Reg Birkett - 1 Cap (0 Goals)

• Full Name: Reginald Halsey Birkett
• Born: 28th March 1849, Bishopsgate, London
• Died: 30th June 1898, Wimbledon aged 49
• England Career: 1879
• Positions whilst with England: Goalkeeper
• Clubs (and caps) whilst with England: Clapham Rovers (1)
• FA Legacy Number: 62
• Birkett attended Lancing College as a youth where he played for their first XI in 1866-67. He also represented Lancing Old Boys, Surrey and Clapham Rovers. He received a FA Cup runners-up medal in 1879 but bettered that the following year with a winner’s medal with Clapham Rovers. He was also capped for England at Rugby four times between 1871-1877.
  According to James Holder's Sport's Great All-Rounders, Birkett "died in 1898 at the age of 49, following an accident at home; whilst suffering from diphtheria, he leapt from a window while being helped into his bed and fell 20 feet to his death - at the inquest, a verdict of suicide whilst delirious was returned." The Surrey Advertiser added "It was stated that Birkett was on Thursday [30th June 1898] delirious from diphtheria, and while being helped into his bed at his residence, Grangeside, Wimbledon he said to a nurse, “Oh, that’s it, is it?” and, putting his hands together, suddenly leapt through the window, as if diving, falling a distance of 20ft, into the area and smashing his skull.”
  He worked in the City as a hide and skin broker.