Kelly Houlker's debut England international cap awarded for the Ibrox Disaster match v Scotland 5th ...
Kelly Houlker's debut England international cap awarded for the Ibrox Disaster match v Scotland 5th April 1902 and the rearranged game at Villa Park 3rd May purple velvet with metal thread English rose and inscribed 1902 During the Scotland v England international at Ibrox on 5th April 1902 a section of terracing at the back of the West Stand collapsed. In one of the darkest days in the history of British football, hundreds of supporters fell up to 40 feet to the ground below. 26 people died and over 500 were injured. The match was stopped for just 15 minutes and played out as a 1-1 draw. However, the result was not left to stand in international records and a rearranged match was played at Birmingham on 3rd May. This ended as a 2-2 draw with all proceeds going to the Disaster Fund. appendix: Kelly Houlker (Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth, Southampton & England) Lots 3 to 9 Albert Edward 'Kelly' Houlker was born at Blackburn 27th April 1872. The Left-Half was described as 'dour and diminutive, tenacious, too, never knowing when he was beaten. His plucky displays making him popular everywhere.' He rose through the ranks of Blackburn schools and junior football playing for Blackburn Hornets, Oswaldtwistle Rovers, Cob Wall and Park Road before joining Blackburn Rovers during the 1893-94 season. When he won his first England international cap while at Blackburn for the terrible Ibrox Disaster match v Scotland in 1902. Having been capped he asked the club for a modest pay rise. When they refused he joined Portsmouth in May 1902, and travelled along the south coast to join Southampton a year later. Houlker finished his career back at Blackburn Rovers from the close season of 1906 until his retirement in 1907, only to sign for Colne in 1909. Kelly Houlker also turned out as an emergency wartime player for Rovers in January 1918 when he was in his 46th year. Other honours included an appearance for the Football League and a Southern League Championship medal at Southampton. On leaving football was an overlooker at a Blackburn mill, then ran a coal and haulage business in the town retiring in 1947. He was a cousin of the England cap Arthur Cowell, also of Blackburn Rovers. Kelly Houlker died 27th May 1962.