Max Woosnam, is possibly the greatest sportsman to have ever graced the playing fields of the British Isles. He made a century at lord’s Cricket Ground, won an Olympic Gold Medal for his exploits in the tennis, played for the now legendary Corinthian Football Club, as well as for the England National Team and skippered Manchester City to second place in the English Football League, as well as captained Britain’s team in the Davis Cup. What’s more, Woosnam did all of this either side of the Great War, having served as an officer in the British Army. He also is said to have defeated the actor and film director Charlie Chaplin at table tennis, using only a butter knife, instead of paddle.
Born in Liverpool, on the 6th September 1892, his father served the church as a Canon and an Archdeacon. As a child, Woosnam seems to have moved around somewhat. He spent parts of his childhood in the Welsh village of Aberhafesp. It was in Hampshire, however, where he was educated at Winchester College. As with so many English public schools of the time, sports were considered an important part of a students all round education. Max represented the school in football and squash, as well as captaining the cricket and golf teams. It was during this time that he represented a Public Schools Cricket XI. Whilst playing for this side he got a game against the famous Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s. He selection was well judged as he made a score of 144 not out. Representative sport continued within his educational career, as he moved to Cambridge for University. Whilst at Trinity College he represented the University at football, lawn tennis, real tennis (the sport of kings), cricket and golf. Through his endeavours here, he became a quadruple Blue. This was the award given to students by the faculty for success in their athletic activities.
After graduation, Woosnam carried on his sporting career. He joined the Corinthian Football Club. His new team are now legendary within the sport of football. The English side championed amateurism and the ideals of sportsmanship and fair play around the world, even having teams in Brazil and Malta named, in honour, after them. Soon after leaving Cambridge University, Max was selected to travel with the Corinthians on a summer tour of Brazil in 2013. He bagged the side’s first goal on this trip in Rio de Janeiro, as well as another against Paulistano. He seemed to do well enough to be selected again for the repeated tour in 2014, but this was cancelled due to the outbreak of the First World War.
Upon returning from Brazil, for what was more of a sea voyage than a sporting tour, Max Woosnam returned to his home in Aberhafesp. Here he volunteered for the Montgomeryshire Yoemanry, of the South Wales Mounted Brigade and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Service in Egypt, France and Turkey saw a promotion to Full Lieutenant, in 1916. In the midst of all of this, however, he was making wedding plans. In February of 1917, he had wed his sweetheart, Edith. Max must have had some periods of leave from his duties, as their first child, Denise, was born in May 1918. During his time in the Middle East Max served alongside the poet Siegfried Sassoon.
Before the outbreak of the war, Max Woosnam had not only played for the Corinthians, but he has also turned out a few times for Chelsea FC. Upon his return to Blighty, he signed for Manchester City FC, on amateur terms. He played centre half for his new side, and gained the respect of his team mates for them to recommend his to be captain. Under his leadership the side finished in second place in the 1920-21 English Football League, losing out to Burnley by five points. Interestingly, he was also invited to captain Great Britain’s football team at the 1920 Olympic Games. This was turned down by Woosnam, however, as he had already agreed to participate in for his country in the tennis. However, he did manage to represent his country within his favourite game and made his solitary international appearance in 1922.
The 1920 Antwerp Games were held between the 14th August and 12th September. 2,561 men and 65 women competed across 156 events in 22 sports. This was a successful year for Max Woosnam, winning two medals. Although he did enter the Men’s Singles Event, he went out in the second round to Spaniard, Manuel Alonso Areyzaga. Where he faired better was in the Mixed Doubles. His partner was Kathleen McKane, one of the great female British tennis players in her own right, having won a variety of Grand Slams and Olympic Medals in the Doubles and Singles events. In 1920, McKane and Woosnam got to the final together, but lost out to French duo Suzanne Lenglen and Max Decugis, to take home the Silver. However, Max found greater success in the Men’s Doubles event. He and his partner got over the top of the Japanese pairing of Seiichiro Kashio and Ichiya Kumagae. His decision to not go to Antwerp as part of the football team seems to have gone well for Max Woosnam, as he came home with both a silver and a gold medal in the lawn tennis.
Tennis, as a sport, was something that Max Woosnam seemed to excel at as well as football. In 1921 he got to the Quarter Finals of the Men’s Single’s Tournament at Wimbledon. Although a decent effort, losing out this would have brought disappointment for anybody. He did, however, find success in the Men’s Doubles event. He and his partner Randolph Lycett took home the Gold Medal, getting over the top of Lowe brothers Arthur and Gordon, 6 – 3, 6 – 0, 7 – 5. Soon afterwards his leadership skills were highlighted again as he got the chance to captain the Great Britain Davis Cup team as they competed on trip to the United States. Arriving in New York, the team had drawn Australia. It did not bode well, with Woosnam loosing his matches and other results not going well for the Brits, it saw them going out of the competition. Two years later Max found success again, with another appearance at the Wimbledon Championships. He and his partner Phyllis Howkins got to the Wimbledon Final of the Mixed Doubles event. Unfortunately on this occasion they lost 6 – 3 and 6 -1 to an Anglo-American duo, which included his former team mate Randolph Lycett and Elizabeth Ryan.
Max Woosnam represents a type of athlete gone and apparently forgotten. With the advent of professionalism in many of the mainstream sports these days, the days of the amateur all rounder are long gone. The improvement in standard that many of the sports has seen because of this is unarguably a good thing. However, I do think that it is a shame that we no longer encourage young players to develop a range of athletic abilities like we once did in a bygone era.
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