Ebenezer Cobb Morley | |
|---|---|
 Photograph published at the time of the Football Association's 50th anniversary (1913). | |
| Born | (1831-08-16)16 August 1831 |
| Died | 20 November 1924(1924-11-20) (aged 93) |
| Resting place | Barnes,Richmond,London, England |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Known for | Secretary and President of the Football Association |
| Spouse | Frances Bidgood |
| Parent(s) | Ebenezer Morley and Hannah Maria[1] |
Ebenezer Cobb Morley (16 August 1831 – 20 November 1924) was an English sportsman. He is regarded as one of thefathers ofthe Football Association (FA) and modernfootball.
Morley was born at 10 Garden Square, Princess Street inHull to the Reverend Ebenezer Morley, a nonconformist minister, and his wife Hannah (née Cobb).[2][3][4] He lived in the city until he was 22.[2]
Morley qualified as a lawyer in 1854.[5] In 1858 he moved to the London suburb ofBarnes to practise as asolicitor in the capital.[4]
Morley foundedBarnes Football Club in 1862,[4] and served as its captain until 1867.[6][7][8]
The Barnes club played its first recorded game, a 2–0 victory, againstRichmond F.C., on 29 November 1862.[9] A match the following month againstBlackheath FC went less happily: the Blackheath club played a rugby-style game, necessitating the adoption of compromise rules. "Very weak" play by Barnes resulted in a loss by two goals to nothing, with Morley narrowly escaping being "garrotted".[10]
In 1863, Morley wrote toBell's Lifenewspaper proposing a governing body for the sport, with the power to set common rules.[4] This led to the first meeting of the FA atFreemasons' Tavern, on 26 October 1863. At this meeting, Morley was elected the first secretary of the association.[11]
At this time, some football clubs followed the example ofRugby School by allowing the ball to be carried in the hands, with players allowed to "hack" (kick in the shins) opponents who were carrying the ball. Other clubs forbade both practices. During the meetings to draw up the FA laws, there was an acrimonious division between the "hacking" and "non-hacking" clubs.[12] An FA meeting of 17 November 1863 discussed this question, with the "hacking" clubs predominating.[13] A further meeting was scheduled in order to finalise ("settle") the laws, based on the draft created by Morley in his role as secretary.[14]
At this crucial 24 November meeting, the "hackers" were again in a narrow majority. During the meeting, however, Morley brought the delegates' attention to arecently published set of football laws from Cambridge University which banned carrying and hacking.[14] Discussion of the Cambridge rules, and suggestions for possible communication with Cambridge on the subject, served to delay the final "settlement" of the laws to a further meeting, on 1 December.[12][15] A number of representatives who supported rugby-style football did not attend this additional meeting,[16] resulting in hacking and carrying being banned in the laws that were published later that month.[12]
Morley played in the first ever match under FA rules, forBarnes against Richmond in December 1863. On 2 January 1864, Morley led his "Secretary's Side" to defeat against the "President's Side" in a friendly match atBattersea Park to test out the new laws.[17]
He continued to serve as FA secretary until 1866. At that year's annual meeting, Morley resigned as FA secretary, citing the demands of business. He also objected to FA member clubs playing under any other rules,[18] and made an unsuccessful proposal to abolish theoffside law.[18]
Even though he was no longer FA secretary, Morley continued to be involved in football. He remained captain of Barnes FC, continued to serve on the FA's committee, and played for the "London" (FA) team in theLondon v Sheffield match held on 31 March 1866, scoring a goal.
By the time of the next FA annual meeting, in February 1867, the Association's future looked bleak. Membership had fallen to ten clubs,[19] and founding presidentArthur Pember needed to be replaced. Morley volunteered for the role, and was duly elected by the few club representatives in attendance.[20]
During the next year, the secretaryRobert Graham attempted to increase membership by writing to every known club in the country.[21] This increased membership to thirty by 1868, but did not prevent the association from running out of money, with the officers having to cover expenses out of their own pockets.[22]
Morley continued to serve as president until 1874, presiding over the birth of theFA Cup and a general increase in the popularity and influence of the Association. He was the first man to present the FA Cup, in 1872.[4]
When the FA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1913, Morley, the most prominent founder of the association who was still living, was a notable guest at the festivities. He was presented with a silver cigar-case at a dinner held at the King's Hall,Holborn in central London.[23][24]
Morley was also active in the sport ofrowing. Immediately upon moving to Barnes in 1858, he participated in the Barnes and Mortlake Regatta of that year,[25] served as the treasurer of the Regatta in 1860, and as secretary from 1862 to 1870.[26][4] Morley was associated with theLondon Rowing Club from 1860.[27] In 1864, he competed as a member of that club's eight in the Grand Challenge Cup atHenley.[4]
Morley continued to row long after he had ceased his work with the Football Association. In 1913, it was reported that the octogenarian was still "sculling daily in his well-known boat".[23]
Morley was also a keenfox hunter, keeping his own pack ofbeagles.[4][28]
Morley worked as asolicitor, handling such matters as mortgages and wills.[29][30]
Morley was the agent of the Radical Member of ParliamentDonald Nicoll, who represented the constituency ofFrome from 1857 to 1859. Following Nicoll's defeat in the1859 United Kingdom general election, Morley was caught up in a controversy over a petition, later withdrawn, to have the election result overturned because of "bribery, treating, and undue influence".[31][32]
Morley served onSurrey County Council for Barnes (1903–1919). In 1906, he was appointed aJustice of the Peace.[33]
Morley's wife, Frances, died of pneumonia in 1911. Morley himself succumbed to the same condition in 1924. He was buried[34] inBarnes Cemetery, a now abandoned graveyard onBarnes Common,Barnes. He had no children.[34]
"The importance of the 1863 FA Minute Book cannot be underestimated. Without it, quite simply, the world would be without its most popular sport."
— Greg Dyke, Chairman ofThe Football Association, 2013.[35]
The house at which Morley created the first draft of the FA's laws (No 26The Terrace) carried ablue plaque to Morley. It subsequently collapsed in November 2015 during building work.[36][37]
Morley was the subject of aGoogle Doodle on 16 August 2018, the 187th anniversary of his birth.[38]
ThePRESIDENT pointed out that the vote just passed to all intents and purposes annulled the business of the evening, whereupon Mr.ALCOCK said it was too late to proceed further, and moved that the meeting do adjourn till Tuesday next, Dec. 1, and it was so resolved.
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