His career was ended prematurely when he broke his leg in a match against Darwen in 1892, the season when Small Heath won the inaugural Second Division championship.
After a sudden breakdown, he died in an asylum in 1909, when he was remembered as "one of the strongest backs who ever represented the allied counties of Berks and Bucks.
[10] In November, the Birmingham Daily Post assessed the team as "quite equal, if not superior, to several of the league clubs" by reason of new players "whose presence materially strengthens the eleven"; they singled out centre-forward Will Devey and Speller, whom they described as "a fine little back [who] kicks and tackles splendidly".
[11] Representing Warwickshire against the Manchester Association in February 1890, alongside Small Heath teammates Chris Charsley, Harry Morris, Caesar Jenkyns and Will Devey, Speller sprained an ankle during the second half.
In his second game in that league, he was noted as "defend[ing] in fine style" as Small Heath lost 3–0 at home to Sunderland Albion.
[14] According to the Birmingham Daily Post, his defence was "very safe" as Small Heath comfortably defeated Hednesford Town in the FA Cup,[15] but rather less secure when he obstructed his goalkeeper, allowing Horace Pike to score for Nottingham Forest.
Small Heath went on to win an exciting game by five goals to four to inflict Forest's first home defeat of the 1890–91 Football Alliance season.
The Birmingham Daily Post reported it thus:[18]The Small Heath team were almost from the commencement placed at a disadvantage owing to a rather serious accident which happened to one of their players.
A policeman, a member of the St. John's Ambulance Corps, attended to the limb, and the injured man was removed from the field on a plank.
According to the Post, "he played carefully at the start, but gained confidence as the game proceeded, and many times put a stop to extremely dangerous attacks by the clever right wing of the home team.
The following morning, however, Speller was found wandering down one of the main streets of Cookham "brandishing a heavy stake" and threatening a woman and a constable who approached him.
Newspapers reported that he was a "pitiful" sight in court, lying on the floor both handcuffed and shackled, while moaning and talking incoherently, but wearing a Berks and Bucks Cup gold medal.