The most influential figure in the evolution of Association Football, Charlie Alcock was at the center of many of the key developments in the game.
Alcock attended Harrow School where he played football. At the age of 17 he and his brother J.F. Alcock founded Forest FC , the club which in 1863 evolved into the Wanderers, the dominant club of the first 2 decades of the Association game.
Organizer.
1870 -Football as an 11 a side game: More than eleven we do not care to play as it is with greater numbers it is our opinion the game becomes less scientific and more a trial of charging and brute force...
20 July 1871- it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete.
Alcock's proposal led to the inauguration of the FA Cup.
Football as a passing game: Nothing succeeds better than what I may call a 'combination game'.
1870- Alcock organized a series of representative matches between England and Scotland in 1870. It was Alcock's response to criticism that these games were not truly representative internationals that led to the initiation of the official internationals:
I must join issue with your correspondent in some instances. First, I assert that of whatever the Scotch eleven may have been composed the right to play was open to every Scotchman [Alcock's italics] whether his lines were cast North or South of the Tweed and that if in the face of the invitations publicly given through the columns of leading journals of Scotland the representative eleven consisted chiefly of Anglo-Scotians ... the fault lies on the heads of the players of the north, not on the management who sought the services of all alike impartially. To call the team London Scotchmen contributes nothing. The match was, as announced, to all intents and purposes between England and Scotland.
The Scotsman 28,11,70
Player.
1859-63- Forest
1863-76 - Wanderers (FA Cup winner 1872).
Also represented Old Harrovians, Harrow Chequers and Harrow Pilgrims.
1864- Secretary's XI versus President's XI (the first official game under the Association rules).
1866- Football Association vs Sheffield.
1870-72 - played in 5 unofficial matches for England v Scotland.
1875- Capped by England and scored in his only international , in which he was also captain.
Aministrator.
1866 FA committee.
1870-95 FA Secretary.
President of the Surrey FA.
Vice-president of the London FA.
Alcock objected to the argument ‘that it is immoral to work for a living’—even if that work took the form of sport. He twice proposed the legalizing of professionalism under strict controls before it was accepted in 1885, and was, uniquely among his peers, positive in his attitude towards the foundation of the Football League.
Official.
Umpire in first international match, 1872.
FA Cup Final referee 1875 and 1879.
1893-first president of the Referees Association.
Writer.
The Football Annual- 1868 onwards.
Football: our winter game -1874.
