Tiverton Preedy
Tiverton Preedy | |
---|---|
Born | Hunstanton, Norfolk, UK | 22 January 1863
Died | 26 April 1928 | (aged 65)
Occupation | Clergyman |
Tiverton Preedy (22 January 1863 – 26 April 1928) was an English clergyman who worked in Yorkshire and London from 1887 until his death, where he was noted for his work with the poor. He was particularly interested in the use of sport within ministry, and founded a church football team in Barnsley which became the modern Barnsley F.C.
In 1883 he moved to
Early life
Preedy was born in Hunstanton in the county of Norfolk in 1863, the second son of a local estate agent. He attended Bloxham School near Sleaford, Lincolnshire before entering Lincoln Theological College in 1885, where he trained to become a minister in the Church of England.[1] In 1887 he was ordained as a deacon, and in the same year was appointed to the position of Assistant Stipendiary Curate at St Peter's church in the centre of Barnsley. The church had originally been set up as a mission to tend to the people of the poverty-stricken area, but was licensed as a parish in its own right in 1887. Preedy was engaged to assist the vicar, John Lloyd Brereton.[2]
During his time at Theological College, Preedy had become keen on the concept of using sport to engender moral values, an idea much in vogue at the time and known as muscular Christianity. To this end, he decided to join a local sporting club, through which he hoped to come into closer contact with the local people. He initially joined a rugby football club, but resigned in protest at the team's decision to play a match on Good Friday.[3]
Formation of Barnsley Football Club
Shortly after his split from the rugby club, Preedy encountered by chance a group of young men discussing the idea of forming an association football club. Preedy was taken with the idea, not least because football was seen in the area as the "poor man's sport" and his involvement would therefore bring him into greater contact with the poor people he wished to help through his ministry. To this end he formed a football club in September 1887.[4] Preedy acted as principal fundraiser and organiser of the club, dubbed Barnsley St Peter's F.C., and even played in its first match.[5] A keen supporter of the Temperance movement, Preedy demanded high standards of behaviour from his players, and once refused to allow St Peter's to play a match against local rivals Ardsley Old due to the conduct of the latter's supporters.[6]
Preedy was also responsible for securing the use of the land on which the Oakwell stadium still stands.[7] After being refused permission to hire a field belonging to the owners of the Barnsley Brewery, Preedy's appeal to the wife of one of the owners ultimately led to the club being granted permission to play at Oakwell.[8] In 1891 Preedy was instrumental in the formation of the Barnsley Charity Football Association and the creation of the Barnsley Charity Cup. St. Peter's reached the inaugural final but were surprisingly defeated by underdogs Ecclesfield.[9]
Departure from Barnsley
In 1893 Preedy moved to London to become curate of St. Clement's Church in Islington. Such was the regard in which the clergyman was held in the town that a civic reception was held to mark his departure, and tributes were printed in the Barnsley Chronicle.[5][9] The St. Peter's players presented him with a walking stick, a pipe and a tobacco pouch. Four years after his departure, the club severed its links to the church and became known simply as Barnsley F.C.[10][11]
Preedy spent four years at St. Clement's before being appointed to run a nearby mission in what was then an extremely deprived area of the city. At the time of his appointment the mission operated out of converted cowsheds and the house with which Preedy was provided had no furniture. Preedy once again endeavoured to use sport as part of his ministry and opened a boxing club at the mission.[12][13] Future world champion Terry Allen boxed at the club as a youngster, and among the wrestlers who trained there was future British champion and Olympic Games competitor George MacKenzie.[14] Preedy also organised dances for the girls who sold flowers on local streets.[15]
Preedy remained in contact with the football club he had founded in Barnsley and was a guest of honour at the
Later years
In 1926 Preedy was appointed a
In 1997 representatives of the club he founded located his grave in London and laid wreaths in the club's colours.[20] Full restoration of the grave was later carried out by the Barnsley F.C. Supporters' Trust.[21] Each summer, life long supporters Neil Richardson and Gaz Lovett, travel down and conduct routine cleaning and maintenance on the grave.
Honours
Notes
- ^ Lupson, p. 15
- ^ Lupson, p. 16
- ^ Lupson, p. 17
- ^ Lupson, p. 18
- ^ a b Vamplew et al.
- ^ Lupson, p. 19
- ^ The Independent
- ^ Lupson, p. 21
- ^ a b Lupson, p. 22
- ^ Lupson, p. 23
- ^ Barnsley F.C.
- ^ Lupson, p. 24
- ^ The Times
- ^ Lupson, p. 25
- ^ Lupson, p. 26
- ^ Lupson, p. 28
- ^ Lupson, p. 27
- ^ Lupson, p. 29
- ^ Lupson, p. 30
- ^ Sadler
- ^ Barnsley Football Club Supporters' Trust
- ^ "Preedy Profile – Barnsley Football Club". www.barnsleyfc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
References
- "1887 –1911 – The Beginnings". Barnsley F.C. 14 May 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- "Barnsley FC Founder – The Reverend Tiverton Preedy". Barnsley Football Club Supporters' Trust. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- "Barnsley looking to build on the spirit of Gough". The Independent. 6 January 1995. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- Lupson, Peter (2007). Thank God for Football!. ISBN 978-1-902694-30-6.
- Sadler, John (4 March 2008). "Reverence for Barnsley feeds game's immortal soul". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- "All Saints' Mission, Pentonville". The Times. 3 December 1901. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- Vamplew, Wray; Cox, Richard Garner; Russell, Dave (2002). Encyclopedia of British Football. London: Frank Cass. p. 103. ISBN 0-7146-5249-0.
External links