Sam Weller Widdowson

Samuel "Sam" Weller Widdowson (born Hucknall Torkard, 16 April 1851, died Beeston, May 9 1927cite web|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/22965.html|title=Sam Widdowson
publisher=cricinfo|accessdate=2008-01-18] ) was an English sportsman of the Victorian era. He played cricket for Nottinghamshire and association football for Nottingham Forest and also played once for the England national football team, against Scotland in 1880.cite web|url=http://www.englandstats.com/playerreport.php?pid=1049 |publisher=EnglandStats.com|title=Sam Widdowson|accessdate=2008-01-18] Widdowson is also credited with inventing football shin pads in 1874 when he cut down a pair of cricket pads and strapped them outside his stockings. Initially the concept was ridiculed but it soon caught on with other players,cite web|url=http://www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure-and-culture/sports/cricket/hucknall-cricketers/;jsessionid=BE0FABC106B167CFFBE9DA31DBFC7E38|title=Hucknall Cricketers
publisher=Ashfield District Council|accessdate=2008-01-18] and shin pads are now required by the Laws of the Game.cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesAndRegulations/FIFALawsOfTheGame/Postings/2002/05/12102.htm|title=Law 4 - The Players Equipment|accessdate=2008-01-18|publisher=The FA] He later became a football referee and was in charge of the first ever match in which goal nets were used. He was Nottingham Forest chairman from 1879 to 1884.cite book | author=Graham Betts| title=England: Player by player | publisher=Green Umbrella Publishing | year=2006|pages=p.258| isbn=1-905009-63-1]

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