KINGSTON-ON-THAMES v. KINGSTON ROVERS.
His worship the Mayor kicked off for Kingston, and Buckwell returned. Kingston then got well down and forced matters, Grant just missing with a neat shot. After some pretty passing by Vincent, Ocock and Grant, the latter headed over, following which Foster shot behind.

Keeping up the pressure Ocock sent in a good shot, which Foster put the finishing touch to, and Kingston were one up.

On the re-start, the Rovers broke away, Short pulling them up close in. Kemp secured and Mawson had to use his hands. Buckwell was forced to concede a corner, which Lockett put behind. From the goal kick Lambert got away by some pretty passing, and shot. Short saved well and sent to Kemp. Adamson mis-kicking, Buckwell was forced to kick-out.

From a throw-in Ocock broke away, but Mawson in saving, took more than three steps with the ball and a free was awarded Kingston. Short took the kick, but the leather struck the upright and went behind. From the goal kick the Rovers got over the line per Arnold and Ager, but Baker averted danger.

Grant got away and sent in an over-head kick, which Foster was too late to receive, and Mawson cleared with a good punt. Immediately after Foster scored an offside goal, after some splendid passing by Grant, Vincent and Ocock. Following this Kemp shot high over, and Ocock scored in an off-side position.

From the free the Rovers put in a good run per Andrews, White, and Dorn, but Baker secured and sent well into goal, Buckwell heading out of danger. From a good bit of passing by the Kingston front rank, Foster again shot behind. A corner fell to the "King's" off Buckwell, which Lockett shot over.

On the re-start the "King's" forced for a minute, but Arnold securing broke away, and Short was "grassed" Baker kicking out in the nick of time. From the throw-in Grant ran down and passed to Ocock, but Buckwell robbed neatly and put in a good kick, which allowed his forwards to break away, but off-side against Dorn spoiled. Kingston were now pressing hard, but the Rovers backs played a good game, Buckwell saving three certainties in quick succession. Kingston continued to press, and at halftime the game stood:-

Kingston-on-Thames 1 goal, Kingston Rovers Nil.

On the re-start, the Rovers pressed for a time, but Baker relieved with a good kick, and the front rank got away, and pressed Buckwell and Shanks a good deal, off-side against Ocock spoiling a good opening. From the goal-kick J. White raced away and passed to Arnold when, tackled by Baker, that player shooting wide of the post.

Foster and Kemp now put in some neat passing, but Adamson spoiled. Vincent secured and ran down only to be pulled up when in a good position for infringement of the offside rule. From the free Foster got on and had a chance but allowed Shanks to get across and save by kicking out. Dorn and White now broke away, but Baker kicked out.

Shortly after, from some midfield play, Foster Secured and ran past the halves and backs, shooting across the goal-mouth. Mawson, however, was on the alert and brought off a clever save. Foster and Kemp worked the leather well down, the latter centring to Grant, who shot wide. Ocock and Vincent got past Shanks, the former trying his luck with a good shot, which Buckwell intercepted and sent to Andrews, who ran down and shot well, Lanham saving in good style.

Lockett robbed Arnold in good style and sent to Foster, who shot wide. From a long kick by Short, Foster tried Mawson with a stinger, which he saved by conceding a corner. Fagan took the kick but shot behind. From the goal-kick Arnold broke away, but Short stopped the run. Keeping up the pressure Ocock and Vincent gave Shanks an anxious time of it, the latter eventually sending in a good screw, which Mawson misjudged and No. 2 was notched for Kingston.

Re-starting, the Rovers got down and Lanham saved well. Hands against Kingston spoiled a good run, and immediately after Kemp shot across, Mawson giving a corner. Fagan took the kick and placed well, the ball eventually striking the crossbar and coming out to Short, who sent in a hot shot, which Buckwell cleared in the nick of time.

Arnold got away, Short ultimately pulling him up and sending the leather to Foster and Kemp, the former just missing by inches. Breaking away again the Rovers' forwards put in some neat work, which was spoiled by Arnold shooting wide. From the goal-kick the ball was sent to the left wing, and Foster forced Mawson to concede a corner. Tully, who had all along been playing a brilliant game, took the kick and placed well, but Smith kicked out.

From the throw-in the Rovers got down, Baker saving what looked like a certain goal. The Rovers returned to the attack, and J. White shot over. The "King's" took up the running, and made matters rather warm for the Rovers' defence. Ocock shot hard, Mawson saving, and a corner followed off Shanks, but the kick was abortive, Fagan put in a clinking shot from the half-way line which just struck the cross bar.

Immediately after Vincent and Ocock tried their luck, but Buckwell got in the way on each occasion. Then followed a splendid combined run by the whole of the forwards. Close in Vincent passed neatly out to Ocock, who centred to Grant, that player tipping it to Foster, who shot hard and the third goal was registered.

On the kick-off the "Kings" again pressed for the remaining minute, and when the whistle sounded the game read:-

Kingston-on-Thames . . . 3 goals.
Kingston Rovers . . . Nil.

Sides:-
Kingston-on-Thames: F. C. Lanham (capt.) goal; J. Baker and A. R. Short, backs; G. J. Tully, J. Fagan, and R. F. Lockett, half-backs; W. Ocock and S. Vincent, right wing; H. Grant, centre; E. Foster and J. Kemp, left wing.
Rovers: W. Mawson (capt.), goal; R. J. Shanks and A. Buckwell, backs; S. Lambert, Smith, and Adamson, halfbacks; Dorn and J. White, left wing; E. Andrews, centre; J. Arnold and Agar, right wing.
Referee, Mr. Hitchcock (R.A.)

Immediately on the whistle sounding, Lanham, the Kingston skipper, was hoisted shoulder high, and carried from the ground. The game was well-contested, and the win of the Town was highly popular.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 17 April 1897- see report in original format.


KINGSTON-ON-THAMES v. KINGSTON ROVERS.
After the Rugby game about 700 spectators watched this match, which decided the destination of the Kingston and District League Cup, presented by Mr. W. Hunt, host of the "Cricketers." The Kingston-on-Thames club was fully represented, but the Rovers had to call on one or two reserve men to make up their team.

The Mayor of Kingston (Mr. Councillor Homersham) started the ball, and within five minutes Foster scored for the town, from a pass by Grant; but although continuing to have the best of the play the Town could not manage another point, and crossed over with the score unaltered.

The game re-opened in an exciting style, each goal being attacked in turn, and the Rovers now and again were conspicuous for good combination. About ten minutes after the re-start, Mawson let in an easy shot from Foster, which gave the Town a further lead.

The Rovers again tried their hardest to score, and Lanham had to throw out on more than one occasion, but he kept his charge intact. Vincent obtained Kingston's third point with a shot that gave Mawson no chance, and the game ended in a win for the Town by three goals to nil, so that Kingston are the first holders of the local League cup.

Teams:- Kingston-on-Thames- F. C. Lanham, goal; J. Baker and A. R. Short, backs; G. J. Tully, R. F. Lockett and J. Fagan, half backs; W. Ocock, S. Vincent, H. P. Grant, E. H. Foster, and J. Kemp, forwards.
Kingston Rovers- W. Mawson, goal; A. Buckwell and R. Shanks, backs; S. Smith, T. Adamson and S. Lambert, half-backs; Ager, J. Arnold, J. White, E. Andrews and Down, forwards. Referee: Mt. Hitchcock (Referees' Association).

Report from Kingston & Surbiton News dated 17 April 1897- see report in original format.


To the succeeding match under Association rules, between Kingston-on-Thames and Kingston Rovers, a larger amount of interest attached, as the result determined the destination of the cup and medals for the first division of the Kingston and District League.

The Rovers had strengthened their team for the occasion, while the Kingston club relied upon their usual eleven, with the exception that Grant played centre forward. During the greater part of the first half the Rovers were kept on the defensive, while Lanham did not once have to handle the ball.

The Rovers' defence was, however, good, and only one goal went against them, by Foster, before ends were changed.

Playing up hill made little difference to the Kingston-on-Thames team, as they continued to have the best of matters, and Foster and Vincent each added another goal. True, Lanham had a little more to do in this half, but he easily negotiated the three or four shots sent in. Kingston-on-Thames thus won by three goals to nil, and on the day's play they were undoubtedly the better team.

Grant was a great assistance to the side, while Foster, Vincent, Fagan and Tully also deserve praise. The fine kicking of Short was, too, a special feature of the play on his side, and he was ably assisted at back by J. Baker. On the Rover's side Mawson cleared several shots in capital style, while Buckwell, White, Arnold, Smith and Andrews were the more prominent among the others. There was great cheering at the result, and Lanham, the winning captain, was carried from the ground by some of the club's supporters.

This match brings the season of the Kingston-onThames to a close, and they are certainly to be congratulated upon the success that has attended them. They were within an ace of securing the Surrey Junior cup, but in winning the above match they have become the first holders of the handsome cup presented by Mr. W. Hunt of the Cricketers, and the set of medals given by Mr. V. Knapp, for the first division of the Kingston and District League.

Notwithstanding that they had two points deducted for playing an ineligible man in one match they stood prior to last Saturday with 16 points against Surbiton Rangers 17, who had played all their matches.

The result of this match takes Kingston's figures to 18 points and places them at the head of the list, this meaning the difference between the trophies going to Surbiton or remaining at Kingston. Of course the Kingston supporters were very jubilant, and excusably so, while a word of praise is also due to the Surbiton Rangers for the good position they have obtained in the League.

Notes from Surrey Comet dated 17 April 1897- see report in original format.