Francis Sparks was an international footballer who represented England 3 times scoring 3 goals. His first cap was against Scotland on 5th April 1879 at 23 years old, and his last was vs Wales on 15th March 1880 aged 24. Sparks, born on 4th July 1855, in North Benfleet, Essex, has a FA Legacy Number of 68 and played as a Centre Forward for his country.
Francis Sparks - 3 caps (3 goals)
- Full Name: Francis John Sparks
- Born: 4th July 1855, North Benfleet, Essex
- Died: 13th February 1934, Romford, Essex aged 78
- England Career: 1879 - 1880
- Positions whilst with England: Centre Forward
- Clubs (and caps) whilst with England: Herts Rangers (1) & Clapham Rovers (2)
- FA Legacy Number: 68
- Captain in his third cap and lead by example by scoring two goals versus Wales. The following month he was a FA Cup winner with Clapham Rovers. He had also played for Upton Park, Hertfordshire Rangers and Wanderers. He was on the FA Committee from 1876-80. He was a clerk at a City of London merchant's office after he left school in 1874 and a coal traveller by 1901.
England Career Statistics
- Debut: v
Scotland (FR) on 5th April 1879 aged 23 years, 9 months, 1 day - Last Cap: v
Wales (FR) on 15th March 1880 aged 24 years, 8 months, 11 day - First Goal: v Scotland (FR) on 13th March 1880 aged 24 years, 8 months, 9 days
- First Captaincy: v Wales (FR) on 15th March 1880 aged 24 years, 8 months, 11 day
- Career Length: 345 days
- Starts: 3
- Substitute:
0 - Withdrawn:
0 - Full Games: 3
England Match Statistics
- Match Type
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- FriendlyFR
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 0
- 0
- Competitive
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 0
- Home, Away or Neutral
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Home
- 1
- 0
- 0
- 0
- 0
- Away
- 2
- 3
- 1
- 0
- 0
- Match Result
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Won
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 0
- 0
- Lost
- 1
- 1
- 0
- 0
- 0
- Playing Positions
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
- Centre Forward
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 0
- 0
- Total
- 3
- 3
- 1
- 0
- 0
England Managers
- Manager
- Caps
- Goals
- Capt
England Committee- 3
- 3
- 1
- 0
- 0
England Team Mates (Top 10)
- Billy Mosforth
- 3 Matches
- Norman Bailey
- 2 Matches
- Charlie Bambridge
- 2 Matches
- Edwin Luntley
- 2 Matches
- Jack Hunter
- 2 Matches
- William Brindle
- 2 Matches
- Reg Birkett
- 1 Match
- Arthur Goodyer
- 1 Match
- Arnold Hills
- 1 Match
- Harold Morse
- 1 Match
Sources
- An English Football Internationals' Who's Who by Douglas Lamming (Hutton Press 1990)
- The Early FA Cup Finals by Keith Warsop (SoccerData 2004) p 125.
- England's Who's Who by Tony Matthews (Pitch Publishing 2013)
- 13 sources from 3 matchesSelect from match list to see sources.
Match List
- WAL, 3 - 2, 15th Mar 1880 (FR)
Clapham Rovers, Cap: 3.
Age: 24 years, 8 months, 11 day. - SCO, 4 - 5, 13th Mar 1880 (FR) Clapham Rovers, Cap: 2.
Age: 24 years, 8 months, 9 days. - SCO, 5 - 4, 5th Apr 1879 (FR) Herts Rangers, Cap: 1.
Age: 23 years, 9 months, 1 day. - * Match was concluded via extra time, penalties or both.