Genealogy Chat

Would welcome any ideas. Have found a kind of badge thing belonging to my Grandad. It has his initials engraved on the front. On the back it says F.W.M.S.C. Junior(?) Football 1907-8 South Div My Grandad was born and bred in Lambeth/New Cross area. Am guessing that maybe the initials W.M.S.C. could be Working Mens Social Club. A google for F.W.M.S.C. only comes up with an 'ongoing' american footie team! Am not too sure about the word junior, in 1907-8 my Grandad was 18. Any ideas would sooth my sore head! Many thanks!

Not sure about the initials, but in 1907 I suppose you were still considered 'junior' at age 18. (Had to be 21 in those days to be a grown up, even though you went out to work at about 12). Kath. x

Maybe the junior bit referred to the league the football team was in, as opposed to the age of the players. nell

Thanks for the replies, most appreciated! Feeling more refreshed today so more searching and no dinner again! Cheers!

Linda, What did he eventually 'do' for a living? I've googled around a bit and found 'Medical School' which could be part of the acronym. It may be obvious but I would guess the 'S' did stand for 'School' anyway. The 'C' could stand for 'Cup'. Do tell us what you found whilst missing supper last night!? Regs Jane

Jane: Found a lot of interesting stuff on the history of football etc but nothing which related to my 'badge' unfortunately!! Edward eventually ended up as a Cablehand. Hadn't thought of School for the S so now you have given me more stuff to research! I ended up with my 'old faithful' jacket potatoe whilst at the pc!!! Thanks for googling for me! Cheers Linda

Local league football would have been reported weekly in the local paper

FIA's World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).......but dnt suppose they would have anything to do with football!!, unless they sponsered a schools league or something like that

Linda, Another thought .... 'F.... W.... Methodist Schools Cup' - I think it has to be a national organisation because of the 'Southern Division' statement on the back of the pic. Was / is the family Methodist? At 18, he should have been working in those days - they left school at 14 I believe. Think you'll be having a lot of jacket spuds in the near future.... Jx PS: Like Lyla's suggestion ... it sounds sensible ... but like you, would love more evidence to support whatever we think!

Wow so many ideas!! Have checked the USA idea, fulham wanderers and the methodist but no luck yet. Thanks everyone for getting your thinking caps on! You are right about the jacket spuds me fears!!! Cheers!

Hi Linda, you're on the right lines with Working Men's Social Club, and I would guess that the F was for Federation. I have 2 silver hallmarked medals with raised parts in what I assume to be gold (untarnished). They belonged to my grandad who grew up in Lambeth. They are quite different designs to each other, and engraved on the reverse:
FWMSC, 1 mile cycle, 1st, M.Warren, Alford House , 1906
FWMSC, 3 mile race, 1st, M.Warren, Alford House, 1906
He would've been 23 or 24 by then.
Alford House was founded in 1884 to promote the 'wellbeing, training and recreation of the young people of Lambeth'. It was for young men of 15-20 but there was also a much larger men's club.
2 good weblinks:
https://alfordhouse.org.uk/about-us/history/
https://belowtheriver.co.uk/2014/01/02/wednesday-picture-alford-house/
I do hope you get to read this! Regards

Welcome to the boards, chrisobel.

Try contacting Linda by clicking on her name - if she still uses the same linked email address, and can access it, she'll be notified that you've sent her a message.

Her profile has zero posts against her name, but she hasn't completely deleted her account. Lets hope you are successful.