KINGSTON-ON-THAMES v. CROYDON PARK.-
This return match was played on Saturday on the ground of the latter, and after a very pleasant and hard fought game resulted in a win for the visitors by three goals to two. About 2 o'clock the Kingston team and several supporters, numbering in all about 30, left the Cricketers' Inn in a well-appointed conveyance, supplied by the London and Suburban Omnibus Company, for Croydon, which was reached shortly after 3. Mr. W. G. Carn (R.A.), chairman of the Kingston and District League, accompanied the team, and at the request of the home team officiated as referee. Lanham won the toss and elected to play against the wind. Forty minutes each way were played, and at 3.40 Croydon kicked off, rain falling slightly.

The ground was very slippery, and, added to this, it was also narrow and short, a fact which the visiting backs seemed to forget on several occasions. Croydon Park had their cup team out with the exception of the right back, which was creditably filled by May, the latest County goal keeper. From the kick-off, the Parkites at once made tracks for Lanham, but found the defence of Peck and Morfett too good for them. Some fine work by the latter enabled Wade to get the ball, and dodging right up the field he passed to Fagan in front of goal, and that player had no difficulty in scoring the first goal.

This woke the homesters up a bit, and Peck miskicking badly, they drew level. On re-starting the play was very fast, but Clarke kept the Croydonites at bay in a remarkable manner, his tackling and kicking being splendid. Lanham was once or twice called on, but was always found ready. Towards the finish of the first half Wade missed several chances to score, by indulging in too much fancy head work. At half-time the score stood at one goal each.

On the re-start, Clarke scored a beauty and put the Kingstonians one ahead. Robbing the Park centre forward, and with a couple of men on him, he screwed round and from the centre of the field took a shot which struck the one goalpost, bounded across to the other, and landed in the opposite corner of the net, much to the astonishment of the "goalie."

The Parkites now commenced to play a very vigorous game, but fair withal, a game which they maintained right up to the finish. About fifteen minutes from time Wade collared the leather and scored the third goal for Kingston, with an oblique shot.

Immediately after Croydon broke away and scored a very soft goal, Lanham slipping down. The homesters then made strong efforts to equalise, but failed, and Kingston ran out with a well deserved victory as above stated.

Clarke was the best man on the field, his tackling, kicking, and the manner in which he fed his forwards being first-class. Both Peck and Morfett played a grand game at back, whilst Blackmore was the best of the wing halves. The forward rank was weak, A. N. Other, who played a clinking game from start to finish, and Ocock being the best. Fagan was very much off colour, and once Wade drops the fancy head work in front of goal he will make a good centre. All the arrangements were in the hands of Harry Short, and he is to be complimented for the manner in which they were carried out.

Kingston:- Lanham, goal; Peck and Moffett, backs; Blackmore, Clarke and Baker, half-backs; A. N. Other, H. Short, G. Wade, J. Fagan and W. Ocock forwards.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 7 March 1896- see report in original format.


The supporters of the Kingston-on-Thames Association club were jubilant on Saturday, when the club gained a meritorious victory over Croydon-park by three goals to two, at Croydon, this being only their second win away from home in two years, the other being at Hersham over the club of that place.

The homesters were represented by nearly their full Surrey senior cup team, while Kingston had a good eleven. Consequently the game was a fast one throughout. So evenly were the teams matched that the score at half-time stood at one goal each. Kingston drew away in the second half with a lead of two goals, but Croydon got a soft one through Lanham slipping down. All their efforts, however, to draw level were futile, and Kingston held their lead to the end.

Notes from Surrey Comet dated 7 March 1896- see report in original format.