The Fans
Legends
In its rich history, Bristol has nurtured some of the great stars of the past and present.
We would like to thank Dave Fox and Mark Hoskins for allowing us to take advantage of the superb research they did for their book "Bristol Football Club (RFU) - 100 Greats". Dave and Mark contributed the information and the images.
If you would like to get more information on the club, its players and its history, then you can buy their book at most leading bookshops in Bristol.
To search for a particular player, use the Search box below.
John 'Jack' Spoors
Position: Outside half
Date of Birth: 1/7/1886
Date of Death: 19/3/1963
Honours: Gloucestershire, England trialist, British Isles
Career: 1904 - 1911 182 games
Scored: 94 t, 2 c = 286 pts
John "Jack" Spoors was the catalyst of Bristol's attacking play during the early years of the twentieth century. He also retains a curious international rugby record although he was never capped by his country.
Spoors was educated at Colston's School. He joined Bristol in 1903/04 and played for the second XV before making his first team debut against Cardiff the following season.
He had a deceptive turn of pace and possessed that rare ability to swerve and side-step whilst running at top speed. Spoors' ball handling was of the highest order. He honed his skills playing cricket for Bristol Bohemians. His many talents made him one of the most elusive runners in England and a favourite with supporters.
Yet he never played rugby for England. He was a regular for Gloucestershire and he played for Bristol against New Zealand in 1905, a game in which he impressed the visitors despite a heavy defeat.
Spoors played in all three England trials during the 1909/10 season. Selected at centre for the first, he scored a try in the Rest XV which beat England. He was promoted to the England side which defeated the North at Birkenhead, scoring two tries. However, the selectors chose the Harlequins backs en bloc for the match against Wales, the first international at Twickenham, and Spoors missed out.
His silky skills had not gone unnoticed, and he was invited to tour with the 1910 British Isles team in South Africa. Spoors was the "midfield wizard" who gave the tourists backs their cutting edge. He played in all three internationals and scored a try in each. That is a record which remains today. No player has ever scored a try in each international in a test series for the British Isles.
He was a prolific try scorer at home too. He was Bristol's leading try scorer in the 1905/06 and 1908/09 seasons. During 1909/10 he moved from outside half to centre and finished top try scorer again. He also played in the Gloucestershire side that won the County Championship for the first time.
Spoors was Bristol vice captain for the 1908/09 season, and club captain for 1910/11. At the end of that season he retired from playing, his last match being against Leicester in April 1911.
Jack Spoors continued to serve the club on the committee. He was one of five Spoors brothers to play for Bristol. The youngest, Tom, was a winger in the side throughout the 'twenties.
