Frederick Nicholas

Fred Nicholas was an all-round sportsman. He was born in Federated Malay States but returned to Britain where he attended Forest School before going to Hertford College Oxford University and became a blue at football (1913 and 1914) and athletics (1914). He also played county cricket for Essex and captained the county side into the late 1920s. As a sprinter he was a member of the Achilles Club and raced for England and one of his greatest moments as a footballer was being a member of the Corinthians side who caused a major upset in the FA Cup in 1924 when the beat first division Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at Crystal Palace thanks to a 15th minute goal from Doggart. It was only the second time the Corinthians had entered the FA Cup. Nicholas represented the England amateur side on 11 ocasions, making his début in the 9-0 win over Wales at Merthyr in January 1920 and he then played on the wing in Great Britain’s defeat by Norway at the Olympics later in the year. Nicholas scored the goal that levelled the scoring on 25 minutes but Norway ran out 3-1 winners after two second half goals.

Having previously played hockey for the Army, in 1927 he uniquely played cricket for Essex, football for the Corinthians and hockey for Brondesbury. He was still playing top level cricket into his mid-forties. During the War Nicholas served with the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment. He attained the rank of Colonel and was awarded the Miltary Cross and. He is the grandfather of former Hampshire cricketer Mark Nicholas who went on to become a very proficient television presenter and won the Royal Television Society’s Sports Presenter of the Year Award in 2001.