NEXT AIM

The same 12 clubs played in the league in 1889-90 and Stoke came last again, so Stoke disappeared for a year. Sunderland took their place in 1890-1 and the Baggies (WBA) came bottom. The following year the league the league was increased in number to 14, allowing Stoke back in and Darwen joined them. By the end of 1891-2, Darwen were "root" and Stoke just above. Sunderland won the league beating the Invincibles of Preston who had dominated football in the early three seasons. So it looks like my journey will have to start with the Black Cats and Darwen next season.

STOKE CITY FC

Stoke City (granted city status in 1926) has long been considered the second-oldest Football League club, although uncertainty clouds the actual date of formation. In 1863 the story goes that former pupils of the Charterhouse School formed a football club while serving as apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke. But little evidence exists of any matches taking place, even though at that time some form of soccer may have already existed in the area as the headmaster of Stoke St Peter's School, J.Thomas, was an active sportsman and secretary of the local Victoria Athletic Club.
Five years later a report in “The Field” magazine of September 1868 made things much clearer. It stated that a new Association Football club had been formed in Stoke-on-Trent and its founder member was an ex-Charterhouse School pupil. So it's possible that soccer had been played in the area during the previous five years, although in terms of official records the first game played by Almond's team, known as Stoke Ramblers and consisting largely of railway employees, was in October 1868. The historic match, against an EW May XV, ended in a 1-1 draw and was played at the Victoria Cricket Club ground, near to Lonsdale Street and Church Street. Almond, the skipper, scored the first-ever goal by a Stoke player, although he was soon to leave the club and the area to pursue his career as a civil engineer. Stoke left the league (replaced by Sunderland) after two years of being in last place, but when the league was extended to 14 teams they re-joined with Darwen in 1891. In 1892-3 two divisions were formed, Stoke came 7th in division one and Darwen went to division two.
and the nice thing about Stoke is that it is very much a family club-they sent me a birthday greeting recently!

12 FOUNDERS VISITED, NOW FOR THE NEXT 60 FL CLUBS?

It was a decent game at Molineux, with a crowd of  17,000, enjoying Wolves running away with the game at half time, 3-0, only to be pegged back by two second half goals from a recovering Colchester. At 3-2 the crowd were getting jumpy but a final strike in the 95 minute sealed the home team's pace at the top of Division 1. Highlights for me were seeing Stan Cullis' statue, like all managers of his day he was wearing a smart overcoat and brimmed hat and enjoying what seemed to be the only decent restaurant in the "city" centre, Catellani's Italian in School Street, family run and full as the home supporters moved in to fill their boots before kick off. Molineux also was an excellent experience, modern, easy to get to and in, interesting numbers on walls reminding us of the great days which hopefully might return one day.
So it was a good day BUT Wednesday, today, has been spoiled, as the press, once again, gives no coverage to Barnsley, who lounging at the bottom of the Championship, beat higher flying Reading, 3-1 away. Boo!

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS

Tuesday heralds a visit to Wolverhampton to watch the Wanderers in a league game with Colchester United. Not exactly the most inspiring games of the week, but Molineux is a very special stadium with bags of history and I shall pick my tickets up at the Stan Cullis stand and sit in the Billy Wright stand. Cullis was a "delicate touch player" but as a very successful manager post war, he was committed to pace and stamina with the ball being hoisted into the opposing penalty area; " Our forwards are not encouraged to parade their ability in ostentatious fashion". Under his control, Wolves were the top club in the country, playing floodlit games against the great Hungarians, Honved and Moscow Spartak, milestones in our game. Billy Wright was captain of his club and country, playing 105 times for England. He became the game's first superstar, marrying Joy, one of the Beverley Sisters, a popular music trio at that time. That got the press talking. This is founder member number twelve in my journey.

TWO MORE FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOUNDERS

Two more clubs from the original Football League play today-Stoke City v Aston Villa, the 100th league meeting of the two clubs. Stoke founded by Old Carthusians, https://sites.google.com/site/carthusianfootball, reputedly. Stanley Matthews, one of the greats, is remembered by this three stage statue showing his characteristic swerve and cross. On my recent visit to see a league game against West Ham, I met the Stoke City photographer at the statue. He told me that each statue had a different shirt; one for Stoke, his first and last club, one for Blackpool, with whom he made his name in the FA Cup Finals of 1948, 1951 and 1953 and finally, of course, the England shirt. Stanley Matthews, in 1984, coached the Charterhouse School 1st XI at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. That's where the Carthusian link with Stoke becomes stronger!!

MY ELEVENTH ORIGINAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CLUB

22nd March 2014. The Leigh Arms in the shadow of Goodison Park, where hospitality was abundant and Cains not very expensive. The Toffees minted the Swans 3-1  that afternoon. Many thanks to those intrepid fans who were so hospitable. I admired the sharing attitude of the landlord, giving wall space to both these wonderful Merseyside clubs.

Welcome

I am off to Everton v Swansea City today, as part of my 2013/4 drive to visit all 12 original football clubs from the original Football League formed in 1888.