubs who gave assistance to their working class players was on the rise. 6 of the England team to face Scotland in 1882 came from Lancashire, Sheffield or midlands clubs- the regions in which professional football was about to flourish.
N.L Jackson's reasoning for the founding of Corinthian FC is often reported as being to ensure that England were able to keep pace with Scotland on the international front. Their role, however, was also to preserve an amateur foothold in the higher reaches of the English game.
Amateurs, of course, could play for whomsoever they wished to. We read of England XIs in the 1890s as being 'entirely Corinthians' but one could be a member of Corinthian FC and play occasionally or go on tour with them whilst still being primarily a member of another club.
There have, however, been 17 men who represented England whilst Corinthian was their primary club.


Cecil White (left half) 

apps

 1888
  



Henfrey
Arthur Henfrey (half back / forward

apps
goals

 1891-96
 5
 2



Anthony  Hossack (right half

apps

1892-94
 2



Smith
Gilbert Oswald Smith (centre forward) 

apps
goals
 capt
 1893-1901
 20
11
14

Smith has been described as the greatest player of the 19th century.

Lodge 
Vaughan Lodge (fullback) 

apps


1894-96



Lodge's parents were Welsh. It appears that he drowned himself whilst suffering from depression.

W.J. Oakley (fullback)   

apps

 capt
1895-1901
16

1

Middleditch 
Bernard Middleditch (right half

apps


1897
1




Geoffrey Wilson (inside left) 

apps
goals
1900
2
1



Foster
  • Reginald Erskine 'Tip'  Foster  (inside forward) 

  • apps
    goals
     capt
    1900-02
    5
    3 

  • The only man to captain England at football and cricket.
Fry
C B Fry (righback) 

apps


1901
 1



The legendary great all rounder.

Corbett
Bertie Corbett  (outside left)

apps

1901
1



Corbett was the author of The Annals of the Corinthian F. C. (1906).


K.E Hegan (outside forward)


apps
goals

1923 
4
4


Later to become Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Edward Heg

Norman Creek (forward) 

apps


1923 
1



Creek was a  decorated pilot from the 1914-18 war and the author of  The History of the Corinthian Football Club (1933) 

  Basil Patchitt  (fullback or half back)

apps


1923 
2



Bower
Alfred George 'Baishe'  Bower (fullback)

  • apps

     capt
    1923-27
     5

     3

Bower was the last amateur to captain England and the last amateur to play for England in the Home Championship.


Doggart
Graham Doggart (inside left)


apps
goals
 capt
 1923
 1

 1

I read a description of Graham Doggart as being a 'useful' footballer. His goalscoring record for Corinthian (1919-1933) suggests a degree of understatement there:  appearances 203 goals 207.


Ashton
  • Claude Ashton (centre forward)   

  • apps

     capt
     1925
     1

     1