History - History 1
An entry in Astills Original Swindon Almanac of 1881 details the committee of the Swindon Rangers to be
President - W. Dean Esq
Vice President- J. Armstrong
Captain - H.D. Millett
Dept Captain - E.E. Hanies
Hon Sec - J. Wickenden 83, Regent Street
Treasurer - W.W. Bliss Alama House Bell Vue
JOHN ARMSTRONG
One of the main driving forces in the development of rugby in Swindon was John Armstrong. On leaving school in Wolverhampton in 1866, aged 15, he joined his father, Joseph Armstrong and family at Swindon and became a pupil at the GWR works, under his father.
He played for the Swindon Rangers Cricket Club from which the Swindon Rangers Football club emerged. He was supposed to have captained the Rugby (Football) club for 7 years, but at the moment the dates do not match up.
GWR FOOTBAL CLUB
On 1st January 1881 the Swindon Advertiser reports of a rugby match played on Boxing Day 1880 between a team called GWR and a London sided named the Falcons. GWR won by 4 tries and six or seven touches to nil. Not much is known about the GWR team but one can assume that they were people who worked for the Great Western Railway works in Swindon.
SCHOOLS RUGBY in SWINDON
At the same time certain schools in Swindon had taken up the sport. In March 1881 two schools, High School and Swifts, were playing rugby. High school played Tollington House School in Farrington and Swindon Swift played Weston School from Bath.
EARLY GROUNDS
As already stated Swindon Rangers were playing in Gorse Hill in 1870. This is possibly the first ground they played at.
GWR seemed to play most of their matches at the Park, which is near to the railway village. This is now known as Farringdon Park.
By 1879 they were playing at the Croft, which seems to have been their home ground for many years as they were still there in 1892. The season after they were playing at the Sands which was near to the Victoria Hospital at the top of Victoria Hill.
President - W. Dean Esq
Vice President- J. Armstrong
Captain - H.D. Millett
Dept Captain - E.E. Hanies
Hon Sec - J. Wickenden 83, Regent Street
Treasurer - W.W. Bliss Alama House Bell Vue
JOHN ARMSTRONG
One of the main driving forces in the development of rugby in Swindon was John Armstrong. On leaving school in Wolverhampton in 1866, aged 15, he joined his father, Joseph Armstrong and family at Swindon and became a pupil at the GWR works, under his father.
He played for the Swindon Rangers Cricket Club from which the Swindon Rangers Football club emerged. He was supposed to have captained the Rugby (Football) club for 7 years, but at the moment the dates do not match up.
GWR FOOTBAL CLUB
On 1st January 1881 the Swindon Advertiser reports of a rugby match played on Boxing Day 1880 between a team called GWR and a London sided named the Falcons. GWR won by 4 tries and six or seven touches to nil. Not much is known about the GWR team but one can assume that they were people who worked for the Great Western Railway works in Swindon.
SCHOOLS RUGBY in SWINDON
At the same time certain schools in Swindon had taken up the sport. In March 1881 two schools, High School and Swifts, were playing rugby. High school played Tollington House School in Farrington and Swindon Swift played Weston School from Bath.
EARLY GROUNDS
As already stated Swindon Rangers were playing in Gorse Hill in 1870. This is possibly the first ground they played at.
GWR seemed to play most of their matches at the Park, which is near to the railway village. This is now known as Farringdon Park.
By 1879 they were playing at the Croft, which seems to have been their home ground for many years as they were still there in 1892. The season after they were playing at the Sands which was near to the Victoria Hospital at the top of Victoria Hill.
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