Barking Fc Historic programmes No 4 Hoffman Athletic v Barking 1913

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HISTORIC PROGRAMMES NUMBER 3

 

 

 

27-9-1913 HOFFMAN ATHLETIC v BARKING F A CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND WON 2-1

 

 

 

We beat Hoffman Athletic 2-1 and lost 3-1 away to Clapton of the Isthmian League, then one of the leading amateur clubs, in the 1^st qualifying round. Our scorers versus Hoffman are unknown but Kenhope scored against Clapton.

 

 

 

We had a reasonable season ,finishing 2^nd on goal average (by 1 goal) to Shoeburyness Garrison in the South Essex League Division 1 (ie the highest division) and 5^th in the London League Amateur Division, the reserves were 4^th in the London League Division 1 and the A team (3^rd team) 2^nd in the South Essex League Division 2.Opponents in the SEL Division 2 included Brentwood Asylum and Roneo Athletic and in LL Division 1 Charlton Athletic, Ilford ,Tufnell Park and Wealdstone (not 1^st teams).

 

 

 

We were less successful in cups ,losing 4-2 to Colchester Town in the F A Amateur Cup, 4-3 after 1-1 to Clapton in the Essex Senior Cup and exiting the London Senior Cup via a 5-0 defeat by Ilford after beating Shepherd’s Bush 2-1.

 

 

 

Hoffman Athletic was a Chelmsford “works” team representing Hoffman’s Bearings Ltd and this was their 1^st ever programme.It includes an advertisement for The Picture House – “unexcelled for clear and steady pictures” (silent of course) , E J Rippon –“try our home-made cigarettes” and The Empire Theatre- “ London companies at local prices”. The programme notes were written in a joking style reminiscent of P. G Wodehouse, with many in house jokes and included quite a good joke allegedly overheard during their 4-1 defeat by Colchester “ Why are Hoffman Athletic called the Roller boys? . Because they make bearings but they seem to have lost them today”. The only reference to us was our team on the back page.Interestingly, each club provided a linesman to help the neutral referee. We played in royal blue jerseys (sic) and Hoffman in blue and white vertical striped jerseys and another interesting feature of this match was the 3.30 kick off.

 

 

Our team was listed as J.McKee, C.Willis, C.E Bradley ,A.Willatts, C.Garland,A.Calligari, C.Prior, A.Stallard,W.J.Kenhope,W.Holliday and A.J.Joynes. Charles Bradley played in amateur internationals for England. Garland had played for us at least since 1911 and Willatts since 1912.

 

 

As far as is known Calligari was not connected with any manufacturers of furniture. (Students of early films will understand).

 

 

 

Programmes of this period are very poignant as we wonder how many of the players died in the 1^st world war.