James Richardson Spensley
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Dr (possibly Sir) James Richardson Spensley (born May 17, 1867 in Stoke Newington, London, died November 10, 1915 in Mainz, Germany) was an English doctor considered to be the founder of Football in Italy.
He arrived in Genoa in 1896 and set up Italy's first football team there, Genoa Cricket & Athletics (later 'Football') Club. He played two games for the team, but was a poor goalkeeper. He won the first italian tournament in 1898. He was president of the club from 1896 to 1907.
In 1910, Spensley founded one of the first and most important Scout groups in Italy, together with Mario Mazza.
He died during World War I and his grave was discovered by two Genoese students in the 1990s.
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Categories: English football biography stubs | Italian football biography stubs | Scouting stubs | 1867 births | 1915 deaths | People from Stoke Newington | British military personnel of World War I | British World War I killed in action | English soldiers | Scouting pioneers | Creators and founders of football (soccer) and its institutions | Early (pre-1914) Association Football players | Italian footballers | Genoa C.F.C. managers | Genoa C.F.C. players
