rev ben chambers

[fozzy]

i will allways be in youre debt for creating such a great football team!

The man who began a proud football heritage
HE didn't know what he had started . . .
But 130 years after the creation of St Domingo's Football Club, both Everton and Liverpool have paid tribute to Reverend Ben Chambers, the man who founded St Domingo's FC.
The gravestone of the pioneering churchman was re-dedicated on Wednesday at a service of commemoration at Shepley Methodist Church, near Huddersfield.
Blues' Life President Sir Philip Carter and representatives from the Everton Former Players' Foundation and the Everton Academy, were present at the ceremony.
Blues chairman Bill Kenwright said: "Both Everton and Liverpool have a proud footballing heritage and the history of the two clubs is a source of immense pride to supporters whatever colour they choose to wear.
"Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that we honour such a man especially in Liverpool's Capital of Culture year.
"Ben Chambers was clearly a man of vision and real enthusiasm - thus demonstrated by the unique role he played in the formation and development of football in the region.
"Everyone whose lives have been touched by either club owes him a debt of gratitude."
Ben Swift Chambers was born on August 30 1845 in West Yorkshire.
He became the Methodist minister at St Domingo's Church in Everton.
He changed the football landscape of Liverpool in 1877 when he was appointed circuit superintendent and minister of St Domingo Chapel in the Everton district of Liverpool.
After forming the St Domingo Cricket Club, Reverend Ben Chambers turned his hand to forming a football team to keep the cricket team fit during the winter months of 1878.
The St Domingo Football Club was soon attracting players from churches outside the parish and by November 1879, the football section of the cricket club was renamed Everton.
Ben Swift Chambers died on November 28, 1901, aged 56.

http://www.evertonbanter.co.uk/2008/07/sir-paul-mccartneys-everton-se.html

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...-hail-a-city-football-legend-100252-21222452/

http://evertonfc.com/news/archive/founding-father-remembered.html

 

[coyney]

There should be more reconition of what this man has done for this citys football

 

[HalewoodBlue]

Yes but he was the founder of them as well, his honour has been tainted somewhat

 

[davek]

It pains me to say it, but the foundation of the two clubs was rooted in John Houlding's brewery cash, not a handful of games organised by a Methodist minister on Stanley Park. I suppose it looks better PR-wise to say religion rather than booze should take the credit.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

It pains me to say it, but the foundation of the two clubs was rooted in John Houlding's brewery cash, not a handful of games organised by a Methodist minister on Stanley Park. I suppose it looks better PR-wise to say religion rather than booze should take the credit.

I'll Take Booze any day!!

That just made me sound like a right alcy :huh::huh:



opens 3rd bottle of rum today*

Hicup!! hicup!!

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

so are you saying that we're alehouse

 

[McBain]

His grave looks a bit of a mess.

And some bugger is standing in it.

 

[davek]

so are you saying that we're alehouse

It's a real hole in Merseyside football history that Houlding - beyond a footnote mention in LFC's big tomes on the subject of club orgins - is not lauded as the greatest figure in the city's football history. No media attention on him, no statues...pretty much nothing.

Maybe it was because he also came with a lot of other baggage - Tory Alderman, Orangeman etc?

Certainly a more fundamental figure to football's development in Liverpool than the 'muscualr Christian' Minister Ben Chambers.

 

[anotherbecksplease]

re grave

I went to the service last tuesday at the graveyard at Sheppley nr Huddersfield the Grave has been re done all new marble etc etc with an inscription along the lines of he started the ball rolling for merseyside soccer it was attended by Graeme Sharp and Philip Carter from Everton along with some other young lads from the acadamy Rick Parry and Brian Hall where there from the [Poor language removed] the money to re do grave was coughed up by Bill Kenwright I beleive

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I went to the service last tuesday at the graveyard at Sheppley nr Huddersfield the Grave has been re done all new marble etc etc with an inscription along the lines of he started the ball rolling for merseyside soccer it was attended by Graeme Sharp and Philip Carter from Everton along with some other young lads from the acadamy Rick Parry and Brian Hall where there from the [Poor language removed] the money to re do grave was coughed up by Bill Kenwright I beleive

There goes the transfer budget

 

[Gazdalf]

Nil Satis Nisi optimum

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

There goes the transfer budget

wasnt it said that the budget was set in stone