Old Cranleighans F.C. Explained

Clubname:Old Cranleighans
Fullname:Old Cranleighans Football Club
Founded:1886 (revived 2023)
Dissolved:1919
Ground:Catford Bridge
Pattern Name1:Original
Pattern B1:_navyhalf
Leftarm1:FF7F00
Body1:FF7F00
Rightarm1:000080
Shorts1:000080
Socks1:000080

Old Cranleighans F.C. was an amateur association football club, based in London, for the former pupils of Cranleigh School.

History

The football club was founded in 1886, by former pupil Henry Casswell, who had founded the original Old Cranleighan sporting club in 1882.[1]

The club entered the FA Cup qualifying rounds twice, in 1891–92 and 1892–93, but lost in the first round both times - despite being at home to Gravesend in the former year, the majority of the (small) crowd had come with the visitors.[2] It was a regular entrant of the FA Amateur Cup and the Arthur Dunn Cup, reaching the semi-final of the latter in 1911–12.[3]

The club also undertook a tour of France in 1909, its results including a win over US Boulogne.[4]

The school switched to rugby union during the First World War, which meant that, at the end of the war, there were not sufficient association footballers of the right quality to re-form the football club, many joining the Old Cranleighan rugby club instead.[5]

Revival

The club was revived in 2023, its first match being a 2–1 win over a revival of Barnes F.C. in December.[6]

Colours

The club's colours were dark blue and orange.[7]

Ground

The club played at Catford Bridge in south London.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The father of the Old Cranleighans . OC Society . 27 June 2024.
  2. Football Association Cup - Qualifying Competition . Gravesend Journal . 10 October 1891 . 6.
  3. Web site: 1911–1912: Old Malvernians . Arthurian League . 27 June 2024.
  4. Web site: British and Irish Clubs - Overseas Tours 1890-1939 . rsssf . 27 June 2024.
  5. Web site: Old Cranleighan Football Club . OC Society . 27 June 2024.
  6. Web site: OC football returns with a win . OC Society . 27 June 2024.
  7. Book: Alcock . Charles . Football Annual . 1889 . Wright & Co . London . 174.
  8. Book: Alcock . Charles . Football Annual . 1889 . Wright & Co . London . 174.