Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevTHE WANDERERS AND OTHERS
From this small beginning sprang Rotherham Town Football Club, which at first was composed of part amateur and part professional players. Previous to the Lunar Rovers, in fact as early as 1873, there existed a club known as the Rotherharn Wanderers, of which Tom Corbett, the well-known cricketer, was captain; also the Thornhill Club, of which Walter Bone, a well-known player, acted as captain, and Walter Musson, a still better known player, as vice-captain, with Mr. T. F. Hudson honorary secretary. On the committee were men of subsequent renown in local football circles, such as Geo. Hague, T. Moody, W. Sharp, G Shirley, and G.. A. Price. The Rotherham Wanderers played in the Red Lion field, now the Clifton Lane ground. They paid £3 10s. rent for the season, the use of the ground being limited owing to the wants of the cricketers. Their team usually included Alan Badger, Charlie Redmayne, Tom Corbett, Harry Blackmoor, Ted Haywood, W, Hinchliffe, Mal Corbett, Joe Albiston, Sam Haywood, William Earnshaw, William Thirlwall, Ben Hume, and Joe Earnshaw.Before this, I remember a team playing in the same field, which included : Charles H. Moss, Henry Hart, ? Roberts, Alan Badger, etc. These were the days when Sheffield Wednesday included such well-known players as Mr. W. H. Stacey (captain), Mr. J. C. Clegg, Mr. (now Sir) W. E. Clegg, Mr. F. Buttery, Mr. E. Butler, and Billy Mosforth.
A few years later, when my brother and Willie Stones, a clerk employed at the Effingharn Brass Works, were the honorary secretaries, the club, known as Rotherham Town, played in Cocker’s field, situated near Sherwood Crescent in Wellgate.
ROTHERHAM TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
Other clubs about this time were the Rotherham Swifts - a rival to Rotherham Town, founded by Fred Micklethwaite, late goalkeeper and hon. secretary for the Town Club. Included in the Swifts’ team were Mick Whitham, Rab Howell, A. Watson, and Frank Salkeld. These four subsequently formed the nucleus of the Sheffield United team, and achieved reknown in the football world.Kimberworth, another earlier rival for popular favour, included amongst others Tom and Mal Corbett, Alf and Joe Woodoock, and G. Duke (captain). Alf Woodcock, who was looked upon as being the best forward in the district, afterwards transferred his services to Wednesbury Old Athletic, and was one of the first professionals to be engaged, Ted Rhodes, another noted player in the Phoenix Bessemer team, also left the town and joined Northwich Victoria. Effingham Brass Works Club produced at least two players of some note in Walter Musson and Billy Warmby. In face of all these departures, the Rotherham Town Club prospered, its first president being Mr. (subsequently Sir) Chas. J. Stoddart, and amongst its patrons were Earl Fitzwilliam, the Earl of Effingham, Lord Scarbrough, A. H. Dyke Acland, M.P., Captain Verelst, J.P., the Mayor (Mr. W. H. Gummer), and fifty other of the leading townsmen. The club was generally credited with being the first to import players from over the border. Mr. Geo. Hague and the honorary secretary, Mr. Arthur Wordsworth, visited Dumfries in their quest for players. Unfortunately Geo. Hague made himself conspicuous by wearing a Tam o’Shanter, which was intended to impress the Scotsmen, but this only made it easier for them to identify the English poachers. They were threatened to be chucked in the 'b--- funtin' (fountain), which stood in the centre of the main street, and were compelled to take refuge in the hotel. Leaving by the back door they arrived at the station, only to be greeted by a crowd of angry men several hundred strong, who were intent on doing them bodily injury. Again compelled to take refuge they availed themselves of the station master’s kindness and remained in his office until all was clear. They were two tired men when they departed from Dumfries, having left Rotherham on Friday night after a hard day’s work, by the midnight train, arriving at Dumfries at 7 a.m. Leaving Scotland in safety late on Saturday night, they arrived in Rotherham on Sunday morning, having » next
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