136 years ago this evening.....

The inaugural meeting of Barnsley St. Peter’s Football Club was held. Rev. J L Brereton was made President. R Chappell was voted Captain and Reverend Preedy became Financial Secretary. The headquarters of the club then was the Dove Inn, across the Doncaster Road from St. Peter’s. The players also changed at the Dove.
And thousands of peoples lives have been affected / influenced by the visionaries who were at that first meeting. It's sometimes thrilling and uplifting, often frustrating and depressing! Nevertheless, thank you to all them for committing to form the club all those years ago.

 

I wonder what they'd make of Oakwell if they could see it now

 

Quote from Rev. Preedy:-
"I see JLWBigLil is still boring the socks off everyone!"

 

West Stand bogs would make them feel at home....

 

The Dove should be made a grade one listed building so that this important piece of Barnsley history doesn't disappear.

 

I wonder what they'd make of The Dove if they could see it?

 

Imperial Leather.

 

Easy to do - google 'How to get a Building Listed - England' - you don't have to own the building or have anything to do with it.

 

Why Is Rev Preedy said to have founded BFC and not Rev Brereton?

 

He was a modest chap. Didn't want any of the plaudits.

 

You keep spoiling my jokes...

I'm having a crack at it anyway

 

And Big Lil was in the corner taking the minutes..

 

Good piece of local historical info that, well done Wolvestyke...perhaps the club should have a wall plaque with the info and names of those involved outside the main offices..

 

Because it was his idea to “start an association club such that the rugbyites will not crush out”.

Didn’t do a bad job of it.

 

Yes, I think he was the driving force behind turning if from an idea and making it a reality.

 

I think he would have been a very proud man indeed if someone had been able to tell him that his creation would be a thriving, respected pillar of the community in 136 years' time.

 

Found this on Google

Tiverton Preedy was engaged to assist the vicar, John Lloyd Brereton.
Tiverton Preedy initially joined a rugby football club, but resigned in protest at the team's decision to play a match on Good Friday. Shortly after his split from the rugby club,
Tiverton Preedy encountered by chance a group of young men discussing the idea of forming an association football club.
Tiverton Preedy was taken with the idea, not least because football was seen in the area as the "poor man's sport" and his involvement would therefore bring him into greater contact with the poor people he wished to help through his ministry.
Tiverton Preedy acted as principal fundraiser and organiser of the club, dubbed Barnsley St Peter's FC, and even played in its first match.
Tiverton Preedy was responsible for securing the use of the land on which the Oakwell stadium still stands.
In 1891 Tiverton Preedy was instrumental in the formation of the Barnsley Charity Football Association and the creation of the Barnsley Charity Cup.

 

Was the land donated or purchased?

 

A blue plaque at the very least.

 

I believe that initially Reverends Brereton and Preedy were able to persuade land owner Mr Guy Senior to let the team play on the land where Oakwell now stands, presumably for some form of payment although I've been unable to find out how much that was. However, keen to arrive at a longer term arrangement, minutes of a club meeting on 12th August 1890 show that Mr Senior agreed to formally let the ground to St. Peter’s on the basis that “You can have the field so long as you behave yourselves!”

It wasn't until 1907 that the land was purchased. According to a report in the Barnsley Chronicle on 27th July 1907, at a Directors meeting on the evening of the 24th, arrangements for the purchase of the Oakwell Ground were provisionally completed. The agreed price was reported to be £1,325.