Fred Foxall
Encyclopedia
Frederick Howard Foxall (2 April 1898 – 17 June 1926) was an English
professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.
, and signed for Aston Villa
in 1914, but was prevented from making any first team appearances as a result of the First World War. At the end of the war he was playing for Blackheath Town at Coventry
when he was spotted by Jimmy McIntyre
, then Southampton
's trainer, who invited him for a trial at The Dell. He was signed by the "Saints" in time for the first post-war season
in the Southern League
, where he was joined by his Blackheath team-mate, Reg Hackett
.
Foxall immediately made the outside-left position his own and was an excellent winger. According to Holley & Chalk "his well placed centres from varying angles were a strong feature of his repertoire" In 1920 Southampton, along with most Southern League clubs, joined the new Football League Third Division
and Foxall was ever-present as Saints finished their inaugural season in the Football League
second in the table, missing out on the only available promotion place.
At the end of the season, he provoked controversy when he signed a contract with Aston Villa, although he was still registered with Southampton. He was ordered by the Football association to re-join Southampton and he continued to give good service until he was transferred to Birmingham
in March 1922. At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division South
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Foxall and Joe Barratt
moving to Birmingham in exchange for Jack Elkes
(a forward
) and George Getgood
(a half-back). In his three years at The Dell Foxall made 114 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.
Foxall missed only one First Division
game for Birmingham in what remained of 1921–22
, but illness and injury restricted his first full season with the club to 17 appearances, and he joined Watford
in June 1923. After 35 appearances for Watford he broke a leg, forcing him to retire completely. He never fully recovered and his death two years later, on 17 June 1926 in Smethwick
, was brought about by complications arising from the injury.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.
Playing career
Foxall was born in StourbridgeStourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
, and signed for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in 1914, but was prevented from making any first team appearances as a result of the First World War. At the end of the war he was playing for Blackheath Town at Coventry
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
when he was spotted by Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
, then Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
's trainer, who invited him for a trial at The Dell. He was signed by the "Saints" in time for the first post-war season
1919-20 in English football
The 1919–1920 season was the 45th season of competitive football in England, and the first following the end of World War I.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition...
in the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
, where he was joined by his Blackheath team-mate, Reg Hackett
Reg Hackett
Reginald Lawrence Hackett was an English professional footballer who played at left-half for Southampton during the 1919–20 season.-Football career:...
.
Foxall immediately made the outside-left position his own and was an excellent winger. According to Holley & Chalk "his well placed centres from varying angles were a strong feature of his repertoire" In 1920 Southampton, along with most Southern League clubs, joined the new Football League Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
and Foxall was ever-present as Saints finished their inaugural season in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
second in the table, missing out on the only available promotion place.
At the end of the season, he provoked controversy when he signed a contract with Aston Villa, although he was still registered with Southampton. He was ordered by the Football association to re-join Southampton and he continued to give good service until he was transferred to Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in March 1922. At the time Southampton were leading the Third Division South
Football League Third Division South
The Football League Third Division South was a level of English professional football which ran in parallel to Third Division North from 1921 to 1958....
table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager Jimmy McIntyre
Jimmy McIntyre
James Alfred "Jimmy" McIntyre was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham.-Playing career:...
shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Foxall and Joe Barratt
Joe Barratt
Josiah Barratt was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
moving to Birmingham in exchange for Jack Elkes
Jack Elkes
Albert John "Jack" Elkes was an English professional footballer who played as an inside left for various clubs between the two world wars.-Playing career:...
(a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
) and George Getgood
George Getgood
George Getgood was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s.-Playing career:...
(a half-back). In his three years at The Dell Foxall made 114 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.
Foxall missed only one First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
game for Birmingham in what remained of 1921–22
1921-22 in English football
The 1921–22 season was the 47th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:The league underwent a major expansion for the second consecutive season, adding 20 teams from the Midlands and Northern England. They were placed in the new Third Division North, and the existing southern-based...
, but illness and injury restricted his first full season with the club to 17 appearances, and he joined Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in June 1923. After 35 appearances for Watford he broke a leg, forcing him to retire completely. He never fully recovered and his death two years later, on 17 June 1926 in Smethwick
Smethwick
Smethwick is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands of England. It is situated on the edge of the city of Birmingham, within the historic boundaries of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire....
, was brought about by complications arising from the injury.