Wirral author discovers origins of top football clubs

Aug 27 2008 by Matt Hurst, Birkenhead News

founder honoured

IN 2006, Wirral author Peter Lupson hoped his book Thank God for Football! would contribute to the sport’s history, but he’s since discovered it’s also changing the present.

The former teacher began researching after starting a church football league.

He found his players being routinely ridiculed for playing in a ‘soft’ championship and decided to invite some professionals down to continue encouraging them.

While making arrangements with Everton, he turned up information showing that the Premiership side shared the same origins as the clubs he was overseeing.

Peter discovered Everton, Liverpool, and - following extensive research, another ten professional sides - all owe their existence to church men and the drive to provide recreation outside the public house.

Peter, a Christian himself, told the News: “When I was writing the book and making these discoveries, I thought to myself, surely the clubs would be fascinated to know this.

“I used to think they were only interested in the here and now and didn’t want to spend too much time looking back, but in fact the opposite has happened and the clubs are greatly fascinated by their origins.”

Peter discovered that Swindon Town were celebrating their anniversary in the wrong year, and as a result of the former Weatherhead High staff member’s research, actually changed their club crest to feature the correct date of origin.

But perhaps Peter’s greatest contribution to the founding fathers of football was to search out the graves of those men whose vision led to the formation of Europe’s greatest league over a century on.

He discovered the grave of Everton and Liverpool founder, Rev Ben Chambers in a dilapidated state in a Yorkshire cemetery and invited both clubs to honour their founder by restoring it to its former glory.

Three days later, Bolton Wanderers asked to do the same, shortly followed by Blackburn Rovers.

Peter said: “There was an instant response and within a year, five clubs have restored their founder’s grave.”