Charles William Alcock, more commonly referred to as CW Alcock, had a profound impact on English sport in the 1860s and 1870s. During this period he was responsible for the first international match, as well as the creation of the FA Cup.
The First International Football Match
Alcock initiated the very first international football match, contested between England and Scotland in 1870.
Alcock advertised the match in Scottish newspapers, whereby he requested that Scotland accept the challenge to play a match against England.
However, there was little interest in Scotland, therefore much of Scottish was made up of London-based Scotchmen. This sparked some controversy as many Scots complained about a lack of home-grown talent.
CW Alcock and The FA Cup
Alcock served as FA Secretary from 1870 to 1895. In 1871 he presented the idea of a knockout competition by saying, “It is desirable that a Challenge Cup should be established in connection with the Association, for which all clubs belonging to the Association should be invited to compete.”
The Football Association Challenge Cup, known colloquially as The FA Cup, was born.
15 teams competed in the first competition in 1872, yet nobody could stop Alcock’s own side, Wanderers F.C., who went on to lift the cup.
CW Alcock’s Passing Game
Throughout football’s infancy many teams relied on individual skill in order to overcome their opponents, but Alcock is seen as an early pioneer of teamwork.
Many of his contemporaries told of how Alcock knew the benefits of the passing game and teamwork.
The very first mention of the passing game cam courtesy of Alcock himself in 1874, when he said, “Nothing succeeds better than what I may call a ‘combination game’.”
The “combination game” was a scientific approach to game, which was used by many of the era’s great teams. For instance, proponents of the system were Sheffield FC, Royal Engineers AFC and Cambridge University AFC.
CW Alcock and Cricket
Not only was Alcock a prolific forward and hard-working footballer, but he was also a well-respected cricketer.
Alcock, who was also captain of Wanderers FC, captained Middlesex CCC in the first county match in 1867. He also went onto play a match for the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), as well as representing Essex CCC.
Yet, it was once again his desire for international competition that would come to the fore. In 1880 he arranged the first test match to be played in England. It was a match between now bitter rivals England and Australia at the Kennington oval.
