The gifted all-rounder who led the way for Harry

EVEN if Harry Kane fulfils his ambition of becoming an NFL kicker one day, he would do well to match England’s first captain Cuthbert Ottaway for all-round sporting pedigree.

Ottaway played first-class cricket with and against the legendary WG Grace and was regarded as one of the finest batsmen in the country. He became one of the first sportsmen to tour North America, represented Oxford University in athletics, real tennis and rackets and embraced the new sport of association football to become its first on-pitch leader.

He skippered England in their first official international, against Scotland in November 1872, and later appeared in three FA Cup finals, lifting the trophy as captain in 1874 when Oxford University defeated Royal Engineers 2-0.

Ottaway’s action-packed life marked him down as the original Boy’s Own comic book hero before he was tragically killed by pneumonia aged 27.

Like many elite sportsmen of the era, he had a privileged upbringing and his sporting talent quickly became apparent as he graduated from Eton and Oxford University. He was still a student when he made his debut for Kent against the MCC — and was bowled for a duck by Grace.

The pair later became batting partners in the summer of 1872 when a Gentlemen of England cricket team toured Canada and the United States. On his return, Ottaway discovered that the new sport of association football was emerging as a major rival to cricket.

In 1872, the popularity of football forced the creation of governing bodies to lay down a common set of rules. They were sufficient for the associations of England and Scotland to announce a formal match to be held on November 30 at the West of Scotland cricket ground in Partick, Glasgow.

Ottaway was regarded as a master dribbler and an obvious pick for the team. Though only 22, he was also given the captaincy when the most likely choice, Charles Alcock, was injured.

Tickets for spectators cost one shilling and a number of the England players had travelled up on the overnight train from London in time for the 2pm kick-off, which was delayed by 20 minutes to allow fog to clear.

The estimated crowd of 4,000 witnessed an interesting clash in styles. One newspaper report noted: ‘The Englishmen had all the advantage of weight, their average being two stone heavier than the Scotchmen, and they had the advantage of pace. The strong point of the home club was that they played excellently well together.’

In the event, neither side could claim success, though the game was more entertaining than the final score of 0-0 would suggest.

Ottoway went on to play in consecutive FA Cup finals until a ‘severe hack’ on the ankle while playing for Old Etonians in the 1875 final against Royal Engineers ended his career.

He married Marion, who he met on tour to Canada, and started a career in law until he died in London after catching a chill, his wife five months pregnant with their first child.