St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals F.C.

Last updated

St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals Football Club
Nickname(s)SBLHFC
Founded1996 through merger of two older sides
Constituent elements:
The London Hospital Medical College F.C.
St. Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College F.C.
GroundChislehurst Sports Ground
Capacity500
LeagueBUCS 4B
Website Club website

St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals FC ("SBLHFC") are the football club of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, having been formed from the merger of two formerly distinct hospital football clubs each with a long history.

Contents

History

Football at St Bartholomew's Hospital [1]

Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
1882 kit

An association football club was formed at St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College in 1879, the initiative coming in response to the start of inter-hospital competitions. St Bart's entered the FA Cup in 1881–82, and were drawn to face the five-time winners the Wanderers in the first round. However, the Wanderers were unable to field a team as their members - drawn from elite public schools such as Eton and Harrow - had chosen to play for their respective old boys' teams instead. It was the last time the Wanderers entered the FA Cup and St Bart's, playing in black shirts with the hospital crest on them, lost in the second round to Great Marlow. [2]

The following year a United Hospitals club entered the Cup rather than each hospital sending a team, [3] the Medicals beating the works side Olympic in the first round at Upton Park, scoring three times in the first twenty minutes, [4] but lost at Windsor in the second, the home side scoring two goals in the final three minutes. [5]

The club also reached the final of the London Senior Cup in 1890–91, beating Millwall in the semi-final, only to be beaten 6–0 by Royal Arsenal at the Oval. [6]

Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
United Hospitals kit [7]

Until 1892 the various Athletic Clubs were separately maintained by the members of the individual clubs, with St Bart's playing at the Spotted Dog ground in Upton Park, [8] but in 1892 it was finally decided that a fixed subscription should be paid by all students, and should be collected and administered by the School authorities. An entrance fee of five guineas entitled students to life membership of the Abernethian Society, Athletic, Boxing, Boating, Cricket, Lawn Tennis, Rugby, Swimming and Association Football Clubs which led to the acquisition of a sports ground by the College Committee at Winchmore Hill for £8,000 and a pavilion was erected and suitable pitches and tennis courts were laid out. The ground was taken over by the Amalgamated Clubs in 1895. Prior to the acquisition of the sports ground at Winchmore Hill, the club played their home games at the Spotted Dog ground at Upton Lane. [9]

Around 1935, the students expressed the wish that the college would provide them with larger playing fields than those then in use at Winchmore Hill, as these were no longer adequate to meet the needs of the large number of students at the college. It was proposed, therefore, that an attempt be made to find a new ground, which would be large enough to cater for the student's sporting requirements, and in 1937 the college purchased a new site at Foxbury, Chislehurst in Kent (now South London).

The new sports ground in Chislehurst was bought to take into account the increased popularity of sport as part of a wider fitness craze and the growth of sporting societies at St Bartholomew's. Money was borrowed to build a pavilion and the student union was charged a higher rent. In June 1938 the pavilion was completed, and after the grounds had been leveled and returfed, three rugby pitches, and a football and hockey pitch were opened. Local residents were invited to the opening ceremony in an effort to ‘foster association’ with the hope of securing donations. Other sports facilities followed.

The site of the Medical College of St Bartholomew's at Charterhouse Square can also claim to be the birthplace of association football and Charterhouse football is regarded as a major influence in the development of the global game. Students at Charterhouse played football within the cloisters of the old Carthusian monastery and as space was limited the players depended on dribbling skills. Significantly, members of the football club at Charterhouse School at the Charterhouse Square site attended the original meeting of the Football Association in 1863 when it was decided by a group of interested teams to limit handling and hacking and to develop the art of football and St Bartholomew's Hospital were amongst their first opponents, visiting them as early as 1856. [10] [11]

Football at The London Hospital [12]

Whilst football had been played at The London for many years previously, in 1893, for the first time, the students of The London had their own sports ground at Lower Edmonton which had been leased by the Clubs Union which itself had been founded in the same year. The college then later moved their sports ground to Hale End in Walthamstow which continued to be used and improved including the building of a new and better pavilion following its destruction by fire one night in 1956 until the merger and its later sale in 2000.

1995 onwards - post-merger

The teams from Royal London Hospital and St Bartholomew's Hospital merged in 1995 following the union of St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College and the London Hospital Medical College with Queen Mary and Westfield College, now known as Queen Mary, University of London to form St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Likewise, St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals FC was formed and have since played at the previous ground of St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College, Chislehurst following the sale of the previous ground of The London Hospital Medical College at Hale End by Queen Mary.

Past Club Presidents

NameYear
Shamiran Natdan2023/24
Rayan Zafar2022/23
Nikhil Sharma2021/22
Diogo Preto2020/21
Sepehr Heravi2019/20
Ben Kerr2018/19
James Eaton2017/18
Tony Paluch2016/17
Chris Briggs2015/16
Theo Perkins2014/15
Chris Pieri2013/14
Andrew Clarke2012/13
Adam Burt2011/12
Sungjae Hwang2010/11
Joseph Weston-Price2009/10
Robert Stephenson2008/09
Sonpreet Rai2007/08
Adrian Conner2006/07
Jaimin Patel2005/06
James Sarkodieh2004/05
Ashley Walden2003/04
David Graham2002/03
Tom Crompton2001/02
Ed Caswell2000/01
Dan Augustine1999/2000
John Beachamp1998/99
Greg Shaw1997/98
Jeremy Mckenzie1996/97
Mark William and Joe Hall1995/96

Team colours

The current colours are based on the colours of St Bartholomew's Hospital, black and white. The hospital's black and white shield has been the badge of St Bartholomew's Hospital for more than 500 years; it was the coat of arms used by John Wakering, the Master of the hospital from 1423 to 1462. [13]

Competition

The club currently has three teams who compete in the BUCS league and cups, the LUSL league and cups and the National Association of Medical Schools tournament. In addition, the 1st team compete in the UH Challenge Cup, the 2nd team in the UH Reserves Cup and the 3rd in the UH Vase with the other London Medical Schools: Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Students FC, Imperial Medics FC, King's College School of Medicine FC & St. George's Hospital Medical School FC. The Challenge Cup has been won by St Bartholomew's Medical College FC on 12 occasions (the last in 1947) and by The London Hospital Medical College FC 16 times (the last in 1992). The most recent success was winning the UH Challenge Cup in 2015, beating St George's on penalties.

Since the merger of St Bartholomew's Medical College and The London Hospital Medical College with Queen Mary, University of London in 1996 the football club has also participated in the Merger Cup.

Chislehurst

Chislehurst Entrance Sign Chissy barts.jpg
Chislehurst Entrance Sign

St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospitals FC play their home games on the east side of the Chislehurst site, the old ground of St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College bought by the college in 1937. Current facilities include three football pitches, two rugby pitches, a cricket pitch and a grass tennis court. During the second world war the sports ground at Chislehurst was taken over by the Army and trenches were dug across the ground to prevent the landing of aeroplanes, but some pitches were usable and continued to be used.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Enfield</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Enfield is a London borough in Greater London, England. The main communities in the borough are Edmonton, Enfield, Southgate and Palmers Green. Enfield is an Outer London borough and forms part of North London, being the northernmost borough. The local authority is Enfield London Borough Council, based at Enfield Civic Centre. The borough's population is estimated to be 333,794.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Mary University of London</span> Public university in London, England

Queen Mary University of London is a public research university in Mile End, East London, England. It is a member institution of the federal University of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry</span> Medical and dental school in London, England

Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, commonly known as Barts or BL, is a medical and dental school in London, England. The school is part of Queen Mary University of London, a constituent college of the federal University of London, and the United Hospitals. It was formed in 1995 by the merger of the London Hospital Medical College and the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Bartholomew's Hospital</span> Hospital in the City of London

St Bartholomew's Hospital, commonly known as Barts, is a teaching hospital located in the City of London. It was founded in 1123 by Rahere, and is currently run by Barts Health NHS Trust.

Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club ("GKT") is the name given to the modern amalgam of three formerly distinct hospital rugby clubs each with a long history, having all been founded in the nineteenth century. The teams from Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital were the first to merge following the union of their respective Medical Departments. When King's College Hospital also merged in 1999 the King's College Hospital Rugby Football Club opted to remain separate and in so doing became an open rugby club that no longer represented the Hospital Medics. GKT is notable for having been part of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, and across its joint history has produced many international players.

The history of association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, stretches back at least to medieval times. Some predecessors of football may date back to ancient Greece and Rome, and similar games were played in ancient China and Japan. The history of football in Britain dates at least to the eighth century CE.

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.

Old Westminsters F.C. is an association football club composed of former pupils of Westminster School, London, England. They play in the Arthurian League.

Witton Football Club was a football club from Blackburn in Lancashire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Students RFC</span> Rugby team

Royal Free, University College and Middlesex Medical Students RFC is the rugby union club for UCL Medical School, which is part of the University of London. The rugby club is commonly referred to by its shortened name of RUMS RFC or RUMS Rugby. The club is registered with the RFU and plays in the traditional colours of the medical school: blue, yellow and black.

The West Kent Football Club was a 19th-century association football and rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Hospitals RFC</span> Rugby team

The United Hospitals Rugby Football Club represents the five medical schools in London, each of whom have their own distinct rugby clubs but from whom are picked a select fifteen to compete for UHRFC. The club exists to encourage and facilitate rugby at these institutions. It hosts the United Hospitals Cup, the oldest rugby cup competition in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barts and The London RFC</span> Rugby team

Barts and The London Rugby Football Club, also known as the Royal Hospitals Rugby Football Club, is the rugby club of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. They have held the United Hospitals Cup, the oldest rugby cup competition in the world, for 3 years (2022-2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imperial College School of Medicine Students' Union</span> Medical students union in London, England

Imperial College School of Medicine Students' Union (ICSMSU) is the students' union of the Imperial College School of Medicine. It is charged with representing and advocating for the educational, pastoral, social and extracurricular needs of all the undergraduate students within the Faculty of Medicine of Imperial College London, and is a constituent union of Imperial College Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C. is an English football club located in Thamesmead in the London Borough of Bexley currently managed by the boss himself, Alexander White. The club is affiliated to the Kent Football Association. The first team plays in the Southern Counties East League Division One, the reserves in the Kent County League and the veterans team in the Southern Vets League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Cook's Rugby Club</span> Defunct English amateur rugby union club, based in Ravensbourne, Kent

Thomas Cook’s amateur Rugby Football Club was founded in 1910 as part of a wider sports club established by the company in 1897, with the ground at Ravensbourne in Kent.
The first club president was Frank Henry Cook, who had played his rugby at Mill Hill School.
It ceased playing during both World Wars, and like many ‘house’ rugby clubs it no longer exists. At its most popular the club ran two XV's until it closed in 1966. During its lifetime the club played against well over 100 different clubs in London and the South East.
It also established a regular Easter tour to the Netherlands in 1958 playing RC Hilversum. which helped to promote Dutch rugby during the 1960s. The original tour fixture was filmed for Dutch cinemas and television in front of crowd of over 2,600 at the AGOVV Apeldoorn stadium in Apeldoorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Hospitals Lawn Tennis Club</span>

The United Hospitals' Lawn Tennis Club is the combined lawn tennis club of the five medical schools in London. The constituent medical schools collaboratively form a Men's and Ladies team which competes at a high standard against various organizations. The club plays annual matches against the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge. Additional opponents who have been played against include the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, the British Army, the London School of Economics, University College London and the Queen's Club. The individual medical schools also compete against one another in a tournament taking place over the summer. There is also a one-day mixed doubles tournament in the winter with individual pairs from each medical school competing against one another. Finally, there is the annual President's match, whereby the President chooses a team of alumni to play against a team chosen from the student body by the Men's and Women's captains. This match takes place at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Gitanos Football Club was an English association football club and one of the first members of the Football Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchmore Hill Cricket Club</span> Cricket team

Winchmore Hill Cricket Club is a cricket club in London, United Kingdom. The club was formed in 1880, and play their home games at The Paulin Ground in Winchmore Hill. The club competes in the Middlesex County Cricket League (MCCL), notably winning the Premier League in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winchmore Hill F.C.</span> Amateur London football club

Winchmore Hill Football Club is an amateur football club based in north London, United Kingdom. They are currently members of the Southern Amateur League Senior Division 2 and play at the Paulin Ground in Winchmore Hill.

References

  1. Waddington, Keir (2003). Medication Education at St Bartholomew's Hospital 1123-1995. The Boydell Press. ISBN   0 85115 919 2.
  2. Alcock, Charles (1882). Football Annual. p. 199.
  3. "Windsor 3-2 United Hospitals". Football: A Weekly Record of the Game: 155. 6 December 1882.
  4. "United Hospitals 3-0 Olympic". Football: A Weekly Record of the Game: 86. 8 November 1882.
  5. "report". Sporting Life: 4. 2 December 1882.
  6. "125 years of Arsenal history". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  7. Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual. p. 145.
  8. Alcock, Charles (1882). Football Annual. p. 199.
  9. "CHAPTER ONE: ORIGINS" (pdf). Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. "History of Association Football" . Retrieved 4 May 2012.
  11. Harvey, Adrian (2005). Football: The First Hundred Years : the Untold Story. Routledge. ISBN   0415350190.
  12. Ellis, Sir John (1987). LHMC 1785-1985 The story of the London Hospital Medical College England's first Medical School.
  13. "Badges" . Retrieved 4 May 2012.