William Rawson

William Stepney Rawson (October 14 1854 – November 4 1932) was a footballer who played at full back for England, and was also an FA Cup Final referee. [http://www.englandfootballonline.com/TeamCapt/CaptBio/CaptRawsonWS.html Biographical detail] : "EnglandFootballOnline" website.]

Career

Rawson was born in in Cape Town, South Africa and attended Westminster School, representing the school at "soccer" in 1872 and 1873, becoming captain in his final year.cite book | author=Graham Betts| title=England: Player by player | publisher=Green Umbrella Publishing | year=2006|pages=p.198| isbn=1-905009-63-1] He then went up to Oxford University, winning a "blue" in four consecutive years, from 1874 to 1877.

He played in the 1874 FA Cup Final for Oxford University - in the match, played against the Royal Engineers at the Kennington Oval on 14 March 1874, the University were the victors by 2 goals to 0. His brother Herbert played for the opposition. [http://www.sportingchronicle.com/FACUP/1874.html FA Cup Final 1874] , winner: "Richard Bevan's Sporting Chronicle" website.]

He made his debut for the England football team on March 6 1875 again at The Oval, in a game against Scotland, which finished 2-2. His brother Herbert won his only cap alongside him in this fixture. [ [http://englandfc.com/MatchData/showmatchdetails.php?mid=6 International debut for England] v. Scotland, 1875: "EnglandFC" website.] This was the first occasion on which two brothers played for England in the same match. ["First occasion when two brothers played for England in the same match". This can be verified by scrolling through the team lists for the first few England matches. Although John Charles Clegg played in the [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=1 first match] and his brother William Clegg was in the [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=2 second] , they did not play together. William Rawson and Herbert Rawson played together in [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=4 match 4] . The history of the Wanderers says that Hubert Heron and his brother Francis Heron (or Frank) were the first brothers to play together but that was not until [http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=5 match 5 in 1876] .]

As a referee, he was awarded the 1876 FA Cup Final between the Wanderers and Old Etonians, also at the The Oval, which was undecided when the first match ended 1-1 after extra time on March 11 1876. Wanderers eventually triumphed 3-0 in the replay on March 18 1876. [http://www.sportingchronicle.com/FACUP/1876.html FA Cup Final 1876 & replay] , referee: "Richard Bevan's Sporting Chronicle" website.]

On March 3 1877, he was honoured with the captaincy of the international side, once more against Scotland, and once again at The Oval, in a match which the Scots won 3-1. [ [http://englandfc.com/MatchData/showmatchdetails.php?mid=8 Second cap as captain] , England v. Scotland, 1877: "EnglandFC" website.] He collected just the two international caps for his adopted country. [ [http://englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=791 Playing record for England] : "EnglandFC" website.]

He was on the losing side in the 1877 FA Cup Final - the match at The Oval on 24 March was won by the Wanderers by 2 goals to 1 against Oxford University. [http://www.sportingchronicle.com/FACUP/1877.html FA Cup Final 1877] , as a losing finalist: "Richard Bevan's Sporting Chronicle" website.]

During his career he also played for Old Westminsters F.C. and Wanderers. He served on the FA committee from 1876 to 1877 and again in 1879.

porting honours

Oxford University
*FA Cup winner: 1874
*FA Cup finalist: 1877

"'Referee
*FA Cup Final: 1876

References

External links

*Englandstats|id=785|name=William Rawson