Ravenscourt Park Football Club
Encyclopedia
Ravenscourt Park was a short lived 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.
. As an extension, this meant that Ravenscourt Park was one of the few non-school sides that Rugby School elected to play, because the rules by which it played were the same. Old Boys clubs for former pupils of certain schools emerged towards the end of the 1860s, such as the Marlborough Nomads
which served Marlborough College
. However, Ravenscourt Park was not considered to be an Old Boys club, rather a club that played rugby and therefore attracted old boys of Rugby School
.
In December 1872, Bell's Life referred to Blackheath, the Gipsies, and Ravenscourt Park, as being the three crack clubs. Among its many opponents were Blackheath FC, Richmond F.C.
, Oxford
and Cambridge Universities, The Gipsies
, Marlborough Nomads
, Woolwich, Sandhurst, Cooper's Hill, St. Andrews Rovers, Clapham Rovers, and West Kent
.
Despite its prominence in the early 1870s, the club was disbanded by 1880.
rules (Wasps were invited by failed to attend) assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
in Regent Street
. E.C. Holmes, captain of the Richmond Club assumed the presidency. It was resolved unanimously that the formation of a Rugby Football Society was desirable and thus the Rugby Football Union
was formed. A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School. W. F. Eaton represented Ravenscourt Park and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871. Ravenscourt Park provided two of the 20 man team to face Scotland in the very first international rugby match in 1871. A Davenport and J. M. Dugdale. Moberly
and Isherwood played in the second match in 1872 and in 1873 E. R. Still was the last international representative of the team.
in the early international fixtures:
Alfred Davenport
- capped 1871John Marshall Dugdale
- capped 1871W. O. Moberly
- capped 1872Francis Isherwood
- capped 1872Ernest Still
- capped 1873
No Ravenscourt player represented England in the 15-a-side era, which was one of the many signs of the slow shift of the game from the absolute dominance of its public school roots as the club network expanded.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.
History
Ravenscourt Park was founded in 1865. It was a club made up almost exclusively of Old Rugbeians. This was partially due to its establishment at such an early period in the sport's history, and there were few schools that played football in the style of Rugby SchoolRugby 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:...
. As an extension, this meant that Ravenscourt Park was one of the few non-school sides that Rugby School elected to play, because the rules by which it played were the same. Old Boys clubs for former pupils of certain schools emerged towards the end of the 1860s, such as the 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....
which served Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
. However, Ravenscourt Park was not considered to be an Old Boys club, rather a club that played rugby and therefore attracted old boys of 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:...
.
In December 1872, Bell's Life referred to Blackheath, the Gipsies, and Ravenscourt Park, as being the three crack clubs. Among its many opponents were Blackheath FC, Richmond F.C.
Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs...
, Oxford
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
and Cambridge Universities, The Gipsies
Gipsies Football Club
The Gipsies Football Club was a short lived 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.-History:The Gipsies...
, 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....
, Woolwich, Sandhurst, Cooper's Hill, St. Andrews Rovers, Clapham Rovers, and West Kent
West Kent Football Club
The West Kent Football Club was a short-lived 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.-History:West Kent were...
.
Despite its prominence in the early 1870s, the club was disbanded by 1880.
Foundation of the RFU
On 26 January 1871, 32 members representing twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that followed Rugby SchoolRugby 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 (Wasps were invited by failed to attend) assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
Pall Mall Restaurant
The Pall Mall Restaurant was a hostelry situated at Number 1 Cockspur Street, Westminster, London, just off Pall Mall and near Trafalgar Square...
in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
. E.C. Holmes, captain of the Richmond Club assumed the presidency. It was resolved unanimously that the formation of a Rugby Football Society was desirable and thus the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
was formed. A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School. W. F. Eaton represented Ravenscourt Park and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
The First International
William Moberly
William Octavius Moberly was an English sportsman who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented the England national rugby union team.-Early life and education:...
and Isherwood played in the second match in 1872 and in 1873 E. R. Still was the last international representative of the team.
Notable players
A number of Ravenscourt Park players represented EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The 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...
in the early international fixtures:
Alfred Davenport
Alfred Davenport
Alfred Davenport was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871.-Early life:Alfred Davenport was born on May 5, 1849 in Oxford. He attended Rugby School and went up to Oxford University.-Rugby union career:...
- capped 1871John Marshall Dugdale
John Marshall Dugdale
John Marshall Dugdale was a rugby union international who represented England in the first international rugby match in 1871.-Early life:John Marshall Dugdale was born at Irwell Bank, Eccles, on 15 October 1851 and later baptised at Eccles on 1 January 1852. He was the son of John Dugdale, Esq. of...
- capped 1871W. O. Moberly
William Moberly
William Octavius Moberly was an English sportsman who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and represented the England national rugby union team.-Early life and education:...
- capped 1872Francis Isherwood
Francis Isherwood
Francis William Ramsbottom Isherwood was an English sportsman who played international rugby union for England and first-class cricket....
- capped 1872Ernest Still
Ernest Still
Ernest Still was a rugby union international who represented England from 1873 to 1873. -Early life:Ernest Still was born on 14 July 1852 in Epsom, the fifth son of Robert Still of Sutton in Surrey...
- capped 1873
No Ravenscourt player represented England in the 15-a-side era, which was one of the many signs of the slow shift of the game from the absolute dominance of its public school roots as the club network expanded.