1895–96 Eastville Rovers F.C. season

February 2020 February 2020 Eastville Rovers F.C. 1895–96 Captain Lewis John Ground Ridgeway Road, Ridgeway, Bristol Western League Joint runners-up FA Cup Preliminary round Gloucestershire Senior Cup Runners-up Howard Gallier (15) 1894–95 1896–97 The 1895–96 season was the thirteenth to be played by the team now known as Bristol Rovers, and their twelfth playing under the name Eastville Rovers. The first team played their fourth campaign in division one of the Western League (known in previous seasons as the Bristol & District League), while the reserves competed in the second division of the same competition for the third time. The season was notable for Rovers having entered the FA Cup for the first time in their history, and for the first team playing their 100th competitive match. The senior squad finished the season as joint runners-up of the Western League first division after tying for second place in the table with Staple Hill and a playoff match to separate them ended in a draw, while the reserves ended their campaign in fifth place in division two. The first team were also runners-up in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup, losing out in the final to long-time rivals Warmley, but the campaign was marred by the death of an opposing player in their semi-final with Bedminster following a clash of heads. The club's début in the FA Cup came in the preliminary round and ended in a 2–0 defeat, again to Warmley. Season review The 1895–96 season began with the news that Lewis John had been appointed as the new club captain,https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000035/18950831/025/0006 Association Football Bristol Mercury 31 August 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 17 Jul 2019 replacing H. McBain who had been skipper the previous year.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000264/18940901/002/0003 Association Football: Local club prospects 1 September 1894 Western Daily Press British Newspaper Archive 19 February 2020 subscription Rovers started the season strongly, winning eight of their first nine games, although one of those victories was later expunged from the record after Cardiff were expelled from the league. Their form trailed off slightly after that, but they ended the season well enough to finish joint second place in the table. The Western League had decided that goal average would no longer be used to split teams tied on points and that a test match would be held to decide the finishing order.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950916/006/0003 Athletics Bristol Mercury 16 September 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 18 July 2019 A match was duly arranged between Rovers and Staple Hill to determine who would be runners-up, but the game ended in a 2–2 draw, leading to the teams being named joint runners-up.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960501/006/0003 Athletics Bristol Mercury 1 May 1896 British Newspaper Archive subscription 26 February 2020 League tables Western League Division One main WDL WAR EAS STA TRO STG CLI GLO BED SWI MAN STP CAR C D Bedminster Cardiff Clifton Eastville Rovers Gloucester Mangotsfield Staple Hill St George St Paul's Swindon Wanderers Trowbridge Town Warmley 6 2 12 36 41 0 0 0 0 0 8 3 9 44 50 14 1 5 57 22 6 4 10 29 42 3 3 14 17 54 13 3 4 48 19 10 4 6 47 38 2 2 16 12 60 4 4 12 57 63 13 1 6 50 31 16 3 1 65 13 2 yes complete -2 Clifton had two points deducted for breaching league rules EAS CHA green1 League champions RUP RUP green2 Joint runners-up EXP black1 Record expunged Western League Division Two main WDL BAR FIS STG EAW EAR CUM STA BED WAR CLI FRE C X Resigned from the league Barton Hill Bedminster Reserves Clifton Reserves Cumberland Eastville Rovers Reserves Eastville Wanderers Fishponds Frenchay Staple Hill Reserves St George Reserves Warmley Reserves 15 2 1 45 16 6 1 11 35 38 0 0 18 10 84 7 3 8 47 35 8 4 6 43 31 10 2 6 34 23 11 4 3 33 14 0 0 0 0 0 7 2 9 34 58 11 3 4 52 22 4 1 13 23 29 2 yes complete EAR RES black1 Record expunged Match results Western League Division One 1 14 September 1895 Mangotsfield 0–4 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950916/006/0003 Eastville Rovers Mangotsfield "Small" W 2 28 September 1895 Eastville Rovers 7–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950916/006/0003 Trowbridge Town Gallier x2 Thompson x2 Brown x2 Hockin Everett x2 Unknown Ridgeway "Very large" Mr G. Gay W 3 26 October 1895 Bedminster 1–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951028/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Popham 2 Horsey Thompson Leese Greenway Bush Ground Ashton Gate "Small" Mr G. Gay W 4 9 November 1895 Swindon Wanderers 1–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951111/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Potter H. Howard Unknown scorer Leese 90 Swindon 500 Mr Bloor (Bristol St George) W 5 16 November 1895 Eastville Rovers 1–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951118/003/0003 Gloucester Laurie Scantlebury Fielding Ridgeway Mr S. Major (Swindon) L 6 23 November 1895 Eastville Rovers 3–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951125/003/0003 Clifton Leese x2 Osborne Stout x2 Ridgeway W 7 30 November 1895 Eastville Rovers 5–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951202/005/0003 St Paul's Thompson Brown x3 Gallier Ridgeway W VoidThe match against Cardiff was expunged from the league records when they were expelled from the league later in the season 7 December 1895 Cardiff 2–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951209/004/0003 Eastville Rovers Farthing Stubbs Ross x2 Osborne Cardiff V 8 14 December 1895 Eastville Rovers 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951216/003/0003 Staple Hill Brown Leese 55 Rogers Ridgeway 1000 W 9 21 December 1895 Eastville Rovers 1–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951223/003/0003 Warmley Brown Wilshire Unknown scorer Ridgeway 3000 Mr J. Bloor L 10 28 December 1895 Clifton 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951230/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Stout Unknown scorer 60 Chequers Ground Kingswood Mr J. Bloor D 11 11 January 1896 Eastville Rovers 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960113/004/0003 St George Ross Brown Britton Ridgeway 1500 Mr Williams (Staple Hill) W 12 1 February 1896 Gloucester 2–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960203/003/0003 Eastville Rovers F. Fielding x2 Thompson Osborne Brown 90 The Avenue Road Ground Gloucester Mr Smith (Swindon) W 13 8 February 1896 Eastville Rovers 1–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960210/006/0003 Bedminster Gallier pen. Harris Unknown scorer Ridgeway L 14 15 February 1896 St Paul's 0–5 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960217/007/0003 Eastville Rovers Gallier Leese Hone o.g. Unknown scorer Unknown scorer Bower Ashton 300 W 15 22 February 1896 Warmley 2–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960224/008/0003 Eastville Rovers Stone P. Britton Warmley 3000 Mr F.H. Howard (Swindon) L 16 7 March 1896 St George 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960309/006/0003 Eastville Rovers Coyne G. Harris Leese St George "A big crowd" L 17 21 March 1896 Staple Hill 0–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960323/005/0003 Eastville Rovers Gallier 10 Staple Park Staple Hill 800 Mr Russell (Swindon) W 18 4 April 1896 Trowbridge Town 0–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960406/010/0003 Eastville Rovers Brown Trowbridge 1000 W 19 Eastville Rovers 5–0 Mangotsfield Ridgeway W 20 25 April 1896 Eastville Rovers 9–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960427/003/0003 Swindon Wanderers Rogers Brown x4 Leese x3 Horsey Ridgeway > 1000 W Test matchAs Eastville Rovers and Staple Hill were tied on points at the end of the season, league rules stated that a playoff must be held to decide which time placed second and which third. The game ended in a draw, leading to them being declared joint runners-up. 30 April 1896 18:30 GMT Staple Hill 2–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960501/006/0003 Eastville Rovers Britton Unknown scorer Unknown scorer Unknown scorer St George Mr A. Farrant D Division Two 1 21 September 1895 Bedminster Reserves 3–8 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950923/007/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves St John's Lane Bedminster W 2 12 October 1895 Eastville Rovers Reserves 1–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951014/003/0003 Barton Hill Unknown L 3 9 November 1895 Eastville Rovers Reserves 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951111/003/0003 Fishponds Ridgeway D VoidThe reserve game against Cumberland was shortened and therefore did not count in the league standings 16 November 1895 Eastville Rovers Reserves 5–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951111/003/0003 Cumberland Unknown V 4 14 December 1895 Staple Hill Reserves 2–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951216/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves Staple Hill W 5 21 December 1895 Warmley Reserves 5–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951223/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves Warmley L 6 28 December 1895 Eastville Rovers Reserves 10–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951230/003/0003 Clifton Reserves Unknown W 7 11 January 1896 St George Reserves 3–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960113/004/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves St George L 8 18 January 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 3–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960120/003/0003 Clifton Reserves Unknown W 9 1 February 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 0–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960203/003/0003 Barton Hill Unknown L 10 22 February 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960224/008/0003 Warmley Reserves Ridgeway W 12 7 March 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 2–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960309/006/0003 St George Reserves Ridgeway Mr George Gay W 13 14 March 1896 Fishponds 4–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960316/005/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves Fishponds A. Williams L 14 21 March 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 3–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960323/005/0003 Staple Hill Reserves Ridgeway F.G. Matthews W 15 28 March 1896 Eastville Wanderers 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960330/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Reserves Eastville Park Eastville H.J. Batchelor D 16 4 April 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960406/010/0003 Eastville Wanderers Ridgeway G. Gay D 17 11 April 1896 Eastville Rovers Reserves 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960413/004/0003 Cumberland Unknown G. Silman D The results of the away match against Bedminster Reserves and the remaining game against Cumberland are not known. FA Cup 5 October 1895 Preliminary round Eastville Rovers 0–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951007/003/0003 Warmley Rooke Stone Ridgeway "Large" Arthur Roston Bourke (London) L The lineups for Eastville Rovers' first ever game in the FA Cup (referred to at the time as the English Cup) is shown below.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000264/18951007/001/0003 Saturday's Football Western Daily Press 7 October 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 23 July 2019https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951007/003/0003 Athletics Bristol Mercury 7 October 1895 British Newspaper Archive subscription 23 July 2019 Eastville Rovers Lewis John (GK, C) R. Horsey A.N. Oldcrock RossA. FowlerH. McBainC. LeeseW.T. ThompsonF. GallierG. BrownA. LaurieF. WebleyS. StoneW. RookeH. Wilshire"Nip" Britton F. BryantPhil Britton (C)L. Wilmot G. Britton F. Reeves W. Demery (GK) Warmley GK = Goalkeeper, C = Captain Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup Rovers were runners-up in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup this season, losing out to Warmley in the final which was watched by around 6000 spectators – believed to have been a record attendance for the area at the time. They were narrowly beaten by a single goal to nil by the Warmleyites in a re-match of the 1889 final which Rovers had won by the same scoreline.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960407/004/0003 Gloucestershire Senior Cup. Final Tie. 7 April 1896 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 18 December 2019 Their semi-final victory was marred by the death of Bedminster outside-right Herbert Edward "Teddy" Smith. He was involved in a clash of heads with Rovers' fullback Lovett during the first half when both were attempting to head the ball, Smith receiving a heavy blow to the side of his head. Both men continued playing after initially falling to the ground. When the game resumed for the second half Smith was late re-joining his teammates and play went on without him. When he eventually made it back onto the field he was reported as appearing pale and confused and unable to participate in any meaningful way. A few minutes later he was forced to leave the match after vomiting and was taken to his parents' house in Southville where he lost consciousness in the evening and died early the following morning.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960330/003/0003 Association Player Killed: Sad accident at Bedminster 30 March 1896 Bristol Mercury British Newspaper Archive subscription 18 December 2019 25 January 1896 Preliminary round Eastville Rovers 4–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960127/005/0003 Bristol South End Osborne x2 Brown Leese Ridgeway 2000 Mr Magor (Swindon) W 29 February 1896 First round St George 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960302/005/0003 Eastville Rovers Harris 47 Ross St George 4000 Mr N. Whittaker D 14 March 1896 First round replay Eastville Rovers 4–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960316/005/0003 St George Osborne x2 Thompson x2 Ridgeway 4000 Mr N. Whittaker W 28 March 1896 Semi-final Bedminster 0–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960330/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Smith Brown Bedminster 4000 Mr Brodie (Wolverhampton) W 6 April 1896 Final Warmley 1–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960407/004/0003 Eastville Rovers Bowler St George Athletic Ground St George 6000 Mr N. Whittaker L Friendlies 7 September 1895 Eastville Rovers 3–3 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950128/006/0003 St Paul's Rogers x2 Gallier Pook Stone o.g. Unknown Ridgeway 300 D 21 September 1895 Eastville Rovers 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18950923/007/0003 Warmley Griffiths 10 Thompson 85 Bryant Ridgeway 1500 Mr J. Bloor W 12 October 1895 Eastville Rovers 4–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951014/003/0003 Radstock Leese Gallier Thompson Brown Ridgeway W 19 October 1895 Bristol South End 1–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951021/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Jones Gallier St John's Lane Bedminster 2000 D 2 November 1895 Eastville Rovers 2–4 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951104/003/0003 Hereford Thistle Leese Thompson Sharpe x2 Crump x2 Ridgeway Over 2000 Mr J. R. Riddell L 26 December 1895 St George 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18951227/018/0006 Eastville Rovers W. Harris Luther Unknown scorer Laurie St George Athletic Ground St George "A fair sprinkling" Mr G. Gay L 4 January 1896 Eastville Rovers 3–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960106/003/0003 Bristol South End Brown 45 Thompson Gallier Ridgeway 2000 W 18 January 1896 Eastville Rovers 2–2 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960120/003/0003 Wycombe Wanderers Thompson Gallier Osborne Unknown scorer Unknown scorer Ridgeway D 11 April 1896 Bedminster 2–1 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960413/004/0003 Eastville Rovers Marsh Burland Gallier Bedminster "Poor" L 20 April 1896 Bristol South End 1–0 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000035/18960420/003/0003 Eastville Rovers Magyer St John's Lane Bedminster 2000 Mr J. Bloor L Notes Statistics Friendly matches are not included in this section. + Match recordCompetitionHomeAwayTotalP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstWestern League10 703361310 7122192014155722League playoffs000000101022101022FA Cup100102000000100102Gloucestershire Cup2200 803111 225311102Total13 90444151483325132717376928 Cumulative record The total cumulative record of Eastville Rovers up to the end of the 1895–96 season is shown below. This is calculated by adding the numbers in the section above to the total games played up to the end of the previous season. Friendly matches are not included in this table, and games held at neutral venues are considered to have been played away from home. + Match recordCompetitionHomeAwayTotalP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstP PlayedW Games wonD Games drawnL Games lostF Goals forA Goals againstWestern League3819 712108693816 319 617276351031169141League playoffs000000101022101022FA Cup100102000000100102Gloucestershire Cup 7 223161415 91524232211384037Total 4621 91612485 5425 524 8797100461440211182 References Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. seasons Eastville Rovers