Aspiring young sport stars all have their dreams.
Playing football for Manchester City and representing England would be the ultimate achievement for so many of our young fans.
Tennis players dream of winning at Wimbledon, cricketers of making a century at Lord’s, Olympians of collecting a gold medal, snooker players of hitting a 147 and golfers getting down to scratch.
But for one outstanding sportsman, those all became a reality in possibly the most incredible careers in sporting history.
Max Woosnam, often referred to as the ‘Greatest Sportman’ was a remarkably gifted athlete that became a legendary figure between the two world wars.
He would dazzle across the sporting spectrum although it was in football and at City where he shone brightest.
Woosnam made 94 appearances for the Blues over five seasons, although it would have been more had it not been for so many other commitments.
The centre-back captained City in our first ever game at Maine Road – a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in August 1923.
Also fighting in World War One on the Western Front and in Gallipoli alongside celebrated poet Siegfried Sassoon, and beating Charlie Chaplin at table tennis using only a butter knife, it was an extraordinary life.
Born in Liverpool in September 1892, his sporting potential became clear as a boy at the elite Winchester School, where he boarded hundreds of miles away from his parents.
Older brother Charles was at least in the same school and was an inspiration as a promising cricketer, footballer and tennis player but was quickly overshadowed by his sibling.
Primarily a bowler, Max was called up to play for the Public Schools XI when they faced Marylebone Cricket Club, the guardians of the laws of the game, in a prestigious match at Lord’s.
With his side struggling, he came in to bat at number seven and hit 144 not out at the home of cricket to rescue the game.
Academically adept, from Winchester he went to Trinity College at Cambridge University, whose alumni include four British Prime Ministers and would shortly after be the recruitment base of Soviet spies Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess and Kim Philby.
But Woosnam’s ability was on the fields and courts of the famous university and he won ‘Blues’ in five sports as a representative in football, cricket, tennis, golf and real tennis.
With cricket dependent on the weather and being too timely he moved away from the sport, focusing mostly on football and tennis.
Celebrated amateur side Corinthians asked him to join and, while they were one of the best teams in the world, the club's constitution declared that it should "not compete for any challenge cup or any prize of any description".
They had beaten 1903 FA Cup winners Bury 10-3 and Manchester United 11-3 a couple of years earlier but spent much of their time on overseas tours.
Brazilian giants Corinthians were named in their honour and Woosnam joined a tour to the country in 1914.
But the outbreak of war, saw their boat immediately turn back from South America with every player in the squad signing up to join the army.
Rising to the rank of Lieutenant, it was to be a horrific time with many of his soldiers, former team-mates and elder brother Charles killed and he saw many brutal battles.
When the war finished Woosnam returned to England and played tennis at Wimbledon for the first time in the summer of 1919.
However, having married during his time on leave and wife Edith giving birth to their first daughter Denise, he needed a job to support his amateur sporting achievements.
Engineering company Crossley Brothers offered him a job in Manchester and he moved to the city with the two biggest clubs keen to sign him up.
Woosnam’s reputation was well-known from his time at Corinthians and he had also appeared for Chelsea in 1914, including against City.
With a choice of clubs, he turned to the legendary Wales international Billy Meredith for advice – the first footballing superstar who had played for both City and United.
At the time, Meredith was playing at Old Trafford, but despite that, he advised him to go to the Blues and it was guidance that thankfully he followed.
He made his debut on New Year’s Day in 1920 with Billy ‘Spud’ Murphy scoring in the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Bradford City.
City had a reputation as a quick and exciting team and the sturdy Woosnam at centre-back was what they needed to be stronger in defence.
With him in the side, we won our next four matches conceding just twice as we rose up the league but a shock 3-0 FA Cup defeat to second division Leicester City dampened enthusiasm.
We finished the season in seventh with Woosnam becoming lauded for his passing and movement to knit the team together.
After the final game – a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in front of more than 45,000 at Hyde Road, the tennis season kicked in and the 27-year-old was to have an astonishing summer.
Following Wimbledon, he headed to Belgium for the Antwerp Olympics where he teamed up with Noel Turnbull in the men’s doubles.
He was also asked to play football for Great Britain, but declined due to his tennis commitments, a good decision as they were beaten 3-1 by Norway in the first round.
In the tennis, they beat pairs from Czechoslovakia, Italy and France they reached the final where they beat Japan’s Seiichiro Kashio and Ichiya Kumagae 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 to claim gold.
Later the same day on August 24, he played the final of the mixed doubles with Kitty McKane Godfree although they had to settle for a silver after losing 6-4, 6-2 to French pair Suzanne Lenglen, who would win eight Grand Slams and was the World number one, and eight-time French Championship winner Max Decugis.
Woosnam returned an Olympic hero and something of a sporting superstar with crowds flocking to see him play although he remained modest about the attention.
“I have known time after time when the arrival of Max Woosnam in a town has been regarded as a social function in itself,”
City manager Ernest Magnall said.
“People have swarmed around the team on arrival and have excitedly asked if he were with them.”
Success in tennis had seen him decide to give up football due to the risk of injury, however after missing the start of the season while at the Olympics, the allure of playing quickly changed his mind.
More than 30,000 were ‘officially’ at Hyde Road in September 1920 to see his first game back as City beat Arsenal 3-1.
It was to be the start of an exciting run up the table although leaders Burnley were seemingly running away with the title having remained unbeaten since early September.
City were in fifth place, nine points behind the Clarets when they came to Hyde Road and thousands broke into the stadium to get a glimpse of the game with estimates of up to 60,000 at the tiny venue for the match between the two best sides in the country.
A Tommy Johnson opener and two goals from Horace Barnes saw us win 3-0. However the victory was followed by defeats at Middlesbrough and then at Turf Moor and we eventually finished the season as runners-up, although that was then our highest finish at the time.
Woosnam missed only two games after backing out of retirement and his reputation was gathering pace as a stylish and talented footballer.
After a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, the Daily Mail reported:
“The outstanding feature of the game was the wonderful play of Max Woosnam, the City centre-half, who was by far and away the best player on the field.”
Disappointment at missing out on the league was helped by the restart of the tennis and that began with a Davis Cup victory over Spain and then to the highlight of the summer at Wimbledon.
At the famous All-England Club, he teamed up with Randolph Lycett in the men’s double and they made it to the final where they faced the British brothers Arthur and Gordon Lowe.
It was a one-sided match with Lycett and Woosnam triumphing 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 to add another startling accolade to his career.
Victory also saw him become the Davis Cup captain and he missed the start of the 1921/22 football season as the Great Britain team headed out to the United States.
However, they were beaten 3-2 by Australia in Pittsburgh with Woosnam winning just one of his three matches.
With time to kill before the liner returned to Liverpool, he took in some games of golf as he mastered yet another sport, winning six matches against local players.
It was also when he met Chaplin, the biggest movie star in the world, but they would not become friends as Woosnam humiliated him on the tennis court and again at table tennis.
Back in England, a mixed start saw City pick up just five points from their opening six matches before he played his first game in late September – a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, just after returning from the United States.
His friend Billy Meredith was now back at City and their decisions to pick the Blues were vindicated when United finished the season rock-bottom.
Woosnam scored his first goal in the 6-1 win over West Brom in November and was on target again in a win over Bradford and defeat at Burnley.
In March 1922, he was called up by England to play in the home international against Wales at Anfield.
While he had represented England amateurs twice, it was to be his only appearance for the senior team as they won 1-0.
But the season was to end badly when he suffered a broken leg in the final game of the season against Newcastle.
The injury forced him to miss the summer’s tennis and the following season at City.
Finally recovering from the injury, he returned to captain the Blues at the start of the 1923/24 season beginning with a historic first-ever match at Maine Road.
With Hyde Road too small, the new stadium was built and was to become our home for the next 80 years.
More than 58,000 were at that first game including the Lord Mayor who officially opened the stadium.
But the injury had taken his toll and he would play just four more games with his last appearance on January 17, 1925, scoring in a 5-0 victory over Liverpool.
He continued to play tennis and also appeared for Northwich Victoria while he also became a strong snooker player, hitting numerous century breaks including a maximum.
Born in Liverpool in September 1892, his sporting potential became clear as a boy at the elite Winchester School, where he boarded hundreds of miles away from his parents.
Older brother Charles was at least in the same school and was an inspiration as a promising cricketer, footballer and tennis player but was quickly overshadowed by his sibling.
Primarily a bowler, Max was called up to play for the Public Schools XI when they faced Marylebone Cricket Club, the guardians of the laws of the game, in a prestigious match at Lord’s.
With his side struggling, he came in to bat at number seven and hit 144 not out at the home of cricket to rescue the game.
Academically adept, from Winchester he went to Trinity College at Cambridge University, whose alumni include four British Prime Ministers and would shortly after be the recruitment base of Soviet spies Anthony Blunt, Guy Burgess and Kim Philby.
But Woosnam’s ability was on the fields and courts of the famous university and he won ‘Blues’ in five sports as a representative in football, cricket, tennis, golf and real tennis.
With cricket dependent on the weather and being too timely he moved away from the sport, focusing mostly on football and tennis.
Celebrated amateur side Corinthians asked him to join and, while they were one of the best teams in the world, the club's constitution declared that it should "not compete for any challenge cup or any prize of any description".
They had beaten 1903 FA Cup winners Bury 10-3 and Manchester United 11-3 a couple of years earlier but spent much of their time on overseas tours.
Brazilian giants Corinthians were named in their honour and Woosnam joined a tour to the country in 1914.
But the outbreak of war, saw their boat immediately turn back from South America with every player in the squad signing up to join the army.
Rising to the rank of Lieutenant, it was to be a horrific time with many of his soldiers, former team-mates and elder brother Charles killed and he saw many brutal battles.
When the war finished Woosnam returned to England and played tennis at Wimbledon for the first time in the summer of 1919.
However, having married during his time on leave and wife Edith giving birth to their first daughter Denise, he needed a job to support his amateur sporting achievements.
Engineering company Crossley Brothers offered him a job in Manchester and he moved to the city with the two biggest clubs keen to sign him up.
Woosnam’s reputation was well-known from his time at Corinthians and he had also appeared for Chelsea in 1914, including against City.
With a choice of clubs, he turned to the legendary Wales international Billy Meredith for advice – the first footballing superstar who had played for both City and United.
At the time, Meredith was playing at Old Trafford, but despite that, he advised him to go to the Blues and it was guidance that thankfully he followed.
He made his debut on New Year’s Day in 1920 with Billy ‘Spud’ Murphy scoring in the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Bradford City.
City had a reputation as a quick and exciting team and the sturdy Woosnam at centre-back was what they needed to be stronger in defence.
With him in the side, we won our next four matches conceding just twice as we rose up the league but a shock 3-0 FA Cup defeat to second division Leicester City dampened enthusiasm.
We finished the season in seventh with Woosnam becoming lauded for his passing and movement to knit the team together.
After the final game – a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in front of more than 45,000 at Hyde Road, the tennis season kicked in and the 27-year-old was to have an astonishing summer.
Following Wimbledon, he headed to Belgium for the Antwerp Olympics where he teamed up with Noel Turnbull in the men’s doubles.
He was also asked to play football for Great Britain, but declined due to his tennis commitments, a good decision as they were beaten 3-1 by Norway in the first round.
In the tennis, they beat pairs from Czechoslovakia, Italy and France they reached the final where they beat Japan’s Seiichiro Kashio and Ichiya Kumagae 6-2, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 to claim gold.
Later the same day on August 24, he played the final of the mixed doubles with Kitty McKane Godfree although they had to settle for a silver after losing 6-4, 6-2 to French pair Suzanne Lenglen, who would win eight Grand Slams and was the World number one, and eight-time French Championship winner Max Decugis.
Woosnam returned an Olympic hero and something of a sporting superstar with crowds flocking to see him play although he remained modest about the attention.
“I have known time after time when the arrival of Max Woosnam in a town has been regarded as a social function in itself,”
City manager Ernest Magnall said.
“People have swarmed around the team on arrival and have excitedly asked if he were with them.”
Success in tennis had seen him decide to give up football due to the risk of injury, however after missing the start of the season while at the Olympics, the allure of playing quickly changed his mind.
More than 30,000 were ‘officially’ at Hyde Road in September 1920 to see his first game back as City beat Arsenal 3-1.
It was to be the start of an exciting run up the table although leaders Burnley were seemingly running away with the title having remained unbeaten since early September.
City were in fifth place, nine points behind the Clarets when they came to Hyde Road and thousands broke into the stadium to get a glimpse of the game with estimates of up to 60,000 at the tiny venue for the match between the two best sides in the country.
A Tommy Johnson opener and two goals from Horace Barnes saw us win 3-0. However the victory was followed by defeats at Middlesbrough and then at Turf Moor and we eventually finished the season as runners-up, although that was then our highest finish at the time.
Woosnam missed only two games after backing out of retirement and his reputation was gathering pace as a stylish and talented footballer.
After a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, the Daily Mail reported:
“The outstanding feature of the game was the wonderful play of Max Woosnam, the City centre-half, who was by far and away the best player on the field.”
Disappointment at missing out on the league was helped by the restart of the tennis and that began with a Davis Cup victory over Spain and then to the highlight of the summer at Wimbledon.
At the famous All-England Club, he teamed up with Randolph Lycett in the men’s double and they made it to the final where they faced the British brothers Arthur and Gordon Lowe.
It was a one-sided match with Lycett and Woosnam triumphing 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 to add another startling accolade to his career.
Victory also saw him become the Davis Cup captain and he missed the start of the 1921/22 football season as the Great Britain team headed out to the United States.
However, they were beaten 3-2 by Australia in Pittsburgh with Woosnam winning just one of his three matches.
With time to kill before the liner returned to Liverpool, he took in some games of golf as he mastered yet another sport, winning six matches against local players.
It was also when he met Chaplin, the biggest movie star in the world, but they would not become friends as Woosnam humiliated him on the tennis court and again at table tennis.
Back in England, a mixed start saw City pick up just five points from their opening six matches before he played his first game in late September – a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers, just after returning from the United States.
His friend Billy Meredith was now back at City and their decisions to pick the Blues were vindicated when United finished the season rock-bottom.
Woosnam scored his first goal in the 6-1 win over West Brom in November and was on target again in a win over Bradford and defeat at Burnley.
In March 1922, he was called up by England to play in the home international against Wales at Anfield.
While he had represented England amateurs twice, it was to be his only appearance for the senior team as they won 1-0.
But the season was to end badly when he suffered a broken leg in the final game of the season against Newcastle.
The injury forced him to miss the summer’s tennis and the following season at City.
Finally recovering from the injury, he returned to captain the Blues at the start of the 1923/24 season beginning with a historic first-ever match at Maine Road.
With Hyde Road too small, the new stadium was built and was to become our home for the next 80 years.
More than 58,000 were at that first game including the Lord Mayor who officially opened the stadium.
But the injury had taken his toll and he would play just four more games with his last appearance on January 17, 1925, scoring in a 5-0 victory over Liverpool.
He continued to play tennis and also appeared for Northwich Victoria while he also became a strong snooker player, hitting numerous century breaks including a maximum.
Max passed away in 1965, at the age of 73 as one of the greatest in sporting history.
It’s not uncommon for sportspeople to be very good at various disciplines.
Norway’s handball manager wanted Erling Haaland to join up with the squad while as a teenager, Joe Hart had to choose between cricket and football.
Occasionally there’s an opportunity for cameos in other sports – former City striker Clive Allen was a kicker for American Football team London Monarchs.
But the demands of the modern game means that we will never see a career like that again.
Max Woosnam will be remembered as one of the greatest sportsman ever.
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