Chairman Kevin Broad Club Secretary Matt Jackson Team Manager Pete Randall Assistant Team Manager Dayan Gunasekara Treasurer David Broad Social Secretary Jamie Stevenson Title TBC Andy Ellis
Corinthian Guildford FC was formed in recognition of and in the spirit of the great amateur side Corinthians. The Corinthians were founded in 1882. N.L. Jackson who was then Assistant Honorary Secretary of the FA aimed to develop a club side capable of challenging Scotland at international level. Within 4 years there were 9 Corinthians in the England team that drew 1-1 with Scotland. Between 1883 and 1890, 52 of the 88 caps awarded against Scotland went to Corinthian players. Corinthians fielded the full England side twice in 1894 and 1895, both matches against Wales.
The Corinthians original constitution stated that the club play in no competition and this was not broken until 1900 when the Sheriff of London Shield was competed for. Aston Villa who were Football League champions at the time were beaten 2-1 as Corinthians lifted their first trophy. Four years later Corinthians inflicted Manchester United’s record defeat to the tune of 11-3. In 1902 Real Madrid adopted Corinthians white strip.
After the Great War Corinthians entered the F.A. Cup for the first time. If they had done so in the 1880/1890’s the club would surely have won the cup on several occasions. 1922/1923 saw Corinthians take Brighton to a second replay and a year later Blackburn Rovers were beaten 1-0. 50,000 people witnessed the 0-5 defeat at West Brom. In 1925 the FA Cup was reorganised into its present structure and Corinthians were grant a bye to the 3rd round with the Division 1 and 2 clubs. 70,000 people saw the two games against Manchester City who won 4-0. The bye to the 3rd Round continued until the end of the 1932/33 season and notable results were the 4-0 thrashing of Walsall in 1927, beating Norwich City 3-0 in 1929 and taking Millwall to a second replay at 1930. The club was also runners-up in the Charity Shield losing 2-1 to Cardiff City in 1927.
Perhaps the Corinthians greatest contribution to the game was their ‘missionary’ work abroad touring in South Africa, South America and every corner of Europe. A tour of Brazil in 1910 inspired a certain club called Corinthians Paulista to be formed.
Corinthian Guildford
Playing for the love of the game is central to the Corinthian ethos and this is absolutely necessary obviously, given that none of our players is professional. The oft-heard term ‘Corinthian spirit’ encompasses more than just amateurism though, it means upholding fair play and sportsmanship whilst trying to attain the highest standard of play possible.
Being a Corinthian does not mean that winning does not matter, just that in the end how you played the game is infinitely more important.
Corinthian Guildford FC was formally formed in 2001 from a group of friends who had been playing recreationally once a week on Tuesday nights for some 6 years previous. They entered a 5 a side tournament at Woking Football Club under the name ‘C Broad Plastering’ and from the post-tournament discussions the club was created. The club is kept going by the funding, skill and character of the players who pay yearly subscriptions for a full membership.
