Renton FC - World Champions 1888

Renton FC - World Champions 1888

This is a First for me, writing a Blog about Football.

I heard on the TV Quiz show "Pointless" that Renton FC, a small Scottish Football Club had become World Champions in 1888.  So I thought I should investigate. 

Renton Football Club was a prominent team in the early history of Scottish football. The club was based in the village of Renton,West Dunbartonshire. They are remembered as one of the first clubs to have laid claim to the title Champions of the World when in 1888, as Scottish Cup holders, they challenged and beat the FA Cup holders West Bromwich Albion.

Dunbartonshire was a hotbed of the game in the early years of organised football in Scotland, with the county's three leading clubs of the era, Dumbarton, Renton and Vale of Leven all forming in 1872. Although not one of the founder members of the Scottish Football Association in 1873, Renton joined the body in time to enter the inaugural (1873–74) Scottish Cup tournament, and on 18 October 1873 were one of the clubs involved in the first day of competition for the new trophy. Renton faced Kilmarnock on neutral territory at Crosshill, Glasgow, winning 2–0. Although full details of the matches played are difficult to ascertain, it is generally believed that this was the first of the three games played that day to kick off, and therefore the first official competitive football match to take place in Scotland. Renton went on to reach the semi final, losing to eventual winners Queen's Park.The following season they went one step further, reaching the final, but again lost to Queen's Park, by 3–0.

During the 1880s Renton were amongst the most powerful clubs in the country. They lifted the Scottish Cup for the first time in 1885, beating local rivals Vale of Leven in the final. The 1886 final once again ended in defeat against Queen's Park, but Renton lifted the trophy for a second time in 1888 with an emphatic 6–1 win over Cambuslang, a winning margin that has never been exceeded in a Scottish Cup final. During this period, Renton also lifted another prestigious trophy of the era, the Glasgow Merchants' Charity Cup, four years in succession. During season 1886-87, Renton competed in the FA Cup. They defeated Accrington 1-0 at home in the first round. Following a 2-2 draw at home in thesecond round, they beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 in a replay. Preston ended their FA Cup run in the third round, winning 2-0 at Renton.

Three months after their second Scottish Cup triumph, Renton returned to the scene, the second Hampden Park in Glasgow, to face FA Cup holders West Bromwich Albion in a challenge match billed as being for the "Championship of the United Kingdom and the World". The fixture was really no more than a friendly organised between the clubs, without any direct sanction from the respective national associations. Given there were no league competitions as yet, a meeting between the English and Scottish Cup winners could reasonably lay some claim to deciding the leading club in the UK (albeit without any opportunity for the Welsh or Irish equivalents to compete). When Renton won the World Cup, the footballing world was in its infancy in 1888, almost exclusively played by Scottish and English clubs. It was a World Cup Championship by default – nevertheless Renton’s claim is undisputed. A “Champion of the World” sign was proudly displayed on the pavilion at Tontine Park. The trophy can be found in the Hampden Park museum.

Two years later, Renton were one of the eleven founder members of the Scottish Football League, the meeting which led to the establishment of the new competition having been instigated by Renton club secretary Peter Fairly. The club's first experience of League competition was to be cut short a month into the 1890–91 season, however, when they were suspended from all football by the SFA for playing a friendly against a team billed as "Edinburgh Saints". This was in reality St Bernard's, who had themselves been suspended following allegations of professionalism, in thin disguise. Renton successfully sued the SFA to have their suspension lifted and subsequently resumed their place in the Scottish League for 1891–92. The St Bernard's case illustrated the growing creep of illegal professionalism in Scottish football, a trend no doubt encouraged by the introduction of regular league competition, and one which was to lead to the decline of small town or village clubs, who could never hope to match the financial muscle of the big city clubs.

At the end of the 1893–94 season — the first following the legalisation of professionalism — Renton were relegated to the League's Division Two, never to return to the top level. They continued to run into trouble with the authorities, failing to turn up for their away fixture against Dundee Wanderers in 1894–95, in favour of playing a more lucrative friendly against Queen's Park. The points were therefore awarded to the Wanderers. The club were more rigorous in their attention to that season's Scottish Cup, however, reaching the final for the fifth (and as it turned out, last) time. Once more pitted against the opposition that had embroiled them in their earlier brush with officialdom — St Bernard's — Renton lost out by a 2–1 scoreline.

Despite this appearance back in the national spotlight, Renton's time in the Scottish League was drawing to a close. Financial hardship began to hit deeply for a club only ever capable of drawing a few hundred spectators to home matches; at one point, the club had even considered relocating to Glasgow as a solution to their problems (where ironically their appearance had always drawn thousands). Their league career ended four games into the 1897–98 season when, unable to meet their financial guarantees, they tendered their resignation. This was accepted, with Hamilton Academical taking on Renton's remaining fixtures - less than a decade after Renton's "world championship". The club continued to play in a variety of minor senior leagues - mainly the Western League along with their derby rivals Vale of Leven before finally folding in 1922 (not 1921 as sometimes stated) - entering the 1922–23 Scottish Cup, but failing to turn up for their tie.

Their final hour of fame came in the Scottish Cup of 1906–07 when they put out St Bernard's - then leading the 2nd Division - after two draws, and then stunned Scottish football by putting out Dundee, who were to finish second in the championship that year. They finally went out to Queen's Park in the last 16 of the competition.

Throughout the club's history, their home ground was Tontine Park. After the club's demise, the ground was built over for housing, with the former location of the centre circle being commemorated in one of the gardens.

ROBERT OWEN - NEW LANARK and NEW HARMONY

Robert Owen - New Lanark and New Harmony.

Many of you have been on my Scottish Tours by Chauffeured car or people carrier, and will have visited New Lanark with me.

When I carried out my Tours of New Lanark, I was unaware that after he left Scotland, he moved in 1825 to Indiana USA, where he bought a former Religious Community called Harmony, which he renamed New Harmony. I was made aware of New Harmony in a rather unusual way, by Ric Savage in his TV programme Savage Family Diggers, in which Ric, and his enlightened crew salvage historical artifacts using methods most US Archaeologists will be familiar with, (the use of dynamite and heavy diggers).

New Lanark

First a short note about New Lanark. In 1799 Robert Owen married the daughter of David Dale, the owner of New Lanark, and became a business partner of his. He instigated a number of reforms, to improve living conditions for the workforce, before moving to Indiana to create a Utopian socialist community. New Lanark exists today as a Protected Village with housing, now updated by the  New Lanark Housinga Association.

New Harmony

In 1825 Owen purchased the former Religious Community of Harmony in Indiana, where he began a brave experimental society based on the Socialist principles of equality and fairness to all workers.

Renamed New Harmony, which was a society based on his theories for a perfect, society, that it should number between 1200 and 2000 people and be run on principles of fairness and equality. Unfortunately, his population was a mixture of committed and enlightened people, who were outnumbered by vagrants and self seekers, and the experiment failed after two or three years. However, Owen’s utopian dream brought significant contributions to American scientific and educational theory, study, and practice. 

Robert Owen

My thanks and acknowledgment to Richard Thornton, for his excellent article on Robert Owen and New Harmony.

Sandy's Blog: ALAIN FOURNIER

Sandy's Blog: ALAIN FOURNIER: Le Grand Meaulnes Author and Poet Alain Fournier was born Henri-Alban Fournier  on 3rd October 1886 in La Chapelle-d'Angillon...

ALAIN FOURNIER

Le Grand Meaulnes

Author and Poet Alain Fournier was born Henri-Alban Fournier  on 3rd October 1886 in La Chapelle-d'Angillon, the son of a schoolteacher.

Although he wrote mainly poetry, he became famous for his novel Le Grand Meaules, which was nominated for, but did not win the Prix Goncourt.

Fournier was killed in battle on 22nd October, and vanished without trace, until 1991, when his remains, along with those of his Company were unearthed and identified by archaeologists. 

A monument was erected at the place where they died and Henri-Alban Fournier’s final resting place is now Saint-Rémy-la-Calonne National Cemetery in the Meuse. 

Here is a summary of the plot as described by Wikipedia:

"François Seurel, the narrator of the book, is the son of M. Seurel, who is the director of the school in a small village in the Sologne, a region of lakes and sandy forests in the heartland of France. After arriving in class, Augustin Meaulnes, a bright young man who comes from a modest background, soon disappears. He returns from an escapade he had which was a nightly and magical costume party where he met the girl of his dreams, Yvonne de Galais. She lives with her widowed father and her brother Frantz in a vast and ancient family chateau which has seen better days. The garden party was held to welcome Frantz and the girl he was to marry. The fiancee, however, fails to appear at that party.

After having returned to the school, Meaulnes has only one idea  : find the mysterious chateau again and the girl who he has now fallen in love with. However his local searches fail while at the same time a bizarre young man shows up at the school  : it is Frantz de Galais under a different name trying to escape the pain of having been rejected. Augustin Meaulnes finds out and leaves for Paris in order to find Yvonne de Galais but fails. He writes to his friend Francois Seurel  : " It is better to forget everything".

Francois Seurel ,who has now become a school teacher like his father, succeeds in finding at last Yvonne de Galais and reuniting her with Meaulnes. Yvonne still lives with her aging father in what is left of old family estates. It is called "Les Sablonnieres" and is not as far as the two young friends had first imagined in earlier years. Yvonne de Galais is still single and confesses to Augustin Meaulnes that he is and has always been the love of her life. Yvonne de Galais accepts, with her father's blessings, Augustin Meaulnes marriage proposal. However Meaulnes leaves her after a few days in order to find her lost brother Frantz (to whom he had promised help many years ago) and re-unite him with his fiancée. Yvonne de Galais, now married to Augustin Meaulnes remains alone at the chateau. Yvonne gives birth to a little girl but dies two days later. Eventually Francois inherits the house Meaulnes and Yvonne lived in and raises the little girl there, while also waiting for the return of his friend Augustin Meaulnes. While looking through old papers Francois Seurel discovers a small handwritten diary by Meaulnes. During the years in Paris ( before François brought Meaulnes and Yvonne back together), Meaulnes had met and romanced the girl who had abandoned Frantz at the party.

Years later, Meaulnes does return having brought Frantz and his fiance back together and claims his daughter." 

 I first encountered Le grand Meaulnes when a play  called "The Lost Domain"  was broadcast by the BBC, in the late 1960's, I immediately rushed out and bought the book and every time I read it I still get a shiver up my spine.

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BRATBY

John  Bratby - self portrait.

  

John Bratby is one of my favourtite Painters and Authors. 

It all started when I read his book "Breakdown" nearly fifty years ago, and it started a lifelong interest.

I went on to read "Brake-Pedal Down" and "Break 50 Kill", and they increased my interest in his writing and  painting.

Bratby was the originator of the British "Kitchen Sink" art movement, and indeed one of his early works is a painting of a kitchen sink.

In 1958 Bratby created works for the fictional artist Gulley Jimson in the Alec Guinness film The Horse's Mouth. 

Bratby's own work fell out of favour with the emergence of Pop art, but his paintings have increased in value and critical support over recent years. Paul McCartney has been a collector of his works.

John Bratby was born in 1928 and died in Hastings in 1992.

In the late 1970s I saw a Bratby painting for sale in a small Gallery near Blytheswood Square in Glasgow, the price was 800 pounds. If I had £800 in my pocket that day I would have bought it.

Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery has a painting by Bratby, but unforunately no image was available.

And I've just bought a First Edition of John Bratby's book "Breakfast and Elevenses on eBay.

The Lost Jaguar - the 1948 XK100

It is a little known fact that at the 1948 Motor Show, Jaguar exhibited not only the XK 120, but also a 4 Cylinder XK100.

                                                      Jaguar XK 100 Engine

It had a 1970 cc 4 Cylinder engine producing 95 bhp and giving a top speed of 93 miles per hour.

Below is the full specification of this car.

Jaguar XK-100 as offered for the year 1948 in Europe prototype Production/sales period of cars with this particular specs: 1948 - 1948 Modelyears: - Country of origin: GB United Kingdom Make: Jaguar Model: XK 100 Prototype 1948-1948 Submodel: XK 100 1948-1948 Optional equipment: EEC segmentation: S (sport cars) Class: sports car Body style: roadster Doors: 2 Traction: RWD (rear-wheel drive) Dimensions & capacities Length: 4394 mm / 173 in Width: 1562 mm / 61.5 in Height: 1334 mm / 52.5 in Wheelbase: 2591 mm / 102 in Front track: 1295 mm / 51 in Rear track: 1270 mm / 50 in Ground clearance: 181 mm / 7.1 in Turning circle btw. walls: Turning circle btw. curbs: 9.45 m / 31 ft Drag coefficient claimed: Drag coefficient estimated by a-c: 0.55 Legroom: 1st row: 2nd row: 3rd row: Shoulder room: 1st row: 2nd row: 3rd row: Headroom: 1st row: 2nd row: 3rd row: Hiproom: 1st row: 2nd row: EPA passenger volume: Calculated passenger volume: Interior length: Interior width: 1264 mm / 49.8 in Interior height: Trunk cap. claimed: Trunk cap. SAE: Trunk cap. VDA: Boot length: 965 mm / 38 in Boot length max.: Boot width: 965 mm / 38 in Boot width min.: Boot height: 305 mm / 12 in Load height: Approach angle (deg): Departure angle (deg): Ramp angle (deg): Weights Curb weight (without a driver): 1295 kg / 2855 lbs Dry weight: 1220 kg / 2690 lbs Shipping weight: Curb weight estimated: GVWR: Payload: Payload estimated: Towing weight: unbraked: braked:

Sales markets Markets, where cars with this particular specifications were sold: Europe prototype Related models: JAGUAR XK 120 Powertrain Engine manufacturer: Jaguar XK series Engine type: spark-ignition 4-stroke Fuel type: petrol (gasoline) Fuel system: 2 carburetors Charge system: naturally aspirated Valves per cylinder: 2 Valves timing: Additional features: SU horizontal DOHC Emission control: Emission standard: Cylinders alignment: Line 4 Displacement: 1970 cm3 / 120.3 cui Bore: 83 mm / 3.27 in Stroke: 91 mm / 3.58 in Compression ratio: 7 : 1 Power net: Torque: Power gross: 70.5 kW / 96 PS / 95 hp (max) / 5000 Torque gross: 150 Nm / 111 ft-lb / 2500 Redline rpm: Fuel capacity: 64 liter / 16.9 U.S. gal / 14.1 imp. gal Drivetrain Gearbox: Transmission type: manual Number of gears: 4 Gear ratios (overall): I 3.21 (13.8) II 1.88 (8.08) III 1.3 (5.59) IV 1 (4.3) V () VI () VII () VIII () R Speed range (max speed on gears, top gear value theor.): (km/h/mph) I: 51 / 32 II: 87 / 54 III: 126 / 78 IV: 164 / 102 V: / VI: / 1000rpm speed: (km/h/mph) I: 9.3 / 5.8 II: 15.9 / 9.9 III: 22.9 / 14.2 IV: 29.8 / 18.5 V: / VI: / Torque converter factor: Final drive ratio std: 4.3 optional: 4.5 4 3.64 Front brakes: drum 305 mm / 12 in Rear brakes: drum 305 mm / 12 in Standard tires: 6.00 - 16

I understand from a recent magazine article that Jaguar recently found 50 four cylinder XK engines (destined for the XK100 version of the XK120, which no one ordered). Anyone have any more information on this find, and what Jaguar intends to do with these engines (I believe they are not complete - only engine sets)?