1884–85 Eastville Rovers F.C. season

The 1884–85 season was the second to be played by the team that are now known as Bristol Rovers, and their first playing under the name Eastville Rovers.

Eastville Rovers
1884–85 season
CaptainBill Somerton
GroundThree Acres

Season review

As well as a new name, the team moved to a new ground known as Three Acres in the Ashley Down area of Bristol,[1] and appointed Bill Somerton as captain.[2] As with their previous season, the club played only friendly matches. Boxing, Cricket and Rugby were the most popular sports in Bristol at the time, and only a small number of association football teams played in the city, limiting the potential opposition for Rovers.[3]

The full details of the games played this season are not known, but they suffered a 7–1 defeat at the hands of Warmley some time before a second eleven lost 2–1 to the same opposition on 8 November 1884.[4] Two matches were scheduled against Gloucester, in Gloucester on 27 December and in Bristol on 7 February,[5] and there were also games played against Bristol Wagon Works, Clifton Wanderers, Melksham, Right Against Might, St George, and Wotton-under-Edge.[3]

In addition to these games, a match was arranged against a team in Cardiff, but this had to be cancelled when the Rovers team refused to travel on the Aust Ferry.[6]

Known results

First team
DateOpponentVenueResultNotes
4 OctoberRight Against MightThe Downs, BristolLost 1–0[7]
11 October[8]WarmleyWarmleyLost 1–7[4]
13 DecemberClifton WanderersHomeLost 0–2[3]
3 January[9]GloucesterBudding's Field, GloucesterLost 0–1[10]
7 FebruaryGloucesterPurdown, BristolLost 1–4[11]
21 FebruaryClifton 2nd XIThe Downs, BristolDrew 1–1[12]

Second team
DateOpponentVenueResultNotes
8 NovemberWarmleyWarmley, GloucestershireLost 1–2[4]
29 NovemberWarmleyPurdown, BristolDrew 0–0[13]

References
  1. Byrne & Jay (2003), p.29
  2. Byrne & Jay (2014), p.10
  3. Byrne & Jay (2003), p.28
  4. "Football". Bristol Mercury. 11 November 1884 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Association Matches". Gloucester Citizen. 21 November 1884 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Byrne & Jay (2003), p.30
  7. "Football". Bristol Mercury. 9 October 1884 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Football". Western Daily Press. 11 October 1884 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Football". Bristol Mercury. 6 January 1885 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Football". Gloucester Citizen. 6 January 1885 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Football". Western Daily Press. 12 February 1885 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Football". Bristol Mercury. 23 February 1885 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Football". Western Daily Press. 4 December 1884 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Bibliography
  • Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2003). Bristol Rovers Football Club: The Definitive History 1883–2003. Stroud: Tempus. ISBN 0-7524-2717-2.
  • Byrne, Stephen; Jay, Mike (2014). Bristol Rovers: The Official Definitive History. Stroud: Amberley. ISBN 978-1-4456-3619-1.
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