Charles W. Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Charles William Stephenson (27 February 1853 – 22 April 1924) was an English amateur sports
man who made three appearances for England in the representative matches
against Scotland in 1871 and 1872. He also was a member of the Football Association committee that agreed to the foundation of the first national knockout football competition, the FA Cup
in 1871. By profession, he was a surveyor
.
, where he was a member of the school cricket
team, making several appearances between 1869 and 1871.
club, making his first appearance on 23 October 1869, aged 16. Described as "a most efficient back", he made 19 appearances for the Wanderers before "retiring" in 1873. He played in Wanderers' first two FA Cup
ties in 1872 but was missing for the semi-final and final matches.
In February 1871, Stephenson was selected to represent England, as the solitary "back", in the third pseudo-international match
against Scotland. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with goals from Charles Nepean
(Scotland) and R.S.F. Walker. Stephenson retained his place, now playing in goal, in the England XI for the next two matches, played on 18 November 1871 and 24 February 1872, which ended in victories for England, by scores of 2–1 and 1–0 respectively.
He was a member of the Football Association committee from 1871 to 1873. On 20 July 1871, C. W. Alcock
, as secretary of the F.A., convened a committee meeting at the offices of The Sportsman newspaper
and proposed "that it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete". The proposition was carried and the inaugural FA Cup tournament kicked off in November 1871.
Stephenson also played for the Barnes club and appeared for London against Sheffield in 1871 and 1872.
by profession, working from offices in Parliament Street
, Westminster
.
In 1885, he was listed as a subscriber in the formation of The Old Hayswood Coal and Iron Co. Limited.
In December 1906, he was shown in the London Gazette
as a Land Tax commissioner; also listed was Lord Kinnaird
who had organised the Scottish team in the international matches played in 1870 and 1871.
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
man who made three appearances for England in the representative 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...
against Scotland in 1871 and 1872. He also was a member of the Football Association committee that agreed to the foundation of the first national knockout football competition, the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1871. By profession, he was a surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
.
Education
Stephenson was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, where he was a member of the school cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team, making several appearances between 1869 and 1871.
Football career
Stephenson 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, making his first appearance on 23 October 1869, aged 16. Described as "a most efficient back", he made 19 appearances for the Wanderers before "retiring" in 1873. He played in Wanderers' first two FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
ties in 1872 but was missing for the semi-final and final matches.
In February 1871, Stephenson was selected to represent England, as the solitary "back", in the third pseudo-international match
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. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with goals from Charles Nepean
Charles Nepean
The Rev. Charles Edward Burroughs Nepean was an English amateur cricketer and footballer who later became a vicar in the Church of England...
(Scotland) and R.S.F. Walker. Stephenson retained his place, now playing in goal, in the England XI for the next two matches, played on 18 November 1871 and 24 February 1872, which ended in victories for England, by scores of 2–1 and 1–0 respectively.
He was a member of the Football Association committee from 1871 to 1873. On 20 July 1871, 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....
, as secretary of the F.A., convened a committee meeting at the offices of The Sportsman newspaper
The Sportsman (1865 newspaper)
The first British newspaper titled The Sportsman began publishing from 1865, some six years after the Sporting Life. It ran until 1924....
and proposed "that it is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete". The proposition was carried and the inaugural FA Cup tournament kicked off in November 1871.
Stephenson also played for the Barnes club and appeared for London against Sheffield in 1871 and 1872.
Professional career
Stephenson was a surveyorSurveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
by profession, working from offices in Parliament Street
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
.
In 1885, he was listed as a subscriber in the formation of The Old Hayswood Coal and Iron Co. Limited.
In December 1906, he was shown in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
as a Land Tax commissioner; also listed was Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird KT was a principal of The Football Association and a leading footballer....
who had organised the Scottish team in the international matches played in 1870 and 1871.