James Richardson Spensley

Biography

James Richardson Spensley came into the world in 1867 in London’s Stoke Newington area, the son of William Spensley and Elizabeth Alice Richardson. Although he was raised in London, his family roots were in the Swaledale district of Yorkshire. As an adult, Spensley traveled extensively, picking up a range of interests along the way: Eastern religions, languages like Greek and Sanskrit, boxing, and football. He worked as a doctor and also served as a correspondent for the Daily Mail.

In 1896 he arrived in Genoa, originally to treat English sailors on coal ships. He joined the Genoa Cricket & Athletics Club, a group founded by British expats, and on 10 April 1897 he established the club’s football section, becoming its first manager. This was a pioneering move, since Italian football was still in its infancy; without Edoardo Bosio, who had started four clubs in Turin, there would have been no football in Italy when Spensley arrived.

Spensley served as player-manager for Genoa in the first Italian Football Championship, which he himself helped launch, in 1898, and his side won the title. The next season he moved from defender to goalkeeper and kept playing until 1906. During his time with the club, Genoa captured the Italian league six times. After retiring as a player at nearly 40, he remained as manager for one more season before leaving the club entirely.

Did You Know?

• Spensley received a signed copy of Scouting for Boys from Robert Baden-Powell himself.
• He switched from defender to goalkeeper in the 1899 season and played on until 1906.
• His final burial location was unknown until 1993, when two Italian scouts located it after long research.
• He was injured on the battlefield while tending to the wounds of an enemy out of compassion.