‘The Forgotten Father Of Football’

Ebenezer Cobb Morley The Forgotten Father Of Football Humble Beginnings

Morley’s roots lie in Hull, he was letter there was a meeting at the Freemason’s born in 1831 on Princess Street and Tavern on 26 October 1863. This is where was the oldest child of four. His football as we know it, was created, as this early life in Hull isn’t well known, meeting led to the formation of the Football but although he wasn’t educated at Association. a public school, he qualified as a solicitor and he moved to in It was at his home in Barnes, that the 1850’s. he formed and created the rules for football. He was also elected as the first honourary Ebenezer had a huge passion for football, still secretary of the newly formed Football in it’s formative years, football was starting to Association, a role he held from 1863 until take off as a sport, and Morley believed that 1866. the game should have a firm set of rules, as previous to this players were using one set of He was then voted in as the second president rules in one half and a different set the second of the Association, succeeding half. in 1867 and left the role in 1874, being replaced by . Such was his He wrote to Bell’s Life, a weekly sporting paper contribution to football that he even scored that existed in the 19th century, thanks to his the first goal in a representative game. The Forgotten Father Of Football

It was between London and Sheffield on 31 carried a blue plaque in honour of Morley fell March 1866. However Morley’s life wasn’t down under re-development. The townhouse, solely devoted to football. He founded the valued at £3.8m was close to the River Barnes and Mortlake Regatta, for which he Thames and fell down following basement was also secretary from 1862-1880. Morley re-development from the former owner of was an oarsman in the 1864 Grand Challenge Phones4U David Kessler. Cup, a rowing competition for men’s eights. He competed with the London Rowing Club, Their plan was to enlarge the basement and losing out to Kingston Rowing Club. make room for a cinema, gym and a wine room. An outer wall and two internal walls While Morley is maybe best known for his collapsed during the re-development. footballing achievements, he also represented Barnes on the Surrey County Council from A disappointing conclusion to a once historic 1903-1919 and was Justice Of The Peace building in terms of football history. and Conservator at . From Hull to London, Ebenezer Cobb Morley Unfortunately anoher of Morley’s landmarks has transcended the north-south divide within the UK disappeared in the last couple and has affected many lives, not just in this of weeks. The Barnes townhouse which country, but the whole world over. The Forgotten Father Of Football

Morley’s Modern Revival

Ebenezer Cobb Morley may have died in 1924, but nearly 100 years on his legacy has become a penomenon in local social media. Some fans are keen to immortalise him and on Twitter the outpouring of support for him has been incredible. Here are a few of the finest tweets honouring the great man.

Many agree with the assumption that Morley should be recognized as the ‘father’ of English football. While most are keen to point out Morley was born in Hull, and that a small city in has had more of an impact on football than most can beleive.

Meanwhile some tweets were aimed at Hull City. Owner Assem Allam has tried twice to change the name of the club from Hull City A.F.C to Hull Tigers.

However many fans point out that if it wasn’t for Morley, the A.F.C suffix wouldn’t be there. The Forgotten Father Of Football

Immortalized In Stone

The name Ebenezer Cobb Morley isn’t Oliver’s campaign was featured in the familiar anywhere, not even in his Hull Daily Mail as his camapign on hometown of Hull, but one man who Twitter really took off. has been keen to change that has been Oliver Harsley. When we spoke to Oliver he said: “I started my campaign because I have The 16 year old has been campaigning always known about Ebenezer’s for more people to recognise Morley’s achievements and he gave me the contributions, and by starting up a Twitter sport which I have loved from being a account petitioning for a statue to be built samm boy so \i’m giving Ebenezer his in Morley’s honour, Oliver has at least celebrated legacy. given his name some weight within the city. “Hull needs to use the upcoming 2017 City of Culture as a platform to spread The account has proven a huge success, the message of Ebenezer Cobb Morley and while a statue isn’t currently a plan to the world. in the pipelines, there is now a plaque bearing his name to recognise his life. “I do beleive Ebenezer’s profile will be Celebrity backers of the campaign recognised more as the years go on as include Hull City goalscoring hero Dean more work will be done to secure events Windass, and the attempts to get his to celebrate his life.” name known to the public will continue. The Forgotten Father Of Football

Morley’s Influences

Hull has a rich footballing hstory thanks to went from the old Division Three and had Ebenezer Cobb Morley. Both in League and successive promotions in 2003-04 and 2004- Non-League football, the scene in Hull is 05 from the fourth to the second tier of English thriving. With Hull City A.F.C recently being football. It was here they would stay until Phil in the FA Cup final and the top tier of English Brown led them to the play-offs in 2007-08 for a football is a testament to Morley’s success. spot in the Premier League.

Since forming in 1904, Hull City have gone from May 2008 saw the club appear at Wembley for strength to strength, languishing in the lower the first time in their history, facing Bristol City for leagues for the best part of a century. Playing a seat at the most prestigious table in the world. their home games at a mix of grounds, from The It was 0-0 until the 40th minute, when up stepped Boulevard to the Anlaby Road Cricket Ground. local hero Dean Windass, who volleyed the ball However their most famous home was Boothferry home to secure Hull’s first season in the top tier. Park. From 1946 to 2002 The Tigers played here, and had some of their best years in the traditional The Tigers stayed in the Premier League until football ground. 2010, which saw them relegated back to the Championship. However since the appointment In 2003 Hull City moved to the brand new KC of ex-Manchester United defender Steve Bruce in Stadium (above), an all purpose 25,000 seater June 2012, City have hit another level. ground. Under the guidance of Peter Taylor Hull The Forgotten Father Of Football

Bruce instilled his philosophy on the players and Hull and the surrounding area is also home to shortly after the club were winning games and non-league football sides, with the two most contenders for promotion again. He secured this prominent being Hull United AFC and North in his first season in charge when the club went Ferriby United. up automatically in 2nd place. United were formed in 2014 and under owner Two more years in the Premier League followed, Jamie Waltham created a sturdy non-league with also an FA Cup final appearance against club. He hired former Hull CIty midfielders Arsenal in May 2014. The club went 2-0 up in the Curtis Woodhouse and Ian Ashbee to manage first ten minutes and almost pulled off an almighty the side. upset, however Arsenal came back and won 3-2 after extra time. Waltham left the club in 2015, with the club now playing at the KC Lightstream Stadium. They sit The club are now back in the Championship and in the tenth tier of the English football system. as things stand are currently third and look a good bet for another term in the Premier League. Ferriby won the FA Trophy in 2015 against Morley’s contributions mean millions can enjoy all the ddds as they defeated higher league football in the city at a fantastic stadium. Wrexham at Wembley on penalties. Ebenezer Cobb Morley

1831-1924