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The History of Christ Church Rangers


Figure 1 Plaque at St Judes Institute

Figure 2
The memorial plaque is on the St Judes Institute informing about the formation of Queens Park Rangers in 1886 with the merger between the St Judes Institute and the Christ Church Rangers. This annex church to St Judes Church was the headquarters of St Judes Institute FC and Queen's Park Rangers FC. However, the story is more complicated than that. In The Sportsman of the 12 January 1889 one can read there is still existed a Christ Church Rangers having a fixture against Queens Park Rangers at their home at Kensal Green. In any case, this article is about the very active football team Christ Church Rangers.


Formation

After 1850 and the following decades, North-West London continue to grow rapidly. From Paddington, the buildings expanded north with Kilburn and Brondesbury and west with Queen’s Park and Kensal Green. From the south, Kensington expanded with North Kensington. From the beginning of the 1860s, football was represented in north-west London by No Names (Kilburn). The club was reorganized into Brondesbury FC in the 1870s. During this decade, Kildare (1777) was founded in St Peters Park and Vulcan (ca 1879) in Willesden. In the early 1880s, two clubs saw the light of day that both had Rangers in the name: Kensington Rangers (1880) and Christ Church Rangers (1882). The Kensington Rangers had their base in central Kensington and played games often at Shepherds Bush.

Location

The Christ Church Rangers location could be harder to find. There were 3 Christ Church in the area in the 1880s: Christ Church in Brondesbury founded 1867, Christ Church Mission in Collage Park and Christ Church (Notting Hill or North Kensington) founded 1881.

• The CCR players location (map below) indicates an origin in North Kensington. Alfred George, the club secretary lived there and was also the club address.Figure 3

• In present club history Christ Church Mission is mentioned as origin of CCR. But no players were from Collage Park. The mission is called 1885 Collage Park Mission and was renamed Christ Church Mission 1887 when it was named for a new district parish church. Figure 4

• Christ Church (Brondesbury) is to far away and no players is attached to the Brondesbury / Kilburn area.

• North Kensington is added to the name in a game against St Margrets 1889.Figure 5

It’s completely clear that Christ Church Rangers is located in North Kensington. The church could have started the club. In St Mary the Abbots, the main parish of Kensington, there was a Reverend Bill Law, an active football and cricket player for the Old Harrovians. Harrow School also founded a Harrow Mission in North Kensington. Bill Law was active in the mission foundation. This could be the injection that started the club. Christ Church was built 1881 and demolished 1940. Location was Telford Road in North Kensington. Recently used as an Adventure Playground. The picture shows the annex Cristchurch Hall on Faraday Road about 1969. Playground to the right. Figure 6, 7.


Figure 3

Figure 4


Figure 5


Figure 6: Christ Church (North Kensington)

Figure 7: Christ Church Hall (annex) and the playground to the right. 1960s

Player Location and Grounds

Christ Church Rangers played at Willesden Junction (1883-1884) and Kensal Green, (1885-1889). Exact location is not found.
(Map below)


Figure 8

Players

The map obove shows in red, orange and yellow circles the players’ residences. The CCR’s team 1884 in red and 1887’s team in yellow. Paddington team of 1991 is the yellow circles. Many players had rather unusually names. Sometimes there are several possible players but they have been identified by age and occupation. The Queen’s Park Rangers team from 1888 is marked in blue. The numbers in the tables below are linked to the circles on the map.

The age of the players is around 20 years. QPR is not a boys’ team in 1888 either. The occupations indicate a middle class, upper working class, working class. From clerks to stableman.

Most 11 appearances in figure 10. All known players in the last figure 20. The statistics is from local newspapers. There is about 45 % of the matches having players information. There could be a lack of players. But for most of the years the core of the teams should be correct.

Christ Church Rangers, 83-84

Name

Pos.

G. Allitson

GK

A. George

B

C. Foale

B

P. (Chiles

HB

-

HB

H. Syms/Cyms

HB

A.F. George

RW

W. Sanger

RW

W. Elliot

C

Smith

LW

F. Webb

LW

Christ Church Rangers, 85-86

Map

Name

Pos.

Age

 

Nichols (84)

GK

 

 

WS.Grimbrett (84)

B

 

ui

G. Jones (85)

B

 

W.Dibben (84)

HB

 

 

C. Foale (84)

HB

 

 

H. Tyler (84)

HB

 

H. Dibben (85)

RW

 

ui

Chiles (85)

RW

 

7

A.F. George (85)

C

23

 

Tyler (85)

LW

 

Webb (84)

LW

 

Christ Church Rangers, 86-87

Map

Name

Pos.

Age

14

H. Wiseman

GK

29

15

H.G. Handover(c)

B

19

ui

G. Jones

B

13

A. Arscott

HB

21

16

G. Ling

HB

26

ui

R. Newling

HB

2

A. George

RW

27

18

H. Salter

RW

19

12

W. Arscott

C

18

ui

P. Chiles

LW

7

A. F. George

LW

24

Paddington, 1891-92

Name

Pos.

W. Hiscox

GK

H. G. Handover

B

F. Wildgoose

B

G. Sexton

HB

T. Davis

HB

S. Easter

HB

W. P. Arscott

RW

A. George

RW

A. F. George

C

H. Boam

LW

H. Wiseman

LW

Queen’s Park Rangers 1st, 87-88

Map

Name

Pos.

Age

28

H. Creber (g)

GK

20

29

W. Miles

B

20

30

W. Why

B

19

ui

C. Gorley

HB

32

J. Spurr

HB

17

33

E.K. House

HB

17

ui

W. Millar

RW

35

J.S. McDonlad

RW

27

36

J.M. McDonald(c)

C

19

37

F. Weller

LW

21

38

C. Heal

LW

21

Queens Park Rangers 2nd,87-88

Name

Pos.

H. Hooper

GK

J. Armstrong

B

C. Lynch

B

A. Alnutt

HB

L. French

HB

G Johnsson (c)

HB

A. Ewdwards

RW

S. Raynolds

RW

C. Stroud

C

A. Johnsson

LW

A. Druett

LW

Queen’s Park Rangers 3d,87-88

Name

Pos.

W. Iliff

GK

E. Doran

B

H. Spurr (c)

B

H. Harris

HB

H. Pearce

HB

T. Handford

HB

H. Debenham

RW

H. French

RW

H. Wratten

C

W. Creber

LW

A. Collier

LW

Paddington, 1892-93

Map

Name

Pos.

Age

 

W. Court

GK

 

 

H. G. Handover

B

 

 

W. P. Arscott

B

 

A. F. George

HB

 

 

J. W. Harper

HB

 

 

S. Easter

HB

 

H. A. Bank

RW

 

 

J. Lindsay

RW

 

 

J. W. Nutman

C

 

 

H. Boam

LW

 

W. Smith

LW

 

Figure 9. Players. Goalkeeper, Backs, Half-Backs. Forwards: Right-Wing-Lefte-Wing, Center

Alfred George

The club secretary Alfred George was first mentioned in newspapers 1884 at a age of 21. He was secretary at least 10 years inclusive the first years of Paddington FC. On the pitch he was a keen goalscorer. Alfred George was born 1862 in Kensal Town Chelsea (detached). He had a younger brother Albert born 1865 also played with Christ Church Rangers. Alfred Georges occupation was plumber. His family lived in Middle Road but moved soon to Chesterton Road in North Kensington. After marriage 1888 with Caroline Amy Street, their new address was Bonchurch Road. Two children was born William W. 1892 and Gladys A. born 1893. Figure 3.

Harry George Handover

Harry George Handover was at the same period the club captain. Handover and Alfred George were cousins and Handover was also a plumber in younger age. George were born 1868.There was another Handover: W. also played with CCR, maybe another cousin. George Handover played in 1880.s and 1890:s team. He became Sir and Mayor of Paddington: 1912-1920 and 1931-1935. In his younger days he lived in Harrow, Road, Paddington. He married Emeline Kate Felce in 1895 and they had two sons Dennis Hodson b. 1896 and Reginald Jack b. 1899. He died 1948.'

Alfred George and Handover importance of the Christ Church Rangers/ Paddington clubs is well illustrated by the Paddington FCs smoker event 1892, the year Paddington were in its top. Figure 15. Also a interesting notice when Handover remberer his footabll days with Sexton. Figure 11.

Most appearances, eleven players

Name Position Match Goals Period
A.F. George RW,C,HB 82 6 1883-94
H. G. Handover B
76 2 1886-94
S. Easter (R-) HB
53 0 1889-93
H. Boam LW
47 2 1889-94
W. J. Smith LW,C
39 2 1891-94
H. Wiseman LW
37 2 1887-92
W. P. Arscott RW,C
34 1 1886-93
A. George (B) B,HB 32 3 1883-91
H. A. Bank C
32 1 1891-93
J. W. Nutman (hut-) C
32 0 1891-94
W. Court G
29 0 1892-94

Figure 10. The club is dominated by Alfred George and H.G. Handover


Figure 11. Handover remember his football days

Paddington FC

Christ Church Rangers changed the name to Paddington in 1889 Figure 11, below. In 1895 the club used Paddington Athletic as a name for the first team. Paddington was ceased in the beginning of 1900.

There was a Paddington 1905 with Albert George and QPR’s J. Musselwhite. This could perhaps be the Paddington Thursday which was formed 1898 and was used as a QPR tryout team. In 1895 the club used Paddington Athletic as name for the first team. Paddington was ceased in the beginning of 1900.

Paddington moved to the Chandos Ground at Wormwood Scrubs ground for the 1895 season. This could also be the Thursday team. More research is needed to sort it out.

Christ Church Rangers returned as a team for one seasons: 1891-92. This could be a restart by the Christ Church in North Kensington or a completly new team with no connection to the previous one or a name for Paddington Reserves.

Paddington United was started in the 1930s and Paddington Town after the Second World War and remained until 1959.

Research until 1/6 2022. Research after 1894 is now sporadic.

Figure 13. Change of name to Paddington FC

Paddington FC had its greatness in the early 1890s. They participated in the West London League 1892-93 and was placed higher than QPR. They also participated in 1893-94 season of that league. Match list can be found at the bottom of the article.

Paddington were probarly playing in blue shirts. The onle references to Paddington shirts is that QPR has to change shirts for the game against Paddington. QPR then wore the quadred light-blue /blue shirt.

West London League

West London league was one of the first football leagues started in London. Most of the major West London clubs participated. Strong teames like Stanley and Fulham from south-west and Paddington and Queens Park Rangers from northwest. Older teams was Kildare and West End. It's noteworthy that one of the older and better teams Vulcan didn't participate. Queens Park Rangers didn't compete for the second season because there was an outbreake in the team and half of the first team and part of the second team formed a new team called West London FC.

Tables: NoneLeague Matters Forum (old forum) https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk/forum/gforum.cgi?post=523479by signature: pompeyRover

Before second season QPR lost half of 1st and 2nd team and withdraw

Figure 12.

Paddington Recreation Ground

The Paddington Recreation Ground was "the earliest public athletic ground of its kind in London". It was first used for recreational purposes in 1860 when the local church laid down a cricket pitch for the parish community to share (Wiki text).

Paddington FC was the first(1) football team have played the ground as. It was as early as seoson 1890-91. The later incarnation of Paddington as Paddington Town also played at the ground. Another notebale football team who used the ground was West Hampstead FC in the beginning of the 20th centuary.

Figure 16.

Paddington Smoker

Smoking concerts were live performances, usually of music, before an audience of men only, popular during the Victorian era. These social occasions were instrumental in introducing new musical forms to the public. At these functions men would smoke and speak of politics while listening to live music (wiki text).

The sports smokers as the Paddington Smoker below could also been used for fundraisning.

 

Figure 14


Figure 15 H. G. Handover

Interesting Matches

Over time, the match report became more and more detailed. A match that has gone to history is the bitter rival struggle between Paddington and QPR in the West London League. According to the QPR history, many players were injured in the first match and it seems that the bad ground would have meant more risk of damage that the hard game from Paddington offered.Figure 17, 18

The match against Hampstead showed that Paddington also had a really good team in 1894 and the long-lasting players as Alfred George and his cousin H.G. Handover were still doing a really good match.Figure 19.

October 1892. Paddington - QPR 2-0

Figure 17.

January 1893. QPR - Paddington

Figure 18

March 1894. Paddington - Hampsted 3-0


Figure 19

Matches Known from newspapers between 1893 and 1894. After 1904 there is spordic research. Dates are publication dates in newspapers.

1883-1884



1883 October Creswick v. Christ Church Rangers (Willesden) 7 – 0 Willesden (h)
1883 December (7) Institute v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1883 December (21) Hamilton v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1883 December (28) Christ Church Rangers v. Westminister Rovers - Willesden (h)
1884 January (1) Gospel Oak v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1884 January (4) Zephyr v. Christ Church Rangers - Wormvood Scrubs (a)
1884 January (5) Christ Church Rangers v. Westminister Rovers 3 – 3 Willesden (h)
1884 January (11) Christ Church Rangers v. United London Scottish 0 – 3 Queen’s Park (a)
1884 January (24) St Andrew’s v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1884 February Grange Park v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1884 March (1) Christ Church Rangers v. South Acton Institute 0 – 0 Bedford Park (a)
1884 March (6) Highgate v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)
1884 March (13) St Lukes v. Christ Church Rangers - Willesden (h)





1884-1885



1884 October (25) Gospel Oak v. Christ Church Rangers 5 – 0 Willesden (h)
1884 October (30) Remington (2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers 1 – 0 Willesden a)
1884 November (1) Christ Church Rangers v. Highgate - Willesden (h)
1884 November (14) Institute v. Christ Church Rangers - Bedford Park (a)
1884 November (15) Acton Rangers (2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers 0 – 0 Willesden (h)
1884 November (27) Christ Church Rangers v. St Peter’s - Kensal green (a)
1884 December (13) St Andrew’s v. Christ Church Rangers 1 – 0
1884 December (14) Christ Church Rangers v. Zephyr - Willesden (h)
1885 January Christ Church Rangers v. Institute - Willesden (h)
1885 February (9) St Andrew’s v. Christ Church Rangers 2 – 0 Lillie Road (a)
1885 February (13) Christ Church Rangers v. Zephyr
Willesden (h)
1885 March Cavendish v. Christ Church Rangers
Willesden (h)





1885-1886



1885 November (19) Christ Church Rangers v. Hanwell - Kensal Green (h)
1885 November (26) Christ Church Rangers v. St Andrew’s - Kensal Green (h)
1885 December (12) Christ Church Rangers v. Standard - Primrose Hill
1885 December (19) Christ Church Rangers v. Watford Rovers - Kensal Green (h)
1885 December (25) Christ Church Rangers v. St Mathew’s, Shepherds Bush - Kensal Green (h)
1885 December (26) Christ Church Rangers v. Zephyr - Kensal Green (h)
1886 January (6) St Saviour’s v. Christ Church Rangers 0 – 7 Kensal Green (h)
1886 January (16) Christ Church Rangers v. All Saint’s Institute - Kensal Green (h)
1886 February (9) Hanover United v. Christ Church Rangers - Wimbledon (a)
1886 February (11) Christ Church Rangers v. Hounslow
Hounslow (a)
1886 February (25) Cavendish v. Christ Church Rangers - Kensal Green (h)





1886-1887



1886 March (2) Cavendish(2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers 1 – 3 -
1886 March (11) Watford Rovers (2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers 0 – 2 Watford (a)
1886 March (26) St Peter’s v. Christ Church Rangers - Kensal Green (h)
1886 October Christ Church Rangers v. Stanley(2nd) 4 – 0 Kensal Green (h)
1886 October (19) Christ Church Rangers v. Hanover United 5 – 0 Kensal Green (h)
1886 November (6) Christ Church Rangers v. Kensal - Kensal Green (h)
1886 November (26) Westminster (2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers 0 – 4 Wandsworth (a)
1886 November (29) Christ Church Rangers v. Harrow Rovers 3 – 1 -
1886 December Surbiton Rovers v. Christ Church Rangers - Surbiton
1887 January (15) Christ Church Rangers v. Aldenham - Gospel Oak
1887 January (22) Hanwell v. Christ Church Rangers - Hanwell
1887 February Christ Church Rangers v. Harrow Rovers 4 – 0 Kensal Green (h)





1887-1888



1887 October Civil Service Wanderers (2nd) v. Christ Church Rangers - Kensal Green (h)
1887 November (5) Christ Church Rangers v. Marlboro’ Rovers 0 – 1 Kensal Green (h)
1887 November (19) Christ Church Rangers v. Watford Rovers 2 – 0 Kensal Green (h)
1887 November (26) Christ Church Rangers v. Grosvenor
Clapham Park
1888 January (26) Christ Church Rangers v. Eton Mission - Kensal Green (h)
1888 February Edmonton v. Christ Church Rangers 1 – 0 Barnes (Old St Marks) (a)
1888 February (18) Kensington Rengers v. Christ Church Rangers - Kensal Green (h)
1888 February (4) Bayswater Rangers v. Christ Church Rangers - -





1888-1889



1888 October (8) Christ Church Rangers v. St Brides 4 – 2 Clapton (a)
1888 October (24) Christ Church Rangers v. Allyen - -
1888 November Christ Church Rangers v. Upton Rovers - -
1888 December Crouch End v. Christ Church Rangers - Kensal Green (h)
1889 January Christ Church Rangers v. Queens Park Rangers - Kensal Green (h)
1889 February Christ Church Rangers v. Acton 2 – 1 Kensal Green (h)
1889 April Christ Church Rangers (N. Kensington) v. St Margrets 2:2-2:1 Crown Meadow, Marlow





1889-1890



1889 November Paddington v. Caledonian Athletic 2 – 4 Paddington (h)
1890 January Paddington v. Edmonton 2 – 2 Edmonton Cricket Gr. (a)
1890 March Paddington v. Kildare - Acton (a)





1890-1891



1890 October (18) Paddington v. Hampstead 5 – 0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1890 October (18) Paddington (reserves) v. Chelsea Pupil Teachers 2 – 2
1890 October (11) Paddington v. Clarence 2 – 0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1890 October (27) Paddington v. Olympian 7 – 0 Walthamstow (a)
1890 December Paddington v. Kensington Rangers - Wromwood Scrubs
1891 January Paddington Rangers v. Harrow Rovers - Paddington (h)





1891-1892



1891 October Paddington v. Caledonian Athletic 5 – 1 H’nsey (a)
1891 October (31) Paddington v. Willesden - Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1891 November (7) Paddington v. Vulcan - Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1891 November (8) St Quintin (2nd) v. Paddington - Wormwood Scrubs (a)
1891 November (9) Paddington (3d) v. St George - Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1891 November (14) Stroud Green v. Paddington - Mastermans Field (a)
1891 December St John’s v. Christ Church Rangers* - Stamford Brook
1891 December (26) Olympians v. Christ Church Rangers* - Wormwood Scrubs (a)
1892 January (9) Stanley v. Christ Church Rangers* 17 – 0 -
1892 January (30) West End v. Christ Church Rangers* - Shepherds Bush
1892 March (12) Paddington v. Millwall Athletic - Wormholt Farm (cup)
1892-1893



1892 September Windsor & Eton v. Paddington - Windsor Home Park (a)
1892 October Paddington v. Queens Park Rangers 2 – 0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1892 October (29) Paddington v. Grove House - Paddington (h)
1892 November West End v. Paddington - Wormholt Farm (a)
1892 December (10) Hounslow v. Paddington 3 – 0 Hounslow (a)
1892 December (17) Grove House v. Paddington - Half Moon, Putney (a)
1892 December (24) Paddington v. Stanley 3 – 0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1893 January (28) Paddington v. Kildare - -
1893 April (5) West Herts reserves v. Paddington
Watford (a)





1893-1894



1893 October Paddington – St Marys College - Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1893 October Paddington reserves – Ealing -
1894 January Stanley v. Paddington 4-0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1894 March Paddington v. Hampstead 2-0 Paddington Recr. Gr. (h)
1894 March Paddington v. Hampstead 3-0 Kensal Rise
1894-1895



1895 March St Andrew’s Institute v. Paddington Athletic - Wormwood Scrubs





1896-1897



1896 April Wembley v. Paddington 2 – 0 Wembley (a)
1896 April (6) Paddington v. Greenhithe - Greenhithe (a)





1897-1898



1898 April Paddington v. Southend - Southend (a)





1898-1899








1899-1900



1899 October Acton v. Paddington - Gunnersbury Lane (a)





1902 October Brunswick Athletic v. Paddington - -
1905 March Kliburn v. Paddington 5 – 3 Paddington Recr. Gr.

Players (known from newspapers)

  83-84 84-85 85-86 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 Total
Players Christ Church Rangers Paddington
G. Allitson 1



No info




1
A. George (B) 2 3
1 2
2 2


12
C. Foale 1 3








4
F. Webb 1 3








4
H. Syms/Cyms 1 1








2
P. [R] Childs (Chiles)* 2 1 2 1 3





9
A.F. George 2 2 1 1 3
2 4 5 9 2 31
W. Sanger 2 1








3
W. Elliot 1









1
Smith 1









1
Nichols
2








2
Shelly
1








1
W. Dibben
3 1 1






5
H. Tyler
3 2







5
Tyms
1








1
E. Tyler (A)
3








3
W. S. Grimbett
2








2
H. Dibben
1 2







3
G. Jones

1 1 3





5
H. G. Handover


1 3
2 5 5 9 4 29
W. P. Arscott


1 3

2 4 3
13
A. E. Arscott


1 3
1
4

9
sub


1






1
H. Wiseman



3
2 5 4

14
R. Newling (-nham)



3
1



4
G. Ling



2





2
H. (A) Salter



3
1



4
F. Brockington (C-)



1
2 1

2 6
T. Davis





1 3


4
S. Easter (R-)





2 4 5 9
20
H. Boam





2 4 5 6 1 18
F. Forshaw





1



1
W. F. Horton





1



1
G. Mine





1



1
A. Promise





1



1
Strickland





1



1
Lookwood





1 3


4
L. Mathias





1



1
W. Hiscox






4 5

9
F. Wildgoose






4


4
G. Sexton






3


3
W. Ward






5 1

6
R. Ward






1 5 1
7
H. Hiscox







4 1 1 6
H. A. Bank







5 7
12
W. J. Smith







4 8 3 15
W. Handover







1

1
J. W. Nutman (hut-)







1 9 2 12
E.C. Parken







1

1
”Rammy”








1
1
W. Court








8 3 11
A. McDowall








1
1
A. Noodle (Mc-)








2
2
J.W. Harper








8 1 9
J. Lindsay








7 4 11
A. Housegood








5 2 7
H. Green








1
1
Cox








1
1
Miller








1
1
A.Morroyd








1
1
H. N. Dearsly








1
1
A. Promise








1
1
A.N. Other









1 1
F. Brockmorton









1 1
Rushbrook









1 1
another back









1 1
Wosnam









1 1
Ridout









1 1
Roberts









1 1
West









1 1
Pearse









1 1
Whittaker









1 1
J. Carey









2 2
Jones









1 1
Riall









1 1
H. Sturgess









1 1
H. Waught









1 1
A. Morris









1 1
G. Walker









1 1

83-84 84-85 85-86 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 Total