Page:VCH Hertfordshire 1.djvu/451

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SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN D'Aeth, who have been tried for Kent, and Mr. J. F. Bawtree, a useful cricketer, more than once seen in the ranks of Essex. To complete the list must be added the names of Messrs. E. B. Raikes (Norfolk), H. W. Pank (Hertfordshire), C. Gurdon, who took to rowing at Cambridge ; C. B. Smith and W. S. Gurney (Norfolk). FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION The first record of Hertfordshire football appears to be an engraving, entitled ' Foot- ball at Earner.,' in which three or four youths are shown kicking a ball about a street or marketplace. The date is about 1770, and the only known copy is in Mr. Lewis Evans's Herts Collection of Prints, vol. i., now in the County Museum at St. Albans. As first played at most of the Hertfordshire schools football was a mixture of the Harrow and Rugby rules. Upon the introduction of the Association game these new rules were generally adopted, and then the history of Association football in Herts really com- menced. The schools of Berkhampstead, Bishop Stortford, Hitchin, St. Albans, Harpenden, Elstree and Aldenham frequently turned out good players. F. E. Brunner of Berkhamp- stead was chosen for Cambridge v. Oxford, but unfortunately broke his leg before the match, and so was unable to play. C. P. Wilson, F. G. J. Ford, W. N. Roe, P. H. Morton and A. T. B. Dunn have all been included amongst the Elstree masters. The following record of Aldenham School foot- ball is kindly supplied by Mr. P. J. Rust, the editor of The Aldenhamlan. 'It is not cer- tain when the school first played football, but the first person in the school register who is described as a member of the football eleven is B. G. Wilkinson, who was at the school from 1866-75. E. O. Roper, who was at Aldenham from 1874-9, played for Ireland in International matches. J. Barnard represented London v. Sheffield at Kennington Oval in 1884. In 1886 he played for Hert- fordshire against Huntingdonshire, and also several times for Cambridge University. N. Logan in 1884 played for Middlesex against Essex ; P. O. Ashby several times for Oxford in 1886. E. R. Ross in the same year dis- tinguished himself for Upton Park. E. E. Villiers in 1887 also represented Upton Park against the Casuals in the penultimate round of the London Cup. E. J. W. Disbrowe won his blue for Cambridge in 1889 and 1890, as did J. R. Paull in 1890 and R. A. Low in 1894. S. S. Taylor won his blue for Cambridge in 1896, and was captain of the team in 1897-8. R. G. Wright also was one of the Cambridge University eleven in both 1900 and 1901. In 1897-8 Aldenham beat Ware by 6-0 for the Hertfordshire Cup, and getting into the final were defeated by Hitchin 21 after a drawn game.' Lud- grove, a new school at Barnet, under the head-mastership of A. T. B. Dunn, the International player, numbers at the present time among its masters two other Inter- national players : W. J. Oakley and G. O. Smith. In the sixties football was being taken up by teams outside the public schools. In 1862 Mr. T. F. Pratt Barlow, an old Harrovian, started a football club under Harrow rules, which played in a field near Apsley Mill Two Waters, Hemel Hempsted, and had a life of two seasons. In 1872 this club was restarted by Mr. Lewis Evans, at first with Harrow rules. It took to the Association code in 1873, but again only lasted about three seasons. In 1873 or 1874 Mr. Evans formed a club at Kings Langley and one at Abbots Langley in the following year. At this time there was a club at Tring, and one was started at Boxmoor. The Hertfordshire Rangers were formed in 1866, playing under Association rules. They were compelled to take fresh fields on three occasions, and all these grounds, which were in the vicinity of Watford Station, are now covered with houses. The club was chiefly composed of public school and Cambridge University men, Cambridge not having a regular team at the time. It was well sup- ported by Elstree and Aldenham Schools. Owing to the original members gradually giving up the pastime and the withdrawal of the University contingent a scarcity of players came about, and after holding its own for sixteen seasons against the best clubs in the south of England the club was dissolved in 1883. One of the best of its records is a victory over Cambridge University by one goal to none. Mr. Robert Barker of Rick- mansworth, an English International, was the captain and leading spirit of the club, and Messrs. Chas. Humbert of Watford, S. Tap- rell Holland of Otterspool, Lewis Evans of