NO. IV. — FREDERICK SPIKSLEY
— "ABARIS" | 01/10/1898 —

Hhen comes the time for his place in football to be finally determined, we shall find the name of Frederick Spiksley included among the few whose fame will linger in the records of classical football. Men come and go, last a few weeks or a season, playing successful football, and then are lost to fame. It is only the man who is a great player when he becomes known, and who, after half-backs and full backs have become acquainted with his style, continues a great player — this is the man whose fame endures, whose performances, when his day is past and done, form theme of conversation and pleasant reminiscence. Fred Spiksley will take his stand with such men as Harry Cursham, W. N. Cobbold, Harry Daft, Alfred Milward, and George Drummond as amongst the finest left-wingers English football has known. Football was born in him. It is an argument of Mr. Ord's (the North End chairman) that a player must be a player by natural instinct, and that, failing such instinct, nothing will make him one. Spiksley is such a man — a natural player. Sheer merit brought him into prominence. Born at Gainsborough, 28 years ago, he early showed great promise, his play at outside right making him a hero in junior circles. It was in 1887 that he joined Gainsborough Trinity. He was then a stripling of 17 years. Being equally sure with either foot, Spiksley had no difficulty in crossing over to the opposite wing and a very warm cup of tea opposing defences found that left wing — Jack Mullen and the Flying Fred.

Those were the days when county matches were a great institution in football. It is a pity that they are not now. So very few players can secure international honours that county caps would still be a prized trophy of a man's playing days. Fred has three of these caps, and, though internationals' brighter honours dim the lustre that illumined these more humble prizes, he still proudly recalls the fact of his winning them. He was just 21 when be quitted the team of his home, and went forth to try a fall with men of greater fame than he had previously had as regular opponents From the outset his success was assured. He joined Sheffield Wednesday in 1891, and has remained with them ever since. His career in first-class football has been one of unbroken success. He plays an almost ideal game. No one can travel faster with the ball than he; indeed, I doubt if there is a man playing who can move at such a pace. He has the daintiest method in the world. He may be going at full speed along the line, yet the ball is always perfectly under his command, and, if he be tackled, he can pull up and work off at an angle in a moment or, failing that, send on the ball to his faithful ally, Alec Brady, or Harry Davis. In his fastest sprints, Spiksley never seems to let the ball leave his toe, and such is his speed that, cnce he passes his man, the latter cannot overhaul him. I should say that for neat, pretty, effective, and speedy dribbling, Spiksley is without peer to-day. His centres are studies of precision and accuracy, and so skilfully placed that they drop into goal, instead of whisking across it. He can shoot, too-hard and straight, and, being absolutely fearless, he scores a good many goals by following up his own shots.

He always plays the same earnest, unostentatious game. He has his "off" days, of course, and occasionally finds a man against whom he cannot play, but against 75 per cent of present-day halves and backs he comes off. I remember to have seen him really settled only about twice; and Blyth, of the North End, has been the man to do it. Then it has been a case of exceptional speed and skill being met by similar qualities in a half-back whose spirit never sinks and whose remarkable energies never flag in the heaviest game. I should say that Blyth can play Spiksley better than any other half-back there is. As against this, however, the speedy Sheffielder can show his heels to scores of men. I have watched him in many games and on many grounds, and have never failed to admire him. I saw him score the winning goal when Wednesday won the Cup, and twice I have witnessed magnificent displays from him in international matches. Success does not spoil him. No matter how well his side may be going he never resorts to that hateful and contemptible practice "playing to the gallery." He will beat a man all over the field by legitimate tactics, but never stoops to fooling a vanquished opponent. And he never plays foully. All fast men get "bashed" by slower-footed men, and Spiksley has his share of heavy shoulder work. But he takes his punishment gamely and plays the harder for it. So far as his conduct on the field is concerned, he is a pattern to players. Out of play, he is an extremely agreeable, gentlemanly fellow, with presence and address that make him a credit to football. His honours include three county caps, seven internationals — three against Scotland and two each against Wales and Ireland — and two appearances for the English League against the Scottish League. A rather singular compliment that he received was of a more material character, taking the shape of a very ridable cycle, presented to "the best man on the field" in the international at Glasgow last April and voted to him.

In a brief chat that I had with him the other day, Spiksley confided to me the theory that the most pronounced changes in latter-day football was the strengthening of teams' defences. Said he: "I don't hold with the view that forward play is worse now that ever it was. This is certain, however, forwards are played against differently nowadays from what they were. To-day your half-back or full-back closes up to a forward straight off. He is not allowed to work for a clear shot. Either he must shoot straight away or he has to pot into a goalmouth crowded with players, while he himself is being resolutely tackled by a determined opponent. Goalkeepers can easily deal with long shots, and those sent in in a general melee are more likely than not to be charged down. It is through this that more goals are not scored. Forwards are still as good as they used to be, but they have to meet far cleverer defences than they used to do. Backs have 'some on' more than forwards, but they had a certain amount of leeway to make up before they were the equal of smart front line men."