A New Headstone for SWFC's First Captain of Hillsborough

Hello,

We are Tom Crawshaw and Clive Nicholson, and we’re leading an initiative to raise funds for a new headstone for Ambrose Langley, the first club captain of Hillsborough for Sheffield Wednesday.

The 125th anniversary of Hillsborough is the perfect time to honor Langley, who captained the club during its inaugural season at the ground. Under his leadership, Wednesday transformed from a relegated team the previous season to winning the Second Division at their first attempt, and then became English Champions for the first time in just his fourth season as captain.

Langley was also a key player in Wednesday’s 1896 FA Cup-winning team and represented the English League against Scotland in the 1898 international match.

Though Langley is a significant yet often overlooked club legend, he dedicated over a decade to Sheffield Wednesday as a player. For more detailed information, please visit: https://sites.google.com/view/ambroselangley-com/home

Langley spent his later years in Sheffield and is buried at Burngreave Cemetery. Unfortunately, his headstone has fallen and been removed over time. We are seeking the support of Sheffield Wednesday fans to help us fund a new, fitting memorial for this great man.

Our vision is to commission a Yorkshire stone headstone featuring a Horncastle-styled football carving. Horncastle, where Langley was born, was renowned for producing some of the finest footballs in England during his career.

Burngreave Cemetery is the final resting place of several notable Sheffield footballers, including the legendary goalkeeper William 'Fatty' Foulkes. His grave is one of the most visited in the UK. We plan to develop a mapped trail through Burngreave highlighting these footballing legends, with Langley’s new headstone serving as the trail's centerpiece and making his grave one of the most visited in the country.

Please join us in creating a deserving tribute to Ambrose Langley and celebrating the rich history of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield football.

Thank you for your support.