Marlborough Nomads
Encyclopedia
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.
who had moved to live and work in London but still wanted to actively play football. Hence it was referred to in some quarters as Old Marlburians.
The club's first match was played in 1868 against the well established Richmond FC, at Richmond's ground in the Old Deer Park and in this fixture the Nomads were beaten. The Nomads themselves originally played on Blackheath on the opposite side of the road to Blackheath F.C., except when the latter had a match away, when they utilised their ground. The ground at Blackheath was unenclosed, and the spectators often trespassed on the ground. True to their name they moved and settled later in Surbiton at a private ground. They became very well established and their fixture list included a regular match with Blackheath FC who they finally beat in 1882, thanks principally to A. Kaye Butterworth and Harry Vassal.
Other opponents, besides Blackheath and Richmond, included West Kent
, The Gipsies
and Ravenscourt Park
. They also played both their old school, Marlborough College as well as Haileybury College ona regular basis.
Later secretaries of the club included H. Stanhope Illingworth, R. F. Isaacson, and J. D. Vans Agnew. Of the men associated with the club Hamersley, Freeman, A. K. Butterworth, Vans Agnew, and F. I. Currey all served on the committee of the Rugby Union, and the latter held the secretaryship in 1874, during A. G. Guillemard
's temporary absence abroad. Currey later became president of the RFU from 1884 to 1886.
rules (Wasps were invited by 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. F. I.Currey represented The Nomads and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
. Fred Mills, back ; Harold Freeman, three-quarter ; and A. St. G. Hamersley and F. I. Currey, forward, played in the second match in 1872. Hamersley, Freeman, and Mills also played in 1873 with Hamersley captaining an England side in 1874 that also contained two other Nomads, Sydney Moore and W. H. Milton against a Scotland side that contained the Nomad, H. M. Hamilton.
invited the club to join them with the acceptance of the Marlborough Nomads the club went out of existence. Rosslyn Park then became the London club of choice for old Marlburians.
:
Alfred St. George Hamersley
(first capped 1871; captain of England in 1874)Fred Mills
(first capped 1872)Harold Freeman
(first capped 1872)Frederick Currey
(first capped 1872)Sydney Morse
(first capped 1873 playing for Law FC
, capped whilst a Nomad in 1874)W. H. Milton (first capped 1874)H. M. Hamilton (first capped 1874) Francis Hugh Fox
(first capped 1890)W Mortimer (first capped 1899; earlier toured South Africa with Great Britain
in 1896) Gerald Kyrke
(part of the 1908 Anglo-Welsh
tour of Australia and New Zealand)
Additional notable players include:
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
The Nomads were founded in 1868 by James Bourdillon, a member of the Indian Civil Service and F. I. Currey, who became the first secretary, and was later captain. It was founded as a club for former pupils of Marlborough CollegeMarlborough 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...
who had moved to live and work in London but still wanted to actively play football. Hence it was referred to in some quarters as Old Marlburians.
The club's first match was played in 1868 against the well established Richmond FC, at Richmond's ground in the Old Deer Park and in this fixture the Nomads were beaten. The Nomads themselves originally played on Blackheath on the opposite side of the road to Blackheath F.C., except when the latter had a match away, when they utilised their ground. The ground at Blackheath was unenclosed, and the spectators often trespassed on the ground. True to their name they moved and settled later in Surbiton at a private ground. They became very well established and their fixture list included a regular match with Blackheath FC who they finally beat in 1882, thanks principally to A. Kaye Butterworth and Harry Vassal.
Other opponents, besides Blackheath and Richmond, included 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...
, The Gipsies
Gipsies Football Club
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.-History:The Gipsies...
and 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...
. They also played both their old school, Marlborough College as well as Haileybury College ona regular basis.
Later secretaries of the club included H. Stanhope Illingworth, R. F. Isaacson, and J. D. Vans Agnew. Of the men associated with the club Hamersley, Freeman, A. K. Butterworth, Vans Agnew, and F. I. Currey all served on the committee of the Rugby Union, and the latter held the secretaryship in 1874, during A. G. Guillemard
A. G. Guillemard
Arthur George Guillemard was an English rugby union fullback who represented for England in the world's very first rugby international in 1871. Guillemard was also a notable sporting administrator and one of the most important early international rugby referees.-Rugby career:Arthur George...
's temporary absence abroad. Currey later became president of the RFU from 1884 to 1886.
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 by 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. F. I.Currey represented The Nomads and was one of the thirteen original committee members.
The First Internationals
The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871 and The Nomads provided the future England captain, Alfred St. George HamersleyAlfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley was a nineteenth-century solicitor and entrepreneur of great renown, an English MP and perhaps most notably an English rugby union international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New...
. Fred Mills, back ; Harold Freeman, three-quarter ; and A. St. G. Hamersley and F. I. Currey, forward, played in the second match in 1872. Hamersley, Freeman, and Mills also played in 1873 with Hamersley captaining an England side in 1874 that also contained two other Nomads, Sydney Moore and W. H. Milton against a Scotland side that contained the Nomad, H. M. Hamilton.
Later years
In 1911 Rosslyn Park F.C.Rosslyn Park F.C.
Rosslyn Park Football Club is a rugby union team. Founded in 1879, the club became the first club based in England to play rugby internationally when it faced Stade Francais in Paris on 18 April 1892. In 1912, the club played in Prague, Budapest and Vienna in the first rugby matches ever played in...
invited the club to join them with the acceptance of the Marlborough Nomads the club went out of existence. Rosslyn Park then became the London club of choice for old Marlburians.
Notable players
A number of Nomads represented the national sides, most prominently 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...
:
Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley
Alfred St. George Hamersley was a nineteenth-century solicitor and entrepreneur of great renown, an English MP and perhaps most notably an English rugby union international who played in the first ever international match, went on to captain his country and pioneered the sport in the south of New...
(first capped 1871; captain of England in 1874)Fred Mills
Frederick Mills (rugby union)
Frederick Mills was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1873.-Early life:Frederick Mills was born on May 5, 1849 in Chertsey...
(first capped 1872)Harold Freeman
Harold Freeman
Harold Freeman was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1874.-Rugby union career:Freeman made his international debut on February 5th, 1872 at The Oval in the England vs Scotland match....
(first capped 1872)Frederick Currey
Frederick Currey
Frederick Currey was a rugby union international who represented England from 1872 to 1872.-Rugby union career:Currey made his international debut on 5 February 1872 at The Oval in the England vs Scotland match.-References:...
(first capped 1872)Sydney Morse
Sydney Morse
Sydney Morse was a rugby union international who represented England from 1873 to 1875. -Early life:Sydney Morse was born on June 1, 1854 in Birmingham. He was the son of Rev Francis Morse, MA, and his wife Clarissa Catharine Morse. Francis, at the time of Sydney's birth, was the incumbent of the...
(first capped 1873 playing for Law FC
Law FC
Law, or The Law Club as they were also known was a 19th century football club that fielded teams playing by rugby football codes. It is notable for being one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union and for producing in a very short life span, a number of international...
, capped whilst a Nomad in 1874)W. H. Milton (first capped 1874)H. M. Hamilton (first capped 1874) Francis Hugh Fox
Francis Hugh Fox
Francis Hugh Fox was an English rugby union forward who played club rugby for Wellington and the Marlborough Nomads and international rugby for England...
(first capped 1890)W Mortimer (first capped 1899; earlier toured South Africa with Great Britain
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in 1896) Gerald Kyrke
Gerald Kyrke
Gerald Venables Kyrke was an English international rugby union forward who played club rugby for Marlborough Nomads and was selected for the 1908 Anglo-Welsh tour of New Zealand and Australia.-Rugby career:...
(part of the 1908 Anglo-Welsh
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour of Australia and New Zealand)
Additional notable players include:
- W. M. Tatham (first capped 1882 while playing for Oxford University)
- Harry VassallHarry VassallHenry Vassall was an English rugby union player, best known as a centre for Oxford University. Vassall played international rugby for England in the early years of the sport, winning five caps and scoring a hat-trick of tries in the first encounter between England and Wales.While at Oxford...
(first capped 1881 while playing for Oxford University) - A. J. Hill played cricket for England