Gipsies Football Club
Encyclopedia
The Gipsies Football Club was a short lived 19th century rugby football
club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union
, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.
The Gipsies Football Club was founded in October 1868, by three Old Tonbridgians, Francis Luscombe
, James Alfred Body, and William James Parker. These three men were keen on football and wanted to provide a football club in London with which Tonbridge
's former pupils could affiliate, much as the Marlborough Nomads
served Marlborough College
. These three soon recruited a number of likeminded individuals and in the summer of 1868 they were able to arrange a card of matches for the season 1868-69. After the two first matches had been played a meeting was called on the 17th of October 1868 and "The Gipsies Football Club" was formed with Francis Luscombe elected as honarary secretary, the rest of the committee made up of Henry Howard Batten, James Alfred Body, Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer
, William James Parker, and James Morgan Streeten. Of the six members of the committee, five were Old Tonbridgians, with J Brewer
being a pupil of Epsom College
. Three of the committee, Brewer, Luscombe and Body would go on to play for England. Of the others, Henry Howard Batten was working in the Charity Commission at the time and was later called to the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) and became a J.P.
for Westmorland
; Parker, an exceptional sportsman at Tonbridge, became a member of the London Stock Exchange
; and Streeten, who played in Tonbridge's Football team for three years in a row, became the Manager of the San Francisco operations of the London and San Francisco Bank and later died in Nome
, Alaska
. The team was based in Peckham
.
The team was unbeaten in its first season (with 7 matches won and 11 drawn) and in the next season, 1869–70, the club continued its good form playing 18 out of which they drew 13, won 3 and lost just 2. Records of subsequent games have largely been mislaid, although the club was noted for being at times one of the strongest playing the running game. Among its many opponents were Blackheath FC, Richmond FC, Oxford
and Cambridge Universities, Ravenscourt Park
, Marlborough Nomads
, Woolwich, Sandhurst, Cooper's Hill, St. Andrew's Rovers
, Clapham Rovers, and West Kent
.
In December 1872, Bell's Life wrote of the team: "The Gipsies have played and beaten Guy's Hospital
, the Civil Service, Oakfield (Croydon), Ravenscourt Park, and have also fought a very hard and equal game with the Marlborough Nomads
, and are better than ever this year, and are sure to win most of their matches". The same article referred to Blackheath, the Gipsies, and Ravenscourt Park, as being the three crack clubs.
Despite its prominenance in the 1870s, the club was disbanded in 1880
rules (Wasps were invited but failed to attend) assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
in Regent Street
. E.C. Holmes, captain of the Richmond Club assumed the presidency. It was resolved unanimously that the formation of a Rugby Football Society was desirable and thus the Rugby Football Union
was formed. A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee
of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School. Francis Luscombe represented The Gipsies and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871 and The Gipsies played a role in both its inception and in providing certain team members. It had come about following certain of the leading Scottish football clubs refusing to recognise the England v. Scotland match under Association rules at the Oval as an International meeting because they felt the dribbling game was less well known north of the Tweed. They published a challenge in Bell's Life to play a picked twenty of England under Rugby School laws, during the winter of 1870-71. This challenge was received just a few weeks before the Rugby Football Union was founded. At the forefront of those wanting to take up the challenge was Francis Luscombe, "the energetic captain of the Gipsies, who was "spoiling for a fight,". However, he felt that Blackheath, being the oldest of the clubs on point of foundation, ought to take the lead, and expressed this to Frederick Stokes
the captain of that club. Soon after, B. H. Burns
, the Blackheath secretary, promptly wrote accepting the challenge and the principal clubs in London, Liverpool, and Manchester were communicated with, and a committee formed to select the players, choose a uniform, and make the necessary arrangements. The Gipsies provided two of the 20 man team to face Scotland in the very first international rugby match in 1871. J. H. Luscombe (the older brother of Francis) and J. E. Bentley
. Francis Luscombe
played in the second match in 1872 along with J. E. Bentley
and J. A. Body from Gipsies.
:
Two former players of the club represented England after the Gipsies was disbanded:
John Henry Luscombe was the older brother of Francis. He played for England in the first rugby international, his brother's first international being in 1872. Although the brothers both played for England, they did not play in the same side at the same time. In 1875 Francis Luscombe
became the fourth man to captain England. In March 1876 he again captained England in what was the last England match played with 20 players after which teams were reduced to 15-a-side. Luscombe was the last player from Gipsies to represent England before the club disbanded. Thus, a Gipsies player never played for England in the 15-a-side era, which was one of the many signs of the slow shift of the game from the absolute dominance of its public school roots as the club network expanded.
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.
History
Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
, James Alfred Body, and William James Parker. These three men were keen on football and wanted to provide a football club in London with which Tonbridge
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge School is a British boys' independent school for both boarding and day pupils in Tonbridge, Kent, founded in 1553 by Sir Andrew Judd . It is a member of the Eton Group, and has close links with the Worshipful Company of Skinners, one of the oldest London livery companies...
's former pupils could affiliate, much as the Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
served Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
. These three soon recruited a number of likeminded individuals and in the summer of 1868 they were able to arrange a card of matches for the season 1868-69. After the two first matches had been played a meeting was called on the 17th of October 1868 and "The Gipsies Football Club" was formed with Francis Luscombe elected as honarary secretary, the rest of the committee made up of Henry Howard Batten, James Alfred Body, Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer
Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer
Jeaffreson Brewer was a rugby union international who represented England in 1875.-Early life:Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer was born in 1853, the son of Dr. Alexander Brewer of Ebbw Vale. He was sent to boarding school in Epsom to the Royal Medical Benevolent College, which later became known as Epsom...
, William James Parker, and James Morgan Streeten. Of the six members of the committee, five were Old Tonbridgians, with J Brewer
Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer
Jeaffreson Brewer was a rugby union international who represented England in 1875.-Early life:Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer was born in 1853, the son of Dr. Alexander Brewer of Ebbw Vale. He was sent to boarding school in Epsom to the Royal Medical Benevolent College, which later became known as Epsom...
being a pupil of Epsom College
Epsom College
Epsom College is an independent co-educational public school in Epsom, Surrey, England, for pupils aged 13 to 18. Founded in 1853 to provide support for poor members of the medical profession such as pensioners and orphans , Epsom's long-standing association with medicine was estimated in 1980 as...
. Three of the committee, Brewer, Luscombe and Body would go on to play for England. Of the others, Henry Howard Batten was working in the Charity Commission at the time and was later called to the Bar (Lincoln's Inn) and became a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
; Parker, an exceptional sportsman at Tonbridge, became a member of the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
; and Streeten, who played in Tonbridge's Football team for three years in a row, became the Manager of the San Francisco operations of the London and San Francisco Bank and later died in Nome
Nome
Nome may refer to:A country subdivision:* Nome an administrative division within ancient Egypt.* Nome , the administrative division immediately below the peripheries of Greece Places:* Nome, Norway* Nome, Alaska, US...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. The team was based in Peckham
Peckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
.
The team was unbeaten in its first season (with 7 matches won and 11 drawn) and in the next season, 1869–70, the club continued its good form playing 18 out of which they drew 13, won 3 and lost just 2. Records of subsequent games have largely been mislaid, although the club was noted for being at times one of the strongest playing the running game. Among its many opponents were Blackheath FC, Richmond FC, Oxford
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
and Cambridge Universities, Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park Football Club
Ravenscourt Park was a short lived 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:Ravenscourt Park was founded...
, Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
, Woolwich, Sandhurst, Cooper's Hill, St. Andrew's Rovers
St. Andrew's Rovers FC
St. Andrew's Rovers FC was a 19th century rugby football club. It was formed by people of Scottish origin living in London, and is notable for being both one of the earliest football clubs and also for its part in the formation of London Scottish FC.-History:St. Andrew's Rovers was established in...
, Clapham Rovers, and West Kent
West Kent Football Club
The West Kent Football Club was a short-lived 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures.-History:West Kent were...
.
In December 1872, Bell's Life wrote of the team: "The Gipsies have played and beaten Guy's Hospital
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club
Guy's, Kings and St. Thomas' Rugby Football Club is the name given to the modern amalgam of three formerly distinct hospital rugby clubs each with a long history, having all been founded in the nineteenth century. The teams from Guy's Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital were the first to merge...
, the Civil Service, Oakfield (Croydon), Ravenscourt Park, and have also fought a very hard and equal game with the Marlborough Nomads
Marlborough Nomads
The Marlborough Nomads was a 19th century rugby football club that was notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, as well as producing a number of international players in the sport's early international fixtures....
, and are better than ever this year, and are sure to win most of their matches". The same article referred to Blackheath, the Gipsies, and Ravenscourt Park, as being the three crack clubs.
Despite its prominenance in the 1870s, the club was disbanded in 1880
Foundation of the RFU
On 26 January 1871, 32 members representing twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that followed Rugby SchoolRugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
rules (Wasps were invited but failed to attend) assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant
Pall Mall Restaurant
The Pall Mall Restaurant was a hostelry situated at Number 1 Cockspur Street, Westminster, London, just off Pall Mall and near Trafalgar Square...
in Regent Street
Regent Street
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London's West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations...
. E.C. Holmes, captain of the Richmond Club assumed the presidency. It was resolved unanimously that the formation of a Rugby Football Society was desirable and thus the Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
was formed. A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee
of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School. Francis Luscombe represented The Gipsies and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
The First International
Frederick Stokes
Frederick Stokes may refer to:*Frederick Stokes , the first captain of the England national rugby union team*Sir Frederick Wilfred Scott Stokes, KBE , inventor and civil engineer...
the captain of that club. Soon after, B. H. Burns
Benjamin Burns
Benjamin Henry Burns was a rugby union footballer who represented England in the first international match against Scotland in 1871.-Sports career:Burns was a member of Blackheath F.C...
, the Blackheath secretary, promptly wrote accepting the challenge and the principal clubs in London, Liverpool, and Manchester were communicated with, and a committee formed to select the players, choose a uniform, and make the necessary arrangements. The Gipsies provided two of the 20 man team to face Scotland in the very first international rugby match in 1871. J. H. Luscombe (the older brother of Francis) and J. E. Bentley
John Edmund Bentley
John Edmund Bentley was an English sportsman who played in the first international rugby football match in 1871, representing England as a halfback.-Early life:...
. Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
played in the second match in 1872 along with J. E. Bentley
John Edmund Bentley
John Edmund Bentley was an English sportsman who played in the first international rugby football match in 1871, representing England as a halfback.-Early life:...
and J. A. Body from Gipsies.
Notable players
Early records cite that the club boasted well known names such as "F. Luscombe, the two Shearmans, Pickering, Clarke, Billy Barker, C. J. B. Marriott, W. B. and R. M. Pattison, and J. T. Ward." although many of these figures no longer resonate with the followers of the modern game. However, at least six Gipsies players represented EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
:
- J. H. LuscombeJohn LuscombeSir John Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England in the first international match in 1871. He was the brother of another rugby international, Francis Luscombe, and was a highly successful insurance broker, becoming chairman of Lloyds of London and being knighted for his...
- capped 1871 (later knighted in 1902 having been chairman of Lloyds of London five times) - John Edmund BentleyJohn Edmund BentleyJohn Edmund Bentley was an English sportsman who played in the first international rugby football match in 1871, representing England as a halfback.-Early life:...
- capped 1871 and 1872 - Francis LuscombeFrancis LuscombeFrancis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
- capped 1872-3; 1875-76; captained England in 1875 and 1876 - James Alfred Body - capped 1872 and 1873
- Cyril RickardsCyril RickardsCyril Rickards was a rugby union international who represented England in 1873.-Early life:Cyril Rickards was born on 11 January 1854 in Jeypon, the son of Colonel Rickards...
- capped 1873 - Jeaffreson Vennor BrewerJeaffreson Vennor BrewerJeaffreson Brewer was a rugby union international who represented England in 1875.-Early life:Jeaffreson Vennor Brewer was born in 1853, the son of Dr. Alexander Brewer of Ebbw Vale. He was sent to boarding school in Epsom to the Royal Medical Benevolent College, which later became known as Epsom...
- capped 1875
Two former players of the club represented England after the Gipsies was disbanded:
- R M Pattison - capped 1883
- Charles MarriottCharles Marriott (rugby footballer)Charles Marriott was a rugby union international who represented England from 1884 to 1887. He also captained his country.-Rugby union career:Marriott made his international debut on Jan 5, 1884 at Cardigan Fields, Leeds in the England vs Wales match....
- capped 1884
John Henry Luscombe was the older brother of Francis. He played for England in the first rugby international, his brother's first international being in 1872. Although the brothers both played for England, they did not play in the same side at the same time. In 1875 Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe
Francis Luscombe was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1876. He also captained his country.-Early life:Francis Luscombe was born on 1849 in Norwood, then in Surrey...
became the fourth man to captain England. In March 1876 he again captained England in what was the last England match played with 20 players after which teams were reduced to 15-a-side. Luscombe was the last player from Gipsies to represent England before the club disbanded. Thus, a Gipsies player never played for England in the 15-a-side era, which was one of the many signs of the slow shift of the game from the absolute dominance of its public school roots as the club network expanded.