221945 L/Cpl. James William Revill British Army Royal Engineers from:11 Charnwood Street, Sutton in Ashfield, Notts (d.9th April 1917) James William Revill, known as Jimmy, was born in Sutton in Ashfield, Notts in the summer of 1891, son of Frederick William and Hannah Revill.
In the 1911 census, Jimmy was living with his family at 37 Morley Street, Sutton In Ashfield, and his occupation was recorded as professional footballer. He was at Tibshelf FC when he moved to play professionally for Sheffield United FC from 1910 until 1915. His debut was against Woolwich Arsenal on 10th September 1910 which was drawn 0-0. His position was outside left – a winger in the modern game – and one of the fastest in his era. His rather strange nickname was “Old aeroplane legsâ€, probably due to his speed. Jimmy, however, could not gain a consistent place in the side during his time at the club, only filling in for the favoured Bob Evans when he and others were injured.
His club stats are:- games played - 71, goals scored - 4.
Hee played his last league match for them on 15th January 1915 in the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.
Jimmy was a member of the Sheffield United team which reached the semi-final of the FA Cup in the 1913-14 season, narrowly losing 1-0 to Burnley in a replay. He was also in the team that in the following season won the FA Cup against Chelsea, 3-0 at The Crystal Palace. He did not play in the final, but still received a winners medal, attached to a pocket watch and chain. The 1915 FA Cup final was the only final ever to be played in wartime, and the FA were criticised for letting the 1914-15 season continue following the outbreak of the First World War.
Jimmy married Olive Shore on 6th November 1915 and they had a son, Jack, who was born 1st August 1916. They were living at 11 Charnwood Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, when he enlisted in the Royal Engineers in February 1916. His occupation on the recruitment form was bricklayer, which was probably his trade prior to turning professional in 1910.
He was based at Chatham from March until 20th August 1916 when he was posted to France. It is probable that Jimmy was working with the Royal Engineers in the area of Arras, digging tunnels and defences. On the first day of the Battle of Arras, on 9th April, he was fatally injured by a gunshot wound to the back and spine. 108670 Lance-Corporal James William Revill of the Royal Engineers, is buried in the town cemetery in Bethune, northern France.
As the only player from Sheffield United to be killed in the War, on 12th January 1918 the club played a benefit match between a Sheffield United XI and Hadfield’s in aid of Olive and Jack. Jimmy’s name appears on the war memorial in the cemetery in Sutton in Ashfield. A book telling the story of the only wartime cup final, entitled “Red, White and Khaki†by Matthew Bell, is dedicated, along with others, to Jimmy.
Olive was remarried in 1921 to Herbert Hildreth.
His son Jack married in 1940 and had at least one daughter Judith, Jimmy's grand-daughter, who it is believed, is still alive and living in the Worksop area. Jack died in Carlton in Lindrick near Worksop in 2006.
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