Sporting Accident - Burial at Windleshaw Chantry

​Saturday November 19th 1887 

Shocking Fatality at a Football Match

Quite a gloom has passed over local football circles by a sad accident which happened to William Edward Taylor a member of the "A" team St Helens Recreation Football Club on Saturday afternoon, and which unfortunately he had a fatal termination.

Accounts differ as to how the unfortunate young man came to his injuries; but it appears he had played through the first half of the game and about a quarter of an hour from the call of time the ball was rushed up to the Recreation teams goal line. Taylor ran out to meet the rush, caught the ball and saved. In doing so, he must have got kicked or fell heavily on the back of his head; the latter from the nature of this injuries, being most likely

It was not noticed at the time that he was injured. He immediately got up and passed the ball to another player, and then fell down in a half unconscious state. He was carried to the pavilion, where he was seen by Dr F Knowles, and after some time, he ordered his removal to his home, 102 Croppers Hill. He was conveyed to this residence on a stretcher, and although Dr H and F Knowles were assiduous in their attention to him, he never regained consciousness, but succumbed to his injuries about seven o'clock on Sunday evening. Dr Knowles gives the cause of death as congestion of the brain, consequent upon concussion of the brain resulting from violet shock. Deceased was a clerk at Messrs Pilkington Bros, Ravenhead Glassworks.

INQUEST

On Tuesday morning Mr S Brighouse, County Coroner, held an inquest on the body at the Town Hall, Henry Taylor stated that William Henry Taylor was his son, and lived at 102 Croppers Hill. He was a clerk and was 27 years of age. He last saw him before he was injured at three o'clock on Saturday afternoon. He knew he was going to play football. He belonged to the St Helens Recreational Football club. At half past six he was told his son was injured; he saw him when he was at the football ground. He as unconscious and remained so up to the time of his death, which occurred at eleven o'clock on Sunday night His son was never able to tell him anything that had taken place.

William Carlow of 16 Kirkland Street stated that on Saturday he was at the Recreation Ground, Boundary Lane, watching the match between the St Helens Recreation "A" team and Widnes "B" team, playing under Rugby rules. During the game he saw the deceased; who was playing for the Recreation team; he was playing three quarters back. The ball was played towards him. He followed up, and just as he was going to kick it, one of the Widnes men caught him by the collar of the jersey, and just as he did so gave a good kick. He fell onto his back. The other player left him, and he got up and commenced to rub his head. 

He kept playing on seven or eight minutes when he stepped back and spoke to the full back and then lay down on the ground as if to rest.

 Witnesses saw Police Constable Millett go to him, and list his left leg, which dropped as if useless. Police Constable Millett gave a signal, and he was taken to the pavilion, where he was carefully laid on a bed of coats. He applied cold water bandages to his head. Dr Knowles was sent for and attended to him. It would be between seven and half past seven when he was carried to his home. He was unconscious all the time. So far as his knowledge went, nothing was done except that was according to the rules of the rugby game.

  and fell back unconscious. He had him conveyed to the pavilion when he instructed then to apply cold water bandages to his head, and Dr Knowles afterwards saw him.
By the Coroner – He was a member of St John Ambulance Association. Dr Knowles said he was call to the deceased on Saturday. He found him in a totally unconscious state, suffering from severe laceration to the brain substance, He said his brother Dr H Knowles paid several visits to him.

He thought it would be most likely that his injuries would be brought on by a backward fall. There were no bruise externally. He was not kicked. James Taylor, brother of the deceased, said he should like to know how his ankle was out of joint.
Dr Knowles said that could have easily been done by falling.
Mr Taylor said that he fell he got up and played, and he could not see how he could do that if it was broken.
Dr Knowles said he had serious doubts it was broken.
Mr Taylor said he did not mean broken; out of joint.
Dr Knowles said a man might play if his ankle was twisted. He had noticed a slight swelling of the ankle, but he thought it was done at some former time.
The Coroner then addressed the jury. He said they had all the evidence before them. It was a question of fact, and it rested entirely on them to find the verdict from the evidence before them. Perhaps they understood a great deal more about football then he did, but he understood the game, players could either play by the Rugby rules or the Association rules, and if he was informed aright and understood aright in the Rugby game the players could get hold of the ball and also get hold of each other, and that showed very clearly that the Rugby rules were very dangerous rules to play under indeed. Then, he understood under Association rules, the players could not take hold of the ball, except the goal-keeper. 

They could not take hold of one another, but only shoulder one another and shove them away with their bodies; and it must be admitted on all hands that these rules must be safer to play under. (Hear, hear). So far as the legal point was concerned it came to this. The man had received injuries, and did the man caused him to receive those injuries do anything beyond what was allowed by the rules of the game? If he did not he came by this death through misadventure or accident, but if he did anything that was not allowed by the rules of the game the enquiry must be adjourned so that the man who did it could be brought there.

The jury retired and after an absence of a few minutes, returned and the foreman stated that they agreed that deceased came by his death accidentally. 

The remains of the deceased were interred at Windleshaw Abbey, on Wednesday afternoon. The funeral procession, which started from the last residence of the deceased, at about half past two, was in the following order:- Forty members of the Lowe House Senior Boys Guild, wearing regalia, to which was affixed a black velvet cross, nearly thirty members of the Lowe House Men's Guild, of which deceased was a member, also wearing regalia; the clerks form the department at Messrs Pilkington's offices in which the deceased was employed; members of the St Helens Recreation Football Club, accompanied by Mr Dickinson, treasurer of the Club. The St Helens Football Club, and the Widnes Football Club were represented. Mr Parry, Secretary of the West Lancashire Rugby Union was present. The above proceeded the hearse. Following the hearse there were four coaches containing relatives and friends of the deceased. The funeral procession was watched by a large number of people, and a still larger number assembled at the cemetery among those present being representatives of mostly all the football clubs in the district. The ….. by the Rev. Fr Mordaunt, Rector of Lowe House Church, assisted by the Rev Frs Kenny and Dobson. The coffin, which was completely covered by wreaths and floral crosses which had been sent by relatives and friends of the deceased, and various football clubs, and then conveyed by members of the Lowe House Men's Guild to Windleshaw Abbey ground where the burial service was given by the Rev Fr Mordaunt, and led by the Rev Fr J Kenny. The silence of the last assemblage was most impressive, as the remains were laid in the grave.