Mexborough F.C. was an English association football club based in Mexborough, Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The club's name was often given in the form Mexbro' or Mexboro.
| Full name | Mexborough Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1876 | |
| Dissolved | 1900 | |
| Ground | Recreation Ground[1] | |
|
| ||
History
editThe club was formed in 1876.[2] The club won the prestigious Sheffield Senior Cup for the first time in 1885–86 when beating Heeley at Bramall Lane. The same season the club entered the FA Cup for the first time, drawing 1–1 with Staveley F.C. at the neutral Kilnshurst Ground in the first round.[3] However Mexbro' was forced to scratch from the replay as the Sheffield Senior Cup tie with Owlerton F.C. took precedence and the Sheffield FA refused to grant an extension of time to play the Owlerton tie.[4]
The club remained amateur in a professional era, the players – all locals – being paid expenses or "beer money",[5] although many of the team were Methodist teetotallers.[6] In 1891 they were founder members of the Sheffield & District League. In 1893 they finished as league runners-up, and a year later they went one better, beating Sheffield Wednesday reserves in the league's play-off final.[7] During the same season they also won the Sheffield Challenge Cup League.
In 1896 they won the Wharncliffe Charity Cup League, and the following season they entered the Midland League, finishing 13th in their first season. The 1897–98 campaign was the most successful in the club's history, winning the Midland League title as well as finishing runners-up in the Yorkshire League and reaching the 5th qualifying round of the FA Cup (the final stage before the competition proper), where the club lost 1–0 at home, in front of a crowd of 3,500, to Gainsborough Trinity; the visitors winning thanks to a first-half "flaky" shot, although Boro goalkeeper Hardy later saved a penalty.[8]
They decided to revert to more local football in 1899, joining the Sheffield Association League, but the fans' interest wained and the club seems to have wound up for financial reasons at the conclusion of the 1899–1900 season.[9]
League and cup history
edit| Mexborough League and Cup history[7][10][11][12] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | Position | FA Cup |
| 1885–86 | - | - | 1st Round |
| 1891–92 | Sheffield & District League | /10 | - |
| 1893–93 | Sheffield & District League | 2nd/14 | - |
| 1893–94 | Sheffield & District League Division 2 Sheffield Challenge Cup League |
1st/5* 1st/14 |
2nd qualifying round |
| 1894–95 | Wharncliffe Charity Cup League | 1st/6 | 3rd qualifying round |
| 1895–96 | Sheffield Challenge Cup League | 1st/15 | 1st qualifying round |
| 1896–97 | Midland League | 13th/15 | 1st qualifying round |
| 1897–98 | Midland League Yorkshire League |
1st/12 2nd/10 |
5th qualifying round |
| 1898–99 | Midland League Yorkshire League |
14th/14 4th/10 |
3rd qualifying round |
| 1899–1900 | Sheffield Association League Division 1 | 5th/9 | 2nd qualifying round |
* League play-off winners
Colours
editThe club's colours were originally red and white,[13] with striped jerseys identical to Lincoln City's.[14] By 1890 the club had changed to blue and red jerseys.[15]
Honours
edit
Leagueedit
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Cupedit
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Notable player
edit- George Wilson, FA Cup winner with Blackburn Olympic in 1883[16]
References
edit- ^ "Mexbro' v Holmes". Sheffield Independent: 7. 9 October 1883.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1887). Football Yearbook. p. 186.
- ^ "report". Mexborough & Swinton Times: 8. 6 November 1885.
- ^ "report". Derbyshire Times: 6. 14 November 1885.
- ^ "Notes on sport". Eastern Daily Telegraph: 3. 28 October 1898.
- ^ ""Elevating" Football at Mexborough". Leeds Mercury: 7. 28 September 1892.
- ^ a b Mexborough Football Club History Database
- ^ "Mexbrough [sic] Town v Gainsborough Trinity". Sporting Life: 3. 13 December 1897.
- ^ "Football and cricket notes". Sheffield Independent: 8. 30 April 1900.
- ^ FA Cup Archive The FA
- ^ Sportsman Rovers WildStat
- ^ British Newspaper Archive
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1888). Football Yearbook. p. 157.
- ^ "Lincoln City v Mexborough". Lincolnshire Chronicle: 2. 4 March 1887.
- ^ "Sheffield & Hallamshire Association Cup". South Yorkshire Times: 6. 24 October 1890.
- ^ Curry, Graham (2023). From the Privileged to the Professionals: The Early Years of the FA Cup. UK: Routledge. p. 78. ISBN 978-1032258997.