Fernand Canelle

Fernand Canelle was born in the 17th arrondissement of Paris on 2 January 1882, and together with Georges Garnier and the Huteau brothers, he was a member of the small group of middle school students from the Chaptal college who, in 1893, founded an unofficial club called the Etoile Sportive Parisiennne, which was presided by Canelle's father, Lucien, and which was soon absorbed by Club Français, so called because it did not include any English players.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chroniquesbleues.fr/Fernand-Canelle-portrait |title=Les premiers Bleus: Fernand Canelle, le meilleur parmi les pionniers |trans-title=The first Blues: Fernand Canelle, the best among the pioneers |language=fr |website=www.chroniquesbleues.fr |date=6 April 2023 |accessdate=12 November 2024 }}

In the mid-1890s, the 13-year-old Canelle received one of the scholarships that the Paris City Council awarded to finance language study trips in England, so even though he had acquired his practice of the game at Etoile, it was across the Channel where he developed his game, and even trained with the London-based clubs Selhurst and West Norwood,{{cite web |url=https://www.gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46242956/f2.item.zoom |title=L'avis d'un joueur anglais |trans-title=An English player's opinion |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |accessdate=4 January 2023 |archive-date=6 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106163124/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46242956/f2.item.zoom |url-status=dead }} where he mastered the so-called ABCs of technique, so when he returned to his homeland, he was constantly described as a far more advanced and superior player than his fellow countrymen. According to Reeves, captain of the Norwood and Selhurst Football Club interviewed in October 1900, he was one of the best French forwards.

In July and October 1896, the 14-year-old Canelle was playing in the second team of Club Français,{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k423877n/f512.image.r=canelle.zoom |title=Foot-ball Association |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=Le Journal de la Jeunesse |date=1 July 1896 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113080028/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k423877n/f512.image.r=canelle.zoom |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4586654p/f2.item.r=canelle.zoom |title=Football Association |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=Paris-vélo |page=2 |date=31 October 1896 |accessdate=6 February 2025 }} making his debut for the first team during their triumphant campaign at the 1897 Coupe Manier, which required clubs to field only three foreigners during a time where the majority of Parisian clubs had ten, or even eleven. In the Coupe Manier final, CF defeated the newly crowded champions of France Standard AC by the score of 4–3 after extra-time; the local press stated that "Canelle was one of those who played the best", and "takes a definitive place as of today in the first team".{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k83316135/f3.item.r=canelle.zoom |title=Coupe de France |trans-title=French Cup |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=Tous les sports |page=3 |date=26 April 1897 |access-date=6 February 2025 }}

He only became a consistent starter for Club Français in 1898,{{NFT|40886}} breaking through as an attacking winger thanks to his speed, energy, and his lighter build of only 1.69 meters tall and weigh of about 70 kilos.

On 16 April 1899, Canelle started in the play-off match against Standard AC to decide the 1898–99 USFSA Paris Championship, helping his side to a 3–2 win.{{Cite web |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/17-avril-1899/4054/5388582/2 |title=Championnat de Paris - Club Français contre Standard Athletic Club |trans-title=Paris Championship - Club Français against Standard Athletic Club |language=fr |website=www.retronews.fr |publisher=Le Journal des sports |page=2 |date=17 April 1899 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113054821/https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/17-avril-1899/4054/5388582/2 |url-status=live }} This victory qualified the club to the 1899 USFSA national championship, in which Club Français withdrew from the final before facing Le Havre.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fran-prewwi.html#1899 |title=1898-99 season in France |publisher=RSSSF |date=29 August 2024 |access-date=12 November 2024 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205152228/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesf/fran-prewwi.html#1899 |url-status=live }} Later that year, on 23 October 1899, Canelle started as a forward for Club Français in the 1899 Coupe Manier final at Suresnes, scoring the opening goal in an eventual 6–0 win over RC Roubaix.{{Cite web |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/23-octobre-1899/4054/5389432/2 |title=La Coupe Manier |language=fr |website=www.retronews.fr |publisher=Le Journal des sports |page=2 |date=23 October 1899 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=24 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240524001450/https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/23-octobre-1899/4054/5389432/2 |url-status=live }}

File:Le Club Français, champion de Paris de football en 1899.jpg

Together with Garnier, Gaston Peltier, and Marcel Lambert, Canelle was a member of the Club Français team that won the 1899–1900 USFSA Paris championship.{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96060553/f9.image.r=canelle.zoom |title=Les grandes équipes de football |trans-title=The Great Football Teams |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=La Vie au grand air |page=23 |date=14 January 1900 |access-date=12 January 2025 }} On 29 April 1900, Canelle started in the 1900 Challenge International du Nord final in Tourcoing, scoring a consolation goal in a 3–2 loss to Le Havre.{{Cite web |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/30-avril-1900/4054/5389626/3 |title=Le Challenge du Nord - Victoire des Havrais |trans-title=The Challenge of the North - Victory of Le Havre |language=fr |website=www.retronews.fr |publisher=Le Journal des sports |page=3 |date=30 April 1900 |accessdate=12 November 2024 }} In the following week, on 6 May, he started as a forward in another final against Le Havre AC, 1900 USFSA Football Championship, this time losing 1–0.{{Cite web |url=https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/7-mai-1900/4054/5389600/2 |title=Championnat de France - Club Français (1) contre La Havre AC (1) |trans-title=French Championship - Club Français (1) against La Havre AC (1) |language=fr |website=www.retronews.fr |publisher=Le Journal des sports |page=2 |date=7 May 1900 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113004921/https://www.retronews.fr/journal/journal-des-sports/7-mai-1900/4054/5389600/2 |url-status=live }} Later that year, on 23 December, Garnier started in the final of the 1900 Coupe Manier at Joinville, helping his side to a 1–0 win over UA I arrondissement.{{Cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4624350z/f3.item.zoom |title=La Coupe Manier |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |date=24 December 1900 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113190101/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4624350z/f3.item.zoom |url-status=live }}

As early as 1901, Canelle began to abandon the wings, and started pairing in the back with the Belgian Alfred Bloch, or Pierre Allemane, and from 1903 onwards, he was systematically found at full-back, but despite his positional change, he was still selected.

On 4 January 1903, Canelle started in the final of the 1902 Coupe Manier at Le Vésinet, helping his side to keep a clean-sheet in a 7–0 win over Olympique Lillois.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46247273/f5.item.zoom |title=Coupe Manier - Le Club Français vainqueur dans la finale |trans-title=Manier Cup - The French Club wins in the final |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |date=5 January 1903 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113194002/https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46247273/f5.item.zoom |url-status=live }} Three months later, on 15 March, he started as a defender in the final of the 1903 Coupe Dewar against United SC, but despite "a superb line clearance just a meter from his goal", CF lost 4–3.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4624797r/f7.item.r=canello%20canolle.zoom |title=Coupe Dewar finale |trans-title=Coupe Dewar final |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |page=7 |date=16 March 1903 |accessdate=12 November 2024 }}

Following an injury in October 1908, Canelle retired from football, although he kept making a few sporadic appearances, such as playing in goal for an inferior team of the Club Français in 1910, at the age of 28. In late 1910, he was sometimes playing as a goalkeeper, being described as "very skillful with his hands".{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4625884s/f5.image.r=canelle.zoom |title=Le Club Français |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |date=10 November 1910 |access-date=12 January 2025 }} Canelle was initially meant to start the final of the 1912 Coupe Dewar at Colombes on 14 April, but was eventually replaced by Bos; CF lost 3–1 to RC France.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4630348x/f7.image.zoom |title=Le Racing Club de France gagne la coupe Dewar |trans-title=The Racing Club de France wins the Dewar Cup |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |page=7 |date=15 April 1912 |access-date=12 January 2025 }} He was still playing for Club Français as late as May 1913, in which the 31-year-old Canelle was described as still being one of the best players in his position.{{cite news |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k73648016/f4.item.r=canelle.zoom |title=Le Club français à Cette |trans-title= |language=fr |via=Gallica |work=Le Télégramme |number=4691 |page=4 |date=10 May 1913 |accessdate=30 November 2024}}

File:Fernand Canelle - France football 1900 (cropped).jpg

Canelle was listed as a forward for the USFSA team at the 1900 Olympic Games.{{cite web |url=https://www.fff.fr/article/12601-paris-1900-en-sport-de-demonstration.html |title=Paris 1900, en sport de démonstration |trans-title=Paris 1900, in demonstration sport |language=fr |website=www.fff.fr |date=10 July 2024 |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=27 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240727035341/https://www.fff.fr/article/12601-paris-1900-en-sport-de-demonstration.html |url-status=live }} He was selected for both matches, which ended in a 4–0 loss to Upton Park on 20 September, and in a 6–2 victory over Belgium, which was mostly made up of students from the French-speaking Université libre de Bruxelles.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1900f.html |title=Games of the II. Olympiad |publisher=RSSSF |date=12 May 2022 |access-date=12 November 2024 |archive-date=9 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709122416/https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1900f.html |url-status=live }} The French team came second and Canelle was thus awarded with a silver medal.

In 1902, Canelle played as a forward for a Paris XI that faced Marlow F.C. in England, which ended in a 4–0 loss.

In 1904, Canelle, now a defender, played three unofficial matches for France, namely against Corinthian (11–4 loss), as well as Southampton twice (11–0 and 6–1 losses), which was already a professional team at the time.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k4624977p/f1.item.r=canelle.zoom |title=Southampton contre équipe de France — Un match splendide |trans-title=Southampton vs France - A Splendid Match |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |page=1 |date=14 March 1904 |accessdate=12 January 2025 }} In the latter match, he played as a full-back, the exact same position as Southampton's team captain George Molyneux, who after the match declared "Your best player is, without a doubt, Canelle". On 2 April 1905, he again played for Paris, this time in the very first Paris-Nord match (an annual test match for the French national team), helping his side to a 4–1 win.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46269156/f7.item.zoom |title=Joueurs Parisiens contre Joueurs du Nord (U.S.F.S.A.) |trans-title=Parisian Players versus Northern Players (U.S.F.S.A.) |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=L'Auto |date=3 April 1905 |access-date=30 November 2024 }} A few years later, in 1908, the 26-year-old Canelle, who was already called a veteran, was described by Molyneux as "an impeccable player, a perfect shooter, adept at all the subtleties of the clearance game".

File:Belgium vs France 1904.jpg

On 1 May 1904, the 22-year-old Canelle was the captain of France in their first-ever official match, a friendly cup match against Belgium at the Stade du Vivier d'Oie, which ended in a 3–3 draw.{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/belgium-v-france-01-may-1904-222660/ |title=Belgium v France, 01 May 1904 - 11v11 match report |website=www.11v11.com |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=21 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221041329/https://www.11v11.com/matches/belgium-v-france-01-may-1904-222660/ |url-status=live }} He was also France's captain in its next two matches, leading the Blues to their first-ever victory, against Switzerland (1–0) on 12 February 1905, and to their first-ever defeat, against Belgium on 7 May, in which he become the team's goalkeeper after replacing Georges Crozier, who was forced to leave his teammates during the match, which ended in a 7–0 loss.

In 1906, Canelle his fourth international cap in a friendly match against England amateurs on 1 November, conceding a penalty kick on an unintentional handball, but Vivian Woodward intentionally pulls it wide. In total, Canelle made six appearances for the France national team from 1904 to 1908,{{cite web |url=https://www.equipe-france.fr/football/fernand-canelle |title=Fernand Canelle, footballeur de l'équipe de France de football |trans-title=Fernand Canelle, footballer of the French football team |language=fr |website=www.equipe-france.fr |accessdate=12 November 2024 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113165721/https://www.equipe-france.fr/football/fernand-canelle |url-status=live }} and he was set to represent France in the football tournament at the 1908 Olympic Games in London, but an injury in October prevented him from doing so.

Canelle was also educated, and he wrote and published a series of articles in the French newspaper L'Auto, including a chronicle of the 1907 match against Belgium, where he praised his teammate Georges Bon, but most notably, to explain how offside worked (9 November 1905), or to analyze the play of the defender (19 November 1908). In 1907, he co-wrote, with Fernand Bidault, a book entitled: La stratégie du Football-Association.

When his father Lucien died in 1905, he took over the presidency of the Club Français and ran it with the help of Charles Bernat until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. In 1932, Bernat wanted to try the adventure of professionalism, but Canelle refused and remained faithful to his English training, a fierce supporter of complete amateurism.

Canelle devoted himself, always voluntarily, within the framework of the FFF commissions, helping to create a French corporate cup, as well as international matches, from 1926 onwards.

Outside of football, he was a sales employee and jewelry representative.{{cite web |url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9788090m/f4.image.r=Canelle.zoom |title=Ce que sont devenus les anciens champions |trans-title=What happened to the former champions |language=fr |website=gallica.bnf.fr |publisher=Le Miroir des sports |page=341 |date=4 November 1925 |access-date=30 November 2024 }}

Canelle died in Rueil-Malmaison on 11 September 1951, at the age of 69.

Club Français

• USFSA Paris Championship: 1898–99, 1899–1900
• USFSA Football Championship runner-up: 1899, 1900
• Coupe Manier: 1899, 1900, 1902
• Challenge International du Nord runner-up: 1900
• Coupe Dewar runner-up: 1903

France

• Summer Olympics silver medal: 1900

{{reflist}}

• {{Sports links}}
• {{FFF player|8068-canelle-fernand}}
• {{FFF male player|212}}

{{France football squad 1900 Summer Olympics}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Canelle, Fernand}}

Category:1882 births

Category:1951 deaths

Category:Footballers from Paris

Category:French men's footballers

Category:France men's international footballers

Category:Men's association football defenders

Category:Olympic footballers for France

Category:Olympic silver medalists for France

Category:Footballers at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Category:Club Français players

Category:Olympic medalists in football

Category:Medalists at the 1900 Summer Olympics

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