Wynonie s & myself have recently been comparing notes on the local football teams of the 1880's, so thanks to Wynonie for the website link posted below.
The table shows the results of Church football club in the days prior to the formation of the foorball League in 1888 when the only competitive trophy was the FA Cup. What is puzzling though, is the only games shown in the table are the FA cup games and friendlies aganist various Scottish teams, presumably on the basis that this was "international" club competitition. Presumably, Church's players did'nt just come togeather for these games but so far we've not obtained evidence of other games played and their circumstances. So we only have part of the story.
But what a story it is! In the 83-84 season, Church demolish local rivals Clitheroe & Darwen before succumbing to Blackburn Olympic, who go on to win the FA Cup in that season; a slight slip-up in 83/84 against Darwen before we come storming back in style, by by putting 10 in against Southport and then disposing of Darwen. Through what truly must have been a miscarridge of referreeing judgement, we get beat in the quarter finals of the FA cup by the 1881 winners, Old Cartusians.
In 1885/86, we take sweet revenge on our defeat by winners of the FA cup 3 years earlier by thrashing Olympic 3-1 on their home ground before making an obviously unplanned exit to some dodgy outfit called Swifts (?????).
No matter, we're back in 86/87 and this time after an away 7-1 crunching of Rawtenstall, we take on the big boys. Glasgow Rangers. Yep, that's right. Glasgow Rangers, who despite having the Scottish FA cup, continue to play in the English. No doubt however, that had their been a few more Churchites prepared to take the long and arduous jouney to Hampden Park then the result could easily have gone the other way rather than the narrow 2-1 victory to the home side.
The smell of Scottish blood was now in Church nostrils. To prove the point, in January we entertained St Mirren to a 5-1 drubbing, and then departed on a small tour north. On 9th May 1887, we made a slight slip up against Partick Thistle, but not to be outdone, the following day we came up against a full-strength Hibernian team, whom we took apart 4-1.
Well, you may say, Hibs then ain't what Hibs is now, And you're probably right...because in the same month of that year, the Scottish FA cup was played...and the winner was not Celtic, Rangers or Aberdeen...but Hibs.
And there our little story ends. But all information on Church FC will be more than useful. Here's the connection to the site, thanks to Wynonie:
http://www.442data.co.uk/team.asp?varTeam=Church