History
The original Wanderers existed from 1859 to 1887 during the birth of the modern game of football and can be accredited with contributing to the foundation of the world's oldest knock-out tournament, the FA Cup, the Football Association itself, the London FA and international football.
1859; Charles W Alcock finishes his schooling at Harrow and establishes Forest Football Club with his brother, John Forster Alcock, J Pardoe and brothers A Thompson and WJ Thompson. AW Mackenzie is the first Club Secretary.
1862; Forest's first recorded game was 15-a-side against Crystal Palace Club on the 15th of March and ended in a 1-0 victory - proving to be no fluke, the rematch three weeks later was a 4-0 win!
1863; On the 26th of October, AW Mackenzie and CW Alcock are present at the founding of the Football Association, along with 10 other clubs, who formally established the Cambridge Rules.
1864; Forest remain undefeated in two years and 18 games - although, for unknown reasons, they play one match on the 2nd of April under the name 'Wanderers'. CW Alcock becomes Club Secretary.
1865; From November until March, Wanderers and Forest co-existed, playing 'home' games at Leytonstone and Battersea Park - even playing one another on the 7th of January and both sides beating Civil Service FC twice! The only low point was the Club's first ever defeat, 4-0 against Harrow School but with only nine players, ending that three-year undefeated streak was certainly made a little easier. Wanderers could truly be considered the first "Invincibles'!
1866; More teams were formed - primarily from England's Universities and public schools - and Wanderers competed against 26 teams between 1865 and 1867.
1870; CW Alcock, along with 9 other Wanderers, plays against Scotland for England in the first (unofficial) international fixture - Scotland fielded 3 Wanderers during the 0-0 draw. The rematch, featuring 12 Wanderers, end in a 1-0 win to England.
1871; With the start of the first FA Cup, proposed by Alcock, Wanderers defeated Harrow Chequers, Clapham Rovers, Crystal Palace and Queens Park of Scotland en route to the final.
1872; CW Alcock lifts the trophy in front of 2'000 people at Kennington Oval, having defeated Royal Engineers 1-0 - the goalscorer was Pedro Morton Betts - although he was recorded a AH Chequer! The first official international fixture, which, like the first international, finished 0-0 between England and Scotland, featured RdC Welch of Wanderers.
1873; A second victory, having only had to play the final against Oxford University as the format at the time dictated that the holders went straight to the final, where they won 2-0, was witnessed by 3'000 people at Lillie Bridge in Fulham. Oxford gain their revenge in the 3rd round the following year.
1874; Wanderers record their highest scoring victory by beating Farningham 16-0 in the FA Cup 1st round but Oxford University knock-out Wanderers in the 3rd round once again.
1875; Jarvis Kenrick is appointed Club Secretary.
1876; Wanderers win their third FA Cup, beating Old Etonians 3-0 in front of 4'000 people at the Oval.
1877; Wanderers' fourth FA Cup comes courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Oxford University.
1878; The fifth FA Cup win is against Royal Engineers, in front of 5'000 people; Kenrick scores two and AF Kinnaird, who collected his third winners medal from a career total of five (and four runners-up medals), also scored.
1879; Charles H Wollaston is appointed Club Secretary, having played in all 5 FA Cup final victories. Wanderers record their worst defeat so far - 8-2 against Clapham Rovers.
1881; With players scarce, Wanderers only compete in two fixtures - a loss to Westminster, a loss against Harrow - and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the 1st round again by walk-over against the previously unheard of St. Bartholomews.
1882; Wanderers now only play an annual showcase match against Harrow School, where many of their former players had gained an education, drawing 1-1.
1883; Wanderers play just one game this season, beating Harrow School 6-1.
1887; The club folds. Having played 378 games, Wanderers had 5 FA Cup wins to their name, a win record of nearly 52% and had scored over 700 goals.
2009; The Reformation of the club takes place.
2011; Wanderers embark upon a new era of competitive football.
1859; Charles W Alcock finishes his schooling at Harrow and establishes Forest Football Club with his brother, John Forster Alcock, J Pardoe and brothers A Thompson and WJ Thompson. AW Mackenzie is the first Club Secretary.
1862; Forest's first recorded game was 15-a-side against Crystal Palace Club on the 15th of March and ended in a 1-0 victory - proving to be no fluke, the rematch three weeks later was a 4-0 win!
1863; On the 26th of October, AW Mackenzie and CW Alcock are present at the founding of the Football Association, along with 10 other clubs, who formally established the Cambridge Rules.
1864; Forest remain undefeated in two years and 18 games - although, for unknown reasons, they play one match on the 2nd of April under the name 'Wanderers'. CW Alcock becomes Club Secretary.
1865; From November until March, Wanderers and Forest co-existed, playing 'home' games at Leytonstone and Battersea Park - even playing one another on the 7th of January and both sides beating Civil Service FC twice! The only low point was the Club's first ever defeat, 4-0 against Harrow School but with only nine players, ending that three-year undefeated streak was certainly made a little easier. Wanderers could truly be considered the first "Invincibles'!
1866; More teams were formed - primarily from England's Universities and public schools - and Wanderers competed against 26 teams between 1865 and 1867.
1870; CW Alcock, along with 9 other Wanderers, plays against Scotland for England in the first (unofficial) international fixture - Scotland fielded 3 Wanderers during the 0-0 draw. The rematch, featuring 12 Wanderers, end in a 1-0 win to England.
1871; With the start of the first FA Cup, proposed by Alcock, Wanderers defeated Harrow Chequers, Clapham Rovers, Crystal Palace and Queens Park of Scotland en route to the final.
1872; CW Alcock lifts the trophy in front of 2'000 people at Kennington Oval, having defeated Royal Engineers 1-0 - the goalscorer was Pedro Morton Betts - although he was recorded a AH Chequer! The first official international fixture, which, like the first international, finished 0-0 between England and Scotland, featured RdC Welch of Wanderers.
1873; A second victory, having only had to play the final against Oxford University as the format at the time dictated that the holders went straight to the final, where they won 2-0, was witnessed by 3'000 people at Lillie Bridge in Fulham. Oxford gain their revenge in the 3rd round the following year.
1874; Wanderers record their highest scoring victory by beating Farningham 16-0 in the FA Cup 1st round but Oxford University knock-out Wanderers in the 3rd round once again.
1875; Jarvis Kenrick is appointed Club Secretary.
1876; Wanderers win their third FA Cup, beating Old Etonians 3-0 in front of 4'000 people at the Oval.
1877; Wanderers' fourth FA Cup comes courtesy of a 2-1 triumph over Oxford University.
1878; The fifth FA Cup win is against Royal Engineers, in front of 5'000 people; Kenrick scores two and AF Kinnaird, who collected his third winners medal from a career total of five (and four runners-up medals), also scored.
1879; Charles H Wollaston is appointed Club Secretary, having played in all 5 FA Cup final victories. Wanderers record their worst defeat so far - 8-2 against Clapham Rovers.
1881; With players scarce, Wanderers only compete in two fixtures - a loss to Westminster, a loss against Harrow - and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the 1st round again by walk-over against the previously unheard of St. Bartholomews.
1882; Wanderers now only play an annual showcase match against Harrow School, where many of their former players had gained an education, drawing 1-1.
1883; Wanderers play just one game this season, beating Harrow School 6-1.
1887; The club folds. Having played 378 games, Wanderers had 5 FA Cup wins to their name, a win record of nearly 52% and had scored over 700 goals.
2009; The Reformation of the club takes place.
2011; Wanderers embark upon a new era of competitive football.
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