'The Eleven of All England'

A carte-de-visite showing eleven donkeys lined up in a field. A printed caption in the lower margin gives the image its title, 'The Eleven of All England.' Clearly there's a joke in here somewhere but its context isn't immediately apparent. Presumably the reference is to a sport, probably to football or cricket.

A pencilled inscription in the lower margin mentions E.J. Thornewill Esq., possibly Edward John Thornewill, a corn merchant of 'Springhill', Wavertree, Lancashire (1871 census, 1891 census).

Photographer unidentified.