1867–68 Sheffield Wednesday F.C. season

The 1867–68 Season was Sheffield Wednesday F.C.'s first season after being formed on September 5, 1867. For this first season of their existence “The Wednesday” as they were called played their home matches on an open field known as “high field” in the present Highfields area of Sheffield. The actual location of the ground was on Upper Colver Road which no longer exists but was situated on the present day site of the Highfields Library which stands near the junction of London Road and Abbeydale Road.

First ever fixture at Dronfield

There was a gap of over three months between the formation of the club and The Wednesday’s first ever recorded fixture on December 31st 1867 against the newly formed Dronfield F.C. at Dronfield. There is no recorded reason as to why it took so long for Wednesday to play their first match although it can be speculated that arrangements for a home ground and trial matches took place in this period. What was decided by the committee during this time was that the club would play in blue and white colours.

The match at Dronfield took place on one of the fields of local farmer Samuel Baggaley. No records of the team line ups exist today but it is thought that The Wednesday’s first captain John Marsh participated in the game. Games in this first season were played under Sheffield Rules which included “rouges”, a sort of supplementary goal which were scored by getting the ball through a four yard area each side of the main goal posts. Wednesday won their first game at Dronfield by one goal to four rouges, Wednesday scored after 10 minutes, although the goalscorer has not gone down in the records of the club. Dronfield scored their four rouges in the second half but Wednesday won the match as a goal was worth any amount of rouges.

Cromwell Cup victory

Wednesday entered their first significant tournament in early 1868 when they took part in the Cromwell Cup, a knock out competition for four clubs. All the clubs invited to take part by Oliver Cromwell, stage-manager of the Theatre Royal in Sheffield, had been formed for less than two years. Wednesday defeated Exchange 4–0 at the Mackenzie Ground on February 1st in their first match to qualify for the final. A week later Garrick beat Wellington by a “rouge” to nil at Norfolk Park to set up a Wednesday v Garrick final on February 15, 1868 at Bramall Lane.[1]

The Cromwell Cup final was the first match that Wednesday played in that an admittance fee was charged. A crowd of around 600 assembled at Bramall Lane for the final with Garrick winning the toss and electing to play with a strong wind at their back. Garrick had the better of the play in the first half and hit the post after ten minutes, however it was goal-less at half time. The second half was more evenly contested with Garrick having some dangerous attacking moments but Wednesday skipper John Marsh along with Denton and Whelan played well in defence to keep the score at 0–0 at full time. Jenkinson, Broomhead and Alf Wood also had good games for Wednesday. It was decided to keep playing extra time until one of the teams scored. After ten minutes of extra time Wednesday scored when Whelan passed to Wood who played the ball into the goal mouth which resulted in a general melee. A Garrick defender hit the ball high into the air and when it dropped it hit somebody on the shoulder and went into the goal.[2]

Wednesday skipper John Marsh was carried from the pitch by jubilant supporters although it was not until March 16th that he was presented with the cup by Oliver Cromwell at the Theatre Royal on the occasion of his benefit night. After the presentation of the cup the Wednesday players adjourned to the nearby Adelphi Hotel, where landlord Harry Sampson kept his promise and filled the cup with champagne.[3]

References

  1. ^ "The Romance of The Wednesday", Richard A. Sparling, ISBN 1-874287-17-1 Pages 25–27 Gives details of season and Cromwell Cup.
  2. ^ Sheffield and Rotherham Independent. Gives description of Cromwell Cup Final.
  3. ^ "Wednesday!", Keith Farnsworth, ISBN 0-900660-88-0 Pages 11–15 Gives details of season and Cromwell Cup.
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