The 1893–94 season was the eleventh to be played by the team now known as Bristol Rovers, and their tenth playing under the name Eastville Rovers. The first team continued to play in the first division of the Bristol & District League (now known as the Western Football League), while the reserves became founding members of the second division of the same competition.
| 1893–94 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Captain | F.A. Yates | |
| Ground | Ridgeway Road, Ridgeway, Bristol | |
| Bristol & District League | 9th of 10 | |
| Gloucestershire Senior Cup | Runners-up | |
| Gloucestershire Junior Cup | Third round | |
| Top goalscorer | Bob Horsey (8) | |
|
| ||
Season review
editEastville Rovers began the season in confident mood. They had moved to a new ground in Ridgeway (sometimes referred to in contemporary reports as Rudgeway) on a site shared with Bristol North Cricket Club, which they had felt would improve attendances due to it being closer to Eastville than their former home in Ashley Down. They also welcomed many new players into the club thanks to a merger with St Gabriel's Association Football Club, enabling the formation of a third team to play alongside the firsts and reserves.[1] It would prove to be a bitter-sweet campaign however as although the first team managed to reach the final of the Gloucestershire Cup, both the firsts and reserves finished just one place above the bottom of their respective league tables.[2][3]
League tables
editBristol & District League Division One
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warmley[a] | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 32 | 13 | 2.462 | 27 |
| 2 | St George | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 39 | 23 | 1.696 | 26 |
| 3 | Trowbridge Town | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 54 | 33 | 1.636 | 22 |
| 4 | Bedminster | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 41 | 36 | 1.139 | 20 |
| 5 | Clevedon | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 34 | 40 | 0.850 | 19 |
| 6 | Clifton | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 37 | 30 | 1.233 | 16 |
| 7 | Staple Hill | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 33 | 0.697 | 15 |
| 8 | Gloucester | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 32 | 45 | 0.711 | 13 |
| 9 | Eastville Rovers | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 30 | 39 | 0.769 | 12 |
| 10 | Mangotsfield | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 48 | 0.396 | 8 |
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
Notes:
- ^ Warmley were deducted two points for fielding a professional player
Bristol & District League Division Two
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warmley reserves | 18 | 16 | 1 | 1 | 66 | 12 | 5.500 | 33 |
| 2 | St George reserves | 18 | 15 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 22 | 2.273 | 30 |
| 3 | Trowbridge Town reserves | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 47 | 22 | 2.136 | 23 |
| 4 | St Paul's | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 44 | 51 | 0.863 | 21 |
| 5 | Barton Hill | 18 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 40 | 32 | 1.250 | 18 |
| 6 | Bedminster reserves | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 35 | 42 | 0.833 | 15 |
| 7 | Mangotsfield reserves | 18 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 41 | 0.634 | 13 |
| 8 | Clifton reserves | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 29 | 59 | 0.492 | 12 |
| 9 | Eastville Rovers reserves | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 45 | 0.511 | 10 |
| 10 | Waverley | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 22 | 53 | 0.415 | 8 |
Source: [citation needed]
Match results
editBristol & District League
editDivision One
edit| 7 October 1893 | Bedminster | 2–0 | Eastville Rovers | Ashton Gate |
|
Report | Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium |
| 14 October 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 5–2 | Gloucester | Ridgeway |
|
Report | Attendance: 250 |
| 21 October 1893 | Warmley | 1–0 | Eastville Rovers | Warmley |
Silman  |
Report | Attendance: 700 Referee: J. Bloor |
| 4 November 1893 | Mangotsfield | 0–3 | Eastville Rovers | Mangotsfield |
| Report |
|
| 11 November 1893 | Gloucester | 3–0 | Eastville Rovers | Gloucester |
|
Report | Stadium: Kingsholm Attendance: 650 Referee: J. Bloor |
| 25 November 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 4–2 | Trowbridge Town | Ridgeway |
|
Report |
|
Referee: W.H. Brain |
| 2 December 1893 | Staple Hill | 3–1 | Eastville Rovers | Staple Hill |
|
Report | Horsey |
| 26 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 0–2 | St George | Ridgeway |
| 14:40 GMT | Report |
|
Attendance: 1,000 Referee: Mr J. A. Stevens |
| 30 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 1–3[α] | Clifton | Ridgeway |
| Rogers |
Report |
|
| 13 January 1894 | St George | 2–1 | Eastville Rovers | St George |
| 14:50 GMT | Winstone |
Report |
| 10 February 1894 | Trowbridge Town | 3–1 | Eastville Rovers | Trowbridge |
|
Report |
|
| 3 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 3–3 | Bedminster | Ridgeway |
|
Report |
|
Referee: J.A. Stevens |
| 10 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 1–2 | Clevedon | Ridgeway |
| Johns |
Report | Mertens |
Referee: Mr J.A. Stevens |
| 17 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 3–1 | Staple Hill | Ridgeway |
|
Report | H. Nicholls |
Referee: Mr J. Bloor |
| 23 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 5–2 | Mangotsfield | Rudgeway |
| Morning | Report |
| 24 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 1–1 | Warmley | Rudgeway |
| G. Britton (o.g.) |
Report | Silman |
Referee: Mr F. Millard |
| 7 April 1894 | Clevedon | 3–1 | Eastville Rovers | Clevedon |
|
Report | Rogers |
Stadium: Dial Hill Referee: S. Peacock |
| 14 April 1894 | Clifton | 4–0 | Eastville Rovers | Kingswood |
|
Report | Stadium: Chequers Ground Attendance: Very small Referee: G. Gay |
Division Two
edit| 7 October 1893 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 2–6 | Bedminster Reserves | Ridgeway |
| Report |
| 28 October 1893 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 4–1 | St Paul's | Ridgeway |
| Williams |
Report | Hone (pen.) |
| 4 November 1893 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 1–3 | Mangotsfield Reserves | Eastville |
| Report |
| 25 November 1893 | Trowbridge Town Reserves | A–A[β] | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Trowbridge |
| Report |
| 2 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 0–4 | Barton Hill | Eastville |
| Report |
| 9 December 1893 | Waverley[γ] | 4–1 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Knowle |
| Report |
| 26 December 1893 | Trowbridge Town Reserves | 0–3 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Trowbridge |
| Report |
| 27 January 1894 | Barton Hill | 0–1 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Barton Hill |
| Report |
| 10 February 1894 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 1–2 | Trowbridge Town Reserves | Ridgeway |
| Report |
| 24 February 1894 | St Paul's | 4–3 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Long Ashton |
| Report |
| 3 March 1894 | Bedminster Reserves | 2–0 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Bedminster |
|
Report | Attendance: 300 |
| 10 March 1894 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 0–2 | St Paul's | Ridgeway |
| Report |
| 17 March 1894 | St George Reserves | 3–1 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | St George |
| Report |
| 21 April 1894 | Warmley Reserves | 7–1 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Warmley |
| Report |
| 25 April 1894 | Eastville Rovers Reserves[δ] | 1–2 | Clifton Reserves | Kingswood |
| 17:30 | Stadium: Chequers Ground Referee: G. Gay |
| 28 April 1894 | Clifton Reserves | 2–2 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Kingswood |
| 15:30 | Stadium: Chequers Ground Referee: G. Gay |
| 30 April 1894 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 3–1 | Waverley | Kingswood |
| 18:00 | Stadium: Chequers Ground Referee: E. H. Nettle |
The date and result of the away game against Mangotsfield reserves is not known. The final three games were played over the Easter week of 1894 and all took place at the Chequers ground in Kingswood.[7]
Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup
editEastville Rovers were drawn away to Mangotsfield in the first round.[8]
| 27 January 1894 First round | Mangotsfield | 0–1 | Eastville Rovers | Mangotsfield |
| Report | Taylor |
Referee: J. Bloor |
| 24 February 1894 Semi-final | Gloucester | 0–1 | Eastville Rovers | Gloucester |
| Horsey |
| 31 March 1894 Final | St George | 3–1 | Eastville Rovers | Kingswood |
|
Report | R. Horsey |
Stadium: Chequers Ground Attendance: 4,000 |
Gloucestershire Junior Challenge Cup
edit| 11 November 1893 Third round | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 2–4 | Bedminster Reserves | |
| Report |
Friendlies
editFirst team
edit| 16 September 1893 | Trowbridge Town | 4–4 | Eastville Rovers | Trowbridge |
|
Report |
|
Referee: Mr F. M. Millard |
| 23 September 1893 | Warmley | 5–1 | Eastville Rovers | Warmley |
|
Report | Unknown |
| 16 December 1893 | Swindon Athletic | 2–1 | Eastville Rovers | Swindon |
|
Report | Stadium: Wiltshire County Ground Referee: Mr S. J. Strange |
| 23 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 1–0 | Swindon Wanderers | Ridgeway |
| Rogers |
Report |
| 20 January 1894 | Eastville Rovers | 2–4[ε] | Warmley | Ridgeway |
|
Report |
|
Attendance: 800 Referee: Mr. Millard |
| 24 February 1894 | Gloucester | 0–1 | Eastville Rovers | Gloucester |
| Report | Referee: Mr A. Francis |
Reserves
edit| 30 September 1893 | Craigmore College | 0–4 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | Clifton |
| Report |
| 3 February 1894 | Eastville Rovers Reserves | 5–1[ζ] | Waverley | Ridgeway |
| Report |
Third team
editThe name of the club's third team was given variously as Eastville Rovers Extras, Eastville Rovers A, or simply Eastville Rovers. The name of the team as it was reported in the local press for each match is shown in the table below.
| 2 September 1893 | St. Simon's | 6–1 | Eastville Rovers Extras | Eastville |
| Report | Stadium: Eastville Park |
| 21 October 1893 | Eastville Rovers A | 2–2 | Brislington Reserves | Ridgeway |
| Report |
| 28 October 1893 | St. Michael's | 1–1 | Eastville Rovers | Eastville |
| Report | Stadium: Eastville Park |
| 9 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers Extras | 0–1 | Adlam's Rovers | Eastville |
| Report | Stadium: Eastville Park |
| 16 December 1893 | Eastville Rovers | 2–4 | Eastville Wanderers | Ridgeway |
| Report |
| 20 January 1894 | Redfield Excelsior | 1–2 | Eastville Rovers Extras | The Downs |
| Report |
| 3 February 1894 | St. Simon's | 5–1 | Eastville Rovers A | Eastville |
| Report | Stadium: Eastville Park |
| 26 February 1894 | St Michael & All Angels | 1–0 | Eastville Rovers A | Eastville |
| Report | Stadium: Eastville Park |
Notes
edit- ^ Due to a mix-up regarding the kickoff time, Rovers started their home fixture against Clifton with six players. The game was played in thick fog, severely limiting visibility, and Eastville lodged an official protest after the match.[4]
- ^ The reserves' match against Trowbridge on 25 November was abandoned due to poor light. Eastville had arrived late, and were leading 2–0 when darkness fell.[5]
- ^ Waverley started the game with nine men.[6]
- ^ Rovers' reserves only fielded nine men in their 2–1 defeat to Clifton
- ^ Both Eastville and Warmley requested that their league game on 20 January be postponed due to partial flooding of the pitch and strong winds, but it went ahead as planned.[9] The league committee later agreed that the result should not stand as a league match and a replay was ordered for 24 March.[10]
- ^ The game between Eastville Rovers Reserves and Waverley was originally scheduled as a league match, but due to the poor state of the pitch the result didn't count towards the league table and the match was ordered to be replayed.[10]
Statistics
edit- Friendly matches are not included in this section.
| Competition | Home | Away | Total | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| Bristol & District League | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 5 | 2 | 11 | 30 | 39 |
| Gloucestershire Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 9 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 21 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 33 | 42 |
Cumulative record
editThe total cumulative record of Eastville Rovers up to the end of the 1893–94 season is shown below. This is calculated by adding the numbers in the section above to the total games played up to the end of the previous season. Friendly matches are not included in this table, and games held at neutral venues are considered to have been played away from home.
| Competition | Home | Away | Total | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A | P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| Bristol & District League | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 44 | 32 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 22 | 47 | 34 | 11 | 5 | 18 | 66 | 79 |
| Gloucestershire Cup | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 22 | 21 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 30 |
| Total | 21 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 49 | 41 | 29 | 11 | 1 | 17 | 44 | 68 | 50 | 19 | 7 | 24 | 93 | 109 |
References
edit- ^ "Football in the West of England". Western Daily Press. 4 September 1893. Retrieved 12 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Eastville Rovers". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Eastville Rovers Reserves". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
- ^ "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 1 January 1894. Retrieved 24 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 27 November 1893. Retrieved 18 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Saturday's football". Western Daily Press. 11 December 1893. Retrieved 19 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 23 April 1894. Retrieved 19 June 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 21 December 1893. Retrieved 11 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Athletics". Bristol Mercury. 22 January 1894. Retrieved 28 December 2017 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Bristol and District League". Bristol Mercury. 15 February 1894. Retrieved 22 January 2018 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Bibliography
edit- Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club: The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.