Garrick F.C.

Garrick Football Club was an English association football club based in Sheffield, Yorkshire.

History

Garrick played between 1866 and 1878. They, along with the Wellington club, became the first clubs to play in the world's first two football competitions.

In the Youdan Cup,^[1] Garrick lost by one goal and one rouge to nothing at the Cremorne ground on London Road. The following year they entered the Cromwell Cup ^[2] and after beating Wellington (apparently borrowing seven players from Heeley to ensure victory) they met the newly formed Wednesday in the final at Bramall Lane. In front of around 500 spectators the two clubs fought out a goalless draw. It was agreed to play extra time with the first team to score being the victor (thus becoming the first use of the Golden Goal). Unfortunately Garrick were the losers when Wednesday scored a goal after 10 minutes.

Garrick then withdrew from playing the more popular local teams, instead taking on the minor teams and playing the occasional out of town match (including one of Sheffield's first rugby matches against Manchester Free Wanderers) and also the occasional match against the local pantomime actors – which were huge matches attracting crowds almost as big as the local cup finals.

References