grass roots - luton Excelsior
By Brian Webb
Excelsior were formed in 1879 by some lads in a blockhouse in Wellington Street. A blockhouse was the room where the blocking of hats took place.
An interview with Walter Smith, on the
occasion of his Golden Wedding anniversary in the Luton News of the 6th August
1936 reveals the beginnings -
“Mr Smith’s connection with football in
Luton dates back nearly sixty years. As
a young man, he was a keen player,
and about fifty-seven years ago [1879] he joined other enthusiasts in forming the
Excelsior Club, and served on the committee.
Local football was only just beginning. When the Excelsiors was formed the only
other club in existence was the Christ Church Institute, and the Rovers came
into being shortly afterwards.
The Excelsiors’ early games were played on
the meadow which is now Messrs Henry Brown and Sons’ timber yard. Their first meetings were held in the
blockhouse of a Wellington-street firm.”
Excelsior have been described as a “works” team but there is no mention of this in any newspaper article. The occupations of the players from the early days do not support the “works” team tag. They were Drapers, Straw Warehousemen, Blockers, Tailors and a sewing machine engineer. It is likely that they were called a “works” team because they were founded in company blockhouse and early meetings may have been held there.
Their ages varied
from 16 up to 25 with 21 years the rough average
age.
They made their headquarters at the Midland Hotel on the corner of Williamson Street and Manchester Street opposite the Town Hall. A room was set aside by the landlord. Their home ground was in Dallow Lane from 1879. They began by playing 15 a side Association Football games - it was the fashion at this time to play a form of game that players liked. However, other clubs in the town began to play 11 a side and Excelsior followed suit with a game at Newport Pagnell in December 1881.
The 1882/83 season saw a permanent move to the 11 a side game. The first such game with Wanderers took place in October 1882 at Dallow Lane when they lost 2 1. Wanderers would retain the upper hand until 1885.
The Luton Reporter of the 15th September
1883 gives an account of the Annual General Meeting of The Excelsior Football
Club.
“The annual general meeting of the Luton Excelsior Football Club was held at the Midland Hotel on Wednesday last, when there was a good attendance of members and friends. The chair was taken at 8 o’clock by the president, Mr. S. Webb, who then called on the secretary to give his report :- The club played 23 matches during the last season, winning eight, lost eight and drawn seven, which the committee think is very good, considering the class of teams that played the out-town matches, and the superior teams which were played with during last season. The financial position of the club is very good, a balance of £3 3s. 8d. being brought forward to help the carrying on of the club in the coming season. The club was composed of 26 honorary members and 38 playing members, making a total of 64 members. The whole of the teams which the club played expressed great satisfaction it would give them in meeting the Luton Excelsior teams again. The committee desire to convey their thanks to the whole of the members for the way in which they had helped them carry out their duties, and hoped that the club might be a greater success during the coming season. The balance-sheet was then read and carried unanimously, and the following gentlemen were elected to fill the officers and committee for the ensuing season :- Mr S Webb, president : Mr G Hinson, treasurer : Mr F. Scott, hon secretary : Mr F. Pitkin, asst secretary. Committee - Messrs T. Lawrence, W. Smith, H. Wilkinson, F.W. Smith, J. Scott, H. Boxford, W.J. Bailey, W. Hopewell. The general business was then brought forward and the following motions carried : 1st, That any losses incurred by damage, or loss of the materials of the club, be made good from the funds of the club; 2nd, that the club shall award four medals to members showing best proficiency in play during the ensuing season; 3rd, that the headquarters of the Luton Excelsior Football Club shall be held at the Midland Hotel, but it be left to the committee’s own discretion where they shall hold their meetings; 4th, that members shall give a decided answer two clear days previous to a match whether they can play or not, and then failing to appear to play when called upon, shall be fined one shilling”.
The following Tuesday evening -
“the committee and friends of Luton Excelsior F.C. partook of a substantial supper at the Alexandra Coffee Palace, after which they made Mr J.G. Hunt, captain of their team, a present of a valuable marble timepiece, which bore the following inscription: ‘Presented to Mr Jno. G. Hunt by the committee and members of the Luton Excelsior F.C., as a small token of their esteem for him as their captain on occasion of his marriage, Jan 30th, 1885’. Mr Hunt expressed his thanks for the present in most feeling terms. The rest of the evening was then spent in enjoyable manner”.
The Luton Times describes one of the clubs last games in 1885 -
"on
Easter Monday a good match was played between the Clapton Pilgrims
v. Luton Excelsior before
1,500 to 2,000 people, and amongst them at least 100 of the fairer sex. I also
noticed the Mayor, The Rev. T. Beeward and family, Mr Joe Hawkes,
Mr W.J. Cawdell, Mr Bootham, Mr Southam and
the Misses Southam, and a lot of others, for the first time many of them I am
told, and they were highly amused, though they could
not, of course,
enter into all the points
of the game. Our side was
very strong, and easily defeated the Pilgrims by five goals to love, all kicked
by Jones".
The attendance against Clapton Pilgrims reflects their huge role in establishing Association Football in the town. That support would be transferred over to Luton Town.
The club disappeared from newspaper reports after April 1885 when Luton Town were formed. They contributed at least 12 players to the new Luton Town club in the first season -
Boxford, H. Forward and Goalkeeper; Brown, T.C. Goalkeeper; Ealing, W. Forward; Eling, W Forward; Fisher, W. Half back; Hunt, J.G. Back; Inwards, H. Half back; Lawrence, T. Half back; Small, G.H. Forward; Smith, W. Forward; Spivey, F.W. Forward; Walsh, H. Forward.
Above: Right - Luton Excelsior First choice 1895/1896. Left - Luton Excelsior Second choice 1895/1896.
Excelsior reappear in late 1888 but it is not clear if this was the same, or a new club. It is likely to be the former but their stature was never the same. They registered with the Bedfordshire F.A. - the minute book records their first team colours for 1895/96 as blue and white stripes. Their second choice colours were black with an amber sash.
Excelsior would play well into the 20th Century but their heyday had passed.
Thanks to
Dave Moor at Historical Football Kits
for the 1895/96 kits.