Ebenezer Cobb Morley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ebenezer Cobb Morley
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Photograph published at the time of the Football Association's 50th anniversary (1913).
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| Born | 16 August 1831 Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 20 November 1924 (aged 93) |
| Resting place | Barnes, Richmond, London, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Known for | Secretary and President of the Football Association |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Bidgood |
| Parent(s) | Ebenezer Morley and Hannah Maria |
Ebenezer Cobb Morley (born August 16, 1831 – died November 20, 1924) was an English sportsman. Many people consider him one of the main founders of the Football Association (FA). He also helped create the modern game of football as we know it today.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Ebenezer Morley was born in Hull, England. He lived there until he was 22 years old. In 1854, he became a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. A few years later, in 1858, he moved to Barnes, a suburb of London, to work as a lawyer there.
A Sporting Life
Morley loved sports and played a big role in shaping football.
Starting Football Clubs
In 1862, Morley started his own football team called Barnes Football Club. He was the captain of this team until 1867. Their first recorded game was a 2–0 win against Richmond F.C. in November 1862.
Creating the Football Association
In 1863, Morley wrote a letter to a newspaper called Bell's Life. He suggested that there should be a main group to control football and make common rules for everyone. This idea led to the first meeting of the FA (Football Association) on October 26, 1863. At this meeting, Ebenezer Morley was chosen as the FA's first secretary.
Making the First Football Rules
Back then, football rules were very different. Some clubs allowed players to carry the ball in their hands. They even allowed "hacking," which meant kicking opponents in the shins! Other clubs did not allow these things.
When the FA met to create the first official rules, there was a big disagreement. Some clubs wanted to keep hacking, while others wanted to ban it. Morley played a key part in these discussions. He showed everyone a new set of rules from Cambridge University that banned both carrying the ball and hacking.
This helped to delay the final decision. Because of this delay, some clubs that liked the rugby-style game did not come to the next meeting. This meant that when the first official FA rules were published in December 1863, hacking and carrying the ball were finally banned. This was a huge step for modern football!
Morley's Continued Role in the FA
Morley played in the very first game under the new FA rules in December 1863. He continued to be the FA secretary until 1866. He then became the president of the FA in 1867 and stayed in that role until 1874.
During his time as president, the FA grew a lot. He oversaw the start of the famous FA Cup competition. He was also the first person to present the FA Cup trophy in 1872.
In 1913, when the FA celebrated its 50th anniversary, Morley was a special guest. He was one of the most important founders still alive.
Other Sports
Morley was also very active in rowing. He was involved with the Barnes and Mortlake Regatta and the London Rowing Club. He even competed in a big rowing race at Henley in 1864. He continued to row even when he was very old.
He also enjoyed fox hunting and had his own group of beagle dogs.
Public Service
Ebenezer Morley also served his community. He was a member of the Surrey County Council for Barnes from 1903 to 1919. In 1906, he became a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped keep law and order.
Family Life
Morley's wife, Frances, passed away in 1911. Ebenezer Morley himself died in 1924 from the same illness. He was buried in Barnes Cemetery in Barnes. He did not have any children.
Morley's Legacy
Ebenezer Cobb Morley's home at 26 The Terrace in Barnes once had a blue plaque to remember him. Sadly, the house collapsed in 2015.
In 2018, on his 187th birthday, Google Doodle honored him with a special drawing on their homepage. This showed how important he was to the history of football.
Images for kids
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The grave of Ebenezer Cobb Morley in Barnes Cemetery, with a wreath commemorating 150 years of the FA.
See also
In Spanish: Ebenezer Cobb Morley para niños
