Cecil Christmas
Encyclopedia
Edwin Cecil Russell Christmas (1886 – 7 October 1916) was an English amateur footballer
who played twice for Southampton
in 1912.
in early 1886, he joined Southampton as an amateur in 1908 and made several appearances for the reserve team, but his business career prevented him devoting much time to football. In 1910 he left football to devote himself full-time to his business interests but was persuaded to return to The Dell by reserve team manager George Carter the following year. In March 1912, following the dismissal of first choice centre forward Henry Hamilton
for a serious breach of club discipline, Christmas was drafted into the first team. Despite his "pace and dribbling skills" he was not a success and he returned to the reserves.
Following serious injury, at the end of the 1911–12 season he "gave up trying to make the grade" and ended his football career.
, reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant
. He died in France on 7 October 1916 aged 30, killed in action in the Battle of the Somme, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who played twice for Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1912.
Playing career
Born in SouthamptonSouthampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in early 1886, he joined Southampton as an amateur in 1908 and made several appearances for the reserve team, but his business career prevented him devoting much time to football. In 1910 he left football to devote himself full-time to his business interests but was persuaded to return to The Dell by reserve team manager George Carter the following year. In March 1912, following the dismissal of first choice centre forward Henry Hamilton
Henry Hamilton (footballer)
Henry Gilhespy Hamilton was an English professional footballer who played as a centre forward for various clubs in the 1900s and 1910s.-Playing career:...
for a serious breach of club discipline, Christmas was drafted into the first team. Despite his "pace and dribbling skills" he was not a success and he returned to the reserves.
Following serious injury, at the end of the 1911–12 season he "gave up trying to make the grade" and ended his football career.
After football
During the First World War he enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle CorpsKing's Royal Rifle Corps
The King's Royal Rifle Corps was a British Army infantry regiment, originally raised in colonial North America as the Royal Americans, and recruited from American colonists. Later ranked as the 60th Regiment of Foot, the regiment served for more than 200 years throughout the British Empire...
, reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He died in France on 7 October 1916 aged 30, killed in action in the Battle of the Somme, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.