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West Ham United
Fred Griffiths
 | Born: Presteigne, Wales, 1876 Signed: 1902 (Tottenham Hotspur) Position: Goalkeeper Appearances: 52 Goals: 0 Left: 1904 (New Brompton) |
Fred Griffiths played for South Shore who amalgamated with Blackpool in 1899. Griffiths, 6ft 2ins and 15 stone, was one of the largest goalkeepers in football. He was also one of the best and in 1900 played for Wales against both Scotland and England. Griffiths was the first Blackpool player to win an international cap. Griffiths also had spells with Millwall, Preston North End and Tottenham Hotspur before joining West Ham in 1902. On 27th September, West Ham lost 5-1 to Wellingborough Town. As a result, Griffiths replaced William Biggar as the club's first-team keeper. He held the position for the next two seasons. Griffiths kept 13 clean sheets in 48 league appearances. Griffiths joined New Brompton in 1904 and was replaced by another international goalkeeper, Matt Kingsley from Newcastle. He joined Middlesex in 1906 and eventually became a coalminer at Shirebrook. He also trained the local football team before joining the British Army during the First World War. Griffiths was killed on the Western Front on 30th October, 1917. |
