Old Alleynian
Encyclopedia
This article concerns the rugby club. For a list of eminent Old Alleynians please see List of Old Alleynians
The Old Alleynian Football Club is an open rugby union club founded as a team for the old boys of Dulwich College
, themselves known as Old Alleynians. It is one of the oldest clubs in London and was the last of London's old boys clubs to become a fully open club. It is notable not only for its longeivity, but also for the prominence it once attained on the club circuit and for the number of eminent players that have been members of the club, some of whom gained their international caps whilst at the club.
had been playing football using Rugby School
rules since 1858 and the school had been playing against scratch sides of old boys since the 1890s. In October 1897 a former pupil of Dulwich College
wrote to the school magazine (The Alleynian) bemoaning the fact that despite the school having an old boy representative "in almost all the first-class football clubs" the fact that it did not have an old schoolboy team, "such as Old Merchant Taylors, Old Leysians, Old Carthusians, Marlborough Nomads
", meant that it was missing out on "the greater athletic reputation
The club was regarded as one of the best in London by 1913 and in that year five of its players, who had all played together in the school's 1st XV, were selected to play in the Varsity Match
. The five were J. E. Greenwood, Cyril Lowe
, Eric Loudoun-Shand
, Graham Donald and W. D. Doherty. They were known at the school as the "famous five", having played in an unbeaten school side, all going on to play in the Varsity Match and all going on to represent their countries, two as captain.
In World War I
the club lost 76 members but Leake, "Slacker" Christison and Major Everett revived the club by 1919 and the club (and therefore the school to which it was affiliated) produced the captains of both Oxford and Cambridge in the Varsity Match. This was the first and only team this had happened. The 1920s saw the clubs strength grow and it produced its first international cap (to be won by a player playing for the club) in 1927 in the person of Kendrick Stark
. In 1931 Eric Whiteley
repeated the distinction. The club had over 600 members and was beating clubs like Rosslyn Park
.
The Second World War took a heavy toll on the members, with 49 losing their lives. So weakened was the club that it merged with its oldest of rivals, Old Whitgiftians, for a year in 1945. A modest resurgence took place at the turn of the decade, with Ian Coutts
gaining his Scottish caps, and the likes of London Irish
, London Welsh and Wasps falling to the OAs. However, by the late 1960s the OAs played strong local opposition rather than "1st class" clubs. In the 1980s the club continued to be strong, arguably the strongest of all Old Boys clubs in London, with the topping of the Combined London Old Boys Merit Table in 1988 as testament to this. In 1987 the league system introduction led to the club being placed in the Courage League London South 2. In 1989 the club were promoted to London One, won the Surrey Rugby Union Cup, topped the Combined London Old Boys Merit Table once again and qualified for the Middlesex Sevens Finals.
A second Surrey Cup win in 1992 was unfortunately followed by a three slide seeing the club drop three divisions and in 1995 the Old Alleynians became the last of the Old Boys clubs to become fully open membership. The most recent success came in 2003, when the Old Alleynians beat Shipston upon Stour 16 -10 in the final of the Powergen Junior Vase, held at Twickenham
.
between 1899 and 1901. A semi-nomadic existence then ensued as the club moved on a yearly basis from Elm Grive, Sydenham to Cavendish Road, Mrton to Horn Park Farm, Lee. Then in 1905 the Dulwich Estate allowed the club to settle at Dulwich Common
where they play to this day. In 2003 a fire saw the club lose half of its clubhouse, which was rebuilt shortly afterwards.
The Old Alleynian Football Club is an open rugby union club founded as a team for the old boys of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
, themselves known as Old Alleynians. It is one of the oldest clubs in London and was the last of London's old boys clubs to become a fully open club. It is notable not only for its longeivity, but also for the prominence it once attained on the club circuit and for the number of eminent players that have been members of the club, some of whom gained their international caps whilst at the club.
History
Dulwich CollegeDulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
had been playing football using Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
rules since 1858 and the school had been playing against scratch sides of old boys since the 1890s. In October 1897 a former pupil of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
wrote to the school magazine (The Alleynian) bemoaning the fact that despite the school having an old boy representative "in almost all the first-class football clubs" the fact that it did not have an old schoolboy team, "such as Old Merchant Taylors, Old Leysians, Old Carthusians, Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century 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....
", meant that it was missing out on "the greater athletic reputation
The club was regarded as one of the best in London by 1913 and in that year five of its players, who had all played together in the school's 1st XV, were selected to play in the Varsity Match
Varsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
. The five were J. E. Greenwood, Cyril Lowe
Cyril Lowe
Cyril Nelson "Kit" Lowe MC DFC was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns' character "Biggles".- Early life :Lowe was born in...
, Eric Loudoun-Shand
Eric Loudoun-Shand
Eric Gordon Loudoun-Shand MC TD MA was a Rugby Union international who played for Scotland and captained Oxford University's Rugby side in the 1919 Varsity Match. During what would have been the prime of his playing career he fought in the First World War.-Biography:Eric Gordon Shand was born on...
, Graham Donald and W. D. Doherty. They were known at the school as the "famous five", having played in an unbeaten school side, all going on to play in the Varsity Match and all going on to represent their countries, two as captain.
In World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
the club lost 76 members but Leake, "Slacker" Christison and Major Everett revived the club by 1919 and the club (and therefore the school to which it was affiliated) produced the captains of both Oxford and Cambridge in the Varsity Match. This was the first and only team this had happened. The 1920s saw the clubs strength grow and it produced its first international cap (to be won by a player playing for the club) in 1927 in the person of Kendrick Stark
Kendrick Stark
Kendrick Stark was a rugby union international who represented England from 1927 to 1928.-Rugby football:Stark made his international debut on Jan 15, 1927 at Twickenham in the England vs Wales match....
. In 1931 Eric Whiteley
Eric Whiteley
Eric Whiteley was a rugby union international who represented England from 1931 to 1931.-Rugby union career:Whiteley made his international debut on 21 March 1931 at Murrayfield in the Scotland vs England match....
repeated the distinction. The club had over 600 members and was beating clubs like Rosslyn Park
Rosslyn Park
Rosslyn Park may refer to:* Rosslyn Park, South Australia, a suburb of Adelaide* Rosslyn Park F.C., a rugby union team in England...
.
The Second World War took a heavy toll on the members, with 49 losing their lives. So weakened was the club that it merged with its oldest of rivals, Old Whitgiftians, for a year in 1945. A modest resurgence took place at the turn of the decade, with Ian Coutts
Ian Coutts
Ian Coutts was a Scottish sportsman from England who played cricket at first class level and who represented Scotland in rugby union from 1951 to 1952.-Early life:...
gaining his Scottish caps, and the likes of London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
, London Welsh and Wasps falling to the OAs. However, by the late 1960s the OAs played strong local opposition rather than "1st class" clubs. In the 1980s the club continued to be strong, arguably the strongest of all Old Boys clubs in London, with the topping of the Combined London Old Boys Merit Table in 1988 as testament to this. In 1987 the league system introduction led to the club being placed in the Courage League London South 2. In 1989 the club were promoted to London One, won the Surrey Rugby Union Cup, topped the Combined London Old Boys Merit Table once again and qualified for the Middlesex Sevens Finals.
A second Surrey Cup win in 1992 was unfortunately followed by a three slide seeing the club drop three divisions and in 1995 the Old Alleynians became the last of the Old Boys clubs to become fully open membership. The most recent success came in 2003, when the Old Alleynians beat Shipston upon Stour 16 -10 in the final of the Powergen Junior Vase, held at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
.
Ground
The club played on the Norwood clubs ground in Norwood ParkNorwood Park, West Norwood
Norwood Park is a park in South London It commands a great view across Dulwich to The City and Central London 7 miles away. On a clear day it may even be possible to see the Alexandra Palace in North London.-Other Features:...
between 1899 and 1901. A semi-nomadic existence then ensued as the club moved on a yearly basis from Elm Grive, Sydenham to Cavendish Road, Mrton to Horn Park Farm, Lee. Then in 1905 the Dulwich Estate allowed the club to settle at Dulwich Common
Dulwich Common
Dulwich Common may refer to:* An historic flood plane now called West Dulwich or The Croxteds* Part of the A205 road in Dulwich and the London Borough of Southwark....
where they play to this day. In 2003 a fire saw the club lose half of its clubhouse, which was rebuilt shortly afterwards.
Players gaining international caps whilst playing for the OAs
- Kendrick StarkKendrick StarkKendrick Stark was a rugby union international who represented England from 1927 to 1928.-Rugby football:Stark made his international debut on Jan 15, 1927 at Twickenham in the England vs Wales match....
(1904–1988)England international (first capped 1927) - Eric Cyprian Perry Whiteley, England international (first capped 1931)
- Ian CouttsIan CouttsIan Coutts was a Scottish sportsman from England who played cricket at first class level and who represented Scotland in rugby union from 1951 to 1952.-Early life:...
, Scotland international (first capped 1951)
Other internationals and first class players
- Nick EasterNick EasterNick Easter is a rugby union rugby player who plays at No. 8 or Flanker for Harlequins and England.He is the brother of Sale Sharks player Mark Easter and the nephew of author Anne Easter Smith. His father John, played squash professionally and reached number 1 in Britain and No.9 in the world...
*http://www.quins.co.uk/PlayerDisplay.ink?skip=3&season=2006/2007&Playertype=P (born 1978), professional rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer for NEC HarlequinsHarlequin F.C.The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
and England. - Mark EasterMark EasterMark Easter is a rugby union footballer who plays at No. 8 or Flanker for Sale Sharks after signing from the Northampton Saints in the Summer of 2011...
(born 1982) - rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer (position No. 8 or FlankerFlanker (rugby union)A flanker is a position in the sport of rugby union. Flankers play in the forwards, and are generally classified as either blindside, or openside flankers; numbers six and seven respectively. The name comes from their position in a scrum in which they flank each set of forwards...
) who plays for Northampton SaintsNorthampton SaintsNorthampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
. - Andrew SheridanAndrew SheridanAndrew Sheridan is an English rugby union player and musician, who plays loosehead prop for Sale Sharks.Sheridan is tall, which is unusually tall for a prop, and weighs...
(born 1979), rugby footballer for Sale Sharks and England: 90-98 - Tom MerceyTom MerceyThomas "Tom" Mercey is a rugby union footballer who plays at prop for Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership....
, rugby footballer, England Under 21s, club Saracens - David FlatmanDavid FlatmanDavid Luke Flatman or 'Flats' is a prop for Bath and the England national rugby union team.He started playing rugby union at the age of eight at his local club, Maidstone FC, inspired by his father, who was a prop...
- prop for the England national rugby union teamEngland national rugby union teamThe England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
. - Halil Izzet, (born 1985), rugby footballer, Damascus Zenobians 1st XV, Syria
- C.E Cat - Rugby Union International for Uruguay (first represented Uruguay in 1922)
- C.H Scott - Rugby Union International for Argentina (first represented Argentina in 1922)
- E.A. CleughEric Arthur CleughEric Arthur Cleugh, C.M.G., C.V.O., O.B.E. was a British diplomat who retired as British Ambassador to Panama. Earlier in his life, he had played for Uruguay in a rugby union international against Argentina, although the game was not one for which test caps were awarded.-Early life:Eric's was from...
- Rugby Union International for Uruguay (first represented Uruguay in 1922) - J.M Cat - Rugby Union International for Uruguay (first represented Uruguay in 1922)
- L.P Bridal - Rugby Union International for Uruguay (first represented Uruguay in 1922)
- David TrailDavid TrailDavid Trail was a rugby union international who represented a forerunner of the British and Irish Lions, known as the Anglo-Welsh on their tour of Australasia in 1904.-Early life:...
(1875–1935), represented a forerunner of the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
, known as the Anglo-Welsh on their tour of Australasia in 1904. - Nick LloydNick LloydNick Lloyd was a professional rugby union player.He was educated at Dulwich College. He was selected for the Scottish squad for the 2004/05 qualifying through his paternal grandmother from Aberdeen after earlier appearances in the Scottish Exiles squad,Nick made his England representative debut...
, (born 1976) - rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player with SaracensSaracens F.C.Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
; selected for ScotlandScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 2006 but had to withdraw due to injury. - Cyril Mowbray Wells - (1871 - 1963) - Played Rugby UnionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for England as well as being a first-class cricketerCricketerA cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
(represented Cambridge UniversityCambridge University Cricket ClubCambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
, SurreySurrey County Cricket ClubSurrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
and MiddlesexMiddlesex County Cricket ClubMiddlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
as a right-handed batsman and bowler.) - Group CaptainGroup CaptainGroup captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
Cyril Nelson "Kit" LoweCyril LoweCyril Nelson "Kit" Lowe MC DFC was an English rugby union footballer who held England's international try scoring record for over sixty years, First World War flying ace credited with nine victories, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. Johns' character "Biggles".- Early life :Lowe was born in...
MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
DFC RAF (1891-1983) - EnglishEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rugby unionRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
footballer representing England in 25 consecutive matches, First World WarWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
flying aceFlying aceA flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
, and supposedly the inspiration for W. E. JohnsW. E. JohnsWilliam Earl Johns was an English pilot and writer of adventure stories, usually written under the name Captain W. E. Johns. He is best remembered as the creator of the ace pilot and adventurer Biggles.-Early life:...
' character "BigglesBiggles"Biggles" , a pilot and adventurer, is the title character and main hero of the Biggles series of youth-oriented adventure books written by W. E. Johns....
". - Jock HartleyBernard Charles HartleyMajor Bernard Charles "Jock" Hartley OBE was a rugby union international player who represented England from 1901 to 1902. At club level he represented Cambridge University and Blackheath...
- Rugby union international for England (first represented England in 1902) - J.E. GreenwoodJohn Eric GreenwoodJohn Eric Greenwood was a rugby union international who represented England from 1912 to 1920. He also captained his country. During what would have been the prime of his playing career he fought in the First World War.-Early life:...
- Rugby union international for England (first represented England in 1912) Later captained England. - E.G. Loudoun-ShandEric Loudoun-ShandEric Gordon Loudoun-Shand MC TD MA was a Rugby Union international who played for Scotland and captained Oxford University's Rugby side in the 1919 Varsity Match. During what would have been the prime of his playing career he fought in the First World War.-Biography:Eric Gordon Shand was born on...
- Rugby union international for Scotland (first represented Scotland in 1913) - G.A.M. IsherwoodG.A.M. IsherwoodGeorge Aldwyn Methuen Isherwood was a rugby union international who was part of the first official British and Irish Lions team that toured South Africa in 1910.-Early life:...
- Rugby union international for Great Britain (first represented Great Britain in 1910) - C.T. MoldCarlos MoldCarlos Mold was a rugby union international and cricket international who represented Argentina's rugby side in 1910 and the Argentina cricket team from 1920-1922.-Early life:...
- Rugby union international for Argentina (first represented Argentina in 1911) - K.G. Drysdale - Rugby union international for Argentina (first represented Argentina in 1911)
- W.H. Bridger - Rugby union international for Argentina (first represented Argentina in 1911)
- A.L Wade - Rugby union international for Scotland (first represented Scotland in 1908)
- Grahame DonaldGrahame DonaldAir Marshal Sir David Grahame Donald KCB DFC AFC RAF , often known as Sir Grahame Donald, was a Royal Naval Air Service pilot during World War I, a senior Royal Air Force officer between the wars and a senior RAF commander during World War II. In February 1939, Donald was appointed Director of...
- Rugby union international for Scotland (first represented Scotland in 1914) - W.D DohertyWilliam David DohertyWilliam David Doherty, M.A., M.Ch., F.R.C.S., known as George Doherty was a medical superintendent of Guy's Hospital, London, and a former captain of the Ireland national rugby union team.-Early life:...
- Rugby union international for Ireland (first represented Ireland in 1921) Later captained Ireland - Sam Blythe