Page 28 - v. Corinthian-Casuals

The Corinthian-Casuals place in the Isthmian League, where it would
Football Club was formed remain for another 39 years. In 1954, the club
in 1939 following the merg- beat Epsom 2-0 to win the Surrey Senior Cup.
er of the two great amateur Two years later in 1956, they reached the FA
sides bearing those names. Amateur Cup Final, drawing 1-1 with Bish-
op Auckland at a packed Wembley Stadium.
The Corinthians were founded in 1882. However, the legendary north-eastern club
N.L. “Pa” Jackson, who was then Assistant won the replay at Middlesbrough 4-1.
Honorary Secretary of the Football Associ- The 1973/74 season was a historic milestone;
ation, aimed to develop a club side capable heralding the FA’s decision to abolish offi-
of challenging Scotland at international lev- cial ‘Amateur’ status. As if in empathy with
el. A meeting was held at Jackson’s offices in the end of the amateur era, Corinthian-Cas-
London’s Paternoster Row, thus was the club uals steadfastly refused to accept the new
born. The name came from a suggestion by
England international, England internation-
WeLCoMe

CoRiNtHiaN

CaSUaLS

al, H.A. Swepstowe, which was accepted
unanimously. In the recently published his-
tory of the club, “Play Up Corinth,” author semi-professionalism’ and were relegated,
Rob Cavallini explains “the most likely ex- for the first time in their history, into Isth-
planation for this choice … is the word’s long mian League Division 2. Further relegation
-forgotten meaning – ‘man of fashion and fol lowed after a third bottom finish in four
pleasure,’ which captures the whole essence years. Then, in 1984, new ground-sharing
of the playing membership and their sport- rules created by the Isthmian League saw
ing ideology.” the club unceremoniously thrown out of the
The Casuals were formed in 1883 by a group league after 65 years of continuous member-
of old boys from England’s prominent pub- ship (and in spite of a 5th place finish!) sim-
lic schools. In 1905 they became founding ply because the club’s long nomadic history
members of the Isthmian League. meant it shared a ground, thus did not have
The Corinthian-Casuals Football Club had one of its own.
played only one game when World War II The first season in the Spartan Premier
broke out. Come the recommencement of League was a disaster and a second con-
football in 1945, the club proudly retook its secutive relegation occurred. Next year, the