TINSLEY LINDLEY

9th November 1889

When Notts County found themselves a player short for their Football League match against Aston Villa on November 9th 1889 they borrowed a player from their near neighbours, non-leaguers Nottingham Forest. 

The match ended 1-1 at Trent Bridge but Villa objected saying the borrowed player was ineligible as he wasn't registered to play for County. The League Management Committee upheld that complaint docking Notts County one point and fining them £5. 

The player Notts County borrowed was Tinsley Lindley who was a remarkable character. As a 16-year old he scored a hat-trick on his debut for Nottingham Forest and later scored 14 goals in 13 appearances for England.

                                                                            (Lindley in blazer and cap on right)
His England call-up came on 13 March 1886 when, he was one of eight new caps selected to play against Ireland in Belfast. Lindley scored as England "totally dominated"  the match, with Benjamin Spilsbury scoring four goals in a 6–1 victory.

It has been claimed that he holds the record for scoring in nine consecutive England matches between 13 March 1886 and 7 April 1888. However, there is no substance whatsoever to this claim, as this includes the match against Wales on 29 March 1886, in which all contemporary reports credit the goals to George Brann, Fred Dewhurst and Andrew Amos (an Old Carthusian)!! 

He did, however, score in each of the next 6 consecutive games, which is still an England record (though note that Steve Bloomer scored in ten consecutive matches in which he played, and George Camsell in nine). In total, he scored 14 international goals in just 13 games. He held the overall England goalscoring record from March 1888 when he equalled Charles Bambridge's tally of 11 until his final tally of 14 was overhauled by Steve Bloomer in 1898.

His family lived in Clipstone Avenue, Nottingham and Lindley attended Nottingham High School between 1875 and 1883, where he first revealed his talent. 

He later attended The Leys School, Cambridge, where he turned to rugby. From 1885 to 1888 he studied at Caius College, Cambridge and during this time played football forthe University and also for The Corinthians and Casuals. Lindley obtained not just a degree but he also achieved a Master of Law and LL.D law doctorate.

He wore walking shoes rather than traditional football boots as he could run quicker in them and remained an amateur player throughout his playing career. 

He also played County cricket for Nottinghamshire. 

He studied law at Cambridge University and was a barrister and in that capacity took charge of County's appeal against the punishment claiming that by imposing both a fine and a points penalty Notts County had been punished twice. A General Meeting of the League clubs accepted his argument dropping the one point deduction but increasing the fine to £25!! 

Lindley was given an O.B.E. in January 1918 for his work during World War One and in 1935 he was also awarded the King George V Jubilee Medal.