November 5 was quite an apt day for Cumberland FA, but how many fireworks went off as a celebration are not known.
The county body was formed 140 years ago on Bonfire Night at a meeting in Wigton held in the Queen’s Temperance Hotel.
A newspaper cutting of the time said: “A number of football clubs agreed to form an association at a meeting on November 5 1884 in Wigton.
“This was to help support the ‘dribbling game’ in the county.”
Cumberland FA chief executive Ben Snowden said: “November 5 is a huge landmark for the Cumberland FA. I am hugely grateful to Barry Hoggarth, who is becoming our county football historian, for alerting us to the fact that the anniversary was this week.
“By recognising the 140 years, we are also paying tribute to all those who have gone before us and have worked as custodians of the game within Cumberland.
“It also allows me personally to recognise all those county secretaries who have gone before me including ED Smith, Bob Johnson, Albert Murphy and Geoff Turrell, whose shoulders I am well and truly standing upon.
“It is also quite scary to know that you are in a company that has been around for 140 years but at the same time also recognising the tremendous honour and privilege that is bestowed upon you when being part of a team that leads and develops football within the county.
“Most of all though reading the old minutes books it is clear that whilst 140 years may have passed that not everything has changed and the work around the game still includes cup competitions, referees, affiliation and dealing with discipline.”
