Page 26 - v. Corinthian-Casuals

The Corinthian-Casuals Football Two years later in 1956, they reached the FA
Club was formed in 1939 following Amateur Cup Final, drawing 1-1 with Bish-
the merger of the two great ama- op Auckland at a packed Wembley Stadium.
However, the legendary north-eastern club
teur sides bearing those names. won the replay at Middlesbrough 4-1.
The 1973/74 season was a historic milestone;
The Corinthians were founded in 1882. heralding the FA’s decision to abolish offi-
N.L. “Pa” Jackson, who was then Assistant cial ‘Amateur’ status. As if in empathy with
Honorary Secretary of the Football Associ- the end of the amateur era, Corinthian-Cas-
ation, aimed to develop a club side capable uals steadfastly refused to accept the new
of challenging Scotland at international lev- ‘semi-professionalism’ and were relegated, for
el. A meeting was held at Jackson’s offices in the first time in their history, into Isthmian
London’s Paternoster Row, thus was the club
born. The name came from a suggestion by
England international, England internation-
al, H.A. Swepstowe, which was accepted
WELCOME

COrinTHian

CaSUaLS

unanimously. In the recently published his-
tory of the club, “Play Up Corinth,” author
Rob Cavallini explains “the most likely ex- League Division 2. Further relegation fol-
planation for this choice … is the word’s long lowed after a third bottom finish in four
-forgotten meaning – ‘man of fashion and years. Then, in 1984, new ground-sharing
pleasure,’ which captures the whole essence rules created by the Isthmian League saw
of the playing membership and their sport- the club unceremoniously thrown out of the
ing ideology.” league after 65 years of continuous member-
The Casuals were formed in 1883 by a group ship (and in spite of a 5th place finish!) sim-
of old boys from England’s prominent pub- ply because the club’s long nomadic history
lic schools. In 1905 they became founding meant it shared a ground, thus did not have
members of the Isthmian League. one of its own.
The Corinthian-Casuals Football Club had The first season in the Spartan Premier
played only one game when World War II League was a disaster and a second con-
broke out. Come the recommencement of secutive relegation occurred. Next year, the
football in 1945, the club proudly retook its Corinthian-Casuals fortunes took an upturn
place in the Isthmian League, where it would when they bounced back as Champions, re-
remain for another 39 years. In 1954, the club maining in the Premier Division a further