William Fiske (footballer)
Encyclopedia
William A. Fiske was an English
professional football
goalkeeper. He spent seven years at Blackpool
in the early 1900s, making over 200 Football League appearances for the club.
-born Fiske made his debut for Blackpool mid-way through the 1907–08 league season, in a 2–1 defeat at Lancashire rivals Burnley
on Christmas Day 1907, taking over from Stephen Tillotson
. He went on to appear in the remaining 21 league games of the season, as well as Blackpool's FA Cup
exit game at Manchester United
on 11 January 1908.
The following season, 1908–09, Fiske appeared in all but one of Blackpool's league games, missing only the penultimate game — a single-goal defeat at Gainsborough Trinity
. Tillotson deputised for the 17 April 1909 fixture, after 57 league games on the sidelines.
Fiske achieved his ever-present honour in 1909–10, starting each of Blackpool's 38 league and two FA Cup fixtures. He kept eleven clean sheets in the process.
He looked set to repeat the feat in 1910–11; however, after 33 league games he was omitted from the team, with Jimmy Kidd
taking his place for the five remaining games.
Fiske returned to the team for the start of the 1911–12 campaign, and went on to make 32 appearances in the league.
In 1912–13, his 22 league appearances came in three spells. He played in the first seven games before being dropped in favour of Kidd, who took over for the next eight games. Fiske then returned to the side for six games, only to lose his place to Kidd for eight games. Finally, he regained his place in the team for the remaining nine games.
1913–14 was Fiske's final season with Blackpool. He appeared in 34 of the club's 38 league games, his final one being a 4–1 defeat at Bradford City
in the final game of the season, in front of a crowd of 25,500.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
goalkeeper. He spent seven years at Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
in the early 1900s, making over 200 Football League appearances for the club.
Blackpool
BecclesBeccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
-born Fiske made his debut for Blackpool mid-way through the 1907–08 league season, in a 2–1 defeat at Lancashire rivals Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
on Christmas Day 1907, taking over from Stephen Tillotson
Stephen Tillotson
Stephen Tillotson was an English professional association football player who played as a goalkeeper.-Blackpool:Tillotson made his debut for Blackpool in the opening game of the 1907–08 season, a 1–1 draw at Stockport County on 2 September. He remained in goal for the following sixteen games, of...
. He went on to appear in the remaining 21 league games of the season, as well as Blackpool's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
exit game at Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
on 11 January 1908.
The following season, 1908–09, Fiske appeared in all but one of Blackpool's league games, missing only the penultimate game — a single-goal defeat at Gainsborough Trinity
Gainsborough Trinity F.C.
Gainsborough Trinity Football Club are an English football club based in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.Between 1896 and 1912 they were members of the Football League. They are currently in the Conference North, and play their home matches at The Northolme, which has a capacity of 4,304...
. Tillotson deputised for the 17 April 1909 fixture, after 57 league games on the sidelines.
Fiske achieved his ever-present honour in 1909–10, starting each of Blackpool's 38 league and two FA Cup fixtures. He kept eleven clean sheets in the process.
He looked set to repeat the feat in 1910–11; however, after 33 league games he was omitted from the team, with Jimmy Kidd
Jimmy Kidd
James "Jimmy" Kidd was a footballer who played in the Football League for Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers and Derby County.-Blackpool:...
taking his place for the five remaining games.
Fiske returned to the team for the start of the 1911–12 campaign, and went on to make 32 appearances in the league.
In 1912–13, his 22 league appearances came in three spells. He played in the first seven games before being dropped in favour of Kidd, who took over for the next eight games. Fiske then returned to the side for six games, only to lose his place to Kidd for eight games. Finally, he regained his place in the team for the remaining nine games.
1913–14 was Fiske's final season with Blackpool. He appeared in 34 of the club's 38 league games, his final one being a 4–1 defeat at Bradford City
Bradford City A.F.C.
Bradford City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, playing in League Two....
in the final game of the season, in front of a crowd of 25,500.