I hope you know who The Corinthians are? If you have read this Blog before, you would have come across them.....if not.....this is not about the famous Brazilian club or other nations' "star" clubs, but the Corinthians' English club is the "last bastion" of amateur football in England.
The Brazilian club was formed by English railway workers in Brazil in 1910, who were keen footballers and who enjoyed a social kick around with the local workers in their tea (coffee) break.....they used the name of the English club to help formalise "soccer" in South America. In 1910, the top clubs in Brazil were formed and supported mainly by people who were part of the upper classes.
In the late 19th Century, when the world of English football went "open", with money available at clubs to pay players, regardless of their professional or amateur status, the Corinthian Casuals from South London kept its dignity and remained amateur! In Brazil they went with the flow" and developed.
Formed in 1882, the south London club styled itself on Queen's Park, the Scottish "true" amateur club. The Corinthians in England, recruited players from the "top" universities, Oxford and Cambridge originally, attracting some of the best amateur players in the country. Though much has modernised and the club is now "open" ands successfully exists in Tolworth and plays in the Isthmian League-South Central.
In the early days, Corinthian players knew that if they were "sent off" in a match, they would not play for the club again. If the opposing team was awarded a penalty, the keeper would stand aside leaving an open goal, regarding the referee's decision to be final and if they were given a penalty, the kicker would deliberately miss it. Those were the days.
When Scottish teams dominated football in Britain, the English FA hoped that the Corinthians would provide a team able to beat their "more professional" neighbours north of the border. They also hoped that the English clubs would provide players capable of beating the Scottish national side which had the upper hand in early history. Between 1883-1890, 22 of the 50 English caps were awarded to players from the Corinthians. Soon however, the emerging Football League would provide more "professional" club players for the England team and the Corinthians fewer but the club remained effective playing growing professional clubs, such as a 2-1 victory over the "very" professional Aston Villa in the Sheriff of London Shield in 1900. Four years later, the Corinthians hammered Manchester United 11-3, still a record defeat for the Lancashire club. The Corinthians greatest achievement was beating the FA Cup holders Bury in a 10-3 thumping in 1904. Bury had won their final 6-0 beating Derby!
ON THIS DAY in 1922-3, the "amateur" club, The Corinthians deigned to enter the FA Cup, playing their home games at the Crystal Palace (not the modern stadium!). In Round One, away from home, they drew 1-1 with Brighton, taking them to a second replay, which ended in a defeat 1-0. Brighton in Round Two, then lost to West Ham 1-0, after a 1-1 draw. The Hammers went on to beat Plymouth in Round Three 2-0, then Southampton 1-0 after a replay in Round Four. In the Semi-final, The Hammers beat Derby County 5-2 on neutral ground and lost in the Final to Bolton Wanderers 2-0, in the first Wembley Final.
A year later, the Corinthians beat Blackburn 1-0 and in 1927, a home tie against Newcastle United drew a crowd of 56,000 and it was the second ever match covered live by BBC Radio.
In 1936, the Crystal Palace tragically burned down, leaving the club "homeless" and in 1939 The Corinthians merged with the Casuals and the club now plays in the Isthmian League-South Central, presently resting mid-league.
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