Lancing Old Boys is an amateur association football club, based in Tolworth, for the former pupils of Lancing College.

Lancing Old Boys
Full nameLancing Old Boys Football Club
Nickname(s)the Wizards, the Lobsters;[1] originally the Lancians[2]
Founded1877
GroundKingston University Sports Ground, Tolworth

History

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The club was founded in 1877, the college's most notable former footballing pupil being Charles Wollaston, who had previously won the FA Cup with the Wanderers five times, and who later played for the Old Boys. Jarvis Kenrick, scorer of the first-ever goal in the FA Cup and also a Cup winner, was also an old boy.[3]

The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86, beating Barnes 7–1 away in the first round, scoring five times in the second half.[4] The club lost 6–1 to Brentwood in the second round; Bates, the goalkeeper for the original tie, was playing as a back in the second round, and, after the third goal went in, was swapped around with the replacement goalkeeper Brown, to no avail.[5]

The club did not enter the following year, perhaps recognizing that the side was weaker than in previous years (in a friendly, the club lost 12–0 to the Swifts[6]) but returned in 1887–88, losing 4–2 in the first round to the Old Etonians.[7]

With the advance of professional football, the club's last FA Cup entry was in 1889–90, losing to Old St Mark's in the second qualifying round.[8] The club retreated to the old boy competitions, and has had considerable success in the Arthurian League and the Arthur Dunn Cup, particularly in the 1980s, when they won the League and Cup double in three consecutive years.

Colours

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The club's original colours were blue and white,[9] the same as the college's football colours.[10] In the 1960s the club wore a combination of French grey, cerise, and chocolate shirts,[11] and 1977 changed to red.[12]

Ground

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The club originally played in Surbiton, using the Spread Eagle public house for facilities.[13]

Honours

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Arthurian League

  • Winners: 1965–66, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1993–94[14]

Arthur Dunn Cup

  • Winners: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984≠85, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1999–2000
  • Runners-up: 1979–80, 1998–99, 2014–15[15]

Notable players

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Three players were capped by England while with the club:[16]

References

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  1. ^ "LOBsFC". Twitter. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Old Etonians v Lancing Old Boys". Field: 592. 15 October 1887.
  3. ^ Cavallini, Rob. The Wanderers. Dog & Duck. p. 72.
  4. ^ "report". Sporting Life: 4. 2 November 1885.
  5. ^ "report". Chelmsford Chronicle: 5. 20 November 1885.
  6. ^ "report". Athletic News: 4. 26 October 1886.
  7. ^ "Old Etonians v Lancing Old Boys". Field: 592. 15 October 1887.
  8. ^ Kratsev, Todor. "English Football Association (FA) Cup 1889-90 Qualification". Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  9. ^ Alcock, Charles (1887). Football Yearbook. p. 160.
  10. ^ Alcock, Charles (1872). Football Yearbook. p. 64.
  11. ^ "Season 1963-64". Arthurian League. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Season 1977-78". Arthurian League. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  13. ^ Alcock, Charles (1887). Football Yearbook. p. 160.
  14. ^ "Arthurian League". Arthurian League. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Arthur Dunn Cup". Arthurian League. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  16. ^ "England Players' Clubs". England Football Online. Retrieved 28 June 2022.