Daniel Burley Woolfall (1878-1918) was a British football administrator who made significant contributions to the development of football during his career. Woolfall was born on 15 June 1858 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England. He was educated at Blackburn Grammar School before starting a career in journalism. In 1887, he joined the Manchester Evening News, where he worked as a sports reporter for several years.
In 1901, Woolfall became involved in football administration and was elected to the Lancashire Football Association. He quickly rose through the ranks, and in 1906, he was appointed as the president of the Football Association (FA), the governing body of football in England. He was only 28 years old at the time, making him the youngest president in the history of the FA.
During his time as FA president, Woolfall was instrumental in the development of international football. He was a strong advocate for the inclusion of football in the Olympic Games and was one of the key figures behind the formation of FIFA, the international governing body for football. Woolfall served as the president of FIFA from 1906 until his death in 1918.
Woolfall’s contributions to football were not limited to his work as an administrator. He was also a strong supporter of the professionalization of the sport and was a key figure in the development of the Football League, the first professional football league in the world. He also helped to establish the FA Cup as the premier domestic cup competition in England.
Despite his many achievements, Woolfall’s tenure as FA president was not without controversy. One of the most notable incidents occurred in 1908, when he refused to allow a black player named Arthur Wharton to represent the England national team. Woolfall claimed that Wharton was not good enough to play at the international level, but many believed that his decision was motivated by racial prejudice.
Woolfall’s contributions to football were cut short by his untimely death in 1918. He died in Paris during the Spanish flu pandemic, which claimed the lives of millions of people around the world. Woolfall was remembered as a visionary leader who played a key role in the development of football as we know it today.
In conclusion, Daniel Burley Woolfall was a trailblazer in the world of football administration. His contributions to the sport were numerous and wide-ranging, from his work in international football to his support of the professionalization of the sport. Although his career was cut short by his premature death, his legacy lives on in the many institutions he helped to create and the countless people who have been touched by his work.