On a summer’s day in 1890 three men were walking together on Weymouth beach. All three were keen footballers, however at the time the local teams in the area generally represented businesses or churches. By the end of their walk, the men had agreed that a town such as Weymouth should have a football team to represent it. A meeting was arranged for 26th August 1890. News archives report that around 20 people were in attendance, a committee was established, and the outcome was that Weymouth FC was formed. The Club’s first match took place on Wednesday 24th September 1890, on a pitch in Lodmoor, against Mr Pope’s XI, a side from the brewery in Dorchester. Weymouth won the match 2-0.
Jimmy Newport
Jimmy Newport scored Weymouth FC’s first ever goal, in the newly formed Club’s first ever game. In the Club’s first season the team played 19 matches, and Jimmy was the only player to feature in every game. In the second season he became Club Captain and led the side as they progressed into senior football in 1893. Throughout Weymouth’s first ten seasons, Jimmy consistently remained high up the list of appearances each year. Dorset’s first ever FA Cup tie took place on 18th November 1893, when Chesham visited Weymouth for a replay match. Jimmy scored the winning goal in a 4-3 victory for Weymouth. He left Weymouth FC in 1900, when he emigrated to Canada. Jimmy Newport began as one of Weymouth FC’s founders. He finished as one of the Club’s first ever stalwarts, having made 325 appearances and scored 59 goals.
Mark Frowde
Here is a name important not only in the history of Weymouth FC, but also in the early years of English football itself. As one of the founders of Weymouth FC, Mark played in the first match and remained in the team until 1895. He suffered ongoing hip injuries, which led to the early end of his playing days, having played a total of 47 matches for Weymouth and scoring 25 goals. Off the pitch Mark was the Club’s founding Secretary, a role he remained in until 1896. From there he became Dorset FA Secretary and Treasurer. He went on to become President of the Dorset FA, vice-President of the English FA and President of the FA Amateur Cup Committee. He was also a talented referee and was a Linesman in the 1907 FA Cup final. In recognition of his work for the Dorset FA, Mark was presented with a cup in 1922. He donated it back, to be used in competition. The Mark Frowde Cup is still being competed for today.
Robert Bennett
When he took that walk along the beach with the others in 1890 Robert Bennett was playing for Weymouth Rovers alongside Jimmy Newport. Unfortunately, very little information on Robert’s football career or personal life is readily available. Between 1890 and 1894 records show that he made 31 appearances and scored 4 goals for the newly formed club. The Bennett name is notable in the history of the town of Weymouth from around 1861. Robert Chrstie Bennett was an architect who can be credited with some of the grand buildings in the town. Robert Christie passed away in 1893 and history says that his business was taken over by one of his nephews who bore his Christian names. In 1894 Weymouth FC progressed to become a senior side and moved to a new ground at Goldcroft Farm in Westham. Maybe, all of this is linked and footballer Robert’s new business life meant he had to give up his football. We don’t know for certain, but we do know that Robert Bennett was one of the founders of Weymouth FC.
