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