Vincent Weston (October 1855 – 12 December 1937) was an English footballer and rower from the late 19th century who won the FA Cup in 1880 as a half-back for Clapham Rovers.
Vincent Edward Weston | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1855 Kingston-upon-Thames, England |
| Died | 12 December 1937 (aged 82) |
| Occupation(s) | Footballer, stock dealer |
Early life edit
Weston was born in Kingston-upon-Thames, London,[1] in October 1855, the fifth son of John Weston (1817–1887) and his wife Augusta Ellen née Wood (1817–1891).[2] His father was a merchant and financial agent. [2]
Rowing edit
Vincent and his four brothers, including fellow footballer Percy, were members of the London Rowing Club;[3] being small in stature, they made perfect coxes, and "Little" Vincent was competing internationally before he was a teenager.[4] His greatest honour as a cox was steering a London RC foursome to victory in the Stewards' Challenge Cup at Henley four times between 1868 and 1872.[5]
Football edit
Weston's first appearance on the football field was for Barnes - a football club associated with a rowing club - alongside two of his brothers in October 1871, against Westminster School.[6] The following month he played for Barnes against the Civil Service in the first round of the first FA Cup.[7]
He played 11 more times for Barnes in the FA Cup from 1872–73 to 1878–79, usually as a half-back,[8] including in Barnes' surprise draw with Wanderers in 1877–78, being "especially notable for his accurate kicking".[9]
For the 1879–80 FA Cup he switched allegiance to Clapham Rovers, and his first match in the competition for his new club was a 7–0 win over Romford, Weston being picked out for his conspicuous play.[10] He played in every round, and in the final (against Oxford University) Weston - who "played admirably" - made a key defensive clearance when the match was still scoreless.[11]
He continued to play for Rovers in the following year's competition, becoming something of a dead-ball specialist, tasked with corners and free-kicks.[12] His final game in the competition came in a defeat to the Old Etonians in a first-round replay in 1881–82.[13] His last recorded football appearance was captaining the Stock Exchange side against Lloyd's of London in their annual match in 1882; his former Clapham Rovers team-mate Robert Ogilvie captained the opposition.[14]
Although he never picked up an International cap, he did represent the Football Association several times in representative matches in 1879–80.[15][16]
Later life edit
Weston became a stock dealer, in partnership with his nephew Spencer Weston.[17] He married Edith Fanny Clara Colnaghi, who pre-deceased him, in early 1911.[18]
Weston died in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight in December 1937, leaving assets of £422 2/- to Alan Tremlett, another Stock Exchange member.[19]
Honours edit
Clapham Rovers
Bibliography edit
- Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of the FA Cup. Sports Books. ISBN 1-899807-19-5.
- Mitchell, Andy (2012). First Elevens: The Birth of International Football. Andy Mitchell Media. ISBN 978-1475206845.
References edit
- ^ England & Wales Civil Registration Birth Index. HMSO. October–December 1855. p. 127.
- ^ a b Mitchell 2012, p. 137.
- ^ "London Rowing Club". Bell's Life: 6. 5 October 1867.
- ^ "The Paris Regattas". Bell's Life: 6. 13 July 1867.
- ^ "The international boat race". Morning Advertiser: 7. 11 June 1872.
- ^ "Westminster School v Barnes". Bell's Life: 5. 4 November 1871.
- ^ "Barnes v Civil Service". Sportsman: 3. 15 November 1871.
- ^ "Barnes v Upton Park". Field: 733. 16 December 1876.
- ^ "Wanderers v Barnes". Sporting Gazette. 19 January 1878.
- ^ "Romford". London Daily Chronicle: 6. 10 November 1879.
- ^ "Association Challenge Cup". Referee: 6. 11 April 1880.
- ^ "Old Carthusians v Clapham Rovers". Sportsman: 4. 21 March 1881.
- ^ "Old Etonians v Clapham Rovers". Field: 783. 26 November 1881.
- ^ "Cricket, Athletics, Aquatics &c". Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News: 16. 4 March 1882.
- ^ "London v Lancashire". Sporting Chronicle: 4. 10 December 1879.
- ^ "London v Sheffield". Sporting Gazette: 11. 3 January 1880.
- ^ Stock Exchange membership applications. London: London Stock Exchange. 1914. p. 199.
- ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index. HMSO. 1911. p. 1295.
- ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations). HMSO. 1938. p. 403.