by Karl Coppack
A while ago, we brought you the story of
– the forever-young Peter Pan of Melchester Rovers who came up as a schoolboy to trial with his boyhood club before playing and then captaining the side. Like Bart and Lisa Simpson, he never appeared to age and his life was one only fiction could provide as success followed success. As the years rolled on, Racey skippered the men in red and yellow before managing them and eventually owning the club. He won every honour in the game, foiled criminal gangs, was kidnapped more than once, shot, estranged from his wife and then son and, eventually, lost his foot in a tragic helicopter accident.
A full life indeed.
Had Roy featured in a different comic his exploits would have seen him cross into other sports. That’s not unheard of in real life. Ian Botham turned out for Yeovil Town and Scunthorpe Utd from 1978 and 1985 when he wasn’t winning the Ashes with the England cricket team. Gary Lineker and Mark Lawrenson were decent snooker players while, going further back, Denis Compton played cricket for England and won the League and Cup as a winger with Arsenal. It’s not uncommon for players to be good at more than one sport.
But while those successes are limited and Roy Race is a work of fiction, nothing will top the story of Max Woosnam.
If you haven’t heard of Max then strap yourself in.
Seriously.
This is insane.
Max was born in Liverpool in 1892 and spent most of his early life in the quiet village of Aberhafesp in mid Wales. His parents were well-to-do and could afford to send Max away to be privately educated so, in 1905, he moved south to Winchester College in Hampshire. He immediately showed his early sporting prowess, captaining the cricket and golf teams. He also featured in both the football and tennis teams.
In 1911, Max was invited to play for a Public School Select XI against the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) at Lords. This was an annual exhibition match with the home side not surprisingly winning the game at a canter and, as Max approached the crease, it seemed likely that the match would run true to form with the schoolboys floundering at 65 for 5. Not so on this occasion. The schoolboy hit 144 not out to rescue his team’s chances. In the second innings he simply had to defend his wicket to snaffle a draw. He did so, finishing 33 not out.
At only 18 he had a century at Lords under his belt. Most people would be happy with that on their CV, but Max wanted more.
He moved onto Trinity College, Cambridge and attained his ‘Blue’ in five different sports – football, tennis, real tennis, cricket and golf. He was already a scratch golfer as an undergraduate.
We’ve yet to discuss his footballing ability and, like all of us, Max was a fan of the beautiful game. In 1913 he was selected to go on a six-match tour of Brazil with the amateur side Corinthians. He played all six games and despite playing at centre back, he scored three times. Upon his return to the UK, he played three times for Chelsea.
He returned to Brazil with Corinthians the following year albeit only briefly. As the ship crossed the Atlantic, the team heard that war had broken out. A meeting was called and the Corinthians decided they would be more use back home than overseas. Being the right age, each man could enlist to help the war effort. They completed the journey to Rio and took a walk around the town and the local football stadium before returning to the ship and home. On the return journey they came across a German gunship and were forced to reroute.
Max enlisted and trained at Suffolk where he met his eventual wife, Edith. He was first posted to Gallipoli, where nearly 600,000 people lost their lives and then to the Western Front where he fought alongside the war poet, Siegfried Sassoon. He also saw action in Jerusalem.
Upon his return home after the war he completed his education. He then travelled to London to try his hand at Wimbledon. It wasn’t a success. He was knocked out of the Men’s Singles in the second round and lost in the first round of the Men’s Doubles, though he made it to the third round of the Mixed Doubles.
In 1919 he moved to Manchester with his new bride. He started work at the engineering firm, Crossley Brothers. He was immediately approached by both Manchester clubs even though he was still an amateur. He asked City legend Billy Meredith which he should choose. Hardly an independent view. Max took his boots to Hyde Road Football Stadium and signed terms with City.
For all his love of sport and his talent at them, Max found the professional element vulgar and refused payment. He insisted on being an amateur and even swore to play home games only as he had to work when City went away. He insisted that his first loyalty should be to those who paid his wages.
After a spell in the reserves, he made finally his debut against Bradford City. They won 1-0. A clean sheet for the century making, scratch golfer war hero.
He withdrew from City’s FA Cup game against Leicester a few weeks later and the team suffered a 3-0 defeat. The City fans were furious that Max had been left out. His colleagues, not realising that the decision not to play was Max’s alone, threatened Crossley Brothers with strike action if they didn’t release him. His employers listened and told Max that he had to play. He did so and City finished the league in seventh place.
The name of Max Woosnam was being heard in all sorts of exalted places and, that summer, he was chosen to represent Great Britain at the 1920 Olympics at both tennis and football. He decided that he could not do both so chose tennis.
Guess.
He won the Men’s Doubles final with his partner Noel Turnbull, beating the Japanese duo Seiichiro Kashio and Ichiya Kumagae in Kontich, Antwerp. He added a silver in the Mixed Doubles alongside Kathleen McKane. Let’s add to Olympic gold medallist to his CV.
There’s more to come.
Back home a group of City players approached the manager and suggested that Max, still an amateur of course, be made captain. Such was his leadership skills that the club acceded to those wishes immediately and offered the role to Max. What is most impressive about that party of players is that included Eli Fletcher – the then captain.
The following year, 1921, Max returned to Wimbledon and this time he won the Men’s Doubles tournament with Randolph Lycett, beating Arthur and Gordon Lowe in straight sets. Later, he skippered Great Britain in the Davis Cup.
Even Roy Race fans would find this story a tad unbelievable, but we’re not done yet.
While in America, the team were invited to meet Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin. The meeting was cordial and Chaplin invited Max onto his court for a quick game. Max hammered him. Unperturbed, Chaplin asked him if he played table tennis. Of course he did. However, to even up the contest and possibly feeling a bit sorry for his illustrious appointment after the shellacking he’d just handed out, Max put down his bat and played with a butter knife. It made no difference. Max thrashed him again.
In March 1922, Max was chosen to play for England in a football international against Wales. Naturally, he captained the side as they won 1-0. Sadly though, it was to be his last full season at City. He broke his leg in the final game of the season against Newcastle and never really recovered. He signed autographs as he was led away on a stretcher.
He moved to Maine Road with City, but the injury was too much and, in 1925, he finally retired. A City legend forever.
He kept up with more sedentary sports and it’s often reported that he scored a maximum 147 break in snooker. He even managed to come second in the Wirral & District Caged Bird Show with his prized budgie!
On 14th July 1965 Max Woosnam, a lifelong smoker, died at the age of 72 of a respiratory disease. He was rightly mourned as one of the greatest sportsmen to have ever lived. His abilities were incredible, but it also spoke volumes about his character as he was always a helpful and a fine captain. Other players would have let the fame go to their head. Max didn’t even ask for payment.
There are other sporting polymaths, notably CB Fry, but this is one story that belong in the annals. An incredible human being.
Max Woosnam (1892-1965)
Lord’s Centurion
Scratch golf player
Manchester City captain
Olympic gold medallist
Wimbledon champion
Davis Cup captain
England captain
Wirral & District Caged Bird Show runner up!
@TheCenci
Some Green Grass and a Ball 