Freddie Wheatcroft
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Frederick George Wheatcroft | ||
| Date of birth | 1882 | ||
| Place of birth | Alfreton, Derbyshire, England | ||
| Date of death | 1917 | ||
| Place of death | Bourlon, France | ||
| Playing position | Centre Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| Alfreton Town | |||
| 1903-1904 | Derby County | 4 | (3) |
| 1904-1905 | Swindon Town | 14 | (5) |
| 1905 | Derby County | 1 | (1) |
| 1905–1906 | Swindon Town | 19 | (4) |
| 1906 | Fulham | ||
| 1906-1908 | Derby County | 20 | (4) |
| 1908-1909 | Reading | ||
| 1909–1917 | Swindon Town | 183 | (77) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Lt. Freddie Wheatcroft (1882–1917), was a former amateur and professional football player who played during the first quarter of the 20th century. During his career he played for the original Alfreton Town, Derby County, Fulham, Reading but is best remembered for his spells at Swindon Town.
Derby County
Frederick G. Wheatcroft was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire in 1882. He started his football career with his hometown club, the original Alfreton Town club before moving to Division One side Derby County in 1903.
The centre forward found opportunities within the first team limited mainly due to the prolific goalscoring exploits of Steve Bloomer. In 1904 he joined Swindon Town as an amateur but soon rejoined Derby County before venturing to Wiltshire again in 1905.
After a brief spell with Fulham Wheatcroft returned to County for his final spell where he clocked up 20 appearances, scoring 4 goals.
Swindon Town
Wheatcroft left Derby for Berkshire outfit Reading but soon returned to Swindon Town in 1909. It was during this spell that Freddie Wheatcroft enjoyed his longest spell and best work as a footballer. He scored 22 times in 33 appearances throughout the 1909/10 campaign. He was considered a key figure alongside Swindon Town legends Harold Fleming and Archie Bown.
His career was halted by the outbreak of the First World War.
The Great War
Like many other British males, Wheatcroft answered his nations call and enlisted to fight during World War I. Wheatcroft, who was still a football player with Swindon Town became a Lieutenant during the conflict but was killed in action in Bourlon in November 1917.