SOUTHERN LENT TERM LEAGUE (Charles Alcock Cup)

ST. JOHN'S WIN CHARLES ALCOCK CUP 

With the 2013 Lent Term Southern Independent Schools League completed, four schools can celebrate league winning seasons. The Charles Alcock Cup has been won, for the second time in three years. The 2^nd XI cup was won by Tonbridge, the Under 16 trophy goes to Haileybury and at Under 15 level newcomers St Paul’s were the champions. All four league winners were unbeaten in their league fixtures.

The final league tables were drawn up after a frustrating final week of the term during which St Paul’s fixtures against both Radley (at 1^st and 2^nd XI) and St John’s were lost to the weather, with the result that in each case the points were shared.

Congratulations are due not only to the four league champions but to all of the players from all six schools who have contributed to a hugely competitive league season, where fair play and good sportsmanship have been evident throughout.

RESULTS AND LEAGUE TABLES

1^st XI – Tonbridge 3 Radley 1; Harrow 7 Wellington 0; Haileybury 2 St Paul’s 0; Haileybury 2 Wellington 1; St John’s 2 Harrow 1; Tonbridge 2 Harrow 2; Tonbridge 0 St John’s 3; Wellington 1 St Paul’s 0; Haileybury 2 Radley 1; Harrow 3 Radley 0; St Paul’s 0 Tonbridge 0; Radley 4 Wellington 2; St John’s 1 Haileybury 1; Wellington 1 Tonbridge 5; Radley 2 St John’s 3; Haileybury 1 Tonbridge 1; Wellington 1 St John’s 3; Harrow 0 Haileybury 0; Harrow 1 St Paul’s 1; St Paul’s 0 Radley 0; St Paul’s 0 St John’s 0

2^nd XI – Tonbridge 4, Radley 2; Harrow 2 Wellington 1; St Paul’s 1 Haileybury 0; Haileybury 1 Wellington 0; Harrow 0 St John’s 0; Tonbridge 1 Harrow 1; Tonbridge 2 St John’s 0; Wellington 2 St Paul’s 1; Radley 2 Haileybury 2; Harrow 4 Radley 1; St Paul’s 2 Tonbridge 2; Radley 0 Wellington 2; St John’s 0 Haileybury 1; Wellington 0 Tonbridge 1; St John’s 1 Radley 0; Haileybury 1 Tonbridge 1; Haileybury 2 Harrow 0; Wellington 0 St John’s 1; Harrow 5 St Paul’s 0; St Paul’s 0 Radley 0; St Paul’s 0 St John’s 0

U16A – Radley 4 Tonbridge 2; Harrow 2 Wellington 1; St Paul’s 1 Haileybury 1; Haileybury 2 Wellington 0; St John’s 2 Harrow 0; Harrow 0 Tonbridge 0; St John’s 1 Tonbridge 3; Radley 3 Haileybury 4; St Paul’s 0 Wellington 0; Radley 3 Harrow 2; Tonbridge 4 St Paul’s 0; Radley 4 Wellington 0; St John’s 0 Haileybury 0; Wellington 1 Tonbridge 2; St John’s 4 Radley 1; Tonbridge 1 Haileybury 1; St John’s 3 Wellington 0; Haileybury 2 Harrow 1; St Paul’s 2 Radley 0; Harrow 0 St Paul’s 3; St Paul’s 0 St John’s 0

U15A – Radley 4 Tonbridge 4; Harrow 3 Wellington 0; St Paul’s 2 Haileybury 1; St John’s 0 Harrow 6; Wellington 1 Haileybury 3; Tonbridge 0 Harrow 2; St Paul’s 5 Wellington 1; St John’s 1 Tonbridge 1; Haileybury 3 Radley 0; Harrow 2 Radley 0; Tonbridge 1 St Paul’s 3; Wellington 1 Radley 0; Haileybury 6 St John’s 0; Wellington 0 Tonbridge 0; St John’s 2 Radley 1; Tonbridge 0 Haileybury 2; Wellington 4 St John’s 2; Harrow 0 Haileybury 2; St Paul’s 5 Radley 0; Harrow 1 St Paul’s 1; St Paul’s 0 St John’s 0

PREVIOUS REPORTS

12th January
RADLEY AND TONBRIDGE RECORD FIRST WINS

The Southern Lent Term League season got off to a fine start as Tonbridge and Radley met on Saturday. Radley lead the Under 16 league at this early stage after a fine 4-2 win at Tonbridge. Harry Lloyd, Ed Slimmor and Jack Hewitt were on target for Radley in what was an entertaining and high quality match despite the pouring rain.

Meanwhile the 1st XI match was won by Tonbridge who took a three goal lead thanks to strikes from Toby Black, Max Glennon and a fine header from Charlie Adam. Radley came back strongly in the latter stages, scoring through Jonty Browne, hitting the post and drawing an outstanding save from Tonbridge keeper Ben Pryor. Nonetheless Tonbridge came out as 3-1 winners. The 2nd XI match was also highly competitive. Tonbridge went two up through Chris Booth and Ben Pattenden before Radley came back with goals from Tom Biggart and Max Hunter. The game could have gone either way in the closing stages but Tonbridge eventually prevailed thanks to a second goal from Chris Booth and a headed finish from centre-back Will Slumbers.

The most exciting game happened at Under 15 level. Radley looked home and dry when they led 4-0 after half an hour thanks to goals from Bolitho, Woollett, Whittaker and man of the match Bowman. However Tonbridge got one back through Esongkuo Elombi before half time and, after the break, two goals from Kome Eleyae and one from Ollie Hayes completed a remarkable comeback, with the match finishing 4-4.

28th January

The poor weather over the past fortnight has caused the postponement of several Lent Term League matches, but two fixtures survived the freeze. The four league matches between Harrow and Wellington were played on Harrow’s 3G football astro, whilst Haileybury’s matches with St Paul’s went ahead as planned.

In their 1^st XI match against Wellington, Harrow achieved a comfortable victory. Ogyen Verhagen, Harry Glover, Daniel Firoozan and James Breeden (2) were amongst the goalscorers in a 7-0 win. The other three matches between the two schools were, however, much tighter. In the 2^nd XI game Harrow had a Joe Murray brace to thank for a 2-1 win and the same score line was recorded in the Under 16A match, with Coilin Flynn and Muhammad Shah scoring the goals for Harrow. In the Under 15A match Harrow came out 3-0 victors thanks to two goals from George Gould and a third from Charlie Lupton.

St Paul’s and Haileybury both recorded wins in their league fixtures, with the 1^st XI match going Haileybury’s way. Ali Burton and James Richardson were the goalscorers in a 2-0 win. St Paul’s meanwhile won the 2nd XI game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Rees, whilst the U16A match was a 1-1 draw with Weiland on target for St Paul’s. In the Under 15A match St Paul’s had Pedlow to thank, as he struck twice in a 2-1 win.

4th February

Last Saturday saw Haileybury meet Wellington and Harrow take on St John’s, whilst on Tuesday Tonbridge met Harrow in a rearranged fixture.

At 1^st XI level Haileybury edged a 2-1 victory over Wellington, thanks to goals from Will Clark and Okemdi Chukwu. The match between St John’s and Harrow looked to be heading for a draw after an opening goal from St Johns’ Stainer was cancelled out by Cyprian Owen-Edwards’ equalizer for Harrow. However, late in the game Van Gorkum found space in the Harrow box to secure a 2-1 win for St John’s. In the final game, Tonbridge and Harrow shared the points with a 2-2 draw. Toby Black, from the penalty spot, and Richard O’Grady were on target for Tonbridge whilst Daniel Firoozan and Harry Glover scored for Harrow

The 2^nd XI league is looking very tight indeed, with goals hard to come by. A Callum Richardson goal gave Haileybury a 1-0 win over Wellington, whilst St John’s and Harrow battled out a 0-0 draw. In their match with Harrow, Tonbridge went ahead in the first minute, thanks to a sublime header from Luke Buchanan, and reached the break with their lead in tact. However Harrow equalised in the opening seconds of the second period through David Igbokwe and then piled on the pressure. However Tonbridge held out to share the points.

In the Under 16s, Haileybury and St John’s both recorded 2-0 wins. Haileybury’s goals came from Myles Senior Campbell-Jordan and an own goal, whilst McFarlane and Feltham were on the score sheet for St John’s. Tonbridge’s match with Harrow could not take place and the points will be shared.

Finally, in the Under 15 league, Harrow recorded two impressive wins. First they overcame St John’s 6-0 with George Gould scoring two with further goals from Lloyd-Williams, Lupton, Bailey and Fricker. They went on beat Tonbridge 2-0 with another brace for George Gould. Haileybury completed a full set of league wins over Wellington with a 3-1 win. Mubarak Odunsi scored twice with Freddie Walker adding a third.

11th February

Three league matches were played over the weekend with all the schools in action except Harrow.

In the 1^st XI league St John’s earned a 3-0 win away at Tonbridge. They took the lead in the first half through Miles Nuttall, who added a stunning second with a bullet of a shot from over 25 yards. Ed Gough added the third to create a score line which was tough on Tonbridge, who enjoyed plenty of the possession, but paid credit to the excellent finishing of St John’s. In the second game Wellington recorded their first win of the season, with a 1-0 success over St Paul’s. In Haileybury’s match with Radley Matt Morrison scored twice early on for Haileybury before Henderson pulled one back for Radley. Radley piled on the pressure in the second half but Haileybury held on for a 2-1 win which puts them at the top of the 1^st XI league table as half term approaches.

At 2^nd XI level Tonbridge sit on top of the table after a 2-0 win over St John’s. James Nakajima scored just before the break and Ben Pattenden added a late second for Tonbridge. Meanwhile Radley and Haileybury fought out a 2-2 draw with Cameron and Haynes on target for Radley. In the third match Wellington edged a 2-1 victory over St Paul’s with Berschader scoring the St Paul’s goal.

Haileybury lead the Under 16 league after winning a seven goal thriller against Radley 4-3. Haileybury took a two goal lead before Radley turned things around through goals from Loftus (2) and Craven. However Haileybury came back again to equalize, before Josh Kenton scored a last minute winner to give Haileybury the points. Tonbridge Under 16s got their first league win of the year with a 3-1 success away at St John’s. Feltham was on target for St John’s but two fine goals from Matt Bond and one from Harry Langham gave Tonbridge the points. Wellington and St Paul’s shared the points in a goalless draw.

Finally in the Under 15 league there were wins for St Paul’s and Haileybury whilst Tonbridge and St John’s shared the points. Haileybury beat Radley 3-0, with Harry Wodhams twice on target, whilst St Paul’s were 5-1 winners over Wellington. Bell scored a hat-trick for St Paul’s with Pedlow adding the other two. In the Tonbridge v St John’s game Serfozo put St John’s ahead but Elombi equalized for Tonbridge.

4th March

Six fixtures have taken place since half term in the Southern Lent Term League with implications throughout the competition. Immediately after half term Radley met Harrow; in the 1^st XI fixture Harrow came out 3-0 winners thanks to two goals from Owen Edmunds and one from Breeden. The 2^nd XI match was also won by Harrow, with Rudd, Igbokwe, Post and Ivison on target for Harrow and Angus Cameron scoring for Radley. Radley gained some revenge in the Under 16 match with a 3-2 win. Henry Lloyd, Charles Craven and Rory Hanna scored for Radley. Harrow won the Under 15 fixture 2-0 with goals from Gould and Fricker.

On Saturday three fixtures took place. St Paul’s hosted Tonbridge for the 1^st and 2^nd XI fixtures both of which ended in draws. The first team match was goalless; in the 2^nd XI game St Paul’s went two up through Andy Rees and Jamie McGowan-Stewart but second half strikes from Matt Eliet and James Nakajima allowed Tonbridge to share the points. The Under 16A match was won 4-0 by Tonbridge with goals from Fred Johnson (2), Alex Dainton and Harry Langham, whilst the Under 15A fixture went St Paul’s way. Redlo scored twice and Grigg once for St Paul’s.

Meanwhile Radley hosted Wellington for an extraordinary match. Wellington were two up with just ten minutes to go and with Radley down to ten men, but four Radley goals in the final minutes completely turned things around to give them a 4-2 win. Jonty Browne scored a hat-trick for Radley with Max Hunter adding the final goal. Wellington came out on top in the 2^nd XI match with a 2-0 win, whilst two golas from Charles Craven and one a piece from Harry Lloyd and Edward Sayer helped Radley to a 4-0 win in the Under 16s. In the Under 15s match Wellington edged a 1-0 win.

Saturday’s final match up was between Haileybury and St John’s. The crucial 1^st XI match ended in a draw. Haileybury took the lead just after half time through Alex Gaskell before Craig Bonnar equalised for St John’s with a 30 yard lob. St John’s had an excellent chance to win it in the closing minutes when Bonnar’s penalty was saved by Shaun Williamson but overall a draw was a fair result. Haileybury won the 2nd XI game 1-0 with Ade Omisore scoring, the Under 16 game was a 0-0 draw and Haileybury won the Under 15s 6-0 with a Freddie Walker hat trick.

The matches continued to come thick and fast this week with Tonbridge travelling to Wellington and St John’s taking on Radley. Tonbridge came away with wins at 1^st XI, 2^nd XI and Under 16 level. In the 1^st XI match Rob Alderson put Wellington ahead but Toby Black equalized for Tonbridge before two goals from Saro-Wiwa and one from each of Richard O’Grady and Luke Spurling gave Tonbridge a 5-1 win. The 2^nd XI match was less entertaining with a single Matt Ox-Eliet separating the sides. In the Under 16 match Wellington again went ahead, through Toby Barnard, but an outstanding strike from Elliott Webb and a winner from Harry Langham turned things around to give Tonbridge a 2-1 win. The Under 15 match was not played and will be recorded as a 0-0 draw.

Finally, in the Radley fixture against St John’s, there was a clean sweep for St John’s. In the 1^st XI match Max Hunter and Robin Eliot scored for Radley but a Craig Bonnar hat-trick gave St John’s a 3-2 win. The 2^nd XI league continues to be the defensively most tight competition with another match decided by a single goal – this time by Luscombe of St John’s. In the Under 16A match St John’s ran out 4-1 victors through two goals apiece from McFarlane and Long; Bertie Maher was on target for Radley. Last of all, in the Under 15 match, Tom Binks scored for Radley but goals from Beacom and Harrison helped St John’s to a 2-1 win.

11th March

Tonbridge met Haileybury on Saturday as the Lent Term Southern League season moves towards its conclusion. In the 1^st XI match Tonbridge took the lead through Nick Holder but Haileybury equalised in the second half to share the points. The 2^nd XI match saw chances at either end but no goals until the final minute when Haileybury broke the deadlock, only for Tonbridge to equalise seconds later through Harry Kwong, so that the points were once again shared. The Under 16A match also ended 1-1. Josh Kenton was on target for Haileybury. In the Under 15s Haileybury came away with a narrow win in an even match, thanks to goals from Freddie Walker & Harry Wodhams.

With Tonbridge now having completed their fixtures and with just a handful of games remaining, none of the leagues are yet decided.

13th March

Thursday afternoon saw St Paul’s secure victories against Radley in the Under 15 and Under 16 leagues. In the Under 16 match goals from Griffith and Harlington saw St Paul’s to a 2-0 victory. The St Paul’s Under 15A team remain the only side in any league with a 100% record. They won 5-0 against Radley with a hat-trick from Bell and two goals from Pedlow.

St John’s moved to the top of the Southern Lent Term League 1^st XI table on Tuesday after a 3-1 win away at Wellington. Wellington led 1-0 at half time but goals from Frost, Ball and Gough after the break took St John’s to a crucial 3-1 victory.  Meanwhile Harrow and Haileybury fought out a 0-0 draw in their 1^st XI match, allowing Haileybury to maintain their unbeaten league record, but leaving St John’s in pole position to become league champions.

In the 2^nd XI matches there were wins for Haileybury and St John’s, although goals continue to be hard to come by! Stainer was the only scorer in St John’s 1-0 win over Wellington, whilst Ade Omisore and James Bird were on target for Haileybury as they overcame Harrow. Nearly half of the fixtures to date in this miserable league have generated a single goal or less.

The entertainment has been better in the Under 16 league, where St John’s secured a 3-0 win over Wellington thanks to two goals from McFarlane and one from Chapman. Haileybury came from behind to win 2-1 against Harrow. Myles Senior Jordan-Campbell & Jake Stevens were on target for Haileybury.

In the Under 15 league, Wellington won 4-2 against St John’s, with Jamie Moore scoring both St John’s goals, and Haileybury achieved a 2-0 win against Harrow thanks to goals from Harry Wodhams and Jason Addison.

With three schools now having completed their fixtures, none of the leagues are yet decided, although as things stand St John’s lead the 1^st XI league, Tonbridge the 2^nd XI league and Haileybury sit on top of the Under 16 and Under 15 leagues.

18th March

Harrow and St Paul’s met on Saturday, with both schools recording one win and two matches ending in draws. The 1^st XI match ended 1-1; Prenn was on target for St Paul’s. The 2^nd XI match ended in a comfortable victory for Harrow. As a result, Tonbridge (who finished their fixtures a week ago) were confirmed as 2^nd XI league champions. The Under 16A match ended with a win for St Paul’s courtesy of goals from Harlington, Ridley and Kawash. Finally the Under 15A match was drawn 1-1, with Pedlow once again on target for Harrow.

18th March

As the league enters it is final week this is the state of play :

St John’s must avoid defeat in their final match to secure the Charles Alcock Cup and become the 1^st XI champions for the second time.

Tonbridge have become the first side to take the 2^nd XI trophy away from Harrow.

St John’s need to beat St Paul’s to take the Under 16 league trophy from Haileybury who sit on top of the table at present.

In the Under 15 league, St Paul’s need to draw or win against St John’s to pip Haileybury to the Under 15 trophy.

For more information on this competition, please contact Andrew Leale.

ROLL OF HONOUR - PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS 

THE CHARLES ALCOCK CUP 

Charles Alcock, who had been a schoolboy at Harrow and a member of Druries House (of whom the current ISFA Chairman was housemaster for many years) was instrumental in the development of international football, the FA Cup, and indeed, the Football Association itself. He was an early committee member of the Football Association which was formed in 1863, joining it in 1866. He was elected, at the age of 28, to the position of FA secretary. In 1871 he proposed the FA Challenge Cup, the first 'knock-out' type tournament. Fifteen teams entered the inaugural competition and Wanderers (a now defunct London team) won it, captained by Charles Alcock who played at centre-forward and had a goal disallow for handball. The FA ‘Challenge’ Cup was so called at that time because Wanderers, as winners, automatically qualified for the final and all the teams played a knock out competition with the winners ‘challenging’ the holders in the final. 

Charles Alcock was also instrumental in the development of the first international fixture. He did this by writing an address through the Glasgow Herald, inviting representatives to a game at the Kennington Oval, which was then, as now, the home of Surrey Cricket Club (Alcock was Secretary of Surrey CCC). Because the game's basis was completely amateur at the time, financial considerations meant that the Scottish team ended up being composed entirely of Scots living in England, and England won 1-0. There were three further matches, all in England, before the first match to be held in Scotland. 

However all those early matches were considered unofficial, largely because the English FA were running everything, even the selection of the Scottish side. Both the English and Scottish Football Associations record the first Scottish-based match, at the West of Scotland Cricket Club at Partick on 30th November 1872, as the first ever official international match. Charles Alcock was down to captain the side, but was injured and had to be content with umpiring. The match ended at 0-0. 

In 1875 Charles Alcock captained England against Scotland in a match played at the Kennington Oval. It ended 2-2, with Alcock scoring England's second goal in the 65 minute. England had had to play without their goalkeeper initially as William Carr was 15 minutes late because of delays on the trains on his route from Sheffield. 

Charles Alcock remained as Secretary of the FA until 1896, instigating, amongst other things, the International Selection Committee in 1887. This committee selected England sides until Walter Winterbottom and then Alf Ramsey took over the duty. From 1896 until his death in 1907 Charles Alcock was Vice President of the FA. Unlike David Elleray who only refereed one FA Cup Final (Manchester United v Chelsea in 1994) Charles Alcock ‘umpired’ a number of finals.

Share this article