12 noon 9 November 2013
Arthurian League, Premier Division
Old Harrovian 6 Old Brentwoods 1 (att 7)
Old Harrovian claim to be the second oldest surviving football club, after Sheffield FC, and can trace their history back to 1859.
There was a hiatus between 1931 and 1963, following the abolition of soccer at Harrow School in favour of rugby, but the club now flourishes in regular competition with other old boys sides with long and distinguished histories including former FA Cup winners Old Etonians and Old Carthusians.
Old Harrovians haven't won the FA Cup, but the competition owes its existence to an Old Harrovian, Charles Alcock, and the smart modern pavilion at Harrow School's Philathletic Ground is named in his honour.
A lunchtime kick off gave me a good excuse to watch my first Arthurian League match. The competition is restricted to alumni of various public schools, but I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of football.
Harrovians effectively won this game with three well taken goals in the opening 20 minutes. Brentwood rallied, and threatened to make a game of it, but the score remained 3-0 into the second half.
As the match went on Brentwoods resistance weakened allowing Harrovians to add to their tally. The visitors' hopes weren't helped when injuries reduced them to just nine men, although they did score the game's final goal.
Not surprisingly the Philathletic Ground, close to Harrow School, is neat, tidy and very well maintained. There are two football pitches, both with park benches serving as dugouts, but no facilities for spectators, although this is a league that's very much for those playing rather than watching.
Arthurian League, Premier Division
Old Harrovian 6 Old Brentwoods 1 (att 7)
Old Harrovian claim to be the second oldest surviving football club, after Sheffield FC, and can trace their history back to 1859.
There was a hiatus between 1931 and 1963, following the abolition of soccer at Harrow School in favour of rugby, but the club now flourishes in regular competition with other old boys sides with long and distinguished histories including former FA Cup winners Old Etonians and Old Carthusians.
Old Harrovians haven't won the FA Cup, but the competition owes its existence to an Old Harrovian, Charles Alcock, and the smart modern pavilion at Harrow School's Philathletic Ground is named in his honour.
A lunchtime kick off gave me a good excuse to watch my first Arthurian League match. The competition is restricted to alumni of various public schools, but I was pleasantly surprised by the standard of football.
Harrovians effectively won this game with three well taken goals in the opening 20 minutes. Brentwood rallied, and threatened to make a game of it, but the score remained 3-0 into the second half.
As the match went on Brentwoods resistance weakened allowing Harrovians to add to their tally. The visitors' hopes weren't helped when injuries reduced them to just nine men, although they did score the game's final goal.
Not surprisingly the Philathletic Ground, close to Harrow School, is neat, tidy and very well maintained. There are two football pitches, both with park benches serving as dugouts, but no facilities for spectators, although this is a league that's very much for those playing rather than watching.
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