William Arthur Wragg[1] (1875 – after 1904) was an English professional footballer who made 119 appearances in the Football League playing for Nottingham Forest, Leicester Fosse, Small Heath and Chesterfield Town.[2]

Willie Wragg
Personal information
Full name William Arthur Wragg
Date of birth 1875
Place of birth Radford, England
Position(s) Wing half / Full back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Notts Olympic
Sutton-in-Ashfield
Newstead Byron
Hucknall Portland
1896–1899 Nottingham Forest 48 (1)
1899–1901 Leicester Fosse 50 (4)
1901 Small Heath 1 (0)
1901–1902 Watford
1902–1903 Hinckley Town
1903–1904 Chesterfield Town 20 (0)
Accrington Stanley
Doncaster Rovers
1905–1906 Brighton & Hove Albion 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Wragg was born in Radford, Nottinghamshire.

Nottingham Forest

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He played local football before joining Nottingham Forest in April 1896. Wragg made his debut on 28 November 1896 at home against Liverpool.[3] In the early part of his career he played at wing half, and from this position he created Forest's first goal in the 1898 FA Cup Final.[4] From his free kick from the left near the by-line, the ball came to Arthur Capes who shot through a crowd of defenders. Wragg later aggravated a first-half injury and had to move out to the wing, unable to take much further part in the game.[5] He made 58 appearances in all competitions for Forest.[1] He scored his only goal for Nottingham Forest on 2 October 1897 in the 1–1 draw at home against Sunderland.[3]

Leicester Fosse

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After three years he joined Leicester Fosse, where he spent two seasons, made 50 appearances in the Second Division playing at full back, and became the club's free kick specialist.[2][4]

Later career

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A move to Small Heath brought him just the one first-team appearance because of the form of George Adey. In August 1901 he joined Southern League club Watford, and a year later moved to Hinckley Town of the Midland League.[4] He returned to the Football League to play 20 Second Division games for Chesterfield Town, and then went back to non-league football with Accrington Stanley, Doncaster Rovers[2] and Brighton & Hove Albion.[6]

Post Football

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Wragg appeared on stage with Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin.[7]

Career statistics

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Club Season League FA Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Nottingham Forest[3] 1896-97 First Division 12 0 4 0 16 0
1897-98 First Division 24 1 6 0 30 1
1898-99 First Division 12 0 0 0 12 0
Total 48 1 10 0 58 1
Leicester Fosse'[8] 1898-99 Second Division 4 0 0 0 4 0
1899–1900 Second Division 34 5 1 0 35 1
1900-01 Second Division 11 0 0 0 11 0
Total 50 5 1 0 51 5
Small Heath 1900-01 Second Division 1 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 1 0
Chesterfield Town 1903-04 Second Division 20 0
Total 20 0
Career total 119 5

Honours

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Nottingham Forest

References

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  1. ^ a b "Player Profile William Arthur Wragg". u-reds.com. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  2. ^ a b c Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: SoccerData (Tony Brown). p. 288. ISBN 978-1-899468-67-6.
  3. ^ a b c d Smales, Ken (2006). Nottingham Forest The Official Statistical History. Pineapple Books.
  4. ^ a b c Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  5. ^ "1898". FA Cup Finals. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
  6. ^ Carder, Tim; Harris, Roger (1997). Albion A–Z: A Who's Who of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Hove: Goldstone Books. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-9521337-1-1.
  7. ^ Stephen Byrne, Mike Jay (15 August 2014). Bristol Rovers: The Official Definitive History. Amberley Publishing Limited.
  8. ^ "Billy Wragg". FoxesTalk. Retrieved 5 August 2020.