A commission for a new headstone for Ambrose Langley, Sheffield Wednesday’s first captain at Hillsborough, has raised more than £5,300.

Langley’s headstone had fallen and been removed from Burngreave Cemetery – the resting place of several notable Sheffield footballers.

Clive Nicholson, the great grandnephew of Fred Spiksley (Ex-Sheffield Wednesday forward) and Tom Crawshaw, a relative of Tommy Crawshaw (Ex-Sheffield Wednesday centre-half) had begun the project to fund a “new, fitting memorial for this great man”.

They have raised more than double the typical amount for a Victorian-era footballer’s headstone through several initiatives, including cigarette cards – which sold out in under 24 hours, raising £200.

Ultimately, they hope to develop a mapped trail through Burngreave cemetery with Langley’s headstone serving as the trail’s centrepiece.

Ex-Sheffield United goalkeeper William ‘Fatty’ Foulkes, also buried in Burngreave Cemetery, has one of the most visited graves in the UK. Mr. Nicholson hopes for the trail to bring recognition to Langley’s legacy.

Mr Nicholson also created a Special Hardback Collector’s Edition of “The Olive Grove Scrapbook”, which sold out in 36 hours, with the £1,000 in proceeds going to Langley’s headstone fund.

Mr Nicholson said the money raised highlights the enduring legacy Langley holds as a “well known legend” and that “the 125th anniversary of Hillsborough is the perfect time to honour Langley”. 

Langley played for Wednesday for over a decade and captained the club during their first season at Hillsborough. Under his leadership, Wednesday went from being a relegated team the previous season, to winning the Second Division.

Mr Nicholson said: “Ambrose was one of the biggest, strongest defenders in England at the time.”

In Langley’s fourth season as captain, Wednesday became English Champions for the first time. Just 4 years later, Wednesday won the FA Cup, with Langley being a key player.

Mr Nicholson said his great grand uncle, Fred Spiksley and Ambrose Langley were “close friends because they encountered each other so much in their young careers.”

Mr Nicholson said: “Fred was desperate for Ambrose to play in the final”, but that due to a knee injury he almost didn’t. Wednesday went on to win the 1896 FA Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 with both Spiksley and Langley being key players.

Horncastle was Langley’s birthplace, to commemorate this and raise money for the headstone, Mr. Nicholson did a talk about Langley to Horncastle History and Heritage Society. This raised a further £60 for the headstone, which will feature a Horncastle-styled carving.