David Wykes (15 September 1867 – 7 October 1895) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who played for

Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (), commonly known as Wolves, is a professional football club based in Wolverhampton, England, which compete in the . The club has played at Molineux Stadium since moving from Dudley Road in 1889. The club's ...

in the

Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in the world. It was the top-level football league in Engla ...

, making his debut in its inaugural season in 1888-1889. Born in Walsall on 15 September 1867, he played initially for Bloxwich Strollers, then Wednesbury Town and his home club Walsall Swifts before signing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 1888. David Wykes, playing as one of the two wingers made his League debut on 15 September 1888, at

Dudley Road Dudley Road was a football ground in Wolverhampton in England. It was the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers between 1881 and 1889, and was used during the first season of the Football League. History The ground began to be used in 1881, ...

, the then home of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The visitors were

Preston North End Preston North End Football Club, commonly referred to as Preston, North End or PNE, is a professional football club in Preston, Lancashire, England, who currently play in the EFL Championship, the second tier of the English football league syste ...

and the home team were defeated 4–0. At the time he was 21 years old; which made him, on the second weekend of League football, Wolverhampton Wanderers' youngest player. He was supplanted by Harry Wood as youngest Wolves player on 6 October 1888. He scored his first League goal on 29 September 1888 at Dudley Road when the visitors were

Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers Football Club is a professional football club, based in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, which competes in the , the second tier of the English football league system. They have played home matches at Ewood Park since 1890. T ...

. Wykes scored the second of Wolverhampton Wanderers two goals as the match was drawn 2–2. Wykes appeared in 18 of the 22 League matches played by Wolverhampton Wanderers during the 1888–89 season and scored four goals. He also played in the 1889 FA Cup Final as Wolverhampton Wanderers lost to Preston North End 3–0. (registration & fee required) Wykes was on the winning side in

1893 Events January–March * January 2 – Webb C. Ball introduces railroad chronometers, which become the general railroad timepiece standards in North America. * Mark Twain started writing Puddn'head Wilson. * January 6 – Th ...

, when Wolves beat Everton. David Wykes played a total of 179 matches for Wolves, scoring 69 goals. He died in a Wolverhampton hospital of typhoid fever and pneumonia on 7 October 1895, aged 28, the day after playing against

Stoke Stoke is a common place name in the United Kingdom. Stoke may refer to: Places United Kingdom The largest city called Stoke is Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire. See below. Berkshire * Stoke Row, Berkshire Bristol * Stoke Bishop * Stok ...

on 5 October 1895. His son David died in a motorcycle accident in Walsall. Picture of David Wykes and Wolverhampton 1893 team.

References

1867 births 1895 deaths English men's footballers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players English Football League players English Football League representative players Men's association football forwards Men's association football midfielders Footballers from Wolverhampton {{England-footy-forward-1860s-stub