JAMES RICHARDSON SPENSLEY OF GENOA-D'YOU KNOW HIM?

James Spensley is to blame for the birth of Genoa' football club. The Genoa Cricket and Football Club celebrates its 127th anniversary this year. A memorial Mass was held on August 11th 2013 in the beautiful city centre church of Santa Maria dell Vigne, as part of the city's celebration to commemorate Spensley's achievement 120 years previously. He may be regarded as a major contributor to the development of Italian football.

He died in the First World War and his remains are buried in the British Military Cemetery in Kassel, Germany.

There are plenty of memorials to Spensley in Genoa; the Stadium is sited on the Via J Spensely and on the house where he lived in the Civic Square Campetto, is a "blue" plaque which reads: " Here lived the English doctor James R Spensley, a great friend of Italy-football pioneer with Genoa Cricket and Football Club, founder of Genoese Scouting."
There is a park named after him just outside the city, an international scouting centre, and annually a international junior football tournament is held in the city.

Born in Stoke Newington on May 17th 1867 to wealthy parents, he had an academic upbringing and he qualified in medicine, when he was old enough. Spensley spent some time as a "house surgeon" in London under Professor Down, who discovered the "syndrome". He later worked as a medical advisor for a marine insurance company and so he was able to travel abroad. All the time, he indulged in sport, especially football and boxing, founding a football team in Sunderland where he worked. He played in goal and qualified as a referee in the north-east.

Late in the 19th Century, he went to Genoa, which was becoming a major seaport, supporting a large number of foreigners, including Britons, who came together to form a sports' club, so it was formed on September 7th 1893. Originally it favoured athletics and cricket.

Spensley joined the club and in April 1897, persuaded the more conservative members of Genoa's society, to form a football club, a "working class" game, not favoured by the local sportsmen. He attracted the city's Swiss, British and Italians, one of whom was Eduardo Pasteur (yes, an Italian) who was a relative of the famous scientist. His brother, Enrico, joined up too.

The first shirts provided for the emerging football team, were an English "all white" with the City's badge, a red cross over a black field. The club eventually adopted the present red and navy halved shirts and became known as the "Rossoblu" who played against visiting crews, at a field owned by two Scots, near the port.

The first competitive game was arranged on 6th January 1898, against a mixed opposition from International Torino and FBC Torinese, which the opposition won 0-1....classically a defensive result by the Italians!

In 1898, Genoa led the way to forming the FIF (Federation Italienne du Football) and on May 6th that summer, a tournament was first held in Turin. There were four teams, three from Turin and one from Genoa as part of an International Exhibition.
Genoa won the "final" after extra tme 2-1. Englishman, Robert Leaver scored the winner, with Genoa being the first ever Italian champions. The Serie A league had been established and Genoa won the first six competitions.