Nowadays football superstars
become multi-millionaires within months but the prolific goal-scorer buried
here earned little and worked as a solicitor between matches. His grave lay
unmarked and unloved for 70 years. Aged 16 he played his first official game for
Nottingham Forest and he scored three goals. Later he would go on to score 85
goals in one season. Oddly he played in shoes.
Tinsley was the third son of a lace dresser (and one-time
Mayor of Nottingham) and lived in Nottingham. There was a normal childhood but
his control of a football was above normal. At just 16 he played his first game
for Nottingham Forest's reserve team and scored a hat trick. In the 1800's
football paid poorly and wasn't the semi-religion it is now. To Tinsley
football was a hobby and he went onto Cambridge University to gain a law
degree.
Aged 23 he returned home and started playing
again for Nottingham Forest. Over the next fifteen years this adroit dribbler,
fast sprinter and prolific goal-scorer played for his native Nottingham Forest
and other clubs. He steadfastly remained an amateur even though clubs wanted to
pay him. Despite many offers he never turned professional saying once, “The aim
of footballers should be to amuse themselves first, not others”. If there was
ever a gentleman amateur who put more store on real work it was Tinsley. Though
he played (and scored) for England football was just passionate hobby appended
to life. Weirdly he said ordinary football boots (heavy in those days) slowed
him down and he sprinted faster in brogues.
He gave up football aged 34 and turned his full
attention to the law. He lectured at Nottingham University and was a County
Court Judge. Through World War One he was Chief Officer of the Nottingham
Special Constabulary and as Deputy Director of the Nottinghamshire Territorial
Association (was awarded an OBE for it when he was 53.)
He died in Nottingham aged 74 as World War Two
raged and was lowered into the ground where I'm stood. The soil was unmarked
for seven decades before a campaign raised £6,000 to provide a headstone.
I struggled to find this grave but as I strolled
among the dead I saw a flash and dash of bright red. Normally red means a
wreath and a war grave but the red was a scarf. This was the grave I sought. I
did a salute to the man who never played professionally but was one of
football’s first superstars...and left.