About the silver 1888 Cardiff Football Union Medal
Email received from rugby historian Gwyn Prescott: "...Just to confirm our earlier conversation, you have a Cardiff District Football Union medal. I am certain it is a cup medal, as this union only existed to administer the competition. In 1888, the winners were Penarth. Since we spoke, I have located the names of the players in the final in my records. There was virtually no soccer at all in Cardiff in the 1880s and there was certainly no soccer union, so this is definitely a rugby trophy. All rugby clubs in Cardiff at this time – and there were very many of them – called themselves “football” clubs rather than “rugby” clubs. This union was in existence only for a few years. It was disbanded when Penarth won the cup outright after the fourth final. The cup is now in the Penarth club museum. I would guess the colours of the ribbon would have been blue and black but there is no way of knowing for certain. Penarth’s colours then, as now, were blue. | During the 1890s, the Cardiff and District Football Union (now renamed the Cardiff and District Rugby Union) was formed and they introduced the Mallett Cup – still played for today – but this is a different competition from the one relating to your medal. I am currently researching this period of Cardiff’s rugby history with Gareth Williams, so for me it was particularly fascinating to learn about this... ...This is the team which won the Cardiff District Cup in 1888, as published in the press: H.E. (Herbie) Morgan |
