Pilgrims F.C. was an English association football club based in Clapton, London. During their history they played at various grounds in Tottenham and Walthamstow, but for the most part played home games at Hackney Downs.[1]
The club was founded in 1871 under the name Clapton Pilgrims, changing its name to Pilgrims in 1873.[2] The club restricted playing membership to 60 players.[3]
The club's first match was a 0-0 draw with Leyton on Hackney Downs.[4] The club is known to have played five matches in its first season (against Forest F.C., Trojans, the return against Leyton, and Herts Rangers), and every one ended in a draw. After the Forest match, the Pilgrims raised the issue of clubs borrowing players from other clubs, as Pilgrims restricted its choices solely to its members.[5]
In 1874, Pilgrims player John van Sommer was chosen as a reserve for England for the international match against Scotland.[6] On 7 November 1874 van Sommer played in goal for the London select team in the match against the Sheffield Football Association.[7] It was van Sommer's final match as soon after he caught rheumatic fever and died on 19 November 1874. The Sportsman's obituary stated that "the writer saw him at Sheffield displaying on behalf of London certainly the best goal‐keeping that has ever been witnessed at the Association game. Indeed,his skill on that occasion led those present to predict for him a place in the International match of the year."[8]
The club entered the FA Cup every year from 1873-74 to 1884-85, its best outing being reaching the third round (last ten) in 1876-77, for which season the club had moved to Tottenham. In the third round the club was drawn away to eventual winners Wanderers F.C. and lost 3-0.
The club seems to have stopped playing matches after the 1886-87 season. The club's final secretary John Henderson undertook refereeing and umpiring activities as a member of the Pilgrims club in 1886-87, but for 1887-88 was described as being from "Morpeth Harriers, formerly Pilgrims".[9]
The club's original colours were black and white “in broad bars”, black skullcap with white tassel, white knickerbockers, and black stockings. It dropped the cap in 1878 and in 1879 changed the shirts to black and white halves.[10]
GroundsEdit
The club originally played at Hackney Downs. In 1876, the club moved to Lordship Lane, Tottenham.,[11] and in 1881 the club moved to Walthamstow.
In 1874, a separate club, Ramblers F.C., was set up, often using Pilgrims players, and the two clubs were described as "sister clubs".[12] The two clubs were drawn against each other in the FA Cup twice (Pilgrims winning on both occasions) and Ramblers' players often played for both sides in the same season.
pilgrims, this, article, about, london, based, club, side, extant, during, 1800s, early, 1900s, touring, side, clubs, nicknamed, pilgrims, boston, united, plymouth, argyle, english, association, football, club, based, clapton, london, during, their, history, t. This article is about the London based club side extant during the 1800s For the early 1900s touring side see The Pilgrims F C For two clubs nicknamed The Pilgrims see Boston United F C and Plymouth Argyle F C Pilgrims F C was an English association football club based in Clapton London During their history they played at various grounds in Tottenham and Walthamstow but for the most part played home games at Hackney Downs 1 PilgrimsFull namePilgrims Football ClubFounded1871Dissolved1887GroundHackney Downs Tottenham WalthamstowHome colours Contents 1 History 2 Records 3 Colours 4 Grounds 5 Ramblers F C 6 Notable players 7 ReferencesHistory EditThe club was founded in 1871 under the name Clapton Pilgrims changing its name to Pilgrims in 1873 2 The club restricted playing membership to 60 players 3 The club s first match was a 0 0 draw with Leyton on Hackney Downs 4 The club is known to have played five matches in its first season against Forest F C Trojans the return against Leyton and Herts Rangers and every one ended in a draw After the Forest match the Pilgrims raised the issue of clubs borrowing players from other clubs as Pilgrims restricted its choices solely to its members 5 In 1874 Pilgrims player John van Sommer was chosen as a reserve for England for the international match against Scotland 6 On 7 November 1874 van Sommer played in goal for the London select team in the match against the Sheffield Football Association 7 It was van Sommer s final match as soon after he caught rheumatic fever and died on 19 November 1874 The Sportsman s obituary stated that the writer saw him at Sheffield displaying on behalf of London certainly the best goal keeping that has ever been witnessed at the Association game Indeed his skill on that occasion led those present to predict for him a place in the International match of the year 8 The club entered the FA Cup every year from 1873 74 to 1884 85 its best outing being reaching the third round last ten in 1876 77 for which season the club had moved to Tottenham In the third round the club was drawn away to eventual winners Wanderers F C and lost 3 0 The club seems to have stopped playing matches after the 1886 87 season The club s final secretary John Henderson undertook refereeing and umpiring activities as a member of the Pilgrims club in 1886 87 but for 1887 88 was described as being from Morpeth Harriers formerly Pilgrims 9 Records EditBest FA Cup performance 3rd Round 1876 77 and 1879 80Colours EditThe club s original colours were black and white in broad bars black skullcap with white tassel white knickerbockers and black stockings It dropped the cap in 1878 and in 1879 changed the shirts to black and white halves 10 Grounds EditThe club originally played at Hackney Downs In 1876 the club moved to Lordship Lane Tottenham 11 and in 1881 the club moved to Walthamstow Ramblers F C EditMain article Ramblers F C England In 1874 a separate club Ramblers F C was set up often using Pilgrims players and the two clubs were described as sister clubs 12 The two clubs were drawn against each other in the FA Cup twice Pilgrims winning on both occasions and Ramblers players often played for both sides in the same season Notable players EditClopton Lloyd Jones Harry Swepstone Andrew WatsonReferences Edit Tony s Non League Forum Non League Football Information History Pilgrims FC Pilgroms 1 0 Marlow Field 387 11 October 1873 Alcock Charles 1872 Football Annual Paternoster Row London Virtue amp Co p 55 Clapton Pilgrims 0 0 Leyton Bell s Life 5 4 November 1871 report The Sportsman 6 16 March 1872 John van Sommer England Football Online Retrieved 20 May 2022 Sheffield 2 0 London The Field 531 14 November 1874 obituary The Sportsman 6 21 November 1874 Hendon 2 4 Old Harrovians Harrow Notes 128 22 October 1887 Alcock Charles Football Annual Pilgrims 4 1 Ramblers Sporting Life 1 18 October 1876 Maidenhead 2 0 Ramblers Reading Observer 3 30 October 1875 This article about a defunct English football club is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pilgrims F C amp oldid 1147011003, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
