The Marlborough Old Boys association football club was formed in 1893 and proved very successful for the next 40+ years

Football was very much on the rise in the late 1800s as working men had more time, money and opportunity to enjoy sport thanks to the reduction in working hours and the introduction of half day holidays on Saturdays. The English Football Association was founded in 1863 and the Liverpool County FA in 1882. Professionalism was made legal in 1885 so amateur and professional players competed against each other well into the 20^th century, with  teams such as Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea having a mix of both paid and amateur players.

In 1895 the Liverpool I Zingari football league was formed and in 1898 the Marlborough Old Boys joined, that year coming third in the second division before being promoted to the first division in 1903/4 in which they had  considerable success. Marlborough also had a reserve team in the league.  I Zingari means ‘The Gypsy’s’ in Italian and it remained one of the foremost local leagues until  merging with the Liverpool County Combination in 2006 to form the new Liverpool County Premier League. Apart from league matches I Zingari also had a keenly contested cup competition which Marlborough won in 1914.

In the 1923/4 season Marlborough left I Zingari and joined the Liverpool Old Boys' league in its inaugural season, finishing third in the second division. They played in that league until at least 1935/36 having two teams in it from 1924/25 onwards and being 1st Division Champions in1926/27 and 1927/28. They also won the 1st Division cup in both 1927/28 and 1931/32. An interesting note is that the Liverpool County Premier League’s present 1st Division cup is called the Marlborough Trophy possibly because they were the first winners of it in 1927/28; the trophy is on display at the Liverpool County FA head quarters.

The old boys certainly had some great players at the beginning of the 20^th century at least two of which, Howard Baker and Ted Taylor, went on to play for First Division clubs and as internationals for England.

[In 1914 Marlborough Old Boys won the I Zingari Challenge Cup competition and in the same year came third in the IZingari First Division being only two points behind the winners Orrell.]

Transcript from Liverpool Echo (Football edition) Saturday May 2^nd 1914.

Marlborough win their first trophy.

 “The final tie in the Zingari Challenge Cup competition attracted a fair crowd to the South Liverpool enclosure on Tuesday, when Marlborough Old Boys created quite a sensation by defeating Bromborough Pool by four goals, and so won the first trophy that has fallen to the club in a period of twenty-one years existence. The Poolers started keen favourites, and at the outset played good football, but the defence of the Old Boys was a great factor in the subsequent run of the game, Robson, Massey, and Baker doing much useful work. Clare was responsible for Marlborough’s first goal. A couple of well placed corner kicks brought the Old Boys other two goals, first Utley and then Maddock getting the ball into the net. With the slope in their favour it was felt that Bromborough Pool would make a big try for victory in the second half, which they did, but Marlborough’s defence was solidified and their forwards kept the ball swinging about and a fourth goal from A.C.Thorpe made Marlborough supporters very enthusiastic. It was a pleasure at the finish to see the Poolers’ captain go in and congratulate the Old Boys on their success.

Marlborough Old Boys concluded their First Division series by defeating Old Xaverians at Clubmoor. Marlborough won 1:0 a creditable result having regard to their hard struggle of the previous evening.”

 The 1913/14 season was clearly the best for Marlborough OB before the First World War began in July 1914 and league matches were suspended for the duration. The Liverpool Echo report above names several players and interesting details of two are known, both defenders. See links below.

B H BAKER   (1892--1987)

E G MASSEY (1891--1918)