Frederick Howard Foxall (2 April 1898 – 17 June 1926) was an English professional

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 as an

outside left Forwards (also known as attackers) are outfield positions in an association football team who play the furthest up the pitch and are therefore most responsible for scoring goals as well as assisting them. As with any attacking player, the role ...

for various clubs in the 1920s.

Playing career

Foxall was born in

Stourbridge Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The 20 ...

, and signed for

Aston Villa Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

in 1914, but was prevented from making any first team appearances as a result of the First World War. At the end of the war he was playing for Blackheath Town at

Coventry Coventry ( or ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands, England. It is on the River Sherbourne. Coventry has been a large settlement for centuries, although it was not founded and given its ...

when he was spotted by

Jimmy McIntyre James Alfred McIntyre (31 October 1881 – 1954) was an English footballer who became manager at Southampton, Coventry City and Fulham. Playing career McIntyre was born in Wednesbury, Staffordshire. He was a journeyman player of some repute, ...

, then

Southampton Southampton () is a port city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire in southern England. It is located approximately south-west of London and west of Portsmouth. The city forms part of the South Hampshire built-up area, which also covers Po ...

's trainer, who invited him for a trial at The Dell. He was signed by the "Saints" in time for the first post-war season in the Southern League, where he was joined by his Blackheath teammate, Reg Hackett. Foxall immediately made the outside-left position his own and was an excellent winger. According to Holley & Chalk "his well placed centres from varying angles were a strong feature of his repertoire" In 1920 Southampton, along with most Southern League clubs, joined the new

Football League Third Division The Football League Third Division was the third tier of the English football league system in 1920–21 and again from 1958 until 1992. When the FA Premier League was formed, the division become the fourth tier level. In 2004, following the f ...

and Foxall was ever-present as Saints finished their inaugural season 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 ...

second in the table, missing out on the only available promotion place. At the end of the season, he provoked controversy when he signed a contract with Aston Villa, although he was still registered with Southampton. He was ordered by

the Football Association The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...

to re-join Southampton and he continued to give good service until he was transferred to

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

in March 1922. At the time Southampton were leading the

Third Division South The Third Division South of The Football League was a tier in the English football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran in parallel with the Third Division North with clubs elected to the League or relegated from Division Two allocated to on ...

table and their fans were confident of gaining promotion. Manager

shocked them by announcing a four player transfer, with wingers Foxall and

Joe Barratt Josiah Barratt (21 February 1895 – April 1968) was an English professional footballer who played as a winger for various clubs in the 1920s. Playing career Barratt was born in Bulkington, Warwickshire and played his early football with loca ...

moving to Birmingham in exchange for

Jack Elkes Albert John "Jack" Elkes (31 December 1894 – 22 January 1972) was an English professional footballer who played as an inside left for various clubs between the two world wars. Playing career Elkes was born in Snedshill, Oakengates, Shropshi ...

forward Forward is a relative direction, the opposite of backward. Forward may also refer to: People * Forward (surname) Sports * Forward (association football) * Forward (basketball), including: ** Point forward ** Power forward (basketball) ** Sm ...

) and

George Getgood George Getgood (15 November 1892 – 22 July 1970), also known as George Goodman, was a Scottish professional footballer who played as a half-back for various clubs in the 1920s. Playing career Getgood was born in Coylton, Ayrshire. He jo ...

(a half-back). In his three years at The Dell Foxall made 114 appearances in all competitions, scoring 12 goals. Foxall missed only one First Division game for Birmingham in what remained of 1921–22, but illness and injury restricted his first full season with the club to 17 appearances, and he joined

Watford Watford () is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, 15 miles northwest of Central London, on the River Colne. Initially a small market town, the Grand Junction Canal encouraged the construction of paper-making mills, print works, a ...

in June 1923. After 35 appearances for Watford he broke a leg, forcing him to retire completely. He never fully recovered and his death two years later, on 17 June 1926 in

Smethwick Smethwick () is an industrial town in Sandwell, West Midlands, England. It lies west of Birmingham city centre. Historically it was in Staffordshire. In 2019, the ward of Smethwick had an estimated population of 15,246, while the wider bu ...

, was brought about by complications arising from the injury.

Honours

Southampton *

Football League Third Division South The Third Division South of The Football League was a tier in the English football league system from 1921 to 1958. It ran in parallel with the Third Division North with clubs elected to the League or relegated from Division Two allocated to on ...

champions: 1921–22

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foxall, Fred 1898 births 1926 deaths Footballers from Stourbridge English men's footballers Southampton F.C. players Birmingham City F.C. players Watford F.C. players Southern Football League players English Football League players Aston Villa F.C. players Men's association football outside forwards Association football players who died while playing Sport deaths in England