No Dickens of a start for the founding fathers of Pilgrims

ONE hundred and twenty-five years ago, a football match took place in Launceston that was a very low-key affair.

But that game signalled the birth of a club that would grow and, occasionally, create national headlines.

There was no doubt which was the major team sport at the time, and although rugby football was very popular, a group of former students of public schools and colleges in the Plymouth area decided to form a football section of The Argyle Athletic Club.

There were also rugby, cricket and athletics sections, but those who chose Association Football were laying the foundations for a sporting institution.

There has been a long-standing argument as to why the name 'Argyle' came into existence.

One of the theories is that the first meeting of the football club took place in Argyle Terrace, at the top of Houndiscombe Road. But as that meeting did not take place until 1888, that theory can be discounted as the Argyle name had already been in existence for two years.

But already established in the town (as it was in those days) were the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Based at The Citadel, those involved in the football section of The Argyle Athletic Club were so taken with their style of play the name was adopted with a slight spelling alteration.

It is on record that the choice to select the name 'Argyle' was in preference to 'Pickwick' from the Charles Dickens novel – imagine the terrace chants in the modern game had the chosen the name 'Plymouth Pickwick'!

The fact the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, recent winners of the Army Cup, played in green and black also gave the inspiration for the club colours of what was to become Plymouth Argyle.

Football was seen as a team sport played by the middle classes, and as the popularity of the game spread, teams were being formed all over the country.

Francis Grose was instrumental in the formation of Argyle. A student at Dunheved College in Launceston, he completed his scholastic education in the spring of 1886 and travelled to Plymouth to study architecture and engineering.

Grose shared accommodation with a friend of his, William Pethybridge, another former pupil of Dunheved College (although not at the same time as Grose) and former player with Launceston football club, who was also in Plymouth learning his trade with a local firm of solicitors.

Grose and Pethybridge dearly wanted to pursue their favourite sport, but opportunities were thin on the ground.

There was a Plymouth Football Club, but an invitation to join was not extended. There was only one solution for the pair – form their own team.

Contacting other young men with whom they had played with – and against – during their days at Dunheved was not too difficult as many were also based in Plymouth.

Captain of the Argyle Football Club was Grose, with Alfred Dyer appointed as his vice-captain.

Honorary treasurer was George Vaughan, honorary secretary was Walter Siddall, and making up the committee were Charles Phillips and Alfred Shilston.

Assisting in the recruitment of players was another man known well to Grose and Pethybridge, Ernest Babb, the captain of Plymouth College.

But then came a major hurdle. A club may have been formed, but did not have a field on which to play until later in the season.

So, early fixtures were played on opponents' grounds. Open space at Freedom Fields was used for training purposes until such time as permission was granted for training and matches at Mount Gould.

The first official and recorded public mention of 'The Argyle Football Club (Association)' – the latter word confirming the code of football to which the club would adhere, was printed in The Western Daily Mercury of September 4, 1886.

So it was that the first game was arranged, and here comes a matter of controversy to this day.

Naturally enough, Denheved College were the first opponents on October 9, 1886, with the local railway service providing the transport for the Plymouth-based side.

The first Argyle side line-up was thus: Gale (goalkeeper); Lumm, Baker (backs); Lew, Grose, Chapman (half-backs); Dyer, Pethybridge (left wing); Boolds, Cornish (right wing); Vaughan (centre).

You will notice that two right and two left wingers are listed. Presumably one of each in those positions would have played narrower than the other, leading to the more familiar positions of later years of inside-left and inside-right.

Club officials held responsibility for recording of the result. And here comes the controversy.

According to the report submitted by the Dunheved captain, and printed in The Launceston Weekly News, Argyle lost 4-1.

However, Argyle secretary Walter Siddall in his review of the game printed in The Western Morning News said it was a 2-0 defeat.

What both sides agreed on, however, was the match was played in anything but kind weather.

I am fortunate enough to have a copy of the fixture card from the 1886/87 season in my collection, and written in the results column is '0-2'. It is written in ink, which indicates (to me, anyway) that is a definitive score.

Four days later, there was a first-ever win for Argyle! A 2-1 victory over Plymouth College.

It was recorded that the team was most satisfied with its record that opening season. Of 17 games, seven wins and two draws were achieved and the growth in popularity was certainly evident as a Second XI was formed in January 1887.

Five more away matches were played during November and December 1886. The opponents were Royal Artillery (played at Granby), Tavistock Grammar School, Mannamead School (played at Hartley), and two matches played at Beaconsfield against Hotspur and Plymouth United.

Further games were arranged against Mannamead School on January 22, 1887 and a return fixture against Hotspur two weeks later.

Before ending the season with second matches against Plymouth United and Plymouth College, a game was played on February 19 against Corporation Grammar School, played at Swilley (note the spelling with the letter 'e' dropped in later years).

So, what of Dunheved College?

The building stands today and looks as splendid as it did back in 1886.

Dunheved is linked with Launceston College and provides a vocational training centre to support the hospitality and catering, tourism and retail sectors in north Cornwall.

As for the college, many sports are played including, thankfully, football.

I am indebted to Jack Jackson, the principal of Launceston College who delved into the archive of Dunheved to come up with the earliest known team photograph of the football team which can be seen here publicly for the first time.

Taken in 1893, a rug was laid out on the steps of Dunheved and the players and the team's designated match official lined up for the photo.

Back row: H Cocks (right back), CF Rice (goalkeeper), W Martyn (left back)

Middle row: GL Thomas (right wing), J Grigg (centre half), Mr Taylor (appointed team referee), HL Spear (left half)

Front row: FS Pearce (Outside right, captain), HS Hawkey (left back), Serpell (centre forward), S Nancarrow (inside left), WR Cox (outside left).