The town of Skipton in Craven is described in the local Almanac of the 1780's as "The metropolis of the far farmed, agricultural, manufacturing and mining district of Craven". Favourably situated for trade on the borders of the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, with a population growing rapidly from 8,600 in 1871 to over 12,000 in 1883.
During the summer of 1874 a football club was founded in the town. Sir Matthew Wilson Baronet, M.P. for the northern division of the West riding consented to occupy the position of President. A committee of gentlemen had been elected who would go "heart and soul into the new exciting game". It seems clear that football had been played in the district before this date, games probably being arranged between sides from the local mills and quarries, but up to this time there had been no unified effort. The club was to be known as Skipton Football Club, and matches were to be played according to the Rugby rules of the game.
The popularity of the game had been growing throughout the north of England over the previous 10 years, prior to that it had only been played on any organised basis in public schools, and as such enjoyed almost solely by the aristocracy. The game was considered "healthy, exciting and mirth provoking" and in it "you may pick the ball up, wedge it tightly under your arm, put your head down and charge, if you can into your opponents goal". It was a game in which "you can expect to be knocked this way and that, tripped up and hacked across the shins, and other rough liberties taken with your trunk and limbs".
The Rugby Football union had been formed three years earlier in 1871 and a set of rules had been formulated to bring order and uniformity to the game. The maximum number of players was set at 20, the actual numbers taking part apparently being a matter to be decided between the rival Captains before the game. There was not yet a referee, but two umpires, presumably one from each side who decided on any disputes, in consultation with the Captains.
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Skipton
Football Club circa 1874
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The
central bearded figure is thought to be Algernon Dewhurst.
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The
Club played in Maroon and Amber Hooped Jerseys until 1889 when the present
colour Cardinal was Adopted
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Skipton's first fixture was against an Ilkley side at Ilkley on 7th November 1874, and though Skipton lost the game, their play drew the following comment from the Press: - "Considering this was the first match ever played by a Skipton team, we think the result may be considered highly satisfactory". Eleven players took the field for Skipton, being captained by A. Sidgewick. Two other players played part of the game for Skipton as substitutes. Other fixtures during the first season were played against Leeds Grammar School, Burnley Rovers, Bradford and Otley. Each team played twice, a home and an away arrangement, all being within reasonable travelling distance of Skipton. The team had mixed fortunes loosing against Leeds Grammar School, Bradford and Ilkley, and winning against Burnley Rovers. Comment about the teams play was encouraging, even in the matches they lost. The return fixture with Ilkley was scheduled to take place at Skipton on the 6th of February 1875, was unfortunately cancelled, this was apparently a last minute cancellation on the part of the Ilkley team. The notification did not however come to light until the time for kick off, by which time several supporters had gathered, and were doomed to disappointment.
One of the matches against Otley at Skipton ended abruptly due to the unfairness of the visitors, who being over anxious for victory, "did not conform to the rules", as the Craven Herald reported the matter. During the game one of the Otley players "aimed a deliberate kick" at one of the Skipton players. It was not clear whether the kick landed, but the fact that it had been aimed was sufficient for the Skipton players, who refused to continue the game, which ended in confusion, the angry crowd apparently following the Otley team back to the Hotel where the match was drawn in favour of Otley. The manner of which this game ended was not unusual at the time, the game still in it's infancy, very rough and ready, and lacking in the independent control of a referee.
Very few games were played in the years immediately following the founding of the club, there is a reference in1877 to the Skipton Football Club only playing one game, but in that year a Skipton Juniors Club was founded. It is thought that the two clubs amalgamated in 1879, for there is no reference to the Skipton Junior Club after this date. Up to 1878 used a field between the railway line and Carleton New Road, which was reached by a level crossing over the railway line. In that year the Club secured the use of a field at Sandylands on the opposite side of Carleton New Road. Sandylands was a large tract of land between Carleton new road and the river Aire and was part of the Skipton Castle Estate, the Club presumably paying rent for the use of it. The name of the Club headquarters implies the land was very sandy and consequently well drained. It is also flat, being close to the river, and also very close to the railway station, an important consideration over a hundred and twenty five years ago, railways being virtually the only form of transport.
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Skipton
Football Club circa 1874
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Perhaps
this was the first Clubhouse, probably used as a makeshift changing
room and store.
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The game had become well established in the town by the early 1880's and proved popular, large numbers of spectators attending for home matches. A tent was erected alongside the field to accommodate ladies.
Most of the players in the early years appear to have been the sons of prominent families in the town. The clubs first Captain, A. Sidgewick was the son of the family, which leased High Mill, and J.P. Drury was also connected with that mill. The Dewhurst brothers, Algernon and Lionel were sons of the owner of the largest mill in the town, John Bonny Dewhurst, who was patron of the Club for many years. Three sons of the Rev. P.C. Kidd, former rector of Skipton, played in the first season, one of them H. Kidd being Secretary from 1874 to 1878. F.E. Bracewell was the son of a Gargrave firm of manufacturers, and R.I. Jefferson was Manager of the Craven Bank. Other members of the Dewhurst family were later connected with the Club, Edgar being Captain in 1888, whilst Algernon and Lionel continued to support the Club as Vice Presidents. This gives rise to the thought that the information of the club may well have been inspired by the sons of local businessmen, who probably played the game whilst at Public School.
The playing record of the club improved steadily, and the membership grew, being in the region of 50 by the early 1800's. A second team was formed in 1882, and from 1885 a third team was occasionally fielded. Originally the team played in maroon and amber striped jerseys, up to 1889, when the present colour Cardinal Red was adopted. Towards the close of the 1880's, the clubs first grandstand was erected, evidence of the numbers of spectators who supported the club. The membership had grown to around 120 by this time, and the clubs finances for that period read as follows: -
| Subscriptions | £22-18s-0d |
| Gate Receipts | £67-1s-8d |
| Travelling Expenses | £39-2s-4d |
The main source of income i.e. "Gate" money is further evidence of the popularity of the game in the town.
About the same time as the Skipton Club was formed, or shortly afterwards, the game of rugby football was adopted at Ermysted's Grammar School, Skipton. The earliest record of a match between the club and the school is on 26th March 1881 when the School team met the Skipton Club's second team. This was the first of many such matches, and the start of a close relationship between the two. Edward Tomson Hartley, Headmaster of the School, played for the Skipton Club and in 1882 was elected its President, holding that post for the next ten years, during which several other members of his staff became associated with the Club.
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Membership
Card and Fixture List 1898-99
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Featherstone
joined the Northern Union shortly after this season.
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Teams
like Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge have long since ceased to exist.
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