Charles Clerke (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Charles John Clerke was an English amateur
footballer who scored the only goal in the 1879 FA Cup Final
.
Clerke was born at Hanover Square, London
and christened at St George's, Hanover Square in December 1857. He was the fourth child of Sir William Henry Clerke (1822–1882) from Clonmel
, County Tipperary
, Ireland who was Principal Clerk in the Treasury and succeeded to the title of 10th Baronet Clerke, of Hitcham on 16 February 1861.
and in 1878 joined the Old Etonians
football XI. He went up to Christ Church College
, Oxford University whom he represented at cricket
.
Having scored three goals in the Old Boys' run to the 1879 FA Cup Final
, he was selected at outside-left for the final itself, played at Kennington Oval on 29 March 1879. This was the Old Etonians third Final, whereas their opponents, Clapham Rovers
had reached the final for the first time. Clapham dominated the early stages of the final but the first half finished goalless. The only goal of the game came after 59 minutes, when "the energetic" Clerke scored from close range following a run from Harry Goodhart
. The Old Etonians thus claimed the cup for the first time in what was considered to be "the poorest FA Cup Final to date".
In March 1880, he was selected for the international match between England
and Wales
but withdrew with an injury.
He played cricket for several years in the 1880s for Shropshire
.
, Cambridge University as a Master of Arts. He gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the 62nd (Northumbrian) AA Brigade, Royal Artillery
(Territorial Army) and was killed at Dunkirk
between 27 May 1940 and 2 June 1940.
Clerke died on 7 November 1944, aged 87 at Farnborough Park
, Hampshire
.
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
footballer who scored the only goal in the 1879 FA Cup Final
1879 FA Cup Final
The 1879 FA Cup Final was contested by Old Etonians and Clapham Rovers at the Kennington Oval. Old Etonians won 1-0, the only goal scored by Charles Clerke.-The Final:...
.
Clerke was born at Hanover Square, London
Hanover Square, London
Hanover Square, London, is a square in Mayfair, London W1, England, situated to the south west of Oxford Circus, the major junction where Oxford Street meets Regent Street....
and christened at St George's, Hanover Square in December 1857. He was the fourth child of Sir William Henry Clerke (1822–1882) from Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
, Ireland who was Principal Clerk in the Treasury and succeeded to the title of 10th Baronet Clerke, of Hitcham on 16 February 1861.
Football career
Clerke was educated at Eton CollegeEton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and in 1878 joined the Old Etonians
Old Etonians F.C.
The Old Etonians Football Club is an English football club whose players are taken from previous attendees of Eton College, in Eton, Berkshire.-History:...
football XI. He went up to Christ Church College
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, Oxford University whom he represented at cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.
Having scored three goals in the Old Boys' run to the 1879 FA Cup Final
1879 FA Cup Final
The 1879 FA Cup Final was contested by Old Etonians and Clapham Rovers at the Kennington Oval. Old Etonians won 1-0, the only goal scored by Charles Clerke.-The Final:...
, he was selected at outside-left for the final itself, played at Kennington Oval on 29 March 1879. This was the Old Etonians third Final, whereas their opponents, Clapham Rovers
Clapham Rovers F.C.
Clapham Rovers was from its foundation in 1869 a leading English sports organisation in the two dominant codes of football, association football and rugby union. It was a prominent club in the late 19th century but is now defunct...
had reached the final for the first time. Clapham dominated the early stages of the final but the first half finished goalless. The only goal of the game came after 59 minutes, when "the energetic" Clerke scored from close range following a run from Harry Goodhart
Harry Goodhart
Harry Chester Goodhart was an English amateur footballer who played as a forward in four FA Cup Finals for Old Etonians, before going on to become Professor of Humanities at the University of Edinburgh.-Early life and education:...
. The Old Etonians thus claimed the cup for the first time in what was considered to be "the poorest FA Cup Final to date".
In March 1880, he was selected for the international match between England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and Wales
Wales national football team
The Wales national football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales , the governing body for football in Wales, and the third oldest national football association in the world. The team have only qualified for a major international...
but withdrew with an injury.
He played cricket for several years in the 1880s for Shropshire
Shropshire County Cricket Club
Shropshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Shropshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
.
Family
Clerke was married on 26 July 1892 to Augusta Laura Daniel and their only child, Nicholas John Clerke was born on 9 March 1912. Nicholas graduated from Corpus Christi CollegeCorpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, Cambridge University as a Master of Arts. He gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the 62nd (Northumbrian) AA Brigade, Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
(Territorial Army) and was killed at Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
between 27 May 1940 and 2 June 1940.
Clerke died on 7 November 1944, aged 87 at Farnborough Park
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
.