The foundation of Brentford Football Club, took place during different meetings in October 1889 and the story during that month can be followed via the local newspapers from the period; These were, The Middlesex Independent, The Thames Valley Times, The Middlesex County Times and The Brentford & Chiswick Times.
We are grateful to Paul Briers who has shared this article from his website
The foundation of Brentford Football Club, October 1889
On 7 October 1889, on a mild Autumnal Monday, at the monthly meeting of the Brentford Rowing Club, a proposal was put forward for a winter sport to be taken up for its memberships participation.
Proposal – that a “Brentford Football Club” should be formed
(see notes on the Rowing Club below)
This was reported locally, in the “County of Middlesex Independent”, a few days after.
Discussing the formation of a ‘Brentford Football Club’ …..
That meeting took place at 8:30pm, Thursday 10 October 1889 at the Pavilion of the Oxford & Cambridge Hotel, Kew Bridge Road, next to Kew Bridge. All members, and gentleman, interested in football were invited to attend on that Thursday, to discuss the formation of a ‘Brentford Football Club’.
Those named in attendance were: Archer D Green (Secretary, Brentford Rowing Club), John Strachan, *Henry Edwardes, *Henry Gatterell, *John Bailey, Robert Butcher, *Arthur Drabble, *Charles Almond, Thomas Dorey, Carey West, *John Curtis, John Green, *George Bloomer, Albert Penn, T. Davey and Joseph Wise (landlord of the Oxford & Cambridge). The attendees marked with an * were to become the original playing members.
Archer Green was proposed as Secretary and he accepted. John Strachan was proposed as the Chairman and he too accepted.
With a new recreation ground being laid out in Brentford, it was also decided to ask the Local Board (the original format for a local council) for the use of the new recreation ground (St Paul’s Recreation Ground) to play matches on. It was right in the centre of town and accessible to the townsfolk. Carey West proposed the formation of the new club and this was seconded by John Curtis.
‘Association’ or ‘Rugby’ – not decided
Once the formation of Brentford Football Club had been discussed, the meeting moved on to the issue of which code of football would be played, Association or Rugby football? John Curtis proposed Association Football, seconded by Carey West. Henry Edwardes then made an amendment and proposed Rugby football, this was seconded by Arthur Drabble. The vote by just 11 members took place. The result was six votes to five in favour of Association Football. However, the John Curtis amendment was then rescinded to await the result, from the Local Board as to whether the new club would be permitted to play on the new green space.
A different proposal, by Thomas Dorey, to name the new club; Brentford Rowing and Football Club, was not seconded. Carey West was in favour of keeping both Clubs separate.
In terms of the new personnel, Henry Gatterall was voted as Captain of any new club and the committee was to be made up of; Archer Green, John Strachan, Henry Edwardes, Arthur Drabble, Charles Almond and John Curtis.
The Richmond and Twickenham Times reported that, “It was determined to leave the question of whether ‘Association’ or ‘Rugby’ should be played, to a future meeting.”
The meeting was then closed and a date of 16 October 1889 was confirmed for the next meeting.
16 October 1889 – Oxford & Cambridge Hotel
The meeting finally to accept and conclude the detail for, the formation of the new Brentford Football Club, took place.
The attendance of members increased to 25. These were; Archer Green (Secretary of Brentford Football Club), John Strachan (Chariman of Brentford Football Club), *Henry Edwardes, *Henry Gatterell, *John Bailey, Robert Butcher, *Arthur Drabble, *Charles Almond, Thomas Dorey, Carey West, *John Curtis, John Green, *George Bloomer, Albert Penn, *Henry Dodge, Arthur Bolton, Philip Parkman, *Richard Beaver, Andre Simon, Louis Simon, Frederick Fusedale, Henry Phipps, Sidney Phipps, Arthur Harriss and John Hurst. The attendees marked with an * were to become the original playing members and just Bonnell and Burness were absent from the original XI.
Archer Green then began the meeting, reading his letter to the Local Board and John Strachan explained that a reply hadn’t been forthcoming by the time of the meeting. Henry Edwardes replied that it didn’t matter that the Local Board hadn’t replied and the formation of a new club should still go ahead. He continued that the use of Mr Montgomery’s field, in Windmill Road (later to be known as Shotter’s Field and once owned by Mr George Clarke – who in fact was responsible for the non-formation of a Football Club five years before) was an option for the new club.
Henry Edwardes then proposed that a club be formed and this was seconded by Albert Penn.
‘Round, or egg shaped ball ?
Before a committee and captain were proposed, John Strachan intervened, to request a vote as to which code was to be formally adopted.
Mr Henry Edwardes proposed Association football be adopted, seconded by Mr Carey West, as there were fewer Rugby Clubs in the area to play matches against. Mr Henry Dodge, however, proposed the Rugby football be adopted, seconded by Mr Henry Gatterell. A vote between the known playing members at the meeting, numbering thirteen, then took place.
The result – Association Football – 8 votes. Rugby Football – 5 votes. The Chairman assumed that those who voted for Rugby, would bow to the majority and this was accepted. Association Football was therefore adopted for the newly formed Brentford Football Club.
The next point was the proposal for a Club Captain. Henry Gatterell – originally voted upon to be Captain – declined the honour, as he didn’t play the code that has been accepted. Charles Almond nominated John Curtis and this was seconded by Carey West. John Curtis replied that John Bailey should be Captain but he, in turn, also declined the position due to other commitments. Therefore John Joseph Curtis was named as the Football Clubs first Captain.
The next proposal was for the Club Vice-Captain. Henry Gatterell, Carey West and Arthur Bolton were nominated but all declined the role due to other commitments. John Bailey was then appointed as vice-captain.
The newly formed Football Club’s committee then took shape. Archer Green was to continue as secretary, John Strachan continued as Chairman and then Henry Edwardes, Arthur Drabble, Henry Gatterell, Carey West and Richard Beaver were eleceted as members of the committee.
The County of Middlesex Independent reported the meeting of the 16th, three days after on Saturday 19th
The accepted name was; Brentford Football Club.
The colours were then agreed as Claret and Blue. A different local report also named the Rowing Club colours of Claret, Salmon and Blue, as the choice, but the three colours were never worn on the field of play.
[All reports from 1889/1892 all record claret & blue as being worn by the players.]
Mr Edwin Underwood would be asked to become the Club’s President (as he had showed much interest in the new club) and the following were asked to be Vice-President’s; Mr Kenneth Montgomery, Mr Archibald S. Montgomery, Mr S. Walker, Mr James Bigwood MP, Mr Thomas Layton and Mr Joseph H. Jupp.
The ground and changing rooms
The Local Board had declined the request to use the new recreation ground (later named St Paul’s Recreation Ground) but Mr Edwin Underwood allowed the football club the use of his field behind Clifden House and the Weslyan Chapel just off Windmill Road and the landlord of The Griffin PH – Mr Frederick Allen – allowed the Club the use his premises as a changing room for matches.
Brentford Football Club was born……………….
Notes
1. In the August of 1888, the Brentford Rowing Club split into two entities, after a disagreement. One of these was based at Kew Bridge, using the Oxford & Cambridge Hotel as its HQ and the other was at Brentford Ferry, using The Bunch of Grapes PH as its headquarters.
2. The main picture of the shirt has been created by Brendan Nevin based on the earliest newspaper photos and records but also with thanks to Paul Briers. This shirt was recorded as worn between 1892 and 1895