Rediscovery Of The First England Captain

Intriguing tale of the rediscovery of the last resting place of one of England's great Victorian all round sportsmen and the first captain of England.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23724904

Latest Soccer History Magazine

Issue 31 is now available. Of particular interest are the articles about Arsenal in Plumstead by Mark Andrews, vice-chairman of the Arsenal History Society ( www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk ); and the early encounters between the Sheffield and London representative sides by Dr Graham Curry.

http://www.soccer-history.co.uk/

Soccer History Articles Wanted

I am currently taking a course in e-book development and have come to the point where I need to develop my first practice project. By way of learning and helping others promote their soccer history writing I have decided it might be nice to develop a small compilation of soccer history articles.

In short:

1. I'm looking for 7-10 articles, soccer history related, of up to 1000 words - preferably pieces that have already been written

2. Each article will be accompanied by the author's by-line including link to web site of choice.

3. I will be offering the completed e-book free on Amazon

At the moment I am judging interest from writers so please do not send anything. If this sounds like something you would like to be involved in then please leave an indication in the comments below or e-mail me at pjrsoch@gmail.com

Any questions also very happily accepted. Look forward to hearing from people.

The Letter That Changed Football

From the BBC Sport site:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21492352

The First Goal In League Football

From BBC Sport:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23397062

Dick, Kerr Ladies - Pioneers Of Women's Soccer

Excellent footage of the famous women's side from the first decades of the last century.  The book about the team, published in 2004, is well worth a read:

The Beautiful History Site - Club Crests, Colours & Nicknames

The Beautiful History is a site which does not seem to be have been updated since 2010 but which nevertheless provides a wealth of information about the history of club crests, colours and nicknames. The young Dutch compiler, Han, has certainly researched his subject in great depth.

 

The Beautiful History





Arsenal At The Manor Ground

Paul Talling's Derelict London site has a wealth of pictures of old London sports grounds including those of present football clubs. Here is what the site has to say about Arsenal's Manor Ground:

"The site of the 3rd Ground (The Manor Ground) 1887 - 1890 and 1893-1913"
"In 1888, after the Sportsman Ground had flooded, the club moved to the adjoining Manor Field (as it was originally known), which was soon renamed Manor Ground. The pitch was notoriously muddy and on its southern side ran a large open sewer. There were no stands as such; the club used wagons borrowed from nearby Army bases to house spectators. The club's first match there was against Millwall Rovers, in 1888; it finished 3-0 to Arsenal.

After a move to the Invicta Ground for 3 years, Arsenal returned to the Manor Ground and bought it with money raised from a share issue, erected a single main stand and banks of terracing, and moved back there before the start of the 1893-94 season, in time for the club's Football League debut. The stadium averaged a gate of 6,000 that season.

In 1904 a second stand was added (this was the first terrace in the country to be nicknamed Spion Kop,although many other clubs, such as Liverpool, also built "Kop" stands that were better known). With the club having achieved promotion to the First Division that year, with the additional capacity attendances reached over 20,000 for some matches.

However, in 1910 Woolwich Arsenal faced bankruptcy, with an average crowd dwindling to 11,000. London property magnate and Fulham chairman Sir Henry Norris bought Arsenal out, rescuing the club, and proceeded to move them all the way across London to the new Arsenal Stadium in Highbury three years later, after an attempt to merge Fulham and Arsenal failed.

Woolwich Arsenal played their last match at the Manor Ground (against Middlesbrough in front of 3,000 people) in 1913. After they left, the ground soon fell derelict, and was eventually demolished and the land redeveloped. Today it is home to a run down industrial estate which itself is due to be redeveloped next year."

Further modern view of site: Photo

Barcelona - A History Of Stadia

Barcelona's original club crest - 1899

An intriguing history of Barcelona's stadia since the club's founding in 1899 by +Chris Clements. Includes an account of how the Swiss national, Hans Kamper (Joan Gamper) formed the club and then later saved it from an early extinction.

Barcelona's stadia

Photos of Barcelona's first five grounds

Oldest Football Club

An interesting short film about the world's oldest football club, Sheffield F.C. - and still going strong in the Evo-Stik League First Division South.

Manchester United - First Film In 1902

Not the clearest of films but historical nonetheless. Interesting points:

1. How primitive Turf Moor looked in 1902

2. The small crowd of only 2000 spectators

3. The industrial background

The Nest - Former Home Of Crystal Palace FC

Two football league clubs have played in the past at grounds known as The Nest. One of these clubs is Norwich City, the other Crystal Palace. The latter relocated to their version after the demise of their bitter local rivals, Croydon Common.

This extract from the excellent site, Coydon Common Football Club , provides further historical details:

"The club [Croydon Common] subleased The Nest from the London Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1908 and it was home for the rest of its existence. The ground had been built some years earlier on the site of Selhurst Wood, the remaining part of which is still visible on the map. The lease was signed on 15 September 1908; the parties being The Croydon Common Football and Athletic Company Limited, The London Brighton and South Coast Railway Company and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England. The reason for three parties to this lease was that the Church Commissioners actually owned the land, the Railway had leased it from them and thus the club was subleasing it from the Railway. The lease was signed on behalf of the club by John William Bartlett (secretary), and John Stephen Fuller and Richard James Whiting (directors).
The lease stipulated that the ground could only be used for soccer or athletics or for "the holding of Flower Shows and School treats". As the ground was owned by the Church, the lease also prohibited its use for any purposes on Good Friday and Christmas Day and so the club played only away fixtures on these particular days. The ground was quite basic, having only earth banks around the major part of its circumference. These banks were topped by bushes known to the supporters as "The Jungle". When the club took over The Nest there was a small stand with seats on the northern side of the ground, but this burned down shortly afterwards. A new stand, significantly longer than the previous one, was erected to replace it. A cinder athletics track ran around the pitch.

Following the demise of Croydon Common, the Railway leased the ground to Crystal Palace F.C. and the club played there from 1918 until the newly built Selhurst Park was ready in 1924. When the Southern League's Division One became in effect the Football League's Third Division South in 1920, Crystal Palace had achieved what Croydon Common had failed to do - bring Football League matches to The Nest. After leaving the ground in 1924, Crystal Palace sublet it to a local side named Tramways F.C. The site is now occupied by Railtrack's Selhurst Depot. The whole site was completely levelled prior to building, so no trace of The Nest remains".

1913 Ordnance Survey map of location of ground - here The Nest is ground C on the map and is called the "Croydon Common Athletic Ground": Map

Crystal Palace's ground history, including details of their short incumbency at The Nest: Ground history

The site of the ground is now occupied by railway buildings, as photographed by Paul Talling. The Nest is referred to about a third of the way down the page (but stop off on the way and look at the sites of other extinct London soccer venues): Derelict London - Long Lost Grounds

A postcard of Croydon Common v Norwich, at The Nest in 1909

 

 

A further slection of photos of The Nest on the Cystal Palace FC BBS site: Photos

 

Manchester United Win First Charity Shield Match

The first F.A. Charity Shield match was contested in 1908 and was played by Manchester United and Queens Park Rangers. Held at Stamford Bridge, the match resulted in a 1-1 draw. A replay (unique in the history of the trophy) four months later at the same venue was won 4-0 by United.

Born out of the Sheriff of London Charity Shield, introduced in 1898-99 to be contested by teams of professionals versus amateurs, the new Charity Shield was originally intended to provide a showpiece encounter at the end of the season betwen the Football League champions and the champions of the Southern League.

From 2002 the competition has been known as the F.A. Community Shield.

To date the most successful teams in the competition are: Manchester United (15 outright wins, 4 shared), Liverpool (10 outright wins, 5 shared), Arsenal (11 outright wins, 1 shared).

A complete list of all matches can be found at:  http://www.rsssf.com/tablese/engsupcuphist.html

Further info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Community_Shield

1908 match card: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/2140325489/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/8203521137/in/photostream/

Daily Graphic newspaper feature of 1908 replay: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/8203680733/

1908 match programme: http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/8203533917/in/photostream/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/8203534057/in/photostream/

1908 medal: http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/CommunityShield/1907-08CharityShield.htm

Liverpool's First Supporters Song

Supporters' songs have played a very important role in the culture of soccer from early times. I was fascinated to read of the rediscovery in a local Liverpool newspaper in 2011 of "Hurrah for the Reds". Composed by W Seddon in August 1907, just 15 years after the founding of Liverpool FC, this was a hitherto unknown fans' song. Further details are on the excellent LFCHistory.Net site: http://www.lfchistory.net/Articles/Article/3145

You can even listen to a re-recording of the song: http://www.lfchistory.net/images/shankly.com/Hurrahfortheboys.MP3

Spurs Non-League Cup Winners

 

It is hard to imagine that certain of today's premier clubs were once relative minnows, competing outside their country's major league. Such was the case of Tottenham Hotspur in 1901, a strong Southern League side which vanquished a number of Football League teams, including Sheffield United in the final, to raise the F.A. Cup. In so doing they became the first and only non-league club to win the trophy.

This short clip records some of the action from the final. Note our old friend William "Fatty" Foulke in goal for Sheffield United.

Further references:

The formation of the Southern League: http://www.southern-football-league.co.uk/history/default.asp

Southern League role of honour: http://www.fchd.info/lghist/south.htm

Humble Beginnings Of Bristol City

Many professional clubs commenced life in rather humble surroundings. A photograph of Bristol South End's St John's Lane ground in 1895  keenly illustrates this. In fact you couldn't get much more humble than this (or more rural for that matter). Bristol South End ultimately became Bristol City and later moved to Ashton Gate in 1904. Their old St John's ground continued to be used as a local sporting venue until well after the Second World War.

Cycling race at the St John's Lane ground 1925: Photo

For those interested in the history of Bristol City this web page is a good starting point: http://www.otib.co.uk/index.php?/topic/118530-bristol-city-fc-the-history/

Steve Bloomer Story

Steve Bloomer was arguably the first great superstar of English soccer. Born in Cradley Heath, in relative poverty, he became one of the most prolific goalscorers of all time, playing for Derby County, Middlesbrough and England.

This short film describes the life of the great man, including the events of his internment in a prison camp in Germany during the First World War: Video

Steve Bloomer on his way to manage in Canada: Video

Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bloomer

Sports History Podcasts

Last year BBC Radio 4 transmitted a long series of sports history programmes. The series was written by academics at De Montfort University, Leicester and was headed by Clare Balding. It is available as podcasts on the BBC website and includes a number of soccer specific episodes including:

"Beating Us At Our Own Game"

"Anyone But England"

"Exporting Football"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/sportbrit/all

Chelsea 'Keeper @ Sheffield United v Bury 1902

Another of those famous Mitchell and Kenyon soccer films. This time from 1902 and featuring the larger than life (in more ways than one) United goalkeeper, "Fatty" Foulke(s), later of Chelsea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UkVZZnrC4E


Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Foulke_(footballer)

Newcastle vs Liverpool 1901

Mitchell and Kenyon were pioneers of early cinematography. Travelling throughout Great Britain, they recorded films and then showed them at local venues in the evenings.

Although their films covered all aspects of late Victorian and early Edwardian life, those of most interest to me are the historic recordings of soccer matches.

The following is very typical:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjTX39xKB4

Another Soccer History Account

Also read the following account of soccer history on the InfoBritain site. Some interesting photos related to the early history, including one of the Freemason's Arms in London where the English Football Association held its inaugural meetings.


http://www.infobritain.co.uk/History_Of_Football.htm

Groundtastic Is Here !!

Just met the postie going down the driveway and thrilled to receive my latest copy of Groundtastic magazine - a must for followers of soccer grounds/stadia history.

http://www.groundtastic.co.uk/

Football League Is Born

Paul Fletcher of BBC Sport has written an excellent article tracing the founding of the English football league.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21492352

Man U Trounced

Manchester United may be running away with this season's Premiership but in 1904 they more than met their match in the form of England's senior amateur club, Corinthians. As the caption for this photo indicates this is the only time in United's history that they have conceded 10 or more goals in a match:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46492720@N04/8164226954/in/set-72157630082874654

No Rules

In 2011 Alex Perry wrote a number of short pieces about the Victorian development of sport, for the BBC History website. From the point of view of early soccer development there is much of interest:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/sport_01.shtml

Going Dutch

Off to Holland today (not literally but on the Net) and read a fascinating and comprehensive account of the history of Ajax. Despite it's iconic status in world soccer history, life has not always been plain sailing for the Amsterdam giant:

http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/334848

Arsenal In Soccer's Oldest Film Footage?

I came across this short clip from 1897. Although it is thought to be an early film record of Arsenal in training (in which case it was at their Manor Ground in south-east London), one of the comments suggests it is of a match between Glentoran and Cliftonville in Ireland.

Whichever, it still remains a fascinating record of the relatively early days of association football (wooden terracing and all):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRl56TOinKk

League Cup Weekend

Yet again the League Cup Final (I still like to call it this rather than by its latest sponsorship moniker) is upon us - and this year none of the big 4 (or 5) will be on show.

This BBC film of one of the first Final giantkillings brought back memories of previous finals I have witnessed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21423401

Old Soccer Films

I'm a great fan of old soccer films. Many of these were lost forever, or so we thought, and then resurrected many decades later after some chance discovery in a dusty attic. Take the films of the pioneers Mitchell and Kenyon as examples - many of which provide us with exquisite glimpses of the English soccer match of the turn of the last century (hopefully more about these in future posts).

The film I've been watching today was also rediscovered and shows us the skills of that Swindon Town stalwart and legend, Harold Fleming - they even named a road after him in Swindon, Fleming Way.

Not only was I interested in the player in the typical heavy kit and boots of the day (we're talking early 1900's here) but also how much Swindon Town's ground had changed over the last century or so (I'm also a great fan of sporting architecture).

The film can be clicked to at the bottom of the following web article. Hope you find it as fascinating as  I did. Enjoy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2009/01/28/harold_fleming_footage_feature.shtml

Who Were Eastern Rangers?

Early histories of clubs always throw up enthralling questions. One that intrigues me is the identity of the team who provided the very first opposition for Dial Square, the group of munitions workers whose club ultimately metamorphosed into the famous Arsenal FC.

The match against Eastern, played on the Isle of Dogs in the east end of London, is recorded as a win for Dial Square but newspaper accounts etc give no indication of who Eastern Rangers were. My belief is that they were connected with one of the local railway companies in London, and certainly there were a number of staff connections between the Royal Arsenal, where the men of Dial Square worked, and the London railway companies.

There is even more debate about the origins of Arsenal FC at the site of the Arsenal History Society:

http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk/

Current Reading

Arthur Kinnaird: First Lord Of Football

By +Andy Mitchell, former head of communications at the Scottish F.A.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1463621116/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00

A very insightful biography of the great founder of modern soccer. An all-round sportsman, in addition to his prowess on the soccer field (celebrating with a hand stand after winning the F.A. cup), a philanthropist and avid supporter of social change in the Victorian era. At the same time observing immense humility - gave away most of his wealth and, can you believe it?, lost his F.A. cup winning medals - he considered them of no value (can't imagine that now!!).

I would highly recommend.

Snow, Snow, Snow

After suffering the cold blasts of snowy weather recently I was intrigued to view these vids on the BBC sports web site:

"When Snow And Football Collide" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21082815

"When The Big Freeze Hit The F.A. Cup" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20921260