Charles Chenery
Encyclopedia
Charles John Chenery (1 January 1850 – 17 April 1928) was a footballer who played for England
in the first international match
against Scotland
. He also played cricket
for Surrey
and Northants
.
, Berkshire
, the son of George Chenery and Sophia Atkins. He was educated at Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School, although the family also spent three or four years in Australia in the early 1860s. After leaving school he joined the original Crystal Palace club and was selected for the "England" side that played an unofficial international match against a Scottish side in February 1872. He was retained for the first official international match which took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club
's ground at Hamilton Crescent
in Partick
, Scotland
. The match finished in a 0-0 draw, with Chenery playing as one of seven or eight forwards.
He and Ernest Greenhalgh
were the only two players who were recalled for the return match at the Kennington Oval, London
on 8 March 1873, which resulted in a 4-2 victory for England, with Chenery, playing at inside right, scoring the fourth goal. Chenery's Crystal Palace team-mate Alexander Morten
played in goal for England.
He made his third and final England appearance (again against Scotland) in a 2-1 defeat on 7 March 1874 and was the only player to appear
in each of England's first three internationals. He also played occasionally for the Wanderers
and, although not appearing in any of their five FA Cup Final
teams in the 1870s, he did serve as their secretary in 1871.
At some time he appeared for the Barnes club as well as representing Surrey
and London
.
in 1872 and 1873 as a right-hand batsman and right-arm fast bowler. His top score was 40 n.o. at the Oval
against Kent
in August 1872.
He also played for Northants
before that county was elevated to first-class status.
, where he had relatives. He married Priscilla Swan in 1890, and they had three sons. He died at Mansfield on 17 April 1928.
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the first international match
Scotland v England (1872)
Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland...
against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
. He also played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
and Northants
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
.
Football career
Chenery was born in LambournLambourn
Lambourn is a large village and civil parish in the northwestern part of the ceremonial county of Berkshire in England. Its metropolitan district has a population of 4,017, and is most noted for its associations with British National Hunt racehorse training....
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, the son of George Chenery and Sophia Atkins. He was educated at Marlborough Royal Free Grammar School, although the family also spent three or four years in Australia in the early 1860s. After leaving school he joined the original Crystal Palace club and was selected for the "England" side that played an unofficial international match against a Scottish side in February 1872. He was retained for the first official international match which took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club
West of Scotland Cricket Club
The West of Scotland Cricket Club is a large cricket club based in Glasgow, Scotland. Their ground is Hamilton Crescent located in the Partick area of Glasgow's West End...
's ground at Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
in Partick
Partick
Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The match finished in a 0-0 draw, with Chenery playing as one of seven or eight forwards.
He and Ernest Greenhalgh
Ernest Greenhalgh
Ernest Harwood Greenhalgh was an English footballer who played for England as a full back in the first international match against Scotland.-Playing career:...
were the only two players who were recalled for the return match at the Kennington Oval, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 8 March 1873, which resulted in a 4-2 victory for England, with Chenery, playing at inside right, scoring the fourth goal. Chenery's Crystal Palace team-mate Alexander Morten
Alexander Morten
Alexander Morten was an English footballer who captained the England team in its second official international, played against Scotland on 8 March 1873....
played in goal for England.
He made his third and final England appearance (again against Scotland) in a 2-1 defeat on 7 March 1874 and was the only player to appear
Progression of England association football caps record
This is a progressive list of association footballers who have held or co-held the record for international caps for the England national football team, beginning with Charles Chenery and Ernest Greenhalgh, the only England players to appear in both of the first two international games...
in each of England's first three internationals. He also played occasionally for the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
and, although not appearing in any of their five FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
teams in the 1870s, he did serve as their secretary in 1871.
At some time he appeared for the Barnes club as well as representing Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Cricket career
He played cricket for SurreySurrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
in 1872 and 1873 as a right-hand batsman and right-arm fast bowler. His top score was 40 n.o. at the Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in August 1872.
He also played for Northants
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
before that county was elevated to first-class status.
Later life
Chenery emigrated to Australia in 1878, settling in Mansfield, VictoriaMansfield, Victoria
Mansfield is a small town in the foothills of the Victorian part of the Australian Alps. It is approximately 180 km north-east of Melbourne...
, where he had relatives. He married Priscilla Swan in 1890, and they had three sons. He died at Mansfield on 17 April 1928.