John Speare Tosswill (6 August 1890 – 28 September 1915), sometimes known as Jack Tosswill,[4] was an English professional footballer who played as an inside right in the Football League for Liverpool.[1][3][5] His partial deafness "used to cause some curious happenings in football matches, for he was not able to hear the referee's signal and oftimes was seen to proceed to score goals while the crowd and other players were waiting to take a free kick!".[6] Tosswill also played cricket for Eastbourne.[7]

John Tosswill
Personal information
Full name John Speare Tosswill[1]
Date of birth 6 August 1890
Place of birth Eastbourne, England
Date of death 28 September 1915(1915-09-28) (aged 25)[2]
Place of death Eastbourne, England[3]
Position(s) Inside right
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1906–1907 Eastbourne
1907–1908 Hastings & St Leonards United 4 (4)
1908–1909 Aberdare Town
1909–1910 Tunbridge Wells Rangers
1910–1911 Maidstone United
1911–1912 Queens Park Rangers 3 (1)
1912–1913 Liverpool 11 (1)
1913 Southend United
1913–1914 Coventry City 17 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Personal life

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Tosswill was partially deaf.[6] He enlisted as a corporal in the Royal Engineers soon after Britain's entry into the First World War in August 1914.[6] Before he could serve overseas, an illness suffered while stationed in Southampton led to Tosswill returning to Eastbourne.[7] He died on 28 September 1915,[2] following an operation at Eastbourne Military Hospital.[3][6][8] Tosswill was buried in Ocklynge Cemetery, Eastbourne.[2]

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Queens Park Rangers 1911–12[9] Southern League First Division 3 1 3 1
Liverpool 1912–13[10] First Division 11 1 0 0 11 1
Coventry City 1913–14[10] Southern League Second Division 17 1 0 0 17 1
Career total 31 3 0 0 31 3

References

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  1. ^ a b Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 290. ISBN 978-1905891610.
  2. ^ a b c "Casualty Details". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Tosswill John Queen's Park Rangers 1911". Vintage Footballers. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  4. ^ "The Original Blue Army" (PDF). p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Hastings & St Leonards United - 1908-1909 Season". www.hastingsfootballhistory.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Hornby, Mark (4 August 2014). "Coventry City remembers the former players who served during the First World War". www.ccfc.co.uk. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b Gordon, Kevin (15 June 2018). Secret Eastbourne. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-7703-3.
  8. ^ "John Speare Tosswill | Service Record". Football and the First World War. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Seasonal Stats – Files – 1911–12". QPRnet. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  10. ^ a b "John Tosswill". 11v11.com. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
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