William Anderson (English footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Joseph Anderson | ||
| Date of birth | 12 August 1861 | ||
| Place of birth | Liverpool, England | ||
| Date of death | 23 June 1903 (aged 41) | ||
| Place of death | Braamfontein, South Africa | ||
| Position(s) | Right-winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Eton College | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1879–84 | Old Etonians | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
William Joseph Anderson (12 August 1861 – 23 June 1903) was an English amateur footballer who played as a forward for Old Etonians. He was the first Liverpool-born footballer to win the FA Cup.
Early life and education
Anderson was born in Liverpool, the youngest son of Thomas Darnley Anderson, a Scots-born cotton merchant,[1] and educated at Eton College. In 1880 he was admitted as a student at Trinity Hall, Cambridge; his brother Rupert had preceded him by a year.[2] Despite his undoubted football ability, Anderson never received a Blue.
Football career
Anderson represented Eton College in 1879[3] and made his debut for the Old Etonians against Gitanos the same year.[4] His first competitive match came in the Old Etonians' 10–0 win at Brentwood in the first round of the 1880–81 FA Cup, playing as one of the two right-wingers, and making one of the goals by putting in a cross-shot turned in by Herbert Whitfeld.[5] He scored his first goal in the 3–0 win over Herts Rangers in the third round.[6]
He played in the final against the Old Carthusians and came closest of the Etonians to scoring, a "splendid shot" of his being "only just saved" by Leonard Gillett in the O.C.'s goal,[7] but the Etonians went down 3–0.
He had more success in the 1881–82 FA Cup, playing in every round, and scored the only goal in the final against Blackburn Rovers, shooting just inside the post in the first ten minutes.[8] He made it three consecutive finals by playing for the Etonians in their defeat to Blackburn Olympic the following season,[9] and his last game in the competition came in the Etonians' surprise defeat at Hendon in the first round in 1883–84.[10]
Post-football career
By 1886, Anderson had moved to Montana as a cattle rancher, and in 1893 founded the Livingston, Independence and Cooke City Telephone Company. His keen involvement in pursuing thieves included his presence at the arrest of Butch Cassidy in 1892.
After his brother Charles left him a large estate in 1893, he began to spend more time in Europe than the United States, finally emigrating back to Britain in 1896. In 1899, he enlisted to fight in the Boer War, but resigned his commission as lieutenant in Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry after only seven months,[11] and died on 23 June 1903, older brother Rupert being his heir and executor.[12]
Footballing honours
References
- ^ 1871 census (Waverley Abbey). London: HMSO. 1871. p. 2.
- ^ "Anderson, William Joseph". Cambridge alumni. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Eton College". London Daily Chronicle: 6. 17 November 1879.
- ^ "Old Etonians v Gitanos". Morning Post: 2. 13 October 1879.
- ^ "Brentwood v Old Etonians". Field: 734. 13 November 1880.
- ^ "Old Etonians v Hertfordshire Rangers". Sportsman: 4. 7 February 1881.
- ^ "report". The Carthusian. 67 (129): 97. 1881.
- ^ "The Football Association Challenge Cup Final Tie". Field: 440. 1 April 1882.
- ^ "Blackburn Olympic v Old Etonians". Morning Post. 2 April 1883.
- ^ "Hendon 3–2 Old Etonians; 10 November 1883 (Match report)". Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ Onslow, Tony. "The Magnificent Footballing Andersons of Liverpool". Everton FC Heritage Society. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "William Joseph Anderson Deceased". Surrey Advertiser: 1. 15 August 1903.