Born in Bristol in 1870,[2] Powell had joined the Army as a young man, and served for six years in the South Staffordshire Regiment.
[3] He played football for the regimental team, and impressed enough in a match against the then Royal Arsenal in October 1892 that the club bought him out of the Army and signed him as a professional that December.
[2] Having turned professional, Arsenal had been shunned by many other clubs and county associations, and only competed in FA Cup matches and friendlies.
He contracted blood poisoning and tetanus, and despite having the arm amputated he died six days later at his Plumstead home at the age of 26.
[3][4] An inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death, with no blame attaching to anyone involved.