Updated JULY 2024
Marlow Football Club has a long history but this post is about Marlow's more minor teams that your ancestor stands a better chance of having played for. It includes youth and junior sides as after all even Sporting Life would sometimes mention a fixture or match report for these. It doesn't include schools teams, the old Borlasian or Marlow Choir teams or those organised by employers on a more or less occasional basis eg the Brewery.
A few things to bear in mind: a lot of surnames are shared across teams. You may find a family member spent time on more than one. Brothers and cousins often played on the same side. Most match reports (especially early ones) fail to name players at all or just give the surname. Most of these teams did not have a set place to play home matches. Almost all can be found using the Crown Ground (Crown Meadow, now Riley Recreation Ground) on occasion, if Marlow F.C or the Reserves did not need it. The other main sites used were Star Meadow (one end of which would later be partially used to form Marlow F.C's new home, the Alfred Davis Memorial Ground), the "recreation ground" (Gossmore) and less often "the Station Ground" aka Porter's Meadow. The Porters owned or occupied more than one meadow in this period but the one usually referred to was roughly where Riverpark Drive is now. The Victoria's also used Colonels Meadow, behind Borlase school.
Regular football came to a halt during the First World War, so naturally there will be gaps for these years. The Crown Ground saw plenty of activity during that time thanks to locally stationed soldiers playing in the military leagues or just casually. I have not included them here as they are not often made up of local men. This blog deals with the pre First World War period primarily, with occasionally forays into the 1920's and beyond. Some of these team names were recycled later but unless mentioned otherwise, the more modern incarnations are not a continuation of what went before. Dates are for the first and last dates I have found of a team definitely being active. I have not researched all of the leagues or competitions entered, sorry! This page will be updated as new info emerges - and as we work through through my notes.. There are many more names to be added!
Marlow Rangers
1885 - 1906 (also used for an unrelated team in 1960's/70's)
Sought matches with "good minor teams" and seem to have enjoyed some success. Did not play exclusively against very local teams as most of the other minor ones did. Maintained both an A and B team. Average age 18/19. In 1894 had won 12 of their 17 games, and drawn another.
AGM held: Three Compasses, Dean Street.
Colours: Light and dark blue halves
Practice days: Wednesdays, on recreation ground (Gossmore)
Usual home pitch - Recreation Ground (Gossmore), but also used Station Ground, and Crown Ground on occasion. In 1895 are described as having a new ground in the meadow next to the Saw Mill in Station Rd lent by Mr H Clark , but still use other sites.
Some player/member names names:
1893 - Ayres, Langley.
1894 - A J Carr (captain), J Shipton (deputy captain), J Frith (also treasurer) , A Ayres, J Spindlo (R J?), G Almond, H Clark, Maskell, W East, W J Fenner, J A Paine (goalkeeper), F Rockell. G Sawyer, C Harris, A Frith. W Toovey, D Gibbons
Secretary : 1894 - W E Toovey, 10 Queens Rd.
1895 - J Spindlo (captain) Shipton (vice captain), W Toovey (hon. Sec), East, J or G Sawyer (treasurer), C Harris, J Paine, J Carr,
1896 - Secretary is W J Fenner, (moved from Chapel Str to "York Rd, Marefield" this year. Fenner is also secretary of The Swifts. ) Players: C Harris, J Simmons, A Carr, E Keep, G Sawyer, A & W Toovey, F Langley, J Shipton, W Halton, C Dye.
1905: Harris, Toovey, Howard.
Marlow Star
1885-1921 Originally started as a football team for the Dean Street boys club ran by All Saints Church. The curate Rev C Potts was the man largely behind the start of the club.
A youth team, average age 15 in 1898. Often came up against reserve sides of bigger teams including Marlow FC. Had A and B sides. All listings below are A team members. Secretary (1898) - W Scott, High Street.
Usual home ground: Star Meadow
Players:
1885- E Clark, G Ayres, A Bowles, Payne, Didcott , T or J White, Young, A Boot, C Ilsley (capt), F Grace.
1886 - J Bowles (goal) F Bailey (Captain) A Paine, J White, F Bowles, A Brook(e)s, E Clark(e), G Stone, C Brooks, I Ayres, C Price
1887 - E Clark(e) is goal keeper.
1903 - Cox, Grace
Players of unknown date: W Payne, G Langley.
Marlow Blue Star
Not same as above. This is a boys team. There was a Little Marlow Blue Star too by 1898 for under 11's or under 15s at different times. I don't think they were the same.
1910.
Players: T Moody, Stacey.
Little Marlow Blue Star
Boys, 1890/91. Not researched yet.
Marlow Red Star
Boys, 1893 - 1902. Usually play Gossmore.
Played in Berks and Bucks minors cup 1901, 1902.
(Lane End also had a boys side called Red Star)
A match report from 1893 says the game was characterized by rough play and "some fighting"! The Star team lost.
Marlow Victoria
Marlow's main "other" club, with a good following of their own. Aka "The Vics". Full name The Royal Victoria Working Mans FC. (Another Marlow Working Mans FC was active c1909 -1914) Also have reserve side. Mostly 17-23 years old (although from 15 year olds at start)
1873 - 1898 - but see below.
The club was set up for the "junior tradesman and mechanics" of Marlow. "Mr Wethered" was one of those who drove the idea forward and he acted as their first president. [Thomas O Wethered] They were lucky enough to secure the support of a number of well off patrons such as Sir William Robert Clayton, Bart, F O Wethered, and Thomas Somers Cocks as well as the Rev Cree and Alfred Davis Junior. Seeking "strong minor teams" to play against, they did well. So well in fact that in 1897 it was decided to amalgamate them with the Marlow FC reserves, in order to strengthen the latter. In 1898, 9 players in the Reserve team had played for Victoria the previous season. The B team(s) of the Vics still played under the Victoria name until approx 1899 though. They host Athletic Sports competitions for their members 1870's (at Gossmore) as part of their aim to encourage healthy exercise overall.
HQ - First AGM held Duke of Cambridge, Queens Rd. The Duke was also where the initial meeting to set up the team was held. Later used the White Lion, West Street.
Practice: when first established held on Tues and Sats on Colonel's Meadow, Borlase. Later at Gossmore Recreation Ground.
Home ground: For first year or so, Colonel's Meadow. Then usually the recreation ground Gossmore. Sometimes borrow Crown Ground too.
Secretary: 1872- R Carter. 1873 / 1874 - A Gardener. 1894 - Joint secretaries S J Barlow of Eton Cottage and H Sawyer of Spittal Street. 1896 - W Fenner (this man's name will pop up often in this role!). 1899 - C Howard of West End 1899.
Chairman - 1895 L J Sellman
Players:
1873/4 - Captain William J Stockbridge. Others: C & T Fletcher, Owen Sawyer, J Biggs, R Wye, G Frith, G&J Edwards, A Keep.
1875 John Langley jun, A Keep, T Plumridge, F Plumridge, M Mason, C Fletcher, W Plumridge jun, Owen Sawyer, J Beckett, R Wellicome, J Biggs, J Harvey, T Wyatt, G Edwards.
1895: S J Barlow, George & A E Edmunds (George is Captain), F Tucker, H Sawyer, ? Davis, L Sellman, G Barber, F Hawkes (vice Captain)
1897 - H Sawyer (goalkeeper), ? Edmunds (Capt), A Edmunds, W Probert, Unknown Probert, L Sellman (also hon treasurer), S Shaw, G Davis, Smith, F Haw(k)es, K Bonny, W White (deputy captain), J Davis.
Marlow Excelsior
Play Crown Ground, and Star Meadow.
A youth team with a reserve side too. Played in the Berks &Bucks Minor League in 1901.
1893 - 1911 (definite finish date)
Usual place of play: Recreation ground
Secretary 1896 - W Fenner again!
Marlow Ramblers
1890 - 1895. Also had B team. Play in Berks & Bucks Junior Cup.
HQ - Clubroom of Three Tuns, West Str. AGM and annual dinner held there, fundraising smoking concerts ditto.
Play: On all the Marlow grounds (see top)
Secretary: 1890/91 - H Price, 7 Queens Rd. 1892 - W Carter.
Players: Emmett (undated)
1890: Judge, East, Rose, P (probably Phillip) & F Looker, F Harvey (captain), E Cook, A Cooper, H Illsley (goal), Tucker.
1891: H Illsley, J White, F Harvey, J Rose, F. & P Looker, J F Price, W East, G Judge, George Moody, G Ayres, E Clark, E Heatley, F Bayley, E Cook, A Cooper
1892 - W Rose (in goal), E Emmett (also goalkeeper) Backs J Howe?, J White, H Frith. Half backs - W Carter, J East?, W J East, T. P Rose. Right Wing - George Moody, F Looker. Left Wing: - A Boot, P Looker. Centre - R C Sawyer. Captain - William East. /W J East.
President: Viscount Curzon, MP. Hon Treasurer: A Carter.
Marlow Wednesday Ramblers - may be successor of Marlow Ramblers.
1903.
Players: Stacey, Sears, Dormer.
Marlow Wednesday
May be referring to Wednesday Ramblers or Wednesday Athletic or may be another team again!! Still active at dawn of First World War. Another Marlow Wednesday was formed c1931 and played on the Marlow F C ground - on Wednesdays naturally.
1909 - Secretary: A Smith, 7 Sunlight Cottages.
Marlow Antelopes
Youth team. (Under 16)
1874 - 1896. In 1894 mentioned as "badly in need of funds".
Secretary: F Plumridge, Oxford Rd.
Players - just a few known
1878 - Harding, Rockell, Lovegrove, Higgins.
Undated: - Nicholls, H White (Captain), R J Spindlo (this is Richard John, known as John, the baker b 1878, and later very successful player for Marlow F C )
1893 - H White (goal), J Spindle (Spindlo?), G Morton, C Drye, F Nicholls, G Hatton, C Harris, W Mangah ?, W Plumridge, F Nicholls, F Paine,
1894 - Goalkeeper - W. East. Others: C F Waterman, R Wellicome, H Clark, F Walker, F Langley, F Harman, J Boot, C J Drye.
Marefield Rovers
Boys team. Had reserve side too. Play in Maidenhead Boys League. C1910-1913.
Players 1910: T Golding (Captain), G Stone, S Clark, H Hilsdon, A & A H Peddle, R Flint, C Lee, R Clark, F Burton, W Lloyd
Marlow Rovers
1891- 1912 then 1920-1930.
Youth team, average age 17 in 1920.
Plays: Recreation Ground, occasionally Crown Ground.
Practice: Wednesdays, Recreation Ground.
Secretary: 1920 - G Sparks, West Str.
Players: 1900 T Ward, Bennett, Coles, Robinson
Marlow Red Rovers
1893 - 1898. Under 15's side.
Hon Sec 1893 : George Edmunds
White Rovers
Boys, 1893 - 1899
Marlow Albion
1887- 1907 Has an A & B team. Youths.
Hon. Secretary 1888 is A Carter.
Wednesday Athletic
Boys. 1912.
Marlow Athletic
1911-1920
Marlow Abstainers
1886
Marlow Corinthians
Youths 1892.
1893 - W Wellicome, J Beckett, H Collins, J Shipton, T Rance, G H Clark, S Green.
Marlow Harriers
1886-1888
Marlow Nelson
"Rising minor team" in 1896 but records thin on ground!
Marlow Wanderers
Youths under 14, 1897.
Players: Rockwell (possibly meant to be Rockell/Rockall or Rosewell), Corby.
Marlow United
Active at least 1909-14. Juniors. Not the same as the more modern team to bear this name.
Players 1909 - Culhane, Cresswell, Dickson, Arber, Moody, Rolston, Morris.
And a bonus:
Players for Lane End FC (still going today!)
Aka "the blue and whites"
1893 (first year) : J Gray, Rixon, F Fletcher, J Britnell, A Bristow, Davis, Sears, Priest, J Carr.
Researched by Kathryn Day with some additional research by Charlotte Day.
©Marlow Ancestors
