{"product_id":"diamond-fred-the-fred-wheldon-story","title":"Diamond Fred: The Fred Wheldon Story","description":"\u003cp\u003eFred Wheldon was an outstanding inside forward of the 1890s.  He was an English internationalist who scored a hat-trick on his international debut and was in the Aston Villa team that achieved the League\/FA Cup \"double\" in the 1896-97 season.  He started his top-flight career with Small Heath (todayÕs Birmingham City) and finished it with West Bromwich Albion.  He was also an accomplished cricketer who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club as they earned elevation to the First Class County Championship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book tells FredÕs story from being born into a sporting family in the Black Country where playing for local teams he displayed early talent at both sports.  This brought him to the attention of top clubs and he successfully combined professional careers in both games.  While his football career was winding down it took him to two clubs outside the Midlands.  Worcestershire almost lost him when while at Portsmouth FC he gained a residential qualification for Hampshire.  His home county had an interesting plan that successfully retained his services.  When he made the city of Worcester his home he became the first professional player at the fledging Worcester City FC as he continued his cricket career and embarked on a new adventure as a licensee of a public house.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs well as telling Fred's story, the authors set out to answer five questions  Ð what was his date of birth, how many goals did he score in the 1897 Cup Final, did he play cricket for Carmarthenshire, at which Farriers Arms in Worcester was he the landlord and how did he acquire the nickname ÒDiamondÓ?  They were able to answer them all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFredÕ story includes a mix of high achievement, incidents, high jinx and sadly family tragedy.  It also includes an extensive statistical summary and many photographs and images.  The foreword is written by Jim Cumbes who 80 years later as a dual professional sportsman followed in FredÕs footsteps at West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Worcester City and Worcestershire., football, cricket, , Douglas Gorman|  | 82PAGES\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Douglas Gorman","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46768476815521,"sku":"TOPSELL195","price":32.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0462\/1120\/3233\/files\/2m4gr8w-front-shortedge-384.jpg?v=1785210027","url":"https:\/\/bookswholesale.myshopify.com\/products\/diamond-fred-the-fred-wheldon-story","provider":"BooksWholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}