Football news 1838 to 1849

Football news 1838 to 1849

This page presents a collection of newspaper reports on football played across the country before the game was officially codified. These reports highlight early rules and terminology that are now obsolete. The excerpts are sourced from Bell’s Life in London Sporting Chronicle, a popular newspaper of the time. The date stated is when the excerpt was published and is followed by the page number.

A rouge

A "rouge" was a method of scoring used in some early forms of football, particularly in the Eton Field Game and some other pre-codified versions of the sport.

• A rouge was awarded when the ball was kicked near the goal and touched by an attacking player before it went out of play beyond the goal line.
• It functioned somewhat like a secondary chance to score, similar to a try in rugby.
• If a team accumulated a certain number of rouges, they could be used to determine the winner if no goals were scored.

Through‐goals and by‐goals

• Through-goals were scored when the ball passed between the posts of the goal. Often the height a goal could be scored at was not determined, on other occasions a "crossbar" was used, normally a tape of rope.
• There is not a lot of evidence of by-goals. However, it is believed that it was scored when a player touched the ball down behind the opposition goal line, similar to a try in modern rugby.

Shy (Eton Wall Game)

• The Eton Wall Game is only played at Eton.
• The purpose of the game is to score a ‘shy’ by running a ball up a curved brick wall built in 1717. 
• Once a ‘shy’ has been achieved, players can attempt to convert the ‘shy’ into a goal. 
• The field has two ‘goals’, one an old garden door, the other a tree.

Rise

• Another term for a shot on goal.

1838

25th March .P4

“A match at foot-ball will be played at the cricket ground Leicester, on Good Friday next,between eleven (principally printers) from Derby, and the same number from Leicester. The winners to challenge an equal number from any town in England, for a purse not exceeding  £25.”

1839

13th January .P4

“Foot‐ball: Last week a match took place in a field near Dragley Beck, between the men of leather and the other tradesmen of Ulverstone. The shoemakers, etc, challenged the other parties and it was eventually agreed that each side should have 15 men. The ball was placed about the centre of the ground, and one from each side stood twenty yards from it. At a given signal the two opponents rushed forward, and the representative of leather, Roger Gaskell, took the ball in grand style, thereby winning the gloves. The action then became general, but the leather was forced to be content with the laurels already won, as the other party won every bye that was played. Many of the gentle craft were good millers and carried on the contest toughly, but their opponents played more scientifically, and out manoeuvred them, and carried the day in triumph.”

31st March .P4

“There will be a foot‐ball match for a sum of £20 at the Buffery, one mile from Dudley, between the signs of the White Lion and the Barley Mow, to‐morrow; to commence at ten o’clock.”

1840

8th March .P4

“The great Leicestershire cricket and foot‐ball club will play the Caldecourt Rutland Club for £5, or run them a steeple race of 2 miles.” 

1841

5th December .P2

 “Foot‐ball: Twenty Boltonians are prepared to play at foot‐ball with twenty of the best men in the Rifle Regiment now stationed at Bolton, for £10 a side; to come off on New Year’s Day, in the neighbourhood of Bolton, providing the regiment be stationed in or near Bolton. The veteran Ben Hart is a player, and is appointed to pick out the men of Bolton, and unless approved of by him, such person or persons will not be allowed to play in the match. The money is ready at his house , where alone arrangements can be made.”

12th December .P4 (match played on December 25th. Report below)

“Foot‐ball: The Body‐guard Club, held at the Grapes Inn, Baillie‐street, Rochdale, accepts the challenge of the Fear‐nought Club to play them at foot‐ball‐for their proposed sum‐two games out of three, twelve on each side. After that they will play them for half a barrel of Old Tom, one single game; the Fear‐nought Club to fix the time as early as possible.”

26th December .P4

“Foot‐ball: In the neighbourhood of Four Lane Ends, there are fifteen or twenty young lads ready to play a similar number of men in the world, for £20 a side, or for as much more as may be agreed on; and they will give or take reasonable expenses for the match to be made. Their money is ready at Mr Alex Wadsworth’s, the Hole in the Wall in the township of Blackburn.”

1842

December 25th
”Foot‐ball: The 25th of December being the day appointed by the Body Guards and Fearnought Clubs for the game at Foot‐ball alluded to by us a short time since, both parties met at the time apponted, and after the usual preliminaries, the ball was placed in the middle of the field, and both parties, at the fire of the pistol, started for the game, the Fearnoughts getting the first kick, and in two minutes put the ball on their opponents’ headland. This they did five times in about the same amount of time each, the crowd being so dense that it was not possible to put it over the fence. The sixth round (one of the Body Guards being tired) putting another person not connected with the game to kick for him, and their own umpire declaring it foul play according to the rules agreed to by both parties, decided the game. The term headland means, in Lancashire, each extremity of the field.”

Body Gaurds 0 - Fearnought 6

25th September .P4
“Foot Ball: Eight gentlemen, from Hampton, in Arden, will, we are informed, play a match at foot‐balls with the same number of Bickenhill for a dinner, and a bottle of wine each, and that the challenging party can be heard of at the Engine Inn, Hampton.”

2nd October .P3
“The gentlemen of Hampton‐in‐Arden having challenged to kick football against the parish of Bickenhill, eight on either side, on the part of Bickenhill I have to say in reply, that we shall not be able to find so large a number as eight; but, for the sake of a match, are willing to find six, to kick against six of the Hampton gentlemen‐the match to come off within a fortnight.”

23rd October .P3
“A meeting was held at the Clock public house, Bickenhill, Warwickshire, on the 15th inst, to draw up articles, and to decide upon the day and place for the match at football, between six gentlemen of the above parish and six gentlemen of Hampton, when it was decided to come off at Hampton, in Arden, on the 2nd of Nov, for a bottle of wine and dinner each. The length between goals to be ten score yards, width of goals ten feet, height six feet, and to be the best of three goals.”

("inst.", abbreviation for instante mense, meaning a date of the current month, such as "the 5th inst.")

13th November .P3
“The match between the twelve gentlemen (six of Hampton and of Bickenhill) came off, says a correspondent, on the 2nd inst, much to the gratification and amusement of a numerous and respectable assemblage of persons. The game lasted between two and three hours, when the Bickenhill gents were declared the winners (getting nine by‐goals and two through‐goals, the other party
obtaining two by‐goals and not one through goal, thus beating the challenging party on their own ground.”

Hampton 2 by-goals 0 through-goals - Bickenhill 9 by-goals 2 through-goals

20th November .P4
“The Whitford lads having been disappointed in making a match last year with the Fieldhead lads, near Rochdale, who had at the time a game in hand, are now anxious to kick the ball with them for a sum of money, to come off on Newmarket Monday, and toss for choice of ground.”

1843 
12th February .P4
“Foot‐ball Challenge: An excellent match at foot‐ball took place at Thurstone lately, between six of the celebrated players of that place and six from Totties, which ended with neither party getting a goal. The latter is prepared to make a fresh match on the following terms, vis‐six or eight players on each side, two goals out of three; to come off at Shrovetide, half‐way between their respective homes; for £5 a side. The money is always ready at Mr Charles Whitehead’s, the Blue Cap Inn, Totties. Thurstonland can also be accomodated on the same terms. A letter will meet with attention.”

26th February .P4

East Ilsley 2 - West Ilsley 0

“Foot‐ball: The youths of East and West Ilsley, Berkshire, eleven a side, met on the Downs last week to try their skill and activity at foot‐ball. The East Ilsley being too powerful for their opponents won the first two goals easily, which decided the match.”

7th May .P3:

Flecknoe 2 - Grandborough 0

“Match at Football: A football match for £3 a side, between twelve young men of Flecknoe, and the same number of Grandborough, came of on Monday, April 17, in a meadow in the parish of Willoughby, Warwickshire. Gradborough had gained some notoriety for football playing, having played several matches with different parishes around, and always came off victorious, which caused their backers to put great confidence in them, and to offer great odds to them; in fact, on the morning of playing they offered 100 to 1, and and settled down to 12 to 1 against Flecknoe, which was taken freely. After playing eight hours, much to the surprise and mortification of the knowing ones, Flecknoe succeeded in gaining two goals, and therefore came off victorious.”

31st December .P4

“Foot‐ball: The landlord of the Royal Oak, Pendlebury, near Manchester, intends giving a treat to those who are fond of foot‐ball playing on New Year’s Day; the balls to be thrown up at 11 o’clock a.m. Eleven games to clear the field, after which those who have joined in the sport will be regaled free of expense, with ale and cheese and bread.”

26th November .P4

Collegers 0 - Oppidans 8 shies

”This match,which was to have taken place on Tuesday last, came off on Thursday in the playing fields at Eton College, in the presence of a goodly muster of old Etonians. For the first three quarters of an hour no advantage was gained on either side, but the Oppidans left off with 8 shies, no goal being got on either side.”

1844

7th January .P4

“Football: Twelve men from Foolstone, near Holmforth, will play at football against twelve of Bolton, in Lancashire, for any sum from £25 to £50. If not accepted, six men from Foolstone will match against six men from Thurlstone for £5 a side. The needful will be ready at any time at Jesse Howarth’s, Rose and Crown, Sudehill, Newmill.”

10th March .P4

“Football: Ten men of Denby will play ten of Thurlstone a match at football for from £2 to £5 a side; if this does not suit they will play either Penistone, Hoylandswaine, or Silkstone upon the same terms. The weights of the men not to exceed 10st 7lb each. Their money is ready at John Firth’s, the Star Inn, Denby. This challenge will remain open one month.First come first served.”

17th March .P4

“Football: A football match took place on Hampton Court Green on Tuesday last between 12 men of the F and 12 men of the D troop of the 13th Light Dragoons for a supper, which, after a severe struggle, was won by the D troop. Between 30 and 40 sat down to an excellent spread at the Toy Tap.”

31st March .P4

“Football: Eight youths of Penistone will play eight from the upper end of Thurlstone a game at football. In one month after the match if made for £25 a side. To contend either in Sheffield, Hyde Park, or on Doncaster Race Ground. Five pounds is now in the hands of William Marsh, Horns Tavern, Penistone, to make a match.”

15th December .P4

“Foot Ball: The King’s Guards of Moss Hill, being a party of ten persons, are willing to play a match at foot ball with a party of the same number from any mill in Rochdale, for £5 or £10 a side, on Christmas Day next. They may be heard any day at Mr Holt’s, the White Lion Inn, Lower‐place, Rochdale.”

1845

26th January .P4

“Foot‐ball: Three persons are willing to play at foot‐ball with any three in England, for £10 a side. Their money is ready at George Booth’s or WM (Heap’s), Holmfirth, and will give or take expenses to make the match. If not accepted, one out of the three will kick three rises against any man in England.”

“Foot‐ball: Six or eight men from Thurlstone are willing to play the same number from Southouse a game at foot‐ball, and not hand‐ball, in one month after the match is made for from £5 to £10 a side. Their money is ready at John Sanderson’s Blue Ball Inn, Thurlstone. Hepworth can be accomodated on the same terms. A free £5 note will be given tomorrow (Monday) to be played for at football, at Mr William Seddon’s, Moss Inn, Kearsley, to all England at an entry of 2s 6d, which is to be spent on a supper.”

9th February .P4

“KINGSTON: This old English sport, which has from time immemorial been carried on in the ancient town of Kingston, was this year exhibited on Shrove Tuesday with, if possible, increased spirit, and not only nearly the whole of the labouring classes, but most of the principal tradesmen, and several of the gentry of the neighbourhood joined in the sport. Shortly before 11 o’clock a band of music, accompanied by a number of flags and banners, and followed by the players, paraded the town. The ball, which was handsomely gilt, was carried before the procession, which stopped in the centre of the market‐place, and, upon the report of a pistol, the ball was kicked off by T.Frecker, Esq, the oldest inhabitant, and the players having divided themselves into two bodies, Thames‐street, and Town’s‐end, the game commenced, amid loud buzzas. Both parties exerted themselves to the utmost, and numerous kicks, bumps, thumps, and falls were received by the players, some of whom also had the advantage of being ducked in
the creek, in their struggle to get possession of the ball. The game continued until five o’clock, and the party in whose possession the ball remains when the clock strikes is considered the victor. On this occasion the honour was awarded to Thames‐street. The band then paraded the town again, after which those of the labouring classes who had joined in the game received refreshment tickets, which are provided by prescription of the gentry. The town of Kingston on these occasions, presents a very singular appearance, all the shops being closed, and the windows barricaded. In fact, it is a complete holiday, and “foot‐ball day” is quite an
event in Kingston.”

“On Shrove Tuesday, at Sedgefield, in the county of Durham, the annual and ancient game of football between the countrymen and the tradesmen (said to be the charter of the church), was played for the 818th time, and, after a severe game on both sides for the space of 4 1/2 hours, the countrymen were declared victorious, and, John Hallimond, the noted kicker, was carried shoulder high to the Bullring, amidst the buzzas of his partizans.”

“Joseph Taylor will play a game at football and a game at cricket for £1 each with any 10st man in Northampton. His money will be ready at the Knightly Arms, Commercial Street, Northampton, to‐morrow (Monday).”

20th March .P4
Foot Ball: Derby‐It appears that the magistrates are determined to put down the custom of playing on Shrove Tueseday at Derby, for two men named Basford and Wardle appeared on Thursday week on summons for taking part in the game, and Mr E.Davenport, Mr King (publican), for aiding and abbeting. Wardle was fined 5s, Basford 10s, Mr King 20s, Mr Williamson 30s, and Mr Davenport 40s, and each also to pay the costs.”

7th December .P6

Collegers 7 shies Oppidans 6 shies

“The annual match between Collegers and Oppidans took place on the 2nd inst, and, as was expected, proved a most exciting and equal game. Previous to the commencement, from the known equality of the combatants, very slight odds were offered on either party. The “stamina and undoubted pluck” of the Tugs manifested itself, as usual, on this occasion; and although the Oppidans proved themselves most formidable opponents, the Collegers ultimately came off victorious.”

Collegers: W.J.Smith(Capt.), F.J.Coleridge, H.J.Simonds, A.Earle, H.S.Mackarness, M.E.Stanborough, C.W.Moffat, W.A.Gully, C.Booth, F.E.Stacey, F.Tarver.
Oppidans: C.V.Spencer, A.F.Holland, J.C.Patteson, F.H.Whymper, W.S.Deacon, C.T.McCausland, F.S.P.Pipe‐Wolferstan, P.W.Jones‐Batemen, Johnstone, A.R.Thompson, Marshall. (C.V.Spencer played instead of H.A.Bosanquet).

21st December .P7
“Foot‐Ball: Six tailors of Rugby will play any six men in or within five miles of Rugby a game at foot‐ball, for £5. They can be heard at Mr T.Townsend’s, Bee Hive, Rugby.”

1846

8th December .P7
”Foot Ball: Four Upwards lads of Ashbourne, can be backed to play Robert Walker, and any three other Downwards men of Ashbourne, at foot ball for £1 or £5 a side, the goals to be half a mile assunder. They and their money will be at Mr John Mire’s, the Football Inn, Ashbourne, on Tuesday evening next.”

12th December .P7

Collegers 6 shies - Oppidans 0

”Although the Oppidans had every advantage, both in weight and choice, the Collegers proved victorious by six shies.”

Collegers: W.J.Smith (Capt.), H.J.Cheales, C.Booth, F.E.Stacey, Mr F.Tarver,Yonge, W.A.Norris, W.M.Wollaston, A.D.Coleridge, C.C.James, A.J.Coleridge.

Oppidans: A.De Rutzen (Capt.), A.R.Thompson, H.H.Tremayne, J.Aitken, R.J.Buller, R.B.H.Blundell, G.F.Slade, J.G.Suttie, F.R.Thakeray, J.A.Atkinson, Eden.

20th December .P7
“Foot Ball: A foot ball match will take place at Charleston, near Ashton‐under‐Lyme, on Friday, the 25th inst, between eight of their Charleston heroes, with John Greenwood from the United States of America, as backgroundsman, and eight of the Boston players, with Samuel o’the Georges and Long Tom Kershaw of Waterhouses, Lancashire, as backgroundsmen. The ball to be turned down at
eleven o’clock a.m., and taken up precisely at three o’clock p.m.; the party getting most goals to be declared the winners. The parties will then adjourn to the Old Ship public‐house, Charleston, to partake of a substantial dinner. The losing parties pay the piper. Mr Samuel Leech of Boston House has consented to officiate as umpires.”

1847

10th January .P7
Wrestling: Eli Hoyle of Holmforth will wrestle or play at football with John Turton of Underbank, for £5 each game. The man and money are ready at the British Queen, Norridge.”

26th December .P6
“Foot Ball: On Monday, the 3rd of January, Mr John Greenhalgh of the Hare and Hounds Inn, near Bolton, in order to revive the old sport of foot ball, will put up an excellent cheese of 40lb weight, to be played for by an unlimited number of members; the arrangements to be agreed upon by the parties entering before going to the field, according to the old Lancashire fashion of drawing sides. A free ball will be given, and all entries must be made before eleven o’clock in the morning.”

1848

10th December .P6

Collegers 14 shies - Oppidans 0

“The annual match between the Collegers and Oppidans came off on Thursday, the 30th ult, in the presence of a numerous and highly interested assemblage. It was evident from the commencement of the match that the Oppidans, though many of them played very pluckily, had no chance against the fine play and superior tactics of the opposite eleven. During the first half hour the
Oppidans were quickly beaten off their ground, and several “shies” were obtained; the play of the Collegers seemed to improve as the match went on, and they gallantly defeated their opponents by 14 shies. It is but fair to add, that though the Oppidans were decidedly inferior to the Collegers in play, they were more than a match for them in wordy warfare.”

Collegers: H.J.Cheales (Capt.), F.E.Stacey, Mr Yonge, W.A.Norris, W.M.Wollaston, A.D.Coleridge, C.C.James, A.J.Coleridge, H.Drake, G.A.Caley, G.C.Green.
Oppidans: R.J.Buller (Capt.), R.B.H.Blundell, J.G.Suttie, Lord Pevensey, H.Aitken, Luttrell, L.Guy-Phillips, T.R.Crosse, E.Hoskins, Burder, D.F.Buckley.

1849
4th March .P6

“Foot‐Ball: A match came off on Shrove Tuesday, between ten single men of Willington and ten single men of Eggington, for £2, which was won by the Willington men, after one of the best games ever witnessed on the lawn at Eggington. It lasted two hours and twenty minutes, and it was a fair kick and trip game. If the Eggington men are not satisfied the same ten men will play a return for £5 a side; but they hope the “keeper” will be more cautious, and see that the yard dog is properly secured or a muzzle put upon him, for should he break loose again he may get his head cracked.”

22nd April .P7

“Foot Ball: A correspondent at Daventry says that a game was commenced on Easter Monday, between 11 of Flecknoe and the like number of Staverton, which was continued until the Wednesday, Staverton being the winners, the others not getting a goal.”

30th September .P6

THE SURREY CLUB: THE FIRST RECORDED FOOTBALL CLUB

“The Surrey Club, Kennington Oval ‐ The members of this and of the other clubs on this ground will hold their first winter weekly meeting on Wednesday next, at eight o’clock, when arrangements will be made for the formation of a foot‐ball club which it is intended to carry on during the winter and spring months. It has, therefore, been requested that the members will muster in strong force upon the occasion.”

7th October .P6

“THE SURREY CLUB: On Wednesday the first of the “weekly” meetings of this club was held at the Oval, when there was a serious attendance. In the course of the evening Mr Denison, who occupied the chair on the occasion, stated that they were all aware that by means of the devotion of the Oval for the purposes of cricket, the formation of a county club had been accomplished, and that thus they had been enabled in four years to resuscitate the game in Surrey so far as nearly to have placed her within that brief period in her former high position as a cricketing county. But there was another helpful vigorous game for which certain parts of Surrey had in bygone days been somewhat celebrated‐namely, “foot‐ball”. Some 60 years ago there was a gymnastic society, which had been established by gentlemen who were natives of Westmoreland and Cumberland for the cultivation and practice of their favourite sports,”wrestling” and “foot‐ball”. The first‐named of these sports the society had carried on upon the bowling green attached to the Belvedere Tavern at Pentonvillle, but the latter game was practised upon Kennington Common, where matches for small and large sums were played in the course of each year; the last of these contests had taken place in the summer of 1789, when twenty‐two gentlemen of Westmoreland were backed against twenty‐two gentlemen of Cumberland for one thousand  guineas; after a severe contest the gentlemen of the former county proved victorious. This was the last great match that was made, for, as several of her leading members retired from business, and went to live, some in the north and two in Gloucestershire, the “Gymnastic Society” was dissolved. Since that period, except upon two or three days in the year, the wrestling and foot‐ball play continued to dwindle, until at length Good Friday became the only day upon which they were brought into operation. Of these exhibitions Kennington Common still remained the scene for many years. At last, however, the wrestling was taken to private grounds, amongst which were those attached to a tavern at Kentish Town, then to the Eyre Arms, St John’s Wood, and at Highbury Barn, and eventually at Copenhagen House, where the matches were played in the present year. The foot‐ball playing had been abandoned in consequence of the want of room at the place where the other game had been taken to, and the result was that its practice had been discontinued in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. The only locality where the game could now be said to exist near to London was that of Kingston. Well, then, as the Surrey Club has resuscitated cricket at the Oval, he was anxious that that body should restore the equally healthful game of foot‐ball also to that district (hear,hear); with that in view he had drawn out some rules, which he would now submit for the approval of and adoption by that meeting. By the first of those rules it would be seen he proposed that the members of the Foot‐Ball Club should be confined to those gentlemen who belonged to one or other of the cricket clubs which met at the Oval (hear,hear). The rules were then read, and having been approved of, Mr F.Noad moved that
they be adopted. Mr White seconded the motion, which was then unanimously agreed to. The days for practice are every Wednesday and Saturday (the weather permitting), commencing in the first week of October, and ending the last week in April in each year. The gentlemen present enrolled themselves as members.

THE SURREY FOOT‐BALL CLUB RULES - The first non-school football rules

“1.The Club to consist only of such gentlemen as are members of the Surrey Cricket Club, the Surrey Paragon Club, the South London Club, and the Union Club.

2.That a subscription of five shillings by any one of the above‐named gentlemen shall entitle him to all the priveleges of the ‘Surrey Foot‐ball Club’. That the money so subscribed shall be appropriated to the defrayal of the expenses of the club, namely the cost of the balls and ropes, and the payment of a person who shall keep the balls &c in proper condition. The members shall dine together at the end of the season, and any surplus of the subscriptions which may then be in hand, after the payment of all expenses, shall be applied to such dinner.

3.That the days for practice be (weather permitting) every Wednesday and Saturday in the afternoon, commencing the first week in October, and continuing until the last week in April each year, the play to begin at three o’clock.

4.That the sides shall consist of not more than twenty‐two each; but if that number of members shall not be in attendance, then of any smaller number, to be arranged by those present.

5.That wilful kicking shall not be allowed.

6.That the ball shall be tossed up in the centre of the ground, and the game be determined in favour of that side which shall first kick the ball over the “goal rope” of their opponents. Should the ball be kicked over the fence on either side of the ground, then the ball when regained shall be tossed up in the centre of the ground in a line with the place where it went over.”