{"product_id":"harry-cursham-notts-county-england","title":"Harry Cursham, Notts County \u0026 England","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHarry Cursham, Notts County \u0026amp; England\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Greatest Footballer You’ve Never Heard Of\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you think football’s great goalscorers began with the Football League, \u003cb\u003eHarry Cursham\u003c\/b\u003e is here to ruin that timeline.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBorn \u003cb\u003eHenry Alfred “Harry” Cursham\u003c\/b\u003e (1859–1941), he was a star of the game’s formative decades — a time when the \u003cb\u003eFA Cup\u003c\/b\u003e mattered as much as any league title would later, when crowds treated the competition as a national drama, and when individual brilliance could define a club’s identity. Cursham wasn’t just a prominent player; he was a phenomenon — for \u003cb\u003eNotts County\u003c\/b\u003e, and for \u003cb\u003eEngland\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe FA Cup’s record goalscorer — and possibly more\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCursham’s most astonishing legacy remains his relationship with the FA Cup:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003e49 FA Cup goals in 44 matches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat figure still stands as the \u003cb\u003eall-time FA Cup goalscoring record\u003c\/b\u003e, a statistic that has survived every era since. Yet even this remarkable total may \u003cb\u003eunderstate his true achievement\u003c\/b\u003e. Contemporary match records show that in at least \u003cb\u003etwo FA Cup matches Cursham played in, the individual goalscorers were not recorded\u003c\/b\u003e, leaving \u003cb\u003etwo goals unaccounted for\u003c\/b\u003e. It is therefore entirely possible — even likely — that his true FA Cup tally was higher still.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn other words, football history’s most enduring Cup record may itself be incomplete.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e beyond dispute is the scale of his dominance. Cursham regularly produced match-winning performances that sound almost mythical today, including:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSix goals in a single FA Cup tie\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e during an \u003cb\u003e11–1\u003c\/b\u003e victory over Wednesbury Strollers (1881)\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFour goals in a \u003cb\u003e15–0\u003c\/b\u003e FA Cup win against Basford Rovers (1886)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn an era when the FA Cup was the game’s primary national stage, Cursham owned it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNotts County’s early-era icon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCursham signed for \u003cb\u003eNotts County\u003c\/b\u003e in \u003cb\u003e1877\u003c\/b\u003e, still a teenager, and quickly became central to one of the most competitive cup sides of the age. His versatility was notable: sources place him at times in defensive roles, but most frequently as a \u003cb\u003ecentre forward\u003c\/b\u003e, a reflection of both the fluidity of Victorian football and his exceptional all-round ability.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen the \u003cb\u003eFootball League\u003c\/b\u003e was formed in 1888, Cursham did appear — making \u003cb\u003enine league appearances and scoring twice\u003c\/b\u003e — but his legend had already been forged in the Cup competitions that defined his era.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEngland: brilliance in brief\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCursham also represented \u003cb\u003eEngland\u003c\/b\u003e, winning \u003cb\u003eeight caps between 1880 and 1884\u003c\/b\u003e and scoring \u003cb\u003efive international goals\u003c\/b\u003e. His international career included a \u003cb\u003ehat-trick against Ireland\u003c\/b\u003e, a feat that would be far more widely celebrated had it occurred a generation later.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe small number of caps reflects not a lack of quality, but the realities of early international football: infrequent fixtures, inconsistent selection, and a rapidly evolving game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy history forgot him\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCursham sits at a crossroads in football history. His peak came just before:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003efull professionalism\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003esystematic record-keeping\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eweekly league football\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emass media coverage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe himself later lamented the tactical direction of the sport, favouring dribbling and individual expression over the passing combinations that would soon dominate. Whether right or wrong, his views offer a rare window into football’s transformation — seen through the eyes of one of its greatest early practitioners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003chr size=\"0\" width=\"100%\" align=\"center\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe image and the wider purpose\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe accompanying print presents \u003cb\u003eHarry Cursham of Notts County\u003c\/b\u003e in a period-evocative style, aiming not to modernise or embellish, but to restore a visual presence to a footballer whose achievements deserve far wider recognition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt also forms part of a broader project to expose the \u003cb\u003eremarkable variety of historic club colours\u003c\/b\u003e across British football — a time when identity was expressed through bold splits, sashes, cuffs, collars, and fabrics long before standardisation dulled that richness. Cursham’s era is precisely where that visual story comes alive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"215\" data-end=\"262\"\u003e\n\u003cb style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eProduct details:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou will only pay shipping\/postage for 1 item, no matter how many items you purchase.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDiscounts are given for multiple purchases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSize: A3, A4, A5\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSingle Sided\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePaper: 400gsm premium art stock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003ePrint quality: Museum-grade, high-resolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eFinish: Unframed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWatermark shown in images does NOT appear on the final print\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCarefully packaged for safe delivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA striking piece of football history — ideal for collectors, historians, and lovers of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eAny issues please contact me at \u003ca href=\"mailto:paul@worldvintagecolours.com\"\u003epaul@worldvintagecolours.com\u003c\/a\u003e by clicking the hyperlink and I will get back to you ASAP.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"World Vintage Colours","offers":[{"title":"A3","offer_id":47263930187968,"sku":"Harry Cursham, Notts County \u0026 England A3","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A4","offer_id":47263930220736,"sku":"Harry Cursham, Notts County \u0026 England A4","price":7.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A5","offer_id":47263930253504,"sku":"Harry Cursham, Notts County \u0026 England A5","price":4.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/8242\/7840\/files\/A3-HarryCursham-NottsCounty.jpg?v=1769373504","url":"https:\/\/www.worldvintagecolours.com\/products\/harry-cursham-notts-county-england","provider":"World Vintage Colours","version":"1.0","type":"link"}