John Robert Blayney Owen
Encyclopedia
John Robert Blayney Owen (1849 - 13 June 1921) was the head teacher
at Trent College
, who earlier in his life was a promising footballer who made one appearance for England
in 1874
.
and educated at Queen's College, Oxford where he played football for Oxford University
. While at Trent College he joined the Sheffield club
.
He made his solitary England appearance on 7 March 1874 against Scotland
, playing as an outside forward
. After "a most competitive game", Scotland won 2–1, with Robert Kingsford
scoring England's goal in the 22nd minute, before the Scots scored twice.
He was described as being "very fast and a great goal-getter" by Charles Alcock
's Football Annual for 1875, however, it also criticised him for being "too much used to be played for, and hardly does himself justice".
He also played representative football for the Sheffield F.A. and for Nottinghamshire.
in Long Eaton
, Derbyshire
from 1871 to 1881. He was ordained in 1876.
He then became master of Hawkshead Grammar School
from 1881 to 1883, before returning to Trent College in 1883 to take up the post of headmaster, where he remained until 1890.
He then left teaching and became the vicar
of Toftrees
in Norfolk
until 1905, finally serving as rector
of Bradwell-on-Sea
in Essex
until his death in 1921.
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
at Trent College
Trent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
, who earlier in his life was a promising footballer who made one appearance for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in 1874
1873-74 in English football
The 1873–1874 season was the third season of competitive football in England. Oxford University beat the Royal Engineers 2–0-National team:* England score given firstKey* A = Away match* F = Friendly-Honours:...
.
Football career
Owen was born in St Leonards, BuckinghamshireSt Leonards, Buckinghamshire
St Leonards is a small village in the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire, England. It is 3 miles east of Wendover and 4 miles south of Tring, Hertfordshire...
and educated at Queen's College, Oxford where he played football for Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
. While at Trent College he joined the Sheffield club
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
.
He made his solitary England appearance on 7 March 1874 against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, playing as an outside forward
Outside forward
Outside forward is a position in association football which refers to a footballer who plays as an advanced forward on the right or left wing - as an outside right or outside left. Typically as part of a 2-3-5 formation or one of its variants...
. After "a most competitive game", Scotland won 2–1, with Robert Kingsford
Robert Kingsford
Robert Kennett Kingsford was an English footballer who made one appearance for England in 1874, and was a member of the Wanderers team that won the 1873 FA Cup Final.-Career:...
scoring England's goal in the 22nd minute, before the Scots scored twice.
He was described as being "very fast and a great goal-getter" by Charles Alcock
Charles Alcock
Charles Alcock may refer to:*Charles R. Alcock , New Zealand astronomer*C. W. Alcock, Charles William Alcock , English footballer, creator of the FA Cup and organiser of the first Test in England...
's Football Annual for 1875, however, it also criticised him for being "too much used to be played for, and hardly does himself justice".
He also played representative football for the Sheffield F.A. and for Nottinghamshire.
Teaching and church career
On leaving university, he took up a teaching position as second master at Trent CollegeTrent College
Trent College is a co-educational, HMC independent day and boarding school. There are 760 pupils in the Senior School and 330 pupils in the Junior School, The Elms School...
in Long Eaton
Long Eaton
Long Eaton is a town in Derbyshire, England. It lies just north of the River Trent about southwest of Nottingham and is part of the Nottingham Urban Area...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
from 1871 to 1881. He was ordained in 1876.
He then became master of Hawkshead Grammar School
Hawkshead Grammar School
Hawkshead Grammar School in Hawkshead, Cumbria, England was founded in 1585 by Archbishop Edwin Sandys, of York, who petitioned a charter from Queen Elizabeth I to set up a governing body. The early School taught Latin, Greek and sciences, including arithmetic and geometry...
from 1881 to 1883, before returning to Trent College in 1883 to take up the post of headmaster, where he remained until 1890.
He then left teaching and became the vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
of Toftrees
Toftrees
Toftrees is a hamlet within the civil parish of Dunton in the English county of Norfolk. The hamlet is 2.3 miles south west of Fakenham, 27.3 miles north west of Norwich and 113 miles north north east of London. The nearest railway station is at Sheringham for the Bittern Line which runs between...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
until 1905, finally serving as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea
Bradwell-on-Sea is a village in Essex, England. The village is on the Dengie peninsula. It is located about north-northeast of Southminster and is east from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the District of Maldon in the parliamentary constituency of Maldon whose boundaries were...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
until his death in 1921.