Bristol City’s most capped player….Billy Wedlock.
Notwithstanding the fact that he played in the days before the stopper centre half was introduced, it is quite remarkable that Billy Wedlock is rated one of England’s greatest centre halves, despite standing only 5′ 5″ tall. Between 1907 and 1914 the modest and gentle Bristolian was capped 26 times, 25 of them in succession and featured, as well, in 403 matches for Bristol City, only ever having one penalty given against him. The local reporter on the ‘Bristol Evening World’ said ” It is easier to imagine Hamlet without The Prince of Denmark, than Bristol City without Billy Wedlock”.
Wedlock was born in North Street, Bedminster, near to the City ground, on 28th. October 1980 and played for local clubs Melrose and Arlington Rovers, whom he helped to two Gloucestershire Junior Cups and the Bristol and District League title. He was spotted by City and signed for them in 1900, but his chances were, at first, restricted and so Billy left to join Aberdare, where he played for four seasons, helping them to reach the Welsh Cup Final and win the South Wales Cup.
He rejoined City in 1905 and won a second division championship medal in his first season back and went on to play in the 1909 Cup Final. Billy played for the Football League X1 three times, for the Professionals against the Amateurs and for Gloucestershire. Because of his build, despite his lack of height he weighed 10st.7 lbs., he was known as ‘Fatty Wedlock’ and his other nick-name of ‘ The India Rubber Man’ owed much to his spring heeled jumping and to his ability to ‘bounce up’ in attack or in defence.
The David Beckham of his day, Fatty was as renowned as was another local sporting “star”, Cricket’s Doctor W. G. Grace. The popular Billy played for City until 1921 when he retired to become landlord of the Star Inn opposite the main entrance to Ashton Gate. He remained there until his death on 25th. January 1965.
The Star Inn was later renamed ‘Wedlocks’ in Billy’s honour and the family
