Nottingham Wanderers F.C. was an English association football club from Nottinghamshire.
| Full name | Nottingham Wanderers Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Wanderers | |
| Founded | 1872 | |
| Dissolved | 1886 | |
| Ground | the Meadows, Queen's Walk | |
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History
editAlthough the club claimed a formation date of 1872, the first recorded match is from 1876, against Radcliffe.[1] It is possible that the foundation date refers to the cricket club out of which the football club was formed.[2]
The club was one of the first to play under artificial lighting, a match with Nottingham Trent at the Castle ground in November 1879 being described as "lighted by means of Bengal lights".[3] It was one of the first entrants to the Notts Cup in 1883-84, reaching the semi-finals, but losing to the Trent club.[4] The Wanderers appealed the result on the basis that one of the Trent players (Harry Moore) was a professional with Notts County, and that both he and another player were cup-tied, but the Nottinghamshire Football Association rejected the appeal, as it was both out of time and unsupported by a formal motion by the Wanderers club.[5]
The club struggled to attract crowds; although 1,000 attended a match against the Swifts at the Meadows in October 1884,[6] one week later, the club played in front of a meagre attendance because most people were watching Notts County v Darwen instead.
FA Cup entries
editThe club only entered the FA Cup twice, both times losing in the first round. In 1884-85, losing 1-0 at Sheffield Heeley. The following year, the club lost in a replay to Notts Olympic. Even a local derby Cup tie could not attract crowds, only 400 turning up to the first match (the appalling weather being a factor).[7]
End of the club
editThe last recorded result for the club is an 8-0 defeat at Accrington in December 1885[8] and in January 1886 the club is described as "quite defunct".[9]
The Wanderers name was revived in 1888 as the new name for Mellors Limited F.C.[10]
Colours
editThe club colours were described as "scarlet" and "scarlet and white", probably referring to the shirts and knickerbockers rather than a pattern.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Football". Sheffield Daily Telegraph: 4. 25 February 1876.
- ^ "Notts v Middlesex". Nottingham Journal: 6. 18 August 1874.
- ^ "Nottingham Trent v Nottingham Wanderers". Derby Daily Telegraph: 3. 1 December 1879.
- ^ "Nottinghamshire Challenge Cup". Nottingham Evening Post: 3. 12 March 1884.
- ^ "Nottinghamshire Association". Nottingham Evening Post: 4. 18 March 1884.
- ^ "Sports & Pastimes". Nottinghamshire Guardian: 12. 17 October 1884.
- ^ "report". Nottingham Evening Post: 3. 31 October 1885.
- ^ "Football". Courier & Argus: 4. 28 December 1885.
- ^ "Blackburn Rovers v Blackburn Olympic". Athletic News: 5. 5 January 1886.
- ^ "Opening of a New Ground at Stockton". North Star: 4. 17 August 1888.
- ^ Charles Alcock yearbooks 1880-81
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