The club was founded in 1877, the college's most notable former footballing pupil being Charles Wollaston, who had previously won the FA Cup with the Wanderers five times, and who later played for the Old Boys. Jarvis Kenrick, scorer of the first-ever goal in the FA Cup and also a Cup winner, was also an old boy.[3]
The club entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1885–86, beating Barnes 7–1 away in the first round, scoring five times in the second half.[4] The club lost 6–1 to Brentwood in the second round; Bates, the goalkeeper for the original tie, was playing as a back in the second round, and, after the third goal went in, was swapped around with the replacement goalkeeper Brown, to no avail.[5]
The club did not enter the following year, perhaps recognizing that the side was weaker than in previous years (in a friendly, the club lost 12–0 to the Swifts[6]) but returned in 1887–88, losing 4–2 in the first round to the Old Etonians.[7]
With the advance of professional football, the club's last FA Cup entry was in 1889–90, losing to Old St Mark's in the second qualifying round.[8] The club retreated to the old boy competitions, and has had considerable success in the Arthurian League and the Arthur Dunn Cup, particularly in the 1980s, when they won the League and Cup double in three consecutive years.
Colours
The club's original colours were blue and white,[9] the same as the college's football colours.[10] In the 1960s the club wore a combination of French grey, cerise, and chocolate shirts,[11] and 1977 changed to red.[12]
Ground
The club originally played in Surbiton, using the Spread Eagle public house for facilities.[13]
