Billy 'fatty' Wedlock

[cider head]

Billy 'fatty' wedlock

Despite being only 5ft 5in tall, Billy wedlock was one of the best ever to win a England international

honours, even allowing for the fact that he played in the days before the 'stopper' center half.

Between 1907 and 1914 he was capped 26 times, 25 of them consecutive appearences, yet H.slater stone,

who wrote under the nomme de plume of 'half back' in the Bristol evening times found him modest to the

point of shyness. The Bristol journalist also recalled that Wedlock was a scrupulously fair player who

had only ever had one penalty awarded against him. He wrote: 'it would be infinitely easier to stage

'Hamlet' without the prince of Denmark than imagine Bristol city without Billy wedlock.''

Another leading journalist of the day , jimmy catton, wrote: ''Wedlock was one of the world's wonders

in getting the ball, whether it was in the air or on the turf, being here, there and everywhere,

intervening and doing his work with contemp for fatigue, he dominated many a game.''football league

referee, Rev J.W.Marsh, said Wedlock was ''the finest gentleman i have ever met on a football field.

Wedlock was born in North street, Bedminster, on 28th october 1880 and played for local clubs Melrose,

then Arlington Rovers whom he helped to two Gas countyshire junior cups and the Bristol and District

league title. He first joined Bristol city in 1900 but his chances in those days were restricted and

he left to join Aberdare, staying there four seasons with them and helping to reach the Welsh cup final

and win the South wales cup. He rejoined city in 1905 and won a second division championship medal

in his first full season as well as playing in the 1909 FA cup final. He played for the football league

XI three times, for the professionals vs amateurs, and for Gas countyshire. Because of his build -

he weighed 10st 71bs - he was known as 'fatty wedlock' and his other nickname of 'the india-rubber man'

owed much to his ability to 'bounce up' in attack or defence. He played for city until 1921 when he

retired and became the licensee of the star inn opposite the main enterence to Ashton gate.

(Known to city fans today as the wedlocks) He remained there untill his death on 25th january 1965.