President's XIV v Secretary's XIV

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

The gentlemen who have expended so much time in arranging the new code of laws for the regulation of the game of football had the gratification of seeing them put to practical and highly-satisfactory test on Saturday last, when the members of the association mustered in good round numbers at Battersea Park, and played a friendly game, there being fourteen on each side. A large muster of spectators, attracted the fine bracing weather and the novelty of the proceedings, attended, and, in common with those who took active part in the game, expressed their entire satisfaction at the working of the new laws. The sides were chosen the Messrs.Alcock, and were distinguishable as President’s and Secretary's,and included following :—Messrs. J. F. Alcock, E. C.Morley, C. M. Tebbutt, C. Hewett, G. T. Wawn, J. P. Phillips, Innes, M'Calmont, Needham, H. Baker, A. Baker, Lloyd, Hughes, Jackson, C. W. Alcock, A. Pember, H.W. Chambers, A. M. Tebbut, Gray, Drew, Graham, Cutbill, Morton, J. Turner, Morris, Renshaw, Lenchars, and Scott. The game commenced shortly alter half-past two, and some very spirited play ensued, which only concluded when twilight was far advanced, and resulted in the President’s Side obtaining two goals. It would be invidious to mention the names of any of the players having distinguished themselves where all were active; suffice it to say, that the afternoon was very pleasantly spent, and so was the evening, by portion of the members and their friends, who retired to the Grosvenor Hotel, Pimlico, where a capital dinner and some excellent wines were discussed the satisfaction of all concerned.The complete list of fixtures of the Barnes Club will appear in Saturday’s paper, and we shall be glad if the secretaries of other clubs will forward lists of their matches to come by Thursday’s post at latest.

 Sporting Life - 06.01.64

1863

Andy Mitchell has published his research into the real Founding Fathers of Association Football: 

http://www.scottishsporthistory.com/1/post/2013/12/the-men-who-wrote-the-laws-of-association-football.html

London v Sheffield 1866

The Kentish Chronicle 14.04.66

The Football Association was concerned primarily with the unification of the codes of football and the promotion of their own rules. This agenda is illustrated by the exchanges with the Sheffield Football Club during the 1860s. Sheffield, as we have seen, had their own established set of rules but would compromise in order to play other clubs. In 1866 Mr Chesterman, Secretary of Sheffield FC,  wrote to the FA requesting a game against one of the clubs affiliated to the Association. The FA interpreted this as a challenge to an FA Selection and therefore the match played on  31st March 1866 at Battersea Park was the first FA representative match. 

The FA XI (aka London) was drawn from 4 clubs:

A. Pember (N.N.'s)
 The first president of the Football Association (1863-1867)

Kinnaird  (Wanderers)
(Lord)  Kinnaird went on to play in 9 FA Cup Finals (plus two replays), and was on the winning side 5 times.In 1873 he represented Scotland against England and was president og the FA (1890-1923).

C. W. Alcock  (Wanderers) 

E.D. Elphinstone (Civil Service)

D.M O'Leary (Barnes)

J. A. Barnes (Barnes)- (in some sources J.K Barnes)

A.J. Baker (N.N.'s) 

-Tebbut (N.N.'s)

E.C Morley (Barnes)
The Football Association's first secretary and second President.

-Martin (Wanderers) 

R. W. Willis (Barnes)
  He was the second Secretary of the FA1866–1868, the man who accepted the challenge


London won by 2 goals and four touchdowns  to nil. Sheffield FC invited the Football Association to a return match in Sheffield, to be played under the Sheffield Rules.
The FA however, in keeping with their object of unifying the codes, would only entertain playing under Association rules, and it was 5 years before another representative match took place. 

Presidents of the Football Association

Arthur Pember (1863-1867)

Arthur Pember was present at the founding of the Football Association as a representative of N.N. Kilburn (usually explained as No Names)- he was also a member of Wanderers. Away from football Pember was a journalist of renown,  working mainly in the USA.

Ebenezer Cobb Morley (1867-74)

The Football Association's first secretary, Morley was from Kingston upon Hull, but moved to London in his twenties and played for Barnes. Morley wrote a letter to Bell's Life proposing that football needed a governing body to codify the rules. This led to the foundation of the FA. It was Morley who wrote the first draft of The Laws of The Game.

Morley played for Barnes against Richmond in the first ever game played under the 1863 rules and also represented London against Sheffield in 1866.

Colonel Sir Francis Arthur Marindin (1874-1890)

Marindin played in 2 FA Cup Finals for Royal Engineers and, in his capacity as president of the FA, acted as referee in 9 finals. . Despite this involvement in the game when it was rapidly evolving , when Marindin died in 1900 his obituary in The Times made no reference whatsoever to football.

Lord Kinnaird (1890-1923)

Lord Kinnaird had played in 9 FA Cup Finals (plus two replays), and was on the winning side 5 times.In 1873 he represented Scotland against England at The Oval, having earlier played in 3 of  the unofficial meetings between England and Scotland XIs in 1870-71. Lord Kinnaird passed away shortly before the opening of The Empire Stadium Wembley, having been President of the FA for 33 years.

Sir John Charles Clegg

Sir J.C Clegg was Sheffield through and through. He was a member of Sheffield F.C and represented Sheffield Association in a match against the FA in 1871 when Sheffield football was still a distinct game from the association code.  He competed in the first international match between England and Scotland in 1872- he reported feeling somewhat left out by his 'snobbish' southern teammates. Later a prominent referee (taking charge of the 1892 FA Cup Final) and Chairman of The Wednesday. He had a lifelong distaste for professionalism. During his tenure as FA president (he had been chairman from 1890)  Sir John became known as the Napoleon of Football.