Lockwood Brothers FC (1870)
The world’s first club to originate from a factory or works – Lockwood Brothers FC (1870)
Did you know that the first modern football club to originate from a factory or works was Lockwood Brothers FC in 1870. Its seems that the fashion of clubs emerging from places of working-class employment, in large supported by the works business owners, started to explode during the 1870’s & 80’s especially in areas such as Sheffield, Dumbartonshire & Lancashire.
Lockwood Brothers works during the 1870’s was on Arundel Street in Sheffield. The club played locally at a now lost ground called Hunters Bar, the now Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club facilities next to Endcliffe Park in west Sheffield. Later more important club matches were moved to Bramall Lane.
Lockwood Brothers started playing local clubs such as Heeley Victoria, Broomhall & Dore during the 1870’s but emerged into the 1880’s as one of Sheffield’s top teams. They won both the highly prestigious local Sheffield football cups during the 1883/84 season these being the Sheffield Challenge Cup & the Wharncliffe Charity Cup. They repeated their Sheffield Challenge Cup success the following season in 1885.
During their mid 1880’s golden era Lockwood Brothers FC were not just one of Sheffield top side but one of the strongest in the country capable of beating clubs of the calibre of Middlesborough & Nottingham Forest.
The clubs most significant year happened during the 1886/7 FA Cup. Picking up a few Wednesday players (The Wednesday FC forgot to apply in time to enter that season) Lockwood Brothers FC, already a decent side, became even stronger with the inclusion of 4 Wednesday players including the legendary England international Billy Mosforth. They reached the 5th round of the FA Cup that year losing only after a disputed goal in a replay against eventual finalists West Brom FC.
Decline seems to have been swift for Lockwood Brothers FC. Just the season after reaching the FA Cup 5th round they lost 8 nil to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Bramall Lane. Perhaps an indicator that Sheffield football was slipping in standards compared to the rising football power houses of the West Midland & Lancashire at the time. Eventually, Lockwood Brothers was dissolved at some point during the 1890’s.
The clubs originating from factories or works after Lockwood Brothers FC’s lead is countless and stretches the world over. Some well-known examples are:
Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham United, Coventry City. Honda FC, Bethlehem Steel Football Club, PSV Eindhoven, Stocksbridge Park Steelers & Lisburn Distillery.
Do you have more information about this that we could add? Are any of the facts wrong? Please get in touch if so.
Source: Steve Wood
