Unity F.C. was an English association football club from Blackheath, founded in 1875.
Full name | Unity Football Club | |
---|---|---|
Founded | 1875 | |
Dissolved | 1896? | |
Ground | Green Man Hotel, Blackheath | |
Secretary | F. S. Mowser | |
|
History
editThe club was the works side of the William Tarn & Co department store[1] in Elephant & Castle, and the club's three secretaries all give the store's address (165 Newington Causeway) as the club's correspondence address.[2] In common with other department store sides in the area, the club was a member of the West End Football Association, and won the Challenge Cup in 1885[3] and 1889,[4] and was also runner-up in 1884[5] and 1890.[6]
The club's first recorded match was in November 1876 against Prairie Rangers.[7] Unity was originally of little account; in 1877 it claimed to have won only one match the previous season and only scored two goals.[8] However, in the 1877–78 season it won 8 and drew 8 of its 20 matches, scoring 14 and conceding 11.[9]
Possibly as a result of this improvement the club entered the FA Cup in 1878–79. However, having been drawn to play the Remnants club, Unity withdrew.[10]
It was the club's only FA Cup entry, even though the club remained members of the Football Association until 1883, and active until as late as 1895;[11] the club was still of status enough in 1888 to play Luton Town on Boxing Day.[12] A Unity F.C. was merged into the All Saints club of Middlesex at the start of 1896 and there is no further record of the Tarn club afterwards.[13]
Colours
editThe club played in navy blue and cerise.[14]
Ground
editThe club played at the Green Man Hotel in Blackheath.[15]
References
edit- ^ "William Tarn & Co". Commercial Overprint Society of Great Britain. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ See the Charles Alcock annuals for 1877-1880.
- ^ "Editorial". Acton Gazette: 5. 7 November 1885.
- ^ "Football, Athletics &c". Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News: 18. 16 March 1889.
- ^ "Association rules". The Sportsman: 4. 10 April 1884.
- ^ "West End Challenge Cup - Final Tie". Sporting Life: 3. 19 March 1890.
- ^ "Unity 0-0 Prairie Rangers". The Sportsman: 4. 29 November 1876.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 146.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual. p. 145.
- ^ "Association Challenge Cup". Field: 674. 23 November 1878.
- ^ "Football fights and facts". Wimbledon News: 8. 28 September 1895.
- ^ "Some Extremely Pretty Play". Straw Plaiters. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
- ^ "Our club column". Morning Leader: 7. 17 January 1896.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 146.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. p. 146.