Clubs played for: Corinthian, Southampton, Portsmouth (1891-1903)
Born: 1872
Birthplace: Croydon
Position:
Biography: The story of C.B. Fry sounds almost unbelievable and better suited to a TV drama series than a book about former footballers. He lived in the early 1900's and earns his place on the pages by virtue of three games in a Pompey shirt, the third of which was due to be his last ever match due to injury. Apart from his brief footballing career, he was also a sportsman, politician, diplomat, academic, teacher, writer, editor and publisher, and first class cricketer. He played for both the England international football and cricket sides, played in an FA Cup final for Southampton and equalled the world record for the long jump. If that was not enough he also stood as an independent candidate in the General Election and was reputedly offered the chance to take over the throne in Albania. He later launched and edited two magazines for boys, C.B. Fry's Magazine and The Captain, and then started a career in broadcasting. In the late 1920s, he had a breakdown and became paranoid. For the rest of his life, he dressed in bizarrely unconventional clothes and was occasionally seen running stark naked down Brighton Beach. This remarkable man died on 7th September 1956 aged 84.
Do you have any interesting, happy, or humorous memories of Charles?
If so, please let us know and we will be happy to share them with the world!