Post by Jon on Jan 8, 2012 20:49:25 GMT
Some of us who have a keen interest in Victorian and Edwardian social history (maybe I could go as far as to say both of us?) identify strongly with the objectives of the co-operative movement at that time - and not just because a certain modern day Wine Development Manager dashes around in a yellow and blue bobble hat.
It did make me laugh to find that it was the growth of the co-operative movement at the turn of the century that led to the death of the mighty Exeter United Football Club.
The 1902 annual conference of the movement was held in Exeter. Alongside the conference, a big exhibition was staged for businesses that supplied the movement's shops.
It was decided that a big temporary exhibition hall would be built on St James' Field. Work began after Exeter United's last home game of 1901/02 so that the hall was ready for the May exhibition.
As the summer wore on, it became clear that nobody was in a hurry to take the "temporary" structure down. As the new football season approached, it dawned on Exeter United that they would be homeless.
The club resolved to battle on playing all their games away and they appear to have lasted about half a season. I haven't found details of their final demise, but they were not around by the time they were scheduled to play Torquay United in the East Devon Senior League on 28 March and 4 April 1903.
In truth, the death of Exeter United did not really hold up the development of soccer in Exeter. St Sidwell's United, who had won the inaugural Exeter and District Junior League in 1901/02, went on to take their second successive title.
With the temporary exhibition hall removed, they took over the vacant St James' Field / Park for the 1903/04 season and moved up to the Senior League. At the end of that season, they changed their name to Exeter City and the rest is fairly well documented.
So the co-op didn't really disturb the progress of Exeter soccer, but we should be grateful to them anyway. We can sing "There's only one United" without fear of anyone thinking we are from Exeter.
It did make me laugh to find that it was the growth of the co-operative movement at the turn of the century that led to the death of the mighty Exeter United Football Club.
The 1902 annual conference of the movement was held in Exeter. Alongside the conference, a big exhibition was staged for businesses that supplied the movement's shops.
It was decided that a big temporary exhibition hall would be built on St James' Field. Work began after Exeter United's last home game of 1901/02 so that the hall was ready for the May exhibition.
As the summer wore on, it became clear that nobody was in a hurry to take the "temporary" structure down. As the new football season approached, it dawned on Exeter United that they would be homeless.
The club resolved to battle on playing all their games away and they appear to have lasted about half a season. I haven't found details of their final demise, but they were not around by the time they were scheduled to play Torquay United in the East Devon Senior League on 28 March and 4 April 1903.
In truth, the death of Exeter United did not really hold up the development of soccer in Exeter. St Sidwell's United, who had won the inaugural Exeter and District Junior League in 1901/02, went on to take their second successive title.
With the temporary exhibition hall removed, they took over the vacant St James' Field / Park for the 1903/04 season and moved up to the Senior League. At the end of that season, they changed their name to Exeter City and the rest is fairly well documented.
So the co-op didn't really disturb the progress of Exeter soccer, but we should be grateful to them anyway. We can sing "There's only one United" without fear of anyone thinking we are from Exeter.
