Cavaliers F.C. Official Site

There is only one thing for certain about the history of the Cavaliers FC, and that is no-one knows how a team like this came to be!  The earliest date that historians have unearthed is that of a registration for a small welsh harmony group in South London called Cavaliers Full Chorus in 1869.  It is uncertain when, or why, they changed their name to the shorter Cavaliers FC, but by the turn of the century the passion in their song turned into ballet on the field. 

Cavaliers Full Chorus, circa. 1880

Whilst always being out of reach of the major leagues during the early 00's, instead playing football in "ye Doctor Martin's league", it does not mean that the club wasn't in the public eye.  Innovators of the game, they pioneered the use of the new "Electricity", so that evening matches could be played in the light, by setting fire to local generators.  Unfortunately it was there illfated tour of Sarajevo in 1914 that grabbed the headlines, when loyal supporter Arch Duke Ferdinand was involved in a scuffle with foreign supporters.

The C's came into their current form around the turn of the century, when Cavaliers Full Chorus became Cavaliers F.C, under the tutelage of Sir Arthur Wainwright-Smythe, a retired schoolmaster.  This was something of a golden era for the C's, with the team twice runners up in the Southern Counties trophy and reaching the third round of the FC Cup on three occasions, knocking out Bolton Wanderers in the second round in 1921.

The successful 1921 team

After the outbreak of WWII the Cavaliers had to be put on hold.  What with all of the players only semi professional, all were called upon for King and Country.  Only one player was rejected by the army.  Henry Oaks, a part time butcher, who played in goal was diagnosed as cross eyed.  For those that left I'm afraid, as like many of their age, they all died.  Even Henry Oaks didn't live to see VE day, as he became a victim to the blackouts during the blitz.  One night he rushed to draw his blackout blinds, and accidentally fell upon his Butchers knife.  This led to rumours of a curse hanging over the team, forcing it to remain in the wilderness whilst other sides had returned to regular fixtures.  It wasn't till 1953 that the Cavaliers returned to professional football, and what a storm they caused when they did.

The last photo of the 1941 team (Henry Oakes Excluded)

The C's were always one for innovation.  After the war, decades before the formation of the Premiership, the Cavaliers realised that a spark of foreign talent will help boost the team.  In 1953 Cavaliers No. 1 at the time, Mao Mao Mo, decided to invest in a sub continental style of football.  Bringing in many skilled professionals from further fields than the usual coal mining towns, Chairman Mao quickly became rather unpopular with both fans and players, leading to the longest losing streak in C's history.  Fingers were pointed and eventually the Chairman was forced to leave in 1956 following 2 seasons of loses.  Similarities can be drawn however between this side and the current team in both performance and height!

The unsuccessful 1953 squad

During the year of Star Wars, one of the clubs most fondly remembered eccentrics, Peter Delaney took charge of a relegation threatened side.  Amongst many of the new guidelines, it became compulsory to wear moustaches but no beard!  This quickly turned round the fortunes of the side.  Not only did they avoid relegation in 77, but also became League Champions in 78.  However by 1979, it seemed that an undercurrent of rebellion was appearing in the team.  Andrew Melville, (third from left) decided that Champions wasn't enough, and had the wild notion that if beards were involved too, the double of League and Cup could not be far away!  His unruly behavior led others to try to balance out the side, and became clean shaven for the first time in 2 years.  Delaney (Bottom Right)struggled to keep the players in line, and became clinically depressed.  Unfortunately he spent his last year at the club stuck at the lower end of the table, and insisting that he be the only one allowed to wear a tracksuit.

The randomly hirsute members of the 1979 squad

During the Eighties the hair and fasions went overboard.  After recognizing the fame and success of Watford by having a a famous chairman, the Cavaliers allowed A-Team guess star and Culture Club lead singer Boy George a seat on the board.  He regularly came to the games to cheer and wave from the sidelines whenever he wasn't in concert.  However the public backlash towards his gender bending antics and dress sense was not expected by the senior partners.  It reached such a height that even Arnold Schwarzengger publicly let his thoughts be known in the romantic epic "Commando".  To lift Boy's spirits the 1981/2 squad had their gender reassigned as a 21st Birthday present to him.  Boy was so pleased by the gesture that he wrote and dedicated his song "Karma Chameleon" to the team..

14th of June 1982 before it got out of hand (Back Row: Bruce Marsh, Phil Brown, Tommy Steele, David "Shagger" Johnson, Pete Hamilton, Charlie "Chopper" Jenkins, Pete "Five Bellies" McGee.  Bottom Row:  Daniel Crow, Hamish McHuff, Quentin Wilmington, Henry Parish (capt), Lou Reed, Summer Olsen

Rare relic from 1985 detailing their successful season

In more recent times the team has taken on a much more professional outlook, both in appearance and attitude as can be seen below.

The current team, circa. mid-2003. Back row, left to right, Ricky Carr, Andy Craddock, Mark Camilletti, Big Jim Buckley.  Centre row, left to right, Justin Funnell, James Lambert (Capt.), Rod Dacombe.  Front row, Billy Ball.

It has, however, on occassion, been known for a few after match bevvies to be consumed - purely for post-match analysis purposes of course!

Lambert, Carr and Buckley in the bar!

Before the Cavaliers donned the classic image of a debenair Swashbuckler with a dagger in his mouth, there was another mascot that deserves a mention here, lest he be forgotten.  Following in the footsteps of other clubs, Cavaliers sported an animal on top of a football.  In this particular case it was the bravest of all Muskahounds, Dogtanian!  He inspired a rag bag group of sporting individuals to better themselves and each other.  Unfortunately due to contractual obligations the dandy mutt could not lend his public image be used in such an inspiring fashion.

He's as happy as a little dog and his sword can be!