Max Woosnam-Greatest ever sportsman?

[pride in battle]

I have just read his biography.
Captain of Manchester City and England
Wimbledon Champion
Olympic tennis gold medallist
Davis cup captain
Hit a century at Lords
Top class golfer
Hit 147 at snooker
Amazing,so greatest ever sportsman? City should honour him in some way.
I presume Gary James will have some more info.

 

[Ricster]

I have just read his biography.
Captain of Manchester City and England
Wimbledon Champion
Olympic tennis gold medallist
Davis cup captain
Hit a century at Lords
Top class golfer
Hit 147 at snooker
Amazing,so greatest ever sportsman? City should honour him in some way.
I presume Gary James will have some more info.

I thought he was Welsh.

Very good golfer indeed

 

[gio's side step]

Shamed to say, I've never heard of him. Just looked him up, and he does appear to be something rather extra-ordinary

 

[Gary James]

Max Woosnam was an outstanding English Sportsman. His record was phenomenal. From a pure City viewpoint, he was so highly thought of that City gave him the honour of captaining City in the first game at Maine Road.

There are loads of stories about him and his achievements. It's worth pointing out that he was an amateur and so did not receive any money (other than basic expenses) for playing for the Blues.

After his City career came to an end, though, he wasn't particularly liked by the average Mancunian because he broke the 1926 General Strike (driving buses if my memory is right). Some Mancs went to his house to abuse him and his family, but I think this says more for the state of the Country at the time and the difficulties ordinary Mancs faced.

That strike-breaking side of him should not detract from the fantastic sporting achievements of his life.

Over time I think Mancs started to forget about the issues of 1926.

I would strongly urge any one with an interest in City's former players to read the biography of him "All Round Genius" (By Mick Collins).

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

The book is a great read and something inside me tells me one day we may see a film, though personally i'd hate to see hollywood gloss over a truly remarkable man and story

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

I have just read his biography.
Captain of Manchester City and England
Wimbledon Champion
Olympic tennis gold medallist
Davis cup captain
Hit a century at Lords
Top class golfer
Hit 147 at snooker
Amazing,so greatest ever sportsman? City should honour him in some way.
I presume Gary James will have some more info.

Brilliant book and a brilliant man.

 

[happy]

I always thought CB Fry was a great all rounder but our Max knocks him into a cocked hat.

I'll certainly keep an eye out for the book.

 

[dannybcity]

I'm always telling people about him and I reckon they think I'm exaggerating.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

That book's a cracking read. Forget about the buses and 1926 - what we should remember is that we beat United 6-1, didn't we?

 

[Swiss Tony]

I always thought CB Fry was a great all rounder but our Max knocks him into a cocked hat.

I'll certainly keep an eye out for the book.

Interestingly I read an article in the Sky magazine last night that had Max as number 2 and CB Fry as number 1...
Cricket
He scored 96 first class centuries including 6 in a row, a record that still stands
He twice took 10 wickets in a match
He scored 258 runs not out in one match
Athletics
Equalled the world record for long jump
Won the 100 yards in the worlds first international match
Football
Played for England
runners up in the FA Cup With Southampton
Also played for Portsmouth
Rugby
Played for Oxford Uni and the Barbarians
Party Piece...
From a standing position, used to back flip on to a mantle piece, something he could still do in his 70's!