West Kent Football Club
Encyclopedia
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.
including Arthur Guillemard. They used the ground of West Kent cricket club. The cricket club had been founded many years previously after members of the Prince's Plain Cricket Club from Bromley lost their ground in 1821 due to the enclosure of Bromley Common. They were saved by the Lord of the Manor of Chislehurst who gave them leave to create a new ground on eight acres of Chislehurst Common. Their first game took place on 20 July 1822. It played its home matches on the outlying part of the cricket ground. Initial objections to the playing of football on the cricket pitch due to fears of it injurying the turf were allayed by reports that the playing of football improved the turf by destroying the short heather.
West Kent at first played football using both Association rules and Rugby School rules. They used the Imperial Arms at Chislehurst as their headquarters. However, in 1874 it became exclusively a rugby football club and changed its colours from orange and black to white jerseys with a Kentish Horse badge, white knickerbockers and blue stockings. The club changed its colours in 1881 to blue and white jerseys and in 1882 to blue and amber. Opponents on its extensive season list included Blackheath FC, Richmond FC, The Gipsies
and Ravenscourt Park
. In 1886 the members decided to give up rugby and played Association Football only.
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. A. G. Guillemard represented West Kent and was one of the thirteen original committee members. He later became president of the RFU from 1878 to 1882.
The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871 and West Kent provided two players, A. G. Guillemard and Joseph Fletcher Green. A. G. Guillemard also played in the second match in 1872 along with former Blackheath player C. W. Sherrard.
:
A. G. Guillemard
(first capped 1871)Joseph Green
(first capped 1871)Charles Sherrard
(first capped 1871, but for West Kent in 1872)
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
West Kent were founded in 1867 by a core of Old RugbeiansRugby 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:...
including Arthur Guillemard. They used the ground of West Kent cricket club. The cricket club had been founded many years previously after members of the Prince's Plain Cricket Club from Bromley lost their ground in 1821 due to the enclosure of Bromley Common. They were saved by the Lord of the Manor of Chislehurst who gave them leave to create a new ground on eight acres of Chislehurst Common. Their first game took place on 20 July 1822. It played its home matches on the outlying part of the cricket ground. Initial objections to the playing of football on the cricket pitch due to fears of it injurying the turf were allayed by reports that the playing of football improved the turf by destroying the short heather.
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...
and Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park Football Club
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.-History:Ravenscourt Park was founded...
. In 1886 the members decided to give up rugby and played Association Football only.
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. A. G. Guillemard represented West Kent and was one of the thirteen original committee members. He later became president of the RFU from 1878 to 1882.
The First Internationals
Notable players
A number of West Kent 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...
:
A. G. Guillemard
A. G. Guillemard
Arthur George Guillemard was an English rugby union fullback who represented for England in the world's very first rugby international in 1871. Guillemard was also a notable sporting administrator and one of the most important early international rugby referees.-Rugby career:Arthur George...
(first capped 1871)Joseph Green
Joseph Fletcher Green
Joseph Green was a rugby union international who represented England in 1871 in the first international match.-Early life:Joseph Green was born on April 28, 1846 in West Ham. He was the second son of Frederick Green of the Blackwall shipbuilding family and his wife Elizabeth of Stepney...
(first capped 1871)Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard
Charles Sherrard RE was a rugby union international who represented England from 1871 to 1872. Additionally, along with Lieutenant Charles Arthur Crompton RE, he was the first member of the armed forces to represent their national side.-Early life:...
(first capped 1871, but for West Kent in 1872)