On this day in 1864

Hi, Robbie, and thanks.  The concern I have is that some of this might be retconning because the 1862 date was accepted but the club's own papers said 1864, so there was an attempt to reconcile the two by saying the club existed unofficially before its proper formation.  But the more likely thing is that it was ACTUALLY formed in 1864 and that 1862 is an oft-repeated mistake.

Hence I wonder if there is something from before December 1864.  If there was anything beforehand they would have been playing between themselves, the nearest opponents would have been in Sheffield or Lincoln.  And newspaper reports were mostly drawn up by club secretaries who would send them in.  So the odd kickabout would not be something anyone would formally report.

But footballs were expensive.  The equivalent today of £50.  That's a lot to lay out for a kickabout - plus they would not be available locally.  That would be quite a commitment.

Maybe any memoirs?  Someone saying they had been playing for a couple of years before finding out there were like-minded souls up the road and deciding to form a club?