1st Surrey Rifles F.C.

1st Surrey Rifles F.C. was an amateur football club, open to members of the corps, who featured in the early years of the FA Cup from 1872 to 1878.[3] The first reported match played against external opposition was a 1-0 victory against the Lausanne club at the latter's Rosemary Branch ground in 1871.[4]

1st Surrey Rifles
1st Surrey Rifles regimental badge, as sometimes found on the club's shirts
Full nameFirst Surrey Rifles Football Club
Nickname(s)the Rifles,[1] the Riflemen[2]
Founded1869
GroundParade Ground, Brunswick Road, Camberwell

The club's first Cup tie, in 1872-73, resulted in a 2-0 win over Upton Park F.C., in poor weather, the second goal coming near the close of play.[5]

The club did not win again in the competition until 1877-78, beating Forest School at Flodden Road in Camberwell. The only goal came after "Allport, calling on his men for a sort of infantry charge, went bodily through the ranks of his enemies, and Kirkpatrick,taking advantage of an opportunity that presented itself, made a splendid long kick, and although Littlewood tried hard to turn aside the ball with his hand,it bounded off and went under the tape." R. L. Allport, the club captain, had started the game in goal, but soon swapped out.[6]

The club's second-round defeat to the Old Harrovians was its last in the competition; both Allport and John Maynard played in the club's first and last matches in the Cup.

First Surrey Rifles football club, 1885-86

Colours

The club's colours, according to the Charles Alcock annuals, were as follows:

  • 1870-75: scarlet cap, blue jersey (with a gold bugle specified from 1872)
  • 1875-76: red and black
  • 1876-78: red & black cap, white shirt, white knickers, red & black stockings
  • 1884-87: red & black[7]

Notable players

References
  1. "Forest School 1-0 First Surrey Rifles". The Sportsman: 3. 23 October 1872.
  2. "report". The Referee: 6. 11 November 1877.
  3. 1st Surrey Rifles at the Football Club History Database
  4. "report". Sportsman: 3. 30 March 1871.
  5. "report". Sportsman: 3. 29 October 1872.
  6. "report". The Referee: 6. 11 November 1877.
  7. Photographic evidence suggests that this was in halves.
  8. "John Maynard". England Players Online. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
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