Football in Leamington curbed drunkenness

This account of the early history of football in Leamington appeared in the virtual programme for Alfreton Town:

In September 1920 the Courier ran a special feature article on the history of football in Leamington.  It noted: ‘The popularity of Association football with Englishmen – a popularity becoming greater each year – is not be wondered at.  It is a game full of interest from start to finish and, given a b right afternoon, a day spent watching a thrilling game is a fine antidote for the man who has been hard at work or cooped up in a factory or office all week.   It has been alleged by “spoil sports” that football leads to gambling, drunkenness and other evils.  The late Mr F.J. Brabner, a well-known former chief constable of Leamington, and a keen supporter of the game, in a conversation with the writer said he remembered the time before football was so popular with the crowd, when the working man on leaving work went straight to the public house, and very often stayed there until his wife fetched him out in the evening in a half-drunken condition with what was left of his wages.  Since the passion for football has developed, he went on to say, the man on Saturday rushed home from work, had his dinner, a wash, and was off to the game.’

‘There he sat or stood in the invigorating air for a couple of hours or more, thoroughly enjoying himself.  Then home to tea with a keen appetite.  And if he did go out of evening, it was often with his wife and children.  “No”, said Mr Brabner, “football does not lead to drunkenness; it does a great deal to prevent it.’

‘The writer came to Leamington just over 50 years ago, and saw the beginning of the association game in the Royal Spa.  The handling code – Rugby – was ending a fitful existence.  It had its supporters, but did not appeal to the public fancy as the Association game does.   The town club was running when I came here as a youth.   At this time Mr H.P. Hordern, dentist of the Parade, was secretary of the club.  Contemporary with the Town the Leamington Albions ran a team, and later on the Town club ceasing to exist, most of the players threw their lot in with the Albions .  The Town played up the Tachbrook Road, where the site of the new housing scheme is; the Albions on the old Warwick Road.  It was the taking of their ground later by the new Association club which led to the passing of the Albions.   The players were mostly working men, but they formed a good team and won the Coventry and District Junior Cup two years in succession.’

‘In 1891 Association - which was booming all over the land - began to make its impress in Leamington, and the very first club to be formed was in connection with St. Paul’s Church.   Many of my older readers will remember the singular sporting event that took place between them and the Albions.  It was decided that one half should be rugby, and the other association.   The Albions were successful at both codes!   At the beginning of the 1891 season, in addition to St. Paul’s Club, two new clubs made their appearance – the Parish Church club and the Alliance.’