Mussabini was born in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], [[London]] to a family of [[Syrian people|Syrian]], [[Italian people|Italian]] and [[French people|French]] descent.<ref>{{cite book |title=The English Heritage guide to London's blue plaques : the lives and homes of London most interesting inhabitants |date=2016 |location=[United Kingdom] |isbn=9781910463406 |last1=Heritage |first1=English }}</ref> Mussabini's father, Neocles Gaspard Mussabini (1827-19151827–1915), was born in [[Turkey]] to a Syrian father and Italian mother. Mussabini's mother, Aline Farcat (1839-19141839–1914), was French.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jenkins|first=Simon P. R.|year=2005|title=Sports Science Handbook: A-H|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXWrkV9A_KoC&pg=PA163|publisher=Multi-science Publishing|page=163|isbn=0-906522-36-6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=The New York Times|title=OLYMPIC GLORY IN 'CHARIOTS OF FIRE'|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9802E2D61138F936A1575AC0A967948260|accessdate=27 August 2010|date=25 September 1981}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKYWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Neocles+Gaspard+Mussabini+and+Aline+Farcat%22 | title=The Family History Project: Great Great Stories| isbn=9781903365755| last1=Channel| first1=History| date=September 2004| publisher=Bloomsbury Academic}}</ref> The Mussabini family was [[Christian]] and originally from [[Damascus]], Syria. Mussabini's great-grandfather was a Syrian merchant who had altered his original surname, Mussa, to the Italian-sounding Mussabini.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tames |first1=Richard |title=Sporting London: A Race Through Time |date=2005 |page=143}}</ref> Mussabini's great-uncle, Antonio Mussabini, was the Archbishop of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Izmir]] from 1838 to 1861. Mussabini was educated in France, and later followed his father into journalism.<ref name=r2/> In the 1890s he was also a professional sprinter for about five years. In 1894 he coached [[Bert Harris]] to the first professional [[cycle sport|cycling]] championship the same year he was employed as a cycling coach by the bicycle tyre company [[Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company]].<ref name=r2/>
Mussabini played [[billiards]] to a high standard and reported on matches as a sports journalist during the winter months. In 1897 he co-authored a technical book on billiards and began writing articles for a billiards journal. In 1902, he became its assistant editor and later the joint proprietor and editor. In 1904 he wrote a two-volume book on the technicalities of billiards. He was also one of the top billiard referees.
