1888–89 Eastville Rovers F.C. season

The 1888–89 season was the sixth to be played by the team that is now known as Bristol Rovers, and their fifth playing under the name Eastville Rovers. It was significant as being the first season in which the club won a trophy, taking the Gloucestershire Cup title in just the second year of the tournament's existence.

Eastville Rovers
1888–89 season
CaptainFred Channing
Gloucestershire Challenge CupWinners

Season review
Legendary cricketer W.G. Grace refereed Rovers' match against Wick & Doynton

Before the season began, Fred Channing was re-elected as club captain, with W.J. Somerton continuing in his role of vice captain. S. Burgess and W. Braund were re-elected as second XI captain and vice captain respectively, and W.S. Perrin was confirmed as the club's secretary and treasurer.[1] The start of the second Gloucestershire Cup tournament was deferred until January due to some clubs being unhappy with the interference the competition had caused with the regular club match schedule the previous season.[2]

The draw for the first round of the Cup was made on the 13 December. Eleven teams entered the competition this year, four more than in its inaugural season, and Eastville Rovers were paired with St Agnes in one of three ties in the opening round. The other fixtures were Warmley v Old Boys, Q.E.H. (who had been known as Globe F.C. until this season) and Clifton v St George. Southville, Wick & Doynton, St Simon, Kingswood, and Craigmore College were all given byes to the second round.[3]

Rovers were victorious against St Agnes, earning them a second-round tie against tournament newcomers Wick & Doynton. This game was played in Warmley, and refereed by world-famous cricketer W. G. Grace, but following a 2–1 defeat to the Eastville club the home team appealed the result, claiming that proper procedures hadn't been followed when appointing the match official.[4] The Gloucestershire FA upheld the complaint and the game was replayed two weeks after the original tie with a new referee taking charge.[5] The standard of the officiating of the replayed match was the subject of some criticism, both by the local press and the crowd in attendance on the day, but the outcome was an identical result to when the game was played originally.[6]

A goalless draw against Kingswood in the semi-final led to a replay on the Chequers Ground, which looked like ending in another stalemate until Walter Perrin grabbed a late winner for Eastville. This earned them their first appearance in the final, where they would face pre-match favourites, and one of the strongest teams in the Bristol area, Warmley. Perrin was again the hero in the final, scoring the only goal at the St George Cricket & Football Club in front of an estimated 3,000 spectators.[7]

Results

Gloucestershire Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultScorersNotes
126 January 1889St AgnesAshley Hill, BristolWon 3–1Higgins (2), Laurie[3][8][9]
216 February 1889Wick & DoyntonWarmley, GloucestershireWon 2–1Higgins, Attewell[4]
2 (replay)2 March 1889Wick & DoyntonWarmley, GloucestershireWon 2–1Attewell, Perrin[6]
Semi-final16 March 1889KingswoodThe Downs, BristolDrew 0–0[10]
Semi-final (replay)30 March 1889KingswoodKingswood, BristolWon 1–0Perrin[11]
Final6 April 1889WarmleySt George, BristolWon 1–0Perrin[7]

Club matches
DateOpponentVenueResultScorersNotes
29 September 1888KingswoodKingswood, BristolWon 8–0Taylor (2), Hodgson (3), Cade (3)[12]
6 October 1888WarmleyThe Downs, BristolWon 3–1Higgins, Taylor 2[8][13]
13 October 1888St GeorgeSt George, BristolWon 2–0Laurie, Perrin[14][15]
20 October 1888Old Boys, Q.E.H.Three Acres, BristolWon 9–1[16][17]
3 November 1888CliftonGloucestershire County GroundLost 0–3[18][19][20]
10 November 1888Swindon TownSwindon, WiltshireLost 0-7[21]
1 December 1888CliftonGloucestershire County GroundDrew 3–3Taylor, Higgins, Horsey[22][23]
15 December 1888St GeorgeSt George, BristolDrew 0–0[3][24][25]
22 December 1888KingswoodThe Downs, Bristol[26]
29 December 1888Old Boys, Q.E.H.Won 3-1[27]
5 January 1889WarmleyWarmley, GloucestershireLost 1–3Higgins[28][29]
12 January 1889St GeorgeSt George, BristolDrew 3–3[30]
19 January 1889SouthvilleThree AcresWon 1–0Channing[8] see Western daily press 23 Jan 1889
9 February 1889Swindon TownGloucestershire County GroundWon 6–1Taylor (3), Perrin (2), Francis[31][32]

Second team
DateOpponentVenueResultScorersNotes
29 September 1888Kingswood second XIThe Downs, BristolWon 2–1Farrell (2)[12]
13 October 1888St SimonThe Downs, BristolWon 4–1Moorhouse (2), Wicks, Ashley[15]
20 October 1888Old Boys, Q.E.H. 2nd XIThe Downs, BristolWon 1–0[17]
27 October 1888St George ReservesSt George, BristolLost 2–5[33][34]
10 November 1888St George ReservesSt George, BristolLost 0-4[35][36]
17 November 1888Kingswood CongregationalKingswood, BristolLost 0-5see Western Daily Press 20 11 1888 [37]
24 November 1888St George ReservesThree Acres, BristolLost 0-3One goal was disputed[38]
1 December 1888St ThomasThree Acres, BristolWon 15–0Lane (3), Ashley (3), Welham (3), Rodburn (2), Laurie (2), Poulson, Smith[23]
15 December 1888St George ReservesThree Acres, BristolLost 1–6St George played with 10 men[3][24][25]
22 December 1888Kingswood second XIKingswood, Bristol[26]
5 January 1889St SimonEastville Park, BristolWon 3–1A. Laurie, Smith[29]
9 February 1889DolphinThe Downs, BristolDrew 1–1[32]

Statistics
Friendly matches are not included in this section.
Match record
CompetitionHomeAwayTotal
PWDLFAPWDLFAPWDLFA
Gloucestershire Cup 101000 440 072 541072
Goalscorers
PlayerGoals
LeagueCupTotal
Bill Higgins–33
Walter Perrin–33
Albert Attwell–22
Frank Laurie–11

Cumulative record

The total cumulative record of Eastville Rovers up to the end of the 1888–89 season is shown below. This is calculated by adding the numbers in the section above to the total games played last season. Friendly matches are not included in this table, and games held at neutral venues are considered to have been played away from home.

As of the summer of 1889, Rovers' competitive matches had all been played in the Gloucestershire Cup.

Match record
CompetitionHomeAwayTotal
PWDLFAPWDLFAPWDLFA
Gloucestershire Cup 201114 440 072 641186

References
  1. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 13 July 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 4 September 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 14 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 18 February 1889. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 27 February 1889. Retrieved 11 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 4 March 1889. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 8 April 1889. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. Byrne & Jay (2003), p.31
  9. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 28 January 1889. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 18 March 1889. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 1 April 1889. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 2 October 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 31 August 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "Fixtures for to-morrow". Bristol Mercury & Western Daily Press 6 oct 1888. 12 October 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 15 October 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. "Fixtures for to-morrow". Bristol Mercury. 19 October 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 22 October 1888. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. "Prospects of the Season". Western Chronicle. 28 September 1888. Retrieved 31 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. "Fixtures for to-morrow". Bristol Mercury. 2 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 5 November 1888. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "Athletics". Swindon Advertiser. 4 May 1889. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. "Football". Athletic News. 27 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 3 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. "Local Athletic Fixtures–To-Day". Western Daily Press. 15 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 18 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 21 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. "Football Fixtures". Athletic News and Bristol Mercury 1st January 1889. 24 December 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. "Football". Weston-super-Mare Gazette and General Advertiser. 9 January 1889. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 7 January 1889. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 14 January 1889. Retrieved 9 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. "Matches for this day (Saturday)". Sporting Life. 9 February 1889. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 11 February 1889. Retrieved 8 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. "Fixtures for to-morrow". Bristol Mercury. 26 October 1888. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 29 October 1888. Retrieved 25 October 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 9 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 12 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 17 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 28 November 1888. Retrieved 1 November 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Bibliography
  • Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club: The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
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