FOULKE, FRY AND KIRKHAM

April 19th 1902. The FA Cup Final played between Sheffield United and Southampton, featured two clubs who had lost in previous finals. In 1900, Southampton had been the first non-league club to reach the FA Cup Final, since the inception of the Football League in 1888. The Saints were easily beaten by Bury 4-0.

A year later, 1903, Sheffield United were embarrassed by Tottenham Hotspur who had become the first non-league club to be victorious, winning 3-1 after a replay, which had been necessary following an awful Refereeing decision when Spurs, 2-1 up, hacked a United shot out of play. The referee gave a goal kick, the linesman a corner. The ref changed his mind and gave United a goal! 

In 1902, it was United's turn to suffer from a controversy, when with 3 minutes to go to full time, United were 1-0 up over Southampton. The "Saints", C.B.Fry. the well known "gentleman" of football, and an England cricket test player, saw the ball land at the feet of his captain Harry Wood. There was a huge hint of offside, which the referee Tom Kirkham did not see and he waved play on.  Wood raced on, clear of the United defence and "drew" opposition goalkeeper, the famous William "Fatty" Foulke off his line. He slipped the ball under Foulke's massive frame and a replay was required.

After the game, an incensed and Foulke was seen naked, chasing the hapless ref, with a view to discussion the decision! Kirkham was no stranger to controversy as he had officiated a game of three halves between Sunderland and Derby!!!!! having turned up late.... with the first 45 minutes already played! United won the replay 2-1.

He also owned a beer house in Sheffield along with a shop in Matilda Street and was known to walk around his home town wearing his FA Cup winner's medal around his neck on a homemade chain.

Foulke appears in the Mitchell and Kenyon films, playing in a "match" on 6 September 1902. The chant "Who ate all the pies?" was first sung in 1894 by Sheffield United supporters, and directed at Foulke's 300 lb (about 136 kg).

Foulke died on 1 May 1916 aged 42 in Sheffield. He was buried in Burngreave cemetery, Sheffield, England. His death certificate gives "cirrhosis" as the major cause of death.

Youth career
	Blackwell Miners Welfare
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1894–1905	Sheffield United	299	(0)
1905–1907	Chelsea	34	(0)
1907–1908	Bradford City	22	(0)
Total		355	(0)
International career
1897	England	1	(0)

Below Bradford City 1906-7...note Foulke!