Such was the notice which the Town Council of this ancient Borough caused to be extensively circulated in the town and adjacent villages; how it was regarded will be seen from what follows. The game of football has been played in the streets for time out of memory. How it arose even the antiquaries cannot tell us. The traditions of its being commemorative of a local victory over the Danes, the head of whose captain was kicked about the streets of Kingston in derision or that it arose from a victory at Merton by the Kingstonians over one Kynard, who had treacherously slain Kenulf, king of a Saxon tribe, allured thither by the beauty of a maid- have little in them to carry conviction of the truth. We incline to the opinion of the late Dr. William Roots that, as the custom obtains in several other towns besides Kingston, that its origin must be looked for in general rather than local circumstances. Football was anciently played on Shrove Tuesday in Finsbury fields by the London 'prentices, and was kept up until late years on the same day, with great energy. (says Chambers), at Scone in Scotland, and the nature of the play may be gathered from the saying that arose "A' is fair at the ha' of Scone" - a maxim that was evidently acted upon by some of the rioters of Tuesday last. There seems to us no necessity to suppose any special local event as giving rise to the custom in Kingston. The origin of this and other games on Shrove Tuesday may be assumed to be in the Carnival games which used to be held, and now are still carried on, on that day in countries where the Roman Catholic creed prevails. "The reason why" is that as the season of Lent began the following day with its severe discipline, the people indulged themselves in all manner of recreations, feastings, and too often excesses, which were not allowed in the succeeding forty days under what were then fearful pains and penalties, at one time being punishable by death. The Carnival games were handed down from generation to generation, varying in their nature in different localities, and lasted in England longer than the Papal supremacy in our land. In some places the sport was throwing sticks at cocks, which were suspended in an earthen vessel to a rope, and in an old engraving which we have seen, is shown a line from one side of the street to the other, on which hangs the bird waiting till a well directed shot with a stick breaks the cage and lets him free. The possession of the bird was then struggled for. That was one Shrove Tuesday's Sport (?).
Another sport was to turn a young bull loose into the streets and chase it, the chief object being to keep it in the town. That game was till lately carried on near Stamford, and there is a gentleman in Kingston who can remember that sport being Shrove Tuesday's amusement in Stamford. Football appears to have been indulged in in many places, our town among them, and the practice has spread to the villages near. Whatever its origin, it has showed a tenacity that has outlived many equally ancient customs.
As years have rolled on and the town has increased in size, football in the streets of Kingston has been thought by many to be out of place, but no attempt to stop it appears to have been made till about 66 years ago, when the Corporation indicted several inhabitants, of whom some were members of the council; the case was tried at Croydon, and the prosecution failed on the ground that the defendants had only observed an immemorial custom. We are told that a gentleman still living in Kingston is the only one surviving of those who were so indicted. From that time many complaints have been made and a few years ago it was intimated that the police had been requested to stop the game, but at the last moment the opposition was abandoned, and the game allowed. On March 1, last year, the Council passed a resolution to the effect that the time had arrived when the game of football should be discontinued in the public streets; no one dissented from the resolution. On Feb 7 last, the Council (21 being present) unanimously confirmed this expression of opinion, the only difference being as to whether the Corporation should issue prohibitory notices or do anything beyond calling upon the police to stop the game in the public thoroughfares, and as to whether the Recreation-ground should be mentioned in the notices. It was resolved, and we think wisely, that ample notice of the prohibition should be publicly given, and then was issued the notice which heads these lines.
No sooner was it seen that the Council were in earnest, than loud murmurs were heard, and all sorts of riots and disturbances were predicted. As the day drew nearer whispers were heard of what would be done to keep up what is erroneously called "an old charter". The morning of Tuesday came, and with it bright weather, and here we may remark that nothing used to seem to please the football players more than when there was plenty of mud on the ground. A body of 40 men of the A reserve had arrived to supplement the forces at the disposal of Inspector Armstrong, and at about 10 o'clock they were nearly all posted in different parts of town: about 20 being at the Town Hall ready for any emergency. The town was chiefly patrolled by the strangers; Superintendent Butt was here early, and under him acted our own inspector and Inspector Arnold of the B division, who was in charge of the A men. A walk through Market-place shortly before 11 o'clock showed a different state of things to that on the Shrove Tuesday of previous years; no windows or lamps were barricaded, and only one or two shops had their shutters up. At this time there were about 200 people standing about, but as the county magistrates held their licensing meeting at the Town Hall, so bringing nearly 100 people there on business, there seemed to be a great concourse. The 200 may be divided into four classes: men, women, lads and children and the proportion was about one man to three of the others. The men were chiefly representatives of the "great unwashed," and we say without fear of contradiction, that there were not present 20 respectable artizans. There were 40 or 50 boys varying in age 6 to 13 and then came a very strong body of the "hobble-de-hoys"- neither men nor boys, very few of whom appeared to have any work to do, and if they might have had it, seemed too lazy too do it. When Superintendent Butt rode in he was received with hisses and shouts, but his good-natured smiling face which he turned calmly on the crowd, seemed to act to them as a spell, for the noises soon ceased. The little boys gathered round the horse, and there stood and gazed upon the rider as though they could hardly believe their own eyes; they seemed to think that an ordinary policeman, much more a superintendent, must be a severe, stern man. At this time we noticed an urchin of about seven, being dragged along by his mother, who applied a leathern strap to the largest circular area of the covering of his legs with a heavy hand, shouting in his ear each time the strap and his body came into close contact - "that's the way you go to school, is it?" It struck us that a similar appliance to the backs of a few others of riper years would have been equally well-deserved. As is usual in such assemblages, the boy got more marks of derision than of sympathy. In the meantime, a few were gathered in the Fairfield, and were there kicking a ball, but of course that was not what was cared for. What fun was there in that? The ball was soon picked up and carried away down Orchard-road, and so by way of Eden-street towards the market-place, but ere it passed Mr. Gould's the "A's had it," and two boys who were foremost in the crowd were secured. The noise attracted attention, and a large concourse escorted the first victims to "durance vile." A very neat thing was then done: a lad named Young, who all the way had tried to keep up the spirits of the captured pair, which fast evaporated when the found that they were taken in earnest, and that there was no play about the matter, by telling them they would soon be got out, was pressing close to the door of the station to get a last look at his friends in adversity; the police, who had cautioned him several times, then quietly took him by the collar, and he was lifted in with the others in the twinkling of an eye; so quickly was it done that the mob hardly noticed it. Another ball was then started in the Fairfield after a lot of rough fellows had beset a house where lived a man who used to make football cases, and whom they frightened terribly, if we may judge by a man's looks. For about a quarter of an hour the play, though a little rough, was yet football, and several respectable people were intending to take part in it; but still that was not what was wanted. Who of all the mob cared for a half-hour's real recreation and rational amusement? The ball was got away to the Albion inn, the windows of which were barricaded by Mr. Outlaw, the landlord, and after a pause for a liquoring up was carried to the further side of the ground, near the haystack. There it hung for some time, and then the players returned in line, as if they were about to advance upon the town and storm it. On they came in very fair order, linked arm in arm, singing very inappropriately the popular song - "Work boys, work and be contented." When they got near the railings, a tall fellow, who took an active part in the day's proceedings, ran forward with what appeared to be a ball under a guernsey which he wore. He kept on his way with a rare body of followers, but was stopped in Eden-street, when he showed only an empty case. There it was again--- football was not cared for as a game, else the ball would not have been cut. Many false alarms were raised, but no ball was seen in the street for another hour or two. There was plenty of talk and shouting, and practical joking; at one time a man dressed in a fantastic way walked through the town with an umbrella up; he of course had an ovation, but that excitement soon subsided.
About one o'clock, another ball was got into Eden-street, and in the attempt to take both it and the ringleaders the first serious disturbance took place. The ball was secured with great difficulty, and the policemen were surrounded, and were in great danger, P.C. Newman, V division, who was mounted, rode up and forcing the crowd back got to the aid of his brother constables. Stones then began to fly about, and several persons were struck, Newman made a pretence of drawing his sword, and after some time the prisoners were taken away. These engagements with the police seemed to make the mob more daring, for shortly after another ball was captured. About half-past 3 a ball was kicked up Thames-street into the Market-place. It was got as far as the post-office but was then taken possession of by the police after a short tussle. Just as all got quiet again, excitement was once more aroused by the rushing of a crowd with another ball, which however only shared the fate of the others. These occurrences were but like spurts, soon and died away.
About 2 o'clock a part of the mob, bent on wanton mischief, went to the Fairfield, and proceeded to the north-east corner of it, where stood a rick of hay, the property Mr. Wenman who bought the last crop of hay off the recreation ground. The rick was surrounded by the crowd, who were apparently jostling one another, but in a few minutes flames were seen bursting out all around the stack. So rapid was the outbreak that fire must have been set to the hay in several places, and more than common means resorted to.
The engine was soon on the spot, and the hose got out and water procured, but it was of no avail; the rick was burnt almost to the ground, and continued to smoulder and occasionally break out into flames till Thursday morning. Other particulars relating to this matter will be found below. The news of the fire spread quickly, and cleared the town for a time, but then like a tiger which having tasted blood becomes more savage and thirsts for more, so the unruly mob seemed determined to work yet more evil.
About 5 o'clock, a number of boys and men, got an old man named Pyle, and after elevating him on their Shoulders, carried him round the town, making calls at the public houses and getting what they could. A rude procession was formed, and the old man and his bearers led the way up Clarence street giving Mr. Herrick, at the Clarence Arms, a salute --- here Pyle made a speech: on arriving at the residence of Mr. Sudlow Roots whose family have long supported the game, but who this year discontinued his subscription in deference to the opinion of the authorities--- the rabble gave vent to their feelings (if feelings they had) in mingled cheers, groans, hootings, and hissings. The police station naturally was not passed in silence, and there again were heard the discordant noises, by which were testified the determination of the mighty "people" to uphold their rights And liberties. Mr Wenman's, however, was the centre of attraction: the door was guarded by policeman, if it had not been an entrance would have been effected without a doubt, and a clearance made of whatever was therein, for the invaders were not a class of people who would have paused to make a distinction between the words, meum and tuum. The crowd of nearly 200 gathered round the house, and after a deal of hissing and groaning, several stones were thrown, one of which broke a window and two bottles standing on a shelf. The police apprehended a lad who was seen to throw a stone, and that cleared off a few. It was some time before the road was clear, and the next move was made back to the town, just as evening was setting in. The old man was still aloft, and it was quite pitiable to see his white hair floating about in the wind, and to see him pulled about as if he were a dummy: he was carried under Queen Anne's statue, and there Orator Pyle delivered himself of a speech, which we regret we could not hear, although but a short distance off; it seemed to be the correct sort of thing, for it was received with uproarious cheers.
About six o'clock Mr. Alderman Williams, who had been about all day, was surrounded by 100 or more of the disappointed crew, who accosted him in any but polite language; he turned towards Eden-street but was still escorted. When opposite Mr. Ellen's shop, Mr. W.B. Jones passed on his hunter and was immediately accosted; he turned round at once and addressing the mob, asked what they wanted with him. Several crackers were now flying about and Mr. Jones rode slowly off. Attention was again paid more particularly to Mr. Williams, who escorted by a friend, and closely pressed by the mob, got as far as Mr. Smith's shop, when his hat was knocked in. He took refuge with Mr. Smith and then the enraged roughs began to hoot and hiss and a few of the meanest minded ones threw stones of which unfortunately were there plenty about. Two squares of plate glass were broken and Mr. Williams was compelled to make his exit by the back window of Mr. Smith's house. Mr Smith then faced the mob and got their ears for a minute or two; he told them that as one who had raised himself to what he now is, he was sorry to see what was going on and advised them to go away peaceably. They were, he said, going the right way to make people believe that working men were really what they had been described by Mr. Lowe, M.P. A few of the more sensible ones did leave, but it was not till Mr. Smith had sent for the police that the path was cleared. Mr. Squire, of High street, was also a sufferer; during the afternoon a stone was thrown at his window breaking a large plate, which cannot be replaced under £7; he is insured in the London and Norwich office. A number of men evaded the police and got as far as Mr. Wadbrook's in Queen's-road, with a ball, which they carried to show Mr. Wadbrook, sen, who was an old supporter of the game. No encouragement was given them; indeed that gentleman was ill in bed. The ball was ultimately captured in the town after it had been kicked up Bridge-street and Thames-street. It was a sad sight to see the number of tipsy women who were now inciting the men to deeds of violence; one ball, only a small one, but yet a ball, was dropped by some woman and several of her sex joined in kicking it. One (not the only one we regret to say) disgraced her sex by her drunken folly in company with a man with a wooden leg. As the beer did its work, the noise increased and the Market-place was in a state of unrest till ten o'clock, about which time a kind of finale seemed to be come to by a chorus of shouts under the Town Hall, where the reserve police were stationed.
It was feared at one time on Wednesday that more disturbances would take place; a great many idle fellows gathered about the Town Hall when the prisoners were taken before the bench, and their re-appearance after their hearing was hailed with cheering. Some 30 or 40 hung about the police station, some of whom were intoxicated, and it was only by the forbearance of the police, who were frequently annoyed by these persons, that more arrests were not made. When the prisoners who had not paid their fines were taken to Wandsworth, all interest apparently died out.
The most disgraceful part in all these proceedings was the dead set made against Mr. Wenman; why he of all the other members of the Council who voted for the suppression of football in the streets, should have been singled out for vengeance we cannot understand. He, like the rest of the Council, voted as a public individual, and we much regret that we have come to such a pass when a man is to be made a mark of because he publicly acts in what he conceives to be a right way.

See Report in original format.

Thanks to Peter Pepperrell for converting the original report into text.