Llanerchrugog F.C. was a football club based in Rhosllanerchrugog, Wales.
| Full name | Llanerchrugog Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rhos | |
| Founded | 1876 | |
| Dissolved | 1879 | |
| Ground | Llanerchrugog Park | |
| Secretary | Ll. de Powys Jones | |
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History edit
The club was formed in 1876, following a suggestion by the Wrexham Guardian in October that the miners in Rhosllanerchrugog would be as enthusiastic for the game as those who had made up the Druids club; the newspaper had even arranged a practice ground for any side, granted to a new club by a Mr Whalley.[1] The club was duly "got up" by the Messrs. Jones of Llanerchrugog Hall, with one O'Connor as captain, and the club formally christened Llanerchrugog.[2]
The club was sometimes known as Llanerchrugog Hall; the first recorded game for the club, a 1–0 defeat at home to the Civil Service (Wrexham) Cricket and Football Club in February (although the club disputed the goal as being offside),[3] had the club's name in this form.[4] It was also more simply sometimes reported as Rhos.[5]
At the end of its first season, the club had 21 members,[6] which increased to nearly 40 at the end of its second.[7]
The club entered in the first two Welsh Cups, in 1877–78 and 1878–79. In 1877–78 it was lucky enough to receive a bye in the first round,[8] even though four clubs entered after the first round draw had been made, as those four clubs were drawn separately against each other.[9] In the second round, the club was drawn at home to Druids, and lost 3–0, the ground being in a "shocking" state.[10]
The club had struggled through the season, its matches including a 5–0 defeat at Wrexham,[11] but towards the end the side was "greatly improved", demonstrated by a 1–0 win over Llangollen on the Druids' Plasmadoc ground.[12] The club also won through the first round in its second Welsh Cup entry, scoring an 84th-minute equalizer at Gwersyllt Foresters (having dominated the second half)[13] and winning easily at home in the replay, thanks to a T. Evans hat-trick. However Llanerchrugog scratched when paired with Bangor in the second round,[14] and although the club finished out the 1878–79 season, Powys Jones even representing the North Wales FA in goal against the Lancashire FA in February 1879,[15] there is no further record of the club after the end of the season. A new town club was formed in 1889.[16]
Colours edit
The club wore blue jerseys and caps, white knickerbockers, and red stockings.[17]
Ground edit
The club played at the public Llanerchrugog Park,[18] 2½ miles from Ruabon railway station.[19] The site is now the home ground of Rhos Aelwyd.
References edit
- ^ "A football club for Rhosllanerchrugog". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 7. 14 October 1876.
- ^ "A football club for Rhos". Wrexham Advertiser: 5. 4 November 1876.
- ^ "Llanerchrugog v Civil Service". Wrexham Advertiser: 7. 24 February 1877.
- ^ "Civil Service v Llanerchrugog Hall". Wrexham Advertiser: 8. 10 February 1877.
- ^ "Ruabon Grammar School v Rhos". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 3. 20 October 1877.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1877). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 115.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 135.
- ^ "The Welsh Challenge Cup". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 5. 22 September 1877.
- ^ "The Football Association of Wales". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 8. 6 October 1877.
- ^ "Druids v Rhos". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 8. 12 January 1878.
- ^ "Wrexham v Llanerchrugog". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 7. 10 November 1877.
- ^ "Llanerchrug v Llangollen". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 5. 16 March 1878.
- ^ "Llanerchrugog". Wrexham Advertiser: 6. 26 October 1878.
- ^ "The Welsh Challenge Cup". Wrexham Guardian and Denbighshire and Flintshire Advertiser: 8. 7 December 1878.
- ^ "Lancashire v North Wales". Liverpool Daily Post: 7. 17 February 1879.
- ^ "New clubs". Rhyl Record and Advertiser: 4. 5 October 1889.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 135.
- ^ "Llanerchrugog v Civil Service". Wrexham Advertiser: 7. 24 February 1877.
- ^ Alcock, Charles (1878). Football Annual. London: Cricket Press. p. 135.