| Full name | Old Harrovian Association Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Blues [1] | |
| Founded | 1876 | |
| Ground | Harrow School Sports Centre | |
| League | Arthurian League Division One | |
The Old Harrovian Association Football Club, more informally known as the Old Harrovians, is a football club from London, England, for former pupils of Harrow School.
Although occasional games had been played by sides made up exclusively of former pupils of the school, [2] the first such recorded match taking place in 1859, [3] the origins of the club came from the Harrow Chequers, a club formed for current and former pupils. In 1876, a new club developed solely for former pupils, making its first appearance in October 1876 against Harrow School itself. The first lineup for the Old Harrovians was: R. de C. Welch (captain), and E.E. Bowen, backs; M.P. Betts and F.D. Simpson, upper side, F.B. Howell and G. Macan, lower side, C. Colbeck, C.C. Bowley, H.F. Blaine, G. Lane, A.A. Hadow, and H. Carlisle) [4]
Under its new guise, the team played in the FA Cup competitions regularly in the late 1870s and 1880s. Though they lost 2–1 to the Royal Engineers in the first round of the 1876–77 FA Cup, the 1877–78 FA Cup saw the team's greatest success. They defeated 105th Regiment 2–0 in the first round, and then beat 1st Surrey Rifles in the second. Following a 2–2 draw against Cambridge University in the third round, the first replay also ended 2–2, before a second replay saw Old Harrovians win 2–0 to advance to the fourth round. Of the three-match battle with Cambridge, The Athletic World commented that Cambridge "was only beaten by the 'Ex-Harrow Boys' after two drawn games, Harrow playing men who would have otherwise have played in the opposing team." [5]
In the fourth round, they defeated Upton Park 3–1, putting them into the semi-finals and needing only to beat the Royal Engineers to face the Wanderers (who had a bye) in the final. However, they lost 2–1 in the semi-finals on 16 March 1878; the Harrovians took the lead, but, just before half-time, captain R. de C. Welch suffered an eye injury, which required him to go in goal for the remainder of the match, "weakening his side considerably"; the Sappers duly scored twice in the second half to go through. [6] There were obviously no hard feelings between the sides, as the Sappers nominated the Old Harrovian half-back Beaumont Jarrett as its umpire for the final. [7]
The following season saw another cup run as the team beat Southill Park 8–0 in the first round [8] and Panthers 3–0 in the second, before losing 2–0 to Nottingham Forest in their third match.
From then onwards, the club's fortunes diminished; in the 1879–80 FA Cup they lost 2–1 to Finchley in the first round. In 1880–81, they drew with Maidenhead United in the first round, and then lost in a replay. In the 1881–82 FA Cup, they beat Olympic 4–2 in the first round before a 7–1 defeat to Swifts in the second.
The club did not appear in FA Cup again until 1885–86, first talking a walkover over St James, beating Old Foresters 2–1, but were then disqualified in their third round match against Swifts. In the 1886–87 FA Cup, Old Westminsters defeated Old Harrovians 4–0 in the first round. In the 1887–88 FA Cup, the Old Harrovians defeated Hendon 4–2 in the first round but lost to the Old Brightonians in the second, a match which would be their last appearance in the proper rounds of the FA Cup.
In the 1888–89 season, due to the large increase in entrants, the FA Cup started to incorporate qualifying rounds. That season, the Old Harrovians defeated Rochester 4–2 in the first qualifying round, but lost 1–0 to Crusaders of Brentwood in the next match. The following season, the club lost their first qualifying match 4–2 to Norwich Thorpe, a result which was repeated in 1890–91 when they were defeated by Gravesend. The last recorded entry for the club was in 1892–93, losing to Old Wykehamists F.C. in the preliminary round. [9]
Harrow School abolished "soccer" in 1927, which meant that the Old Harrovians disbanded in 1931, with no new players coming through. The school relaxed its stance 30 years later and the club was re-established in 1963. [10] It is a member of the Arthurian League, which the club has won on three occasions, and it has won the Arthur Dunn Cup once. [11]
The club colours are dark blue and white, taken from the old Chequers colours, but more recently as solid dark blue shirts and shorts. [12]
The club plays on the school's playing fields. [13]
Wanderers Football Club was an English association football club. It was founded as "Forest Football Club" in 1859 in Leytonstone. In 1864, it changed its name to "Wanderers", a reference to it never having a home stadium, instead playing at various locations in London and the surrounding area. Comprising mainly former pupils of the leading English public schools, Wanderers was one of the dominant teams in the early years of organised football and won the inaugural Football Association Challenge Cup in 1872. The club won the competition five times in total, including three in succession from 1876 to 1878, a feat which has been repeated only once.
The Old Etonians Association Football Club is an English association football club whose players are alumni of Eton College, in Eton, Berkshire.
The 1871–72 FA Cup is the modern era name of the 1871–72 Football Association Challenge Cup, the first staging of the Football Association Challenge Cup, the oldest association football competition in the world. Fifteen of the association's fifty member clubs entered this tournament, although three withdrew without contesting. Wanderers successfully pursued on 16 March 1872, at Kennington Oval, London the first FA Cup defeating the Royal Engineers by a single goal, made by Morton Betts, who was playing under the pseudonym A. H. Chequer.
The 1872 FA Cup final was a football match between Wanderers and Royal Engineers on 16 March 1872 at Kennington Oval in London. It was the final of the first staging of the Football Association Challenge Cup, which became the primary cup competition in English football and the oldest football competition in the world. Fifteen teams entered the competition in its first season and, due to the rules in place at the time, Wanderers reached the final having won only one match in the four preceding rounds. In the semi-finals, they drew with the Scottish club Queen's Park, but reached the final when the Scots withdrew from the competition as they could not afford to return to London for a replay.
The Old Foresters Football Club is an association football club made up exclusively of former pupils of Forest School, located in Epping Forest, Walthamstow, London, England.
The 1876 FA Cup final was an association football match between Wanderers F.C. and Old Etonians F.C. on 11 March 1876 at Kennington Oval in London. It was the fifth final of the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup. The Wanderers had won the Cup on two previous occasions. The Etonians were playing in their second consecutive final, having lost in the 1875 match after a replay. Both teams had conceded only one goal in the four rounds of the competition prior to the final. In the semi-finals, the Wanderers defeated the Swifts and the Etonians beat the 1874 Cup winners Oxford University.
The 1878 FA Cup final was an association football match between Wanderers F.C. and Royal Engineers A.F.C. on 23 March 1878 at Kennington Oval in London. It was the seventh final of the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup. Wanderers had won the Cup in the previous two seasons and on four previous occasions in total, including the first FA Cup final in 1872, in which they defeated the Engineers. The Engineers had also won the Cup, having defeated Old Etonians in the 1875 final.
Reginald Courtenay Welch was an English footballer, a key figure in the early years of the sport. He played for the Wanderers in the FA Cup Finals of 1872 and 1873, and also played for England in the first ever international match. During his career he appeared both in goal and as a defender.
Old Westminsters F.C. is an association football club composed of former pupils of Westminster School, London, England. They play in the Arthurian League.
Thomas Bridges Hughes was an English amateur footballer who was the first player to score two goals in an FA Cup Final, with Wanderers in 1876. He subsequently had a long career as a schoolteacher.
The Old Wykehamist Association Football Club is an English association football club whose players are alumni of Winchester College, in Winchester, Hampshire.
Hendon Football Club was an English association football club from Hendon, today in the London Borough of Barnet, founded in 1876.
Clopton Allen Lloyd-Jones was an English businessman and amateur sportsman, best known for football and cricket. He played for the Clapham Rovers when they won the FA Cup in 1880 and was selected, but did not play, for Wales as an international.
Harrow Chequers Football Club was a football club from London, England, from 1865 to 1876. Derived from former pupils of Harrow School, the club was involved in the formation of the FA Cup in 1871. It was slated to play in three of the first six FA Cup competitions in the 1870s, but they forfeited each time, and never contested an FA Cup match as the Chequers. One of their players, however, Morton Betts, is remembered for scoring the first goal in the first ever FA Cup Final in 1872.
Southill Park F.C. was an English association football club, originally from Hampstead in London.
South Reading was an English association football club based in Reading.
Charles James Longman was a member of the Longman publishing family, who also played in the second FA Cup final for Oxford University.
Matthew George Farrer was an English footballer and barrister, who won two FA Cup runners-up medals, and who also had great success in rowing.
James Henry Cowan was an Army officer, who played in the 1878 FA Cup final for the Royal Engineers A.F.C., and represented Great Britain in shooting at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
Herbert Shelley Bevington was an English footballer who played for Clapham Rovers in the 1879 FA Cup final.
