Alfred Thornton
Encyclopedia
Alfred Horace Thornton was an English amateur footballer who played for England in the first representative international match
against Scotland in 1870. By profession, he was a banker.
, then in India
, the son of Edward Parry Thornton C.B.
and Louisa Chicheliana Plowden. Edward Thornton was the grandson of Samuel Thornton, former Governor of the Bank of England
and was Commissioner of Rawalpindi from 1849 to 1858 under Lord Lawrence
, and Judicial Commissioner for the Punjab
from 1858 to 1862. He was awarded the C.B. in 1860 in recognition of his services.
Between 1867 and 1869, Alfred attended Harrow School
. In his final year at Harrow, he was a member of the school football team.
Two elder brothers, Richard Chicheley Thornton and Robert Milnes Thornton, attended Harrow from 1861 to 1864 and 1867 respectively; Richard joined the 77th (Middlesex) Regiment
in 1867, attaining the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, while Robert joined the 5th Fusiliers in 1867. A younger brother, George Walter Thornton, also attended Harrow (from 1869 to 1871); he died at Avranches
in Normandy
on 2 May 1873.
club, to whom he was probably introduced by E. E. Bowen, a master at Harrow School.
In March 1870, along with Bowen, he was invited to play for the English XI in a match arranged by C. W. Alcock
against a side representing Scotland. This was the first of a series of matches
played over the next two years, before the first official football international
in November 1872. There was no score in the match until 75 minutes had elapsed, when the English goalkeeper moved out of goal to play upfield; the Scots took advantage of the exposed goal when Robert Crawford
scored with a shot from distance:
to salvage a draw a minute from the end of the game.
As well as being a member of the Wanderers, Thornton played for the Harrow Chequers
. On 14 October 1871, he played for Harrow Chequers against the Wanderers; the teams played out a 0–0 draw. The Morning Post mentioned Thornton as "conspicuous for excellent play". Three days later, Thornton played for the Wanderers in a 1–0 victory over the Civil Service.
. The bank and brewery were owned by Nevile, Reid & Co. and was originally founded as Ramsbottom & Baverstock in 1780. In 1914, the bank was acquired by Barclays Bank. The brewery was acquired by Noakes & Co. of Bermondsey
, London in 1918, eventually becoming part of the Courage Brewery.
In the 1881 census
, he was shown as living at 51 Thames Street, Clewer
, Berkshire; his occupation was "banker".
Thornton was also a J.P.
for the County of Berkshire
. He died on 31 March 1906, aged 53.
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
against Scotland in 1870. By profession, he was a banker.
Family and education
Thornton was born in RawalpindiRawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, then in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the son of Edward Parry Thornton C.B.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
and Louisa Chicheliana Plowden. Edward Thornton was the grandson of Samuel Thornton, former Governor of the Bank of England
Governor of the Bank of England
The Governor of the Bank of England is the most senior position in the Bank of England. It is nominally a civil service post, but the appointment tends to be from within the Bank, with the incumbent grooming his or her successor...
and was Commissioner of Rawalpindi from 1849 to 1858 under Lord Lawrence
John Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence
John Laird Mair Lawrence, 1st Baron Lawrence, GCB, GCSI, PC , known as Sir John Lawrence, Bt., between 1858 and 1869, was an Englishman who became a prominent British Imperial statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1864 to 1869.-Early life:Lawrence came from Richmond, North Yorkshire...
, and Judicial Commissioner for the Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
from 1858 to 1862. He was awarded the C.B. in 1860 in recognition of his services.
Between 1867 and 1869, Alfred attended Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
. In his final year at Harrow, he was a member of the school football team.
Two elder brothers, Richard Chicheley Thornton and Robert Milnes Thornton, attended Harrow from 1861 to 1864 and 1867 respectively; Richard joined the 77th (Middlesex) Regiment
77th (East Middlesex) Regiment of Foot
The 77th Regiment of Foot was a line regiment of the British Army . In 1881 it was united with the 57th Regiment of Foot to form The Middlesex Regiment ....
in 1867, attaining the rank of Lieut.-Colonel, while Robert joined the 5th Fusiliers in 1867. A younger brother, George Walter Thornton, also attended Harrow (from 1869 to 1871); he died at Avranches
Avranches
Avranches is a commune in the Manche department in the Basse-Normandie region in north-western France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. The inhabitants are called Avranchinais.-History:...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
on 2 May 1873.
Football career
Thornton was a member of the WanderersWanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
club, to whom he was probably introduced by E. E. Bowen, a master at Harrow School.
In March 1870, along with Bowen, he was invited to play for the English XI in a match arranged by C. W. Alcock
C. W. Alcock
Charles William Alcock was an influential English sportsman and administrator. He was a major instigator in the development of both international football and cricket, as well as being the creator of the FA Cup....
against a side representing Scotland. This was the first of a series of matches
England v Scotland representative matches (1870–1872)
Between 1870 and 1872, the Football Association organised five representative association football matches between teams from England and Scotland, all held in London. The first of these matches was held at The Oval on 5 March 1870, and the fifth was on 21 February 1872. The matches, which were...
played over the next two years, before the first official football international
Scotland v England (1872)
Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland...
in November 1872. There was no score in the match until 75 minutes had elapsed, when the English goalkeeper moved out of goal to play upfield; the Scots took advantage of the exposed goal when Robert Crawford
Robert Copland-Crawford
Robert Erskine Wade Copland-Crawford was a Scottish soldier and amateur sportsman.He served in the Afghan War from 1878 to 1880, and was mentioned in dispatches...
scored with a shot from distance:
. . . the game progressed until within a quarter of an hour of the time determined for the cessation of play, when the English rashly removing their goalkeeper paid the penalty by witnessing the reduction of their fortress to a long shot by R.E. Crawford.England fought back to score through Alfred Baker
Alfred Joseph Baker
Alfred Joseph Baker was an English amateur sportsman who scored England's goal in the first representative match against a Scottish XI in March 1870. By profession, he was an auctioneer.-Family:...
to salvage a draw a minute from the end of the game.
As well as being a member of the Wanderers, Thornton played for the Harrow Chequers
Harrow Chequers F.C.
Harrow Chequers Football Club was an association football club from London, United Kingdom. They were formed in 1865 and played their home matches at Kennington Oval, London. The club played an important part in English football in the 19th century and played in various FA Cups...
. On 14 October 1871, he played for Harrow Chequers against the Wanderers; the teams played out a 0–0 draw. The Morning Post mentioned Thornton as "conspicuous for excellent play". Three days later, Thornton played for the Wanderers in a 1–0 victory over the Civil Service.
Professional career
On leaving school, Thornton became a banker progressing to manager of the Old Bank and Brewery at WindsorWindsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. The bank and brewery were owned by Nevile, Reid & Co. and was originally founded as Ramsbottom & Baverstock in 1780. In 1914, the bank was acquired by Barclays Bank. The brewery was acquired by Noakes & Co. of Bermondsey
Bermondsey
Bermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, London in 1918, eventually becoming part of the Courage Brewery.
In the 1881 census
Census in the United Kingdom
Coincident full censuses have taken place in the different jurisdictions of the United Kingdom every ten years since 1801, with the exceptions of 1941 and in both Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State in 1921; simultaneous censuses were taken in the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, with...
, he was shown as living at 51 Thames Street, Clewer
Clewer
Clewer is an ecclesiastical parish and region of Windsor making up three wards of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-History:...
, Berkshire; his occupation was "banker".
Thornton was also a J.P.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the County of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. He died on 31 March 1906, aged 53.