Cuthbert Ottaway England’s captain in the world's first ever international football match v Scotland played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, 30th Novemb

Cuthbert Ottaway England’s captain in the world's first ever international football match v Scotland played at Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow, 30th November 1872, a very scarce and historically important autograph, signed in black ink on paper, cut from a document Cuthbert Ottaway led out the England team in Glasgow on the occasion that was the birthplace of international football in front of a crowd estimated at 4,000 watched the teams play out a 0-0 draw. Ottaway was regarded by his contemporaries as being the most versatile sportsman of his generation. As well as his exploits on the football field, Ottaway represented Oxford University in five different sports - an achievement that has never been surpassed - winning Blues for football, cricket, athletics, racquets and real tennis. Cuthbert Ottaway was born in Dover, Kent, 19th July 1850, the son of a surgeon and Mayor. He was educated at Eton at at Brasenose College, Oxford, reading Classics, before training as a barrister. His education coincided with the time when Association Football rules were gaining considerable popularity. Just prior to the international football match, Ottaway had been touring USA and Canada with the England cricket team that included W.G. Grace, so remarkably he represented his country in the same year in its summer and winter national sports. Cuthbert Ottaway was also an important figure in the early years of the F.A. Cup competition, playing in three consecutive Finals between 1873 and 1875, winning in 1874 captaining Oxford University. The autograph of Ottaway is exceptionally rare as he tragically died in 1878 aged just 27 from complications after catching a chill. He is buried in Paddington Old Cemetery. Ottaway was – an Oxford newspaper remembered after his death – "a great cricketer... the best amateur racquet player of his time, a capital football player and a fair sprint runner. It has fallen to the lot of few amateur cricketers to attain greater popularity, and his reception on the day when he took his degree at Oxford was something to be remembered."