Rotherham Town F.C. (1878)

Rotherham Town F.C. was a football club based in Rotherham, England. The club was a member of the Football League between 1893 and 1896.

Rotherham Town
Full nameRotherham Town Football Club
Founded1878 (as Lunar Rovers)
Dissolved1896

History

The original club was founded in 1878 as Lunar Rovers, becoming Rotherham in 1882, and eventually Rotherham Town.[1] In 1889 the club became a founder member of the Midland League. They were champions in 1892 and 1893, and were subsequently elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1893.

The club's League tenure lasted just three seasons, finishing in 14th, 12th and 15th place (out of 16). At the end of the 1895/96 season they failed to apply for re-election and subsequently folded.[2]

The club played at Clifton Lane and Clifton Grove.

Arthur Wharton, the man widely regarded as the first ever black professional footballer, played for the club from 1889 to 1894.[3] Liverpool Football Club played their first ever fixture against Rotherham Town on 1 September 1892 in a friendly fixture, Liverpool won 7-1, the first ever opponent to score at Anfield was Rotherham striker Charlie Leatherbarrow.[4]

A second Rotherham Town formed in 1899, going on to merge with Rotherham County in 1925 to form Rotherham United.

League and cup history
Rotherham Town League and Cup history[5][6][7][8]
SeasonDivisionPositionFA Cup
1883–84
2nd Round
1884–85
1st Round
1885–86
1st Round
1886–87
2nd Round
1887–88
2nd Round
1888–89
2nd Qualifying Round
1889–90
Midland League
3rd/11
4th Qualifying Round
1890–91
Midland League
7th/10
4th Qualifying Round
1891–92
Midland League
1st/11
3rd Qualifying Round
1892–93
Midland League
1st/13
3rd Qualifying Round
1893–94
Football League Division 2
14th/15
1st Qualifying Round
1894–95
Football League Division 2
12th/16
1st Qualifying Round
1895–96
Football League Division 2
15th/16
4th Qualifying Round

Honours
  • Midland League
    • Champions: 1891–92, 1892–93

Records
  • Best league performance: 12th, Football League Division 2
  • Best FA Cup performance: Second round, 1883–84, 1886–87, 1887–88
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See also
  • Category:Rotherham Town F.C. (1878) players

References
  1. Rotherham United The Beautiful History
  2. Gone But Not Forgotten Gottfried Fuchs
  3. The Footballer ArthurWharton.com
  4. Liverpool's First Ever Game This Is Anfield
  5. FA Cup Archive The FA
  6. Rotherham Town WildStat
  7. Rotherham Town Football Club History Database
  8. British Newspaper Archive
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