To say that the club’s origins are convoluted is a gross understatement. The current Rotherham United FC came into being in 1925 but the brown ball had been kicked around in town long before by a glut of clubs carrying Rotherham in their name.
There’s an early mention of a Rotherham Football Club in 1870 playing at a field opposite Eastwood House, Doncaster Road. Rotherham Wanderers were around in 1872, playing on Jarvis’ s Field in Clifton Lane. The name of Thornhill Football Club, eventually becoming forerunners of Rotherham United, pops up in 1877 and one year later Lunar Rovers were founded. The name was derived from the many matches that were played by moonlight but one year later they changed their name to plain Rotherham, with Town added a few seasons later. In the meantime Rotherham Wanderers had disappeared from the town’s football scene to make place for Rotherham Swifts who folded in 1891.
Thornhill (later adding United to their name) played at the Red House Ground, devoid of either natural or artistic beauty. It was located off Henley Grove Road and Park Street. Thornhill United played second fiddle to Rotherham Town who entertained their crowds at Clifton Lane Cricket Ground before moving to Clifton Grove. The perennial problem of poor attendances led to the downfall of Rotherham Town in 1896, now giving Thornhill United the status of the top team in town. However, the saga continues. In 1899, two minor clubs in town, Rotherham Casuals and Rotherham Grammar School combined to become Rotherham Club. They changed their name to Rotherham Town in 1905.
At Thornhill they were not amused. Not to be outdone and seeing themselves to be the senior club of the two, and certainly the elder, the Thornhill Club, still playing at The Red House, became Rotherham County….. In 1907 Rotherham County moved to a patch of land described as a grass plot of not much practical utility. It was to become Millmoor Ground as we know it today. Meanwhile, Rotherham Town struggled on at their own Clifton Road Ground. By 1922 the club seriously faced extinction. At last, the two clubs amalgamated in 1925 to become Rotherham United and a single club of senior standing was formed in the town. To prevent yet another town club being created the lease of the Clifton Road Ground was taken up and caused the demise of Rotherham Amateurs, which is another long and fairy-tale story….
So at last, Rotherham Town and Rotherham County had overcome their continuing and fierce rivalry, their bitter battles and their poor financial status. Luckily enough their sartorial saga is not as complicated. The first colours of Town were chocolate and sky halves, then blue shirts with white sleeves. County were clad in black and white stripes and later changed to white shirts and black shorts, adding a red belt.
Their first strip after the amalgamation in 1925 was amber shirts with a black V and black shorts. The red shirts did not come into being until the 1928/29 season and inspired the early, albeit unimaginative nickname, of the Reds. Rotherham United have since been faithful to red and white and their fans seem to favour the Arsenal-style red shirt with white sleeves, a combination worn whenever Rotherham United have been doing well.
The club’s first official badge from the ‘Merry Millers’ from Millmoor was the former Rotherham County Borough coat of arms, granted in 1947. The shield has a green background. The bridge across the centre is emblematic of the first Southwark Bridge in London, cast in Rotherham at the Walkers’ foundry, and of the war winning Bailey Bridge, designed by Rotherham born Donald Bailey. Above the bridge are two white Yorkshire roses and a bishop’s mitre, symbolic of Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York (1423-1500) and Lord Chancellor of England, who founded the College of Jesus in Rotherham and built parts of the Church of All Saints.
The two bucks supporting the shield are also taken from the arms of Archbishop Rotherham. They wear golden collars from which hand shields charged with a bee, a symbol of industry. The black shields on which to lie are allusive to coal mining, and the black chains to iron and brass founding. Above the helmet is a hand holding a caduceus of Mercury, the god of commerce and emblematic of Rotherham’s trade. The motto, ‘sic virescit industria’ translates as ‘thus trade flourishes’.
The present crest is a reference to Millmoor. The letters RUFC are depicted in white in mill wings set in a red shield with a football.
I am in search of information of Rotherham Amateur football team in 1925 onwards. My grandfather S clay played for them. Mr F Wollen was the chairman and Mr J congden was Secretary for many years. any information you have I would be most grateful.
thank you
The bridge in the coat of arms is Chantry Bridge over the River Don in the centre of town. It is fifteen century and has a chapel on it. One of only 4 remaining in the UK
[…] [7]Han, The Beautiful History, ‘Rotherham United’, https://thebeautifulhistory.wordpress.com/clubs/rotherham-united/ […]
Chantry Bridge dates from the 1930s and is the current road bridge. The 15th century bridge is called Rotherham Bridge.
How do Rotherham United come to the conclusion it was founded in 1884?
Because the chairman in the early 80’s wanted a centenary cash-in. It’s as simple and inane as that. Nobody takes the 1884 date seriously and the club distanced itself from the claim after he left.
There’s lots of information on here but I was wondering what your sources were? A lot of the dates contradict what are in other books and researching all this to verify it is very difficult. Where did all this come from?
Which ‘other books’?
‘A Pictorial History’ by Paul Ricketts suggests that Lunar Rovers were founded in 1870 and while I believe that book to be wrong I am keen to understand your sources. For instance I haven’t been able to find references to Rotherham Wanderers in 1872 anywhere else and there is little information about Rotherham Swifts (who undoubtably did exist). For the record I am not doubting you and think this version of events is likely to be quite accurate so it’s a little disappointing to ask for citations or references and be met with that reply. I’m not acting in bad faith, just trying my best to dig out proof. I love this site and all your work and like you am striving for accuracy. Thanks and all the best.
Following extensive research of all national newspapers (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Rotherham Lunar Rovers were first mentioned – Fri 03 Jan 1879 – Here is the report – South Yorkshire Times and Mexborough & Swinton Times – Fri 03 Jan 1879
LUNAR ROVERS, ROTHERHAM v CONISBORO’ CASTLE
Played on the ground of the former and resulted in a victory for the visitors by two goals to none. For the visitors T. Senior, T. Booth, and A. Wilson played well. The names of the Rovers did not transpire.
Good evening,
Your suggestion ‘a lot of the dates contradict what are in other books’ implicates you know the sources I consulted.
Each and every chapter is the result of massive desk & field research. Two of the various sources I consulted for Rotherham United are the English Football Rough Guide by Dan Goldstein (1999-2000) and Grounds For A Change by Dave Twydell.
The coat of arms reference has been taken from the County Borough of Rotherham Official Guide and approved in 2000 by Anthony P. Munford, Manager Archives & Local Studies with the Rotherham Central Library.
The narrative has been proofread and ‘inconsistencies’ edited where applicable in 2003 by Gerry Somerton, Media and Communications Officer. Subsequently it was returned by me for a final proof. It also passed the desk of mr Phil Henson, Chief Executive in 2003.
Yours sincerely
Han
Hi Han, I can tell I’ve annoyed you and I apologise, it was never my intention to question the validity of the text on your site – it was merely an attempt to discover the sources.
I have a lot of books based on Rotherham United and there is rarely a good consensus on certain points. A good example of this is ‘A Pictorial History’ (as mentioned above) which certainly does contradict this website a great deal – it was always my belief that that particular book was inaccurate and I only wanted to double check on your writings to confirm as I couldn’t find any sources anywhere on the site. Perhaps I didn’t look hard enough.
Anyway, I thank you for taking the time to reply and for advising me further. I want to state again that I had absolutely no intention whatsoever of annoying or upsetting anyone. I love the site and was only after some information as I want to embark on my own field research and wanted hints at where to start.
No matter what or who is referred to it would be mocking the foundations of senior football around the world if 1884 for the foundation of the roots of Rotherham United was then. – read on :- Except for visionary plans, the formation date of 1884 can be explained and dispelled quite easily. The pioneers mentioned in the 1919 newspaper report about Rotherham County were only a year or two into their teenage years, with some of them being only 11 and 12 (one possibly being only 9). The well-known ‘keeper and future secretary of Rotherham County, Tom Sharp, was only about 12 years old, and brother, John Brook Sharp, was only about 10. Of the “Danford brothers”, there were three to choose from – Robert 16, Sydney 13, and Joseph 9. Charles Lawton Neal (later secretary of County) 14. Pennington, options are Fred 17, Willie 15, and Frank 11, however, W (Willie) is identified as player in March of 1896, when receiving his “Benefit” match. The Garnett “brothers” were both 11 (and it should be explained that they weren’t “brothers” but Uncle and Nephew, both called Henry). Heppenstall, Sam 15. Dale, Thomas E. 14. Egginton, choice of Edward 19, Walter 17 and John Joseph 12. Hill (or Hills) – because of the popularity of this surname, and without a given first name there are too many options. The surname “Hills” has not been found locally.
So when was the most practical date for formation? The earliest mention of Thornhill United occurred in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on Wednesday 12 February 1890, when they were drawn out against Treeton & Catcliffe in the first round of the “Clifton Cup” competition. If one considers that the Rotherham Town Club won its’ first major trophy in the spring of 1889, what better year for a young enthusiastic set of lads to gain the momentum to “form-up” properly. And here’s another possible reason /explanation of the mix-up – back in those days it was not infrequent when a number 9 looked like a 4 – when “hand-written.” If one views copies of the original census documents of the time, many examples of this explanation can be made. If the 1919 report was based on hand-written notes, this could explain why 1884, and not 1889, was mistakenly used. There is always the option of staying with the “legend”, but this would mean that an untold number of clubs around the world would claim earlier dates, creating potential mayhem. – LEGAL CENSUS Reports and newspaper records of the time bear witness to my research, and it is upon these from which my information is supported. Very importantly there is not one shred of evidence of a link between the earlier “Rotherham Club (No1)” (1865-66), “Rotherham Club (No2)” (1870-79), “Thornhill Club (No 1)” (1877-80), “Rotherham Club (3-Town)” (1881-96) or any other club in the town to that of present day Rotherham United prior to Thornhill United (1889-1905, then changed to County) and then Rotherham Casuals (Jan 1899 until changing to the ‘Town’ in Dec 1899). Also, to avoid confusion the Old Town, up to 1896 (and no connection to RUFC) Club’s reserve team was called Rotherham United for a period of time.
[…] years’ time. Mind you, ask specific people and they will tell you the story goes back longer; 1877 and the creation of Thornhill United is where things apparently start fo’ sho’. It’s a little bit complex, to be […]