Harry John Almond (17 April 1850 – 1910) helped form Stoke Ramblers (now Stoke City) in the 1860s.[1]

Harry John Almond
Personal information
Full name Harry John Almond[1]
Date of birth 17 April 1850
Place of birth Westminster, London, England
Date of death 1910 (aged 60)[1]
Place of death At Sea, Venezuela[1]
Position(s) Centre-forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1867–1868 Charterhouse School
1868–1869 Stoke Ramblers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Life and career

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Almond was born in Westminster, London in 1850. He attended the private Charterhouse School where he played association football with his house team Gownboys and the School's team.[1] Almond had a major role in forming Stoke Ramblers believed to have been in 1863 when Railway students from the Charterhouse School moved to Stoke-upon-Trent to work as apprentices for the North Staffordshire Railway.[1] Amongst them was Henry Almond who was a keen sportsman and it is believed that he introduced organised club football to the local workers, although there is no record that matches took place.[1] However, in 1868 it was reported in The Field newspaper that Stoke Ramblers had been formed with Almond as its captain and the club was to play under association football rules.[1] It remains unclear as to whether Stoke played any matches from 1863 to 1868.[1] He played in and scored the first ever Stoke goal against E.W May's XV in a friendly on 17 October 1868.[1] He left Staffordshire soon after to continue his career in railway.[1] Later he became a successful Civil Engineer, going abroad to work in Costa Rica for the Venezuela-based La Guayra and Caracas Railway Company. He died at sea the age of 60.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.