Chelsea F.C. 1922-1923

Chelsea F.C. 1922-1923

Very rare original autographed fold over card with typed team grid to the open interior, fully autographed in fountain pen ink by the Chelsea F.C 1922-2 team players, comprising: Howard Baker, Jack Harrow, Tommy Meehan, Jack Cock, George Smith, David Fraser, Tommy Wilding, David Cameron, Albert Thain, Fred Linfoot and Buchanan Sharp, minor handling wear to centre fold, otherwise in very good condition.

PROVENANCE: formerly from the collection of early 20th century autograph collector Louis B. Frewer, with neatly handwritten team name to the top left corner.

***Benjamin Howard Baker (13 February 1892-10 September 1987) was an English athlete who excelled in a wide range of sports, mostly in football and high jump. Baker was goalkeeper for Chelsea, Everton and twice for England, making his debut in 1921 and his second and last cap in 1925. He played for the "Amateurs" in the 1925 FA Charity Shield. He was also an international-level water-polo goalkeeper.

Jack Harry Harrow (8 October 1888-19 July 1958) was an English footballer who spent his entire professional career at Chelsea. He played mainly as a left-back. He was club captain for most of the time between 1911 and 1926, and led Chelsea to their first appearance in an FA Cup final in 1915. He played twice for England, winning caps against Northern Ireland and Sweden in 1922 and 1923 respectively.

Thomas Meehan (1896-18 August 1924) was an English footballer who played at wing half. He played his only international for England in October 1923. He played for Rochdale during the First World War, before moving to Manchester United in 1919. He made 53 appearances for United, scoring six goals, and signed for Chelsea in 1920 for £3,300. At the time of his move south, Meehan was rated one of the best half-backs in England, and was a regular in the Chelsea team over the next three years, playing in 133 games for the club, before being struck down with encephalitis lethargia, (an inflammation of the brain). He died in 1924 aged only 28.

John Gilbert Cock MM MID (14 November 1893-19 April 1966) was an English footballer who played for various English club sides as a centre forward. He also had the distinction of being the first Cornishman to play for the England national team, making his England debut against Ireland in 1919, and opening the scoring after 30 seconds, which is currently the third-fastest timed England goal of all time. He won a second (and final) cap against Scotland in 1920, again scoring.

George W. Smith was a Scottish-born footballer who played as a full back in the Football League in the 1920s and 1930s. Smith joined Chelsea in 1921 and went on to play 351 league matches for them (370 in all senior games) until 1932.

David Fraser Cameron (12 September 1895-27 July 1953) was a Scottish professional footballer who played in the Football League for Chelsea as a wing half between 1920 and 1926.

Harry Thomas Oulton Wilding (27 June 1894-1958) was an English professional footballer who played for the Grenadier Guards, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Bristol Rovers. In 1919 he joined Chelsea where he played in a total of 265 matches and scored on 25 occasions in all competitions. The centre-half signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 1928 and featured in 12 matches and scored one goal.

Albert Edward Thain (born 20 April 1900) was a forward who played for Chelsea between 1922 and 1931.

Robert McNeil (1891-Feb 1948) Played for Chelsea between 1914 and 1927. McNeil was one of Chelsea's most popular players, despite a career interrupted by World War One.

Fred Linfoot (12 March 1901-1979) was an English footballer who made 104 appearances in the Football League for Lincoln City, Chelsea and Fulham. He played as an outside right, a speedy winger, he faced a lot of competition for a first team place at Chelsea making 34 appearances between 1920 and 1923.

Buchanan Sharp (2 November 1894-11 January 1956) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City, Nelson & Southport.