Nuneaton Town 1894-1919 Part 1 Contents
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Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Town 1894-1919 Part 1 Contents Page No. Introduction ..................................................................................... 3 The Paul Family ............................................................................... 5 1894-1895 ........................................................................................ 6 First Ever League Match .................................................................. 8 1895-1896 .........................................................................................10 1896-1897 .........................................................................................13 1897-1898 .........................................................................................15 1898-1899 .........................................................................................21 William ‘Billy’ Ball ............................................................................25 1899-1900 .........................................................................................26 Action Against Football Club ...........................................................31 The Boer War ...................................................................................34 The Flood of 1900 ............................................................................35 1900-1902 Nuneaton Juniors ..........................................................36 1902-1903 .........................................................................................39 1903-1904 .........................................................................................42 1904-1905 .........................................................................................45 1905-1906 .........................................................................................53 1906-1907 .........................................................................................59 1907-1908 .........................................................................................69 1908-1909 .........................................................................................81 1909-1910 .........................................................................................94 1910-1911 ...................................................................................... 111 Acknowledgments Nuneaton Town 1894-1919 Part 1 Introduction Annual General Meeting A general meeting of the Nuneaton Town Association Football St Nicholas Annual Dinner: May 1894 Club was held last Wednesday evening, at the Club House. The annual dinner of the St Nicholas FC was a great success Mr E. Scanlon presided and amongst others present were in every shape, and the secretary may have good grounds for Messrs. W. J. Yoxall, J. Arnold, W. Windass, J. Baxter, his contention that the Association game is in the ascendancy G. Walters, C. H. Williams (secretary), etc. in Nuneaton at the present time. The minutes of the last general meeting having been read, It is not a question that could be easily settled nor would Mr. Arnold explained that the present meeting had been the supporters of the Rugger game feel inclined to let the called in order to let the members know everything which statement pass unchallenged. had transpired in committee since the last general meeting. It appears to me that honours are about even and, The secretary then reported that it had been decided to considering the size of the town I think Nuneaton is to be change the name of the club from the Saint Nicholas to the congratulated on the good gates attracted to both kinds of Nuneaton Town A.F.C. matches. The first team colours would henceforth be white with blue The toast of the “Press,” down on the St. Nicholas list, is knicks and the reserve team would continue to wear the a slight acknowledgement of the fact that the newspaper old colours, black and amber. It had also been decided to scribe has a little to do with stimulating public interest in find boots for members of the first team on application. The the matches. number of members who had already signed was 36. The names of Messrs. French, Morse, Deacon, Chitham, Till, Green One of the main topics that was discussed after dinner was and Suffolk had been added to the list of vice-presidents. the proposed amalgamation of the Cricket and Football Clubs of the town on an independent basis with a view to acquiring Two teams had been entered for the North Warwickshire a suitable ground for next season. League and Mr J. Arnold had been appointed a member of the League Management Committee and Mr J. Baxter one Messrs. Vaughan, Yoxall and Arnold spoke strongly in favour of the auditors. The other competitions entered were the of the idea, and I hear that a general meeting of the “Nicks” Midland Daily Telegraph Cup, the Nuneaton Charity Cup, and is to be held next Tuesday night for the purpose of fully the Atherstone Charity Cup. discussing the question. It had been decided to have a reserved enclosure with a stand. The subscription was three shillings and five shillings St Nicholas FC Committee Meeting to admit to all parts of the ground. At a committee meeting held at the Granby Head on Tuesday These alterations were confirmed by the meeting, and on last, it was decided to alter the name of the club, which will the motion of Mr Arnold it was likewise decided to provide be known in the future as the Nuneaton Town Association suitable accommodation for the Press, as in other towns. Football Club. FROM THE NEWSPAPERS Several other rules were revised, and Messrs. Arnold, Scanlan, Baxter and Cooper with the Secretary were Vice-chairman’s Speech deputed to attend the next League meeting at Coventry, Vice-chairman John Shaw, said: The St. Nicholas club in particular has which will take place shortly on a Saturday evening. every reason to be proud of the successes they had achieved in the past and to be well satisfied with the promise of the future. He used the Mr C. Williams was presented with two guineas for his words in no formal sense when he said he hoped to live to see the day able services as honourable secretary during the past year, when the club was taking part in the English Cup competition. and it was also decided that he be paid not less than two As Nuneaton grew, he hoped that trade would grow, and that fresh guineas per year for his services in the future. Messrs. French, industries and new blood would be encouraged to come to the town. Morse, G. Deacon and J. M. Chitham were added to the Mr Shaw’s ambitions for the football club and the town were admirable. list of vice-presidents. Nuneaton Observer: May 1894 3 Nuneaton’s Footballing Heritage Nuneaton Town 1894-1919 Part 1 Nuneaton Town’s First Home Nuneaton Town began their existence at the previous home of St. Nicholas FC at the Arbury Road/Dafferns Field ground. It was announced that there would be improvements made, with a ‘grandstand’ being erected. The ground was situated in Arbury Road, which at that time ran from the Cock and Bear pub to the Market Place, which is now known as Queen’s Road. The ground entrance was situated in what is today known as Marlborough Road (opposite Mount Street). The actual playing area was located between Marlborough Road and Bracebridge Street. More information regarding the Arbury Road ground can be found in the previous e-book which charts the history of St Nicholas FC 1889-1894. This remained the club’s home until 1896 when they moved back to the Rose Inn, citing that the pitch was better and level. They stayed at The Rose until 1899, when they returned to Arbury Road for one season. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL penalty. Hales, one of the new men, took it, and landed the ball nicely between the uprights. [By Linesman] In the second half goals came a little faster — but not so quick as one would have thought from the tone of Nuneaton Town v Singer’s Reserves the game. Marston was the first to score, and, after the visiting skipper had again been very much in evidence, another point was obtained as the result of a “free.” There would have been some big scoring on the Arbury After this, the “Singer’s” got nicely away on one or two Road ground on Saturday had not Singer’s Reserves occasions, but Masser was too good for them. Then brought a good goalkeeper with them. As they only played Jones contributed a very fast run, and scored a pretty nine men, Nuneaton had by far the best of the exchanges; goal. Nuneaton won by 5 to nil. but with A. Robinson between the Singer’s posts, the home forwards found it very difficult to reach the net. It was, The ground was not so bad as would have been expected, indeed, a treat to see the little fellow — for he is only a but in all conscience it was bad enough. No accidents, youngster — clear his charge. Shot after shot he repulsed, however, resulted. But stop! there was one. One of the and it took all that the invaders knew to beat him. visitors received a very nasty kick, and had to leave the field. But that might, of course, have happened on any ground. The game took place under the auspices of the North Warwickshire League, and, contrary to expectation (the The four new men who played in last week’s match, all ground being in a bad condition for playing) it was a appeared in the town colours, as also did Yates, one very fast one. From the start, Nuneaton showed their of their companions. With the ground in such a state, superiority, but it was some time before they could score. however, it would be unfair to criticise them too much, At last, however,