Ebenezer Cobb Morley
Ebenezer Cobb Morley (16 August 1831 – 20 November 1924) was a solicitor, sportsman, and civic leader who lived in Barnes for 66 years. Known as the “Father of Modern Football,” he founded the Football Association, drafted its original rules, and played in the first match ever held under those rules. He is buried in Barnes Old Cemetery.
Early Life
Morley was born at 10 Garden Square, Mason Street, Hull, the son of Reverend Ebenezer Morley, a nonconformist minister. He trained as a solicitor, qualifying in 1854, and initially practised in Brentford, Middlesex, before moving to Barnes in 1858 to expand his professional opportunities in London.
Life in Barnes
Morley settled at 26 The Terrace, a riverside house overlooking the Thames, where he would live until his death. He threw himself into local life immediately. By 1858 he was participating in the Barnes and Mortlake Regatta; by 1860 he was its treasurer, and from 1862 to 1870 its secretary. He was an accomplished rower throughout his life.
The Football Association
In 1862, Morley founded Barnes Football Club. The following year, he wrote a letter to Bell’s Life newspaper proposing the creation of a governing body for football, with the power to set common rules. On 26 October 1863, representatives of eleven clubs met at the Freemasons’ Tavern in London, where Morley was elected the first honorary secretary of the newly formed Football Association.
At his home on The Terrace, Morley drafted the thirteen original Laws of the Game, published on 8 December 1863. On 19 December, he played in the first match under FA rules – Barnes versus Richmond at Limes Field, Mortlake.
Morley served as FA Secretary from 1863 to 1866, then as FA President from 1867 to 1874. During his presidency, he oversaw the creation of the FA Cup and was the first person to present the trophy, in 1872.
Civic Life
Beyond football, Morley served Barnes as a Justice of the Peace (from 1906), a member of Surrey County Council representing Barnes (1903–1919), and a Conservator of Barnes Common, protecting the open space from encroachment. He was known locally as “The Old Sportsman of Barnes.”
Personal Life
Morley married Frances Bidgood on 14 October 1869. Frances died of pneumonia in 1911. They had no children, and Morley’s direct lineage ended with his death.
Death and Legacy
Morley died of pneumonia on 20 November 1924, aged 93, and was buried five days later at Barnes Old Cemetery on the edge of Barnes Common, which he had helped to preserve. He lies alongside his wife Frances.
In 2008, Morley was inducted into the FIFA Hall of Fame. In 2009, English Heritage placed a blue plaque at 26 The Terrace. The house collapsed during basement excavation work in November 2015, though the plaque had been installed before its destruction.
On 16 August 2018 – Morley’s 187th birthday – Google honoured him with a Google Doodle, bringing global recognition to the man from Barnes who gave the world its most popular sport.
Image sources
- ebenezer-cobb-morley.webp — Ebenezer Cobb Morley, 1913. Public domain (Leeds Mercury). Source
Sources
- Ebenezer Cobb Morley – Wikipedia
- Hull History Centre – Ebenezer Cobb Morley
- Spartacus Educational – Ebenezer Cobb Morley
- London Remembers – Ebenezer Cobb Morley