Worksop have been arguably the most consistently successful non league football club in the Sheffield and Hallamshire Association during their long and illustrious history. Their claims to fame include being the first team to beat Leeds United, and the first team to do the double over Leeds United (in 1919)- a stat which John Motson loved. They have an FA Cup victory over Coventry, a draw against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, a victory over former winners Bradford City, a and two away victories over then second division Grimsby Town on their FA Cup cv. They have the most successful record of any non league team in the Sheffield Senior Cup, and once drew 2-2 with Saudi Arabia.
Worksop have produced countless top flight footballers over the years. Kiveton born Herbert Chapman and his brother Harry (two first division titles with the Owls) both played for Worksop as did England and Wednesday star Jack Brown and England and Blades legend Alan Hodgkinson. The ‘Sunderland Colossus’ Charlie Gladwin was a miner from Worksop. Mick Jones of Sheffield United, Leeds and England was born in Worksop as was the Owl’s Liam Palmer.
The club’s earliest surviving minutes (1911-1919) indicate that Worksop Football Club was formed in 1861. Worksop was not technically a town until Charter-day 1930, although the name Worksop Town was occasionally used this date (1861) and has remained largely uncontested in numerous newspaper articles ever since, but there is no surviving evidence from 1861. However, given the remarkable re-discoveries of forgotten teams in Sheffield this year, in a city with an unusually large number of newspapers I think there is a good chance of finding recreational football teams before 1873, Martin Westby’s date for foundation.
Like Penistone, the Worksop area had a long tradition of recreational football, dating from at least 1816.‘The first time that I recollect feeling my pain was after playing Football at Gateford when I was about 11 years old … and whenever I played with much exertion, I invariably had Bloody Urine …’ From the diaries of Edwin Eddison. (Eddison family of Gateford and Shireoaks, Sarah Woodall.)
In 1843 Edmund Muspratt, a pupil at the Pestalozzian School, Worksop, records football as amongst the team sports played at the school, alongside cricket and ‘shinny’, in his diary (copy of document available on line and in Worksop Library)
In 1857 The ‘whole of the workers on the Welbeck Estate’ are described playing an afternoon of sports, including football.
In 1858 troops from Worksop played football during quieter periods of the Indian Crisis (known then as the Indian Mutiny) Major General Sir James Outram CBE originally from Derbyshire encouraged this exercise. (Leicester Mercury, 17th February 1858) Francis and Carey Casson Outram feature in early Worksop FC teams.
In 1859 there was a game between the North Notts villages of Sturton and Leverton.
In 1860 the 7th Robin Hood Rifles were formed in Worksop. They were encouraged to play football, perceived as a more manly and military game then cricket. They met and trained with groups from Nottingham, Newark, Retford, and Mansfield (cities and towns that all developed early football teams).
By 1861 Worksop had a well- established rail link to Sheffield and players were travelling to the city from Worksop to play cricket, participate in athletic events and play football for Sheffield Club and Hallam FC.
In December 1861, a solicitor, John Appleton, from Worksop played for Sheffield club. John was obviously not a novice at the game because he is mentioned in a match report for Club’s game against Hallam. (Sheffield club records). Both brothers learned the game whilst at Rossall School, lancs.
‘After some mid-field play, Prest, Chambers, and Appleton showing some good combined play, speedily had the ball in the Hallam quarters, but only for a short time, as they were quickly repulsed by the two Elliotts.’
This may be the first reference to combined play in ‘modern’ football. John’s brother Charles was another solicitor and fine footballer. Charles (1844-1925) also married the niece of Nathaniel Creswick, later Sir Nathaniel Creswick-the co-founder of Sheffield FC.Charles featured in the first inter city football game v Nottingham. He also helped found the first Wigan FC.
The Appleton family believe it likely that John and Charles Appleton, along with their other three cricketing brothers formed a recreational football club in Worksop, for cricketers and military volunteers wishing to keep fit during the winter of 1861/2, arranging games amongst themselves. Playing football in militia uniform is referenced in a recently discovered letter to the Worksop Guardian.
Another Worksop man, Michael Ellison, land agent to the powerful Duke of Norfolk, is one of the most important figures in Sheffield football history. He helped form Sheffield Club, was timekeeper for Sheffield Club, and became Secretary. He built Bramall Lane, the oldest professional multi-purpose sports ground in the world, on the Duke of Norfolk’s land in 1854, and was the first President of Sheffield United and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He played county cricket games for Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire and football for Sheffield club. Ellison arrived in Sheffield from Worksop in the 1850s, already knowing how to play the game.
Although based in Nottinghamshire, Worksop is only a short railway journey from Sheffield and has included many current and ex Sheffield players in its squads, including the great Chris Waddle, who helped Worksop to an FA Trophy quarter final.
