1. Maxwell "Max" Woosnam was a British sportsman who is sometimes referred to as the 'Greatest British sportsman' in recognition of his achievements.
22 Facts About Max Woosnam
1. 2.
Max Woosnam was born in Liverpool, the son of Maxwell Woosnam, a clergyman who served as canon of Chester and Archdeacon of Macclesfield, and his wife Mary Seeley, daughter of Hilton Philipson.
3.
The Woosnam family were landed gentry, of Cefnllysgwynne, Brecknockshire, Wales, originally of Montgomeryshire.
4.
Max Woosnam spent most of his childhood in Aberhafesp, Mid Wales.
5.
Max Woosnam attended Winchester College, where he captained the golf and cricket teams, and represented the school at football and squash.
6.
In 1911, Max Woosnam went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, representing Cambridge University at football, cricket, lawn tennis, real tennis and golf, becoming a quadruple Blue.
7.
Max Woosnam took part in a number of wartime sporting events, including football matches between a team of enlisted Corinthians players and Aldershot Command, and a Military vs Queen's Club tennis match.
8.
Straight from his University years, Max Woosnam was chosen to travel on the Corinthians tour of Brazil in the summer of 1913.
9.
Max Woosnam remained with Corinthian for five years, as well as making a handful of appearances for Chelsea.
10.
Max Woosnam was a finalist in the 1919 All England Plate tournament, a tennis competition held at the Wimbledon Championships, consisting of players who were defeated in the first or second rounds of the singles competition.
11.
Once the football season finished, Max Woosnam took part in several tennis tournaments.
12.
Max Woosnam won both the singles and doubles titles in the Cambridge University tournament, and entered Wimbledon for the first time.
13.
Max Woosnam declined the opportunity to become a professional sportsman, finding the idea 'vulgar'.
14.
Max Woosnam made his debut on 1 January 1920 against Bradford City, a match that saw the debut of Sam Cookson.
15.
Max Woosnam was selected to captain the British football team at the Olympics, but refused, having already committed himself to the tennis team.
16.
Max Woosnam continued other sporting endeavours outside of football however, winning doubles titles at Wimbledon and the Olympics, and captaining the Great Britain Davis Cup team.
17.
Max Woosnam had been working for chemical company ICI in Winnington, Northwich, and, while still being on Manchester City's books, he played for Winnington Park and then for Northwich Victoria in the Cheshire County League.
18.
Max Woosnam sometimes captained the side, before ending his football career in February 1926 due to injuries and other commitments.
19.
Max Woosnam was appointed to the board of ICI, and died in 1965 of respiratory failure, having been a heavy smoker all his life.
20.
Max Woosnam's uncle, Hylton Philipson, was a cricketer and played five Test matches for England.
21.
Max Woosnam once defeated actor and film director Charlie Chaplin at table tennis, playing with a butter knife instead of a bat.
22.
Woosnam had three children: Denise Woosnam who was engaged to Peter Pease, and a friend of Richard Hillary ; Max, and Penny.