FOOTBALLERS took to the pitch for a special commemorative match as part of celebrations of the teams’ 140th anniversary.
Harwich, which later became Harwich and Parkeston FC, was set up during a public meeting in 1875 and played its first match against Dedham Grammar School in 1877.
At that time the matches were held at Barrack Field against local teams like Brantham Works and Walton on the Naze as well as naval and military teams like HMS Penelope and the Northumberland Fusileers.
Match ready: Team photograph from 1913
The club then moved to the Phoenix Ground - a pitch which overlooked the sea and often saw footballs ending up in the water.
Tony Armstrong, club chairman, said: “It was known as The Retreat.
“There was no road or anything, the pitch ran virtually up to the beach.
“Football was totally different then to what it is now - the balls were different, the boots were different.
“Everything has moved forward, even 30-years-ago they were playing with footballs with great big laces.”
In 1898 the club moved to Moran’s Meadow.
Mr Thomas Moran was the financial secretary of Harwich and Parkeston FC and owned the field that was later purchased by the club and renamed The Royal Oak Ground.
The first game played on the new ground was on September 10, 1898 against the Coldstream Guards.
Mr Armstrong added: “Harwich and Parkeston were competing with teams that have now gone to play at elite levels.
“Harwich was the first team to play Norwich City in 1902.
“But Harwich is at the lowest level the club has ever played in its history.
“We are working hard to change that.
“The club has a very long and very proud history.
“Harwich and Parkeston were one of the amateur clubs to play at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 100,000 in the Amateur Cup final of 1953.
“Harwich lost 6-0 to Pegasus but the attendance is a crowd record that still stands to this day for an amateur match.
“A number of times in the past 20 years the club has been in severe jeopardy but thanks to the die-hards we are still going.”
Kitted up: Team photograph 1923
In December 1892, Harwich and Parkeston FC played Antwerp City both away and then at home - the first ever game between English and European Continental Team on English soil.
To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the match, and the 140th anniversary of the club, the club took on the now named Royal Antwerp Pioneers at the Royal Oak ground on Saturday.
Harwich won 9-2.
Event organiser Abi Goodwin, executive committee member at the club, said: “I feel quite sure that Thomas Moran who having been with Harwich and Parkeston since 1893, who sold his field to the club he loved, even flying to London from Dublin aged 83 to watch the big game at Wembley in 1953, would be overjoyed to know that 125 years later the club he loved will once again host a team from Antwerp.
“There was a good crowd there and the Belgian guys had a really good time.”
A surprise commemorative certificate was given to both clubs after the match by Tom Simons, ambassador of Sheffield FC, the oldest club in England.
The certificate authenticated that the match in 1892 is accepted to be the first ever association football match between a British and European team.
Another historic moment for the club was in March 1893 when the team travelled on the steamship to Holland to play the first match between an English and a Dutch team - Sparta Rotterdam.
It is hoped a commemorative match will be held next year to mark the anniversary.
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