Charles Worbey: The Link Man
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anthony.brown
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Charles Worbey: The Link Man
A player for Hitchin and Hertfordshire in Edwardian times, and a committee man in the 1928 revival. I'll add further details of this important figure in Club history if anyone is interested.
Last edited by anthony.brown on Tue Apr 09, 2024 6:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Charles Worbey: The Link Man
Related to Brian Worbey?
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anthony.brown
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Re: Charles Worbey: The Link Man
Perhaps I should leave this thread until we know if the current family members (grandchildren and great nephews and nieces) are happy to let me continue!
Re: Charles Worbey: The Link Man
Don't quite understand the response Anthony.anthony.brown wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 7:52 pm Perhaps I should leave this thread until we know if the current family members (grandchildren and great nephews and nieces) are happy to let me continue!
I don't see any reason why you would need permission from anyone to post about people that are part of the clubs history and helped shape the clubs future.
It was just an inquisitive question as to whether he might be related to another club volunteer and stalwart, Brian Worbey.
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anthony.brown
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Re: Charles Worbey: The Link Man
Charles Worbey was born in Hitchin on 10th Feb 1879. He died on 11th July 1957, aged 78, and is interred at Hitchin's St Johns Road cemetery, within yards of William Tindall Lucas, William Hill, and Francis Shillitoe.
He was a full-back on the right or left, and I've found a few Hitchin Town FC matches in which he was involved.
13th Apr 1901 Hitchin 1 Ilford Alliance 1
28th Sep 1901 Hitchin 3 Clapton Orient 4
12th Oct 1901 Luton Reserves 10 Hitchin 1
28th Dec 1901 St Albans Amateurs 3 Hitchin 1
8th Mar 1902 Hitchin 7 Chesham Town Reserves 0
5th Apr 1902 Hitchin 4 St Albans Amateurs 2
18th Oct 1902 Grays United 1 Hitchin 3
13th Dec 1902 Hitchin 6 Cheshunt 2
10th Jan 1903 Luton Reserves 1 Hitchin 1
31st Jan 1903 Hitchin 1 Bedford Queens 5
21st Mar 1903 Hitchin 2 Ware 0 (Herts Charity Cup Final)
For Hertfordshire County team:
19th Feb 1902 Middx 4 Herts 1 (right-back)
6th Mar 1902 Herts 8 Suffolk 3 (right-back)
Belgian Charity Game
31st May 1919 Hitchin United 2 Henlow 1 (inside-right!)
In 1928 he was elected to the Hitchin Town FC selection committee, from which he resigned in 1930. He explained his resignation at the Club's annual meeting on Wednesday 25th June 1930, thus:
"The general committee became alarmed when I advocated a semi-professional team. My name was omitted from the selection committee (of which Mr Worbey was a member), and so unpleasant did it become that I resigned." Len Hart, the chairman of the committee did not agree with Charles Worbey's comments saying that for some time the selection committee had ceased to operate, as the whole committee had resigned, and when it re-formed Mr Worbey was not elected, and may not have even been proposed.
Hertfordshire Express Saturday 28th June 1930.
On 1st May 1929, at the age of 51, he played in 'an amusing match' raising funds for Hitchin Hospital. He captained the Hitchin Town FC Committee team against a team from the Hitchin Supporters' Club (a 3-2 win for the Supporters' Club).
Beds & Herts Pictorial Tuesday 7th May 1929
A market gardener, he supplied the town with vegetables, his potato crop often being raided by the locals. The 1901 census has him living at 19, St Andrews Place, Hitchin, and describes him as a greengrocer. In 1911 he occupied 20 & 21, St Andrews Place and he described himself as a market gardener and hawker. By 1939 he was at Orchard House, Highbury, Hitchin ('widower and retired farmer').
He was a full-back on the right or left, and I've found a few Hitchin Town FC matches in which he was involved.
13th Apr 1901 Hitchin 1 Ilford Alliance 1
28th Sep 1901 Hitchin 3 Clapton Orient 4
12th Oct 1901 Luton Reserves 10 Hitchin 1
28th Dec 1901 St Albans Amateurs 3 Hitchin 1
8th Mar 1902 Hitchin 7 Chesham Town Reserves 0
5th Apr 1902 Hitchin 4 St Albans Amateurs 2
18th Oct 1902 Grays United 1 Hitchin 3
13th Dec 1902 Hitchin 6 Cheshunt 2
10th Jan 1903 Luton Reserves 1 Hitchin 1
31st Jan 1903 Hitchin 1 Bedford Queens 5
21st Mar 1903 Hitchin 2 Ware 0 (Herts Charity Cup Final)
For Hertfordshire County team:
19th Feb 1902 Middx 4 Herts 1 (right-back)
6th Mar 1902 Herts 8 Suffolk 3 (right-back)
Belgian Charity Game
31st May 1919 Hitchin United 2 Henlow 1 (inside-right!)
In 1928 he was elected to the Hitchin Town FC selection committee, from which he resigned in 1930. He explained his resignation at the Club's annual meeting on Wednesday 25th June 1930, thus:
"The general committee became alarmed when I advocated a semi-professional team. My name was omitted from the selection committee (of which Mr Worbey was a member), and so unpleasant did it become that I resigned." Len Hart, the chairman of the committee did not agree with Charles Worbey's comments saying that for some time the selection committee had ceased to operate, as the whole committee had resigned, and when it re-formed Mr Worbey was not elected, and may not have even been proposed.
Hertfordshire Express Saturday 28th June 1930.
On 1st May 1929, at the age of 51, he played in 'an amusing match' raising funds for Hitchin Hospital. He captained the Hitchin Town FC Committee team against a team from the Hitchin Supporters' Club (a 3-2 win for the Supporters' Club).
Beds & Herts Pictorial Tuesday 7th May 1929
A market gardener, he supplied the town with vegetables, his potato crop often being raided by the locals. The 1901 census has him living at 19, St Andrews Place, Hitchin, and describes him as a greengrocer. In 1911 he occupied 20 & 21, St Andrews Place and he described himself as a market gardener and hawker. By 1939 he was at Orchard House, Highbury, Hitchin ('widower and retired farmer').
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anthony.brown
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Re: Charles Worbey: The Link Man
More from the Beds & Herts Pictorial on the 'amusing match' played on 1st May 1929. I'll add the match report bit by bit.
Amusing Match for Hospital Funds
An amusing game was seen on Hitchin Town ground on Wednesday evening, when the Hitchin Town Supporters' Club Committee challenged the Town F.C. Committee to a football match for a 'valuable trophy', which is to be competed for annually. Besides providing entertainment for a large crowd, the match raised £6.13s.1d for the Hitchin Hospital.
Although mainly humourous, there was also good football. The Football Club, led by their 51 year old skipper, started off with a bang, and ran the Supporters to a close finish, comparative youth beating veteran experience by a short head.
From the kick-off the Committee set up an early offensive, showing a remarkable knowledge of tactics in their front line, and, after several narrow escapes, the Supporters' citadel fell to M.FOSTER who netted after ten minutes play. This annoyed the Supporters, and their artistic right winger, backed up by Stanley Lee, who was playing a stout game in the middle line, time after time dashed down the touchline - but forgot to take the ball with him.
C.WHITBY equalised after a solo run. Not to disappoint, the Town Committee retaliated, and Secretary Lloyd netted in a melee after a corner kick by King. The Supporters resumed the offensive, but found the veteran defenders more than their match. Although they lost a player in J.Sharp, the Football Club were still dangerous on occasions, and just before the interval were unlucky to miss scoring after Valentine had been penalised for holding.
Half-time: HITCHIN TOWN FC 2 SUPPORTERS' CLUB 1
The Committee forwards started the second half well, and Lloyd (who is a Relieving Officer) relieved Freeman of the ball at close range, but failed to get it past Valentine. ABBISS equalised, however, with a long shot that Newell failed to reach. After this the Committee had much bad luck, and, as Secretary Lloyd said afterwards, there were many shots that would hav been goals, if the goalie had let them go. Just before the end ABBISS netted the decider after Fairweather, the baby of the team, had put him through.
Mr L.S.Hart presented the valuable trophy (with knobs on!) to F.Abbiss, the Supporters' captain. He thanked both teams for the fine game they had played, and took the opportunity of thanking the Supporters for the invaluable assistance they had given the Football Club during the season.
Mr C.Worbey, who played for the original Hitchin Town F.C., said that the town had a splendid lot of sportsmen, and referred to his football days of thirty years ago.
Mr Lloyd congratulated the winners, but said they had been very lucky. Next year they would find that they had not won the trophy, but had only borrowed it.
SUPPORTERS' CLUB. - Valentine; L.G.Shrive, C.Freeman; S.Lee, G.Dobbs, A.Stafford; C.E.Brown, C.Whitby, F.Abbiss (capt.), J.Fairweather, F.Whitby.
HITCHIN TOWN. - E.J.Newell; C.Worbey (capt.), D.Denniss; F.O.Foster, A.Grimes, H.Cannon; A.V.Duller, J.Sharp, M.Foster, A.E.Lloyd, C.King.
Amusing Match for Hospital Funds
An amusing game was seen on Hitchin Town ground on Wednesday evening, when the Hitchin Town Supporters' Club Committee challenged the Town F.C. Committee to a football match for a 'valuable trophy', which is to be competed for annually. Besides providing entertainment for a large crowd, the match raised £6.13s.1d for the Hitchin Hospital.
Although mainly humourous, there was also good football. The Football Club, led by their 51 year old skipper, started off with a bang, and ran the Supporters to a close finish, comparative youth beating veteran experience by a short head.
From the kick-off the Committee set up an early offensive, showing a remarkable knowledge of tactics in their front line, and, after several narrow escapes, the Supporters' citadel fell to M.FOSTER who netted after ten minutes play. This annoyed the Supporters, and their artistic right winger, backed up by Stanley Lee, who was playing a stout game in the middle line, time after time dashed down the touchline - but forgot to take the ball with him.
C.WHITBY equalised after a solo run. Not to disappoint, the Town Committee retaliated, and Secretary Lloyd netted in a melee after a corner kick by King. The Supporters resumed the offensive, but found the veteran defenders more than their match. Although they lost a player in J.Sharp, the Football Club were still dangerous on occasions, and just before the interval were unlucky to miss scoring after Valentine had been penalised for holding.
Half-time: HITCHIN TOWN FC 2 SUPPORTERS' CLUB 1
The Committee forwards started the second half well, and Lloyd (who is a Relieving Officer) relieved Freeman of the ball at close range, but failed to get it past Valentine. ABBISS equalised, however, with a long shot that Newell failed to reach. After this the Committee had much bad luck, and, as Secretary Lloyd said afterwards, there were many shots that would hav been goals, if the goalie had let them go. Just before the end ABBISS netted the decider after Fairweather, the baby of the team, had put him through.
Mr L.S.Hart presented the valuable trophy (with knobs on!) to F.Abbiss, the Supporters' captain. He thanked both teams for the fine game they had played, and took the opportunity of thanking the Supporters for the invaluable assistance they had given the Football Club during the season.
Mr C.Worbey, who played for the original Hitchin Town F.C., said that the town had a splendid lot of sportsmen, and referred to his football days of thirty years ago.
Mr Lloyd congratulated the winners, but said they had been very lucky. Next year they would find that they had not won the trophy, but had only borrowed it.
SUPPORTERS' CLUB. - Valentine; L.G.Shrive, C.Freeman; S.Lee, G.Dobbs, A.Stafford; C.E.Brown, C.Whitby, F.Abbiss (capt.), J.Fairweather, F.Whitby.
HITCHIN TOWN. - E.J.Newell; C.Worbey (capt.), D.Denniss; F.O.Foster, A.Grimes, H.Cannon; A.V.Duller, J.Sharp, M.Foster, A.E.Lloyd, C.King.