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11 June 2023
 
 

Cunliffe Gosling

Old Etonians AFC & Corinthians FC

5 appearances, 2 goals

P 5 W 4 D 1 L 0 F 16: A 5
90% successful
1892-97

captain: one
minutes played: 450

Timeline
  Robert Cunliffe Gosling DL, JP
Birth Monday, 15 June 1868 in Hassobury, Farnham, Essex
  registered in Bishop's Stortford July-September 1868.
Baptism Monday, 2 August 1868 in St. Mary the Virgin Church, Farnham
 

According to the 1871 census, Robert Cunliffe was the seventh of nine children, and the oldest son, to Robert and Eleanor Spencer (née Smith). They lived at Hassobury, a manor house in Farnham, Bishop's Stortford. His father is a magistrate and landowner. They have four nurses and fourteen servants.

 

According to the 1881 census, the Gosling family are very much still at Hassobury. Robert, who is not on this return, has six more siblings. And they all live with their parents and twenty-one servants.
"UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE ...CAMBRIDGE, Saturday, The following degrees were conferred:―
"Bachelor of Arts,―Robert Cunliffe Gosling." - The Leeds Mercury, Tuesday, 23 December 1890.
 

According to the 1891 census, ten of the children, not Robert, live with their parents at Hassobury. They have eighteen servants.
 Robert Cunliffe Gosling was executor of a will for Great Western Railway shareholders on a number of occasions. Firstly for his father Robert, who died on 23 August 1895.  The will was executed on 26 November 1895 along with his mother and brother. He lived at Hassobury.
  "At the Essex Quarter Session Mr. Robert Cunliffe Gosling, of Hassobury, was sworn in as a justice of the peace for the county." - The Essex Herald, Tuesday, 22 October 1895.
  "DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MR. R. C. GOSLING'S TOWN HOUSE
"On Sunday a destructive fire occurred at 28 Portland-place, W., the town  residence of Mr. R. C Gosling, J.P., of Hassobury, Bishop Stortford. The flames spread with great rapidity, but fortunately all the inmates made good their escape. The mansion, which is the property of Mr. Gosling, was severely damaged." - The Essex County Chronicle, Friday, 4 December 1896.
"PROBATE... A nice little legacy of £10,000 apiece has been left to Messrs Robert Cunliffe Gosling and William Sullivan Gosling, the great 'socker' men, sons of Mr. R. Gosling, of Hassobury, by their cousin, the late Mr E. D. Gosling, of Bushridge Hall, Godalming, who died on October 29th last, aged but 36, leaving over half a million personalty." - South Wales Daily News, Thursday, 25 November 1897.
  The London Electoral Registers in 1897-1903 state that Robert is an occupant at Hassobury, confirmed by Kelly's Directory of Hertfordshire 1902.

According to the 1901 census, Robert C. was head of the household at Hassobury. With him was his widowed mother, two sisters and five brothers, as well as sixteen servants.

"NEW EAST ANGLIAN SHERIFFS
"His Majesty the King held a Council at Marlborough House on Thursday for the appointment of Sheriffs to serve during the ensuing year throughout England and Wales, with the exception of the counties of Cornwall and Lancashire. The following are the East Anglian appointments:.―
"Essex.―Mr. Robert Cunliffe Gosling, of Hassobury, Farnham." - The Ipswich Journal, Saturday, 8 March 1902.
The London Electoral Registers in 1906-10, confirm a second address of the Goslings. 28 Portland Place, of which Robert occupied the front of the 3rd floor. Confirmed by the Kelly's Directory of Hertfordshire 1908-10.

According to the 1911 census, only Robert Cunliffe, his mother, and brother Lionel Drummond Gosling remain at Hassobury. They live there with fifteen servants.
 Once again, Gosling was executor for Herbert Farrer when he died on 25 January 1912. The will was executed on 7 February 1912 between the two Gosling brothers, Robert's address was stated as Hassobury.
The 1912 Post Office Directory states Robert has two properties, at Hassobury and 28 Portland Place.
Gosling was then executor for Reginald Cunliffe Smith. He had died on 6 February 1917 and the will executed on 24 April 1917. Robert's address was again stated as Hassobury.
According to Kelly's Directory, between 1912 and 1922, Robert is a J.P. living at Hassobury.
Inexpicably, none of the Goslings can be found on the 1921 census, and neither can Hassobury.
Death Saturday, 8 April 1922 at midnight, his home at Hassobury, Farnham, Essex
aged 53 years 297 days registered in Bishop's Stortford April-June 1922.

Home notes

 The Hassobury mansion in Farnham, on the outskirts of Bishop's Stortford, is now called The Gosling.

Obituary
"FAMOUS SPORTSMAN―Death of Mr. R.C.Gosling
"We regret to announce the death of Mr. Robert Cunliffe Gosling, D.L., J.P., of Hassobury, Bishop's Stortford, which occurred at midnight on Saturday. The previous Sunday he underwent a serious operation, and there was some improvement until Friday, when his condition was considered hopeless. The deceased was the eldest son of the late Mr. Robert Gosling, a former chairman of the Bishop Stortford Bench, and Mrs. Gosling, of Hassobury. He was a Justice of the Peace for Essex and Herts, and was High Sheriff of Essex in 1902.
"The late R.C. Gosling, who was in his 54th year, was an all-round sportsman and a country gentleman of the type now rapidly becoming extinct. In succession to his father, he was a large landowner in Essex and Herts, and one of the most beloved squires to be found. The Goslings have long been bankers in the City of London, and trace their descent from Sir Francis Gosling, banker, who was born in 1720.
"While at Eton Mr. R. C. Gosling, like his six younger brothers, distinguished himself at football and cricket, besides being president of 'Pop.' His best performance at cricket was to score 59 out of 101, and win the 1887 match against Harrow by five wickets. He was a double Blue at Cambridge (where he went to Trinity), with an extraordinary high batting average over the three years (1888, 1889, and 1890) that he represented his University at Lords. His well-timed clean drive, together with his catches in the field, and are still remembered by many. He also occasionally played for Essex (he scored 57 against Surrey in 1889), and was in 1914 president of the Essex County Cricket Club. For many years, too, he 'ran' the famous Rickling Green Cricket Week, where Eton Ramblers and I. Zingarl matches were brought about through his initiative. He had also assisted Bishop Stortford.
"It was, however, in Association football that he perhaps made his name. He was one of the best inside-left forwards England ever had, and although a big fellow, he was fast, a most clever dribbler, and extremely unselfish. He obtained his Blue at Cambridge in 1890, and gained his international cap against Wales in 1897. He represented England for three years against Scotland and Wales, playing in five games, and being on the winning side in every case. He also played many a time for the Corinthians, and of course for Old Etonians; while twice he played for the Amateurs against Professionals. It is not generally known that it was Mr. Gosling who presented the Arthur Dunn Cup, in memory of his old friend, 'A.T.B.'
"The deceased was also an ardent follower of the Puckeridge Foxhounds, which came into being from the pack of which his father was Master. His brothers include Lieut.Col. S. F. Gosling, D.S.O., Master of the Essex Hounds, and Mr. A. S. Gosling, of Barrington Hall, Hatfield Broad Oak. He was unmarried."
  - The Essex Chronicle, Friday, 14 April 1922.
Funeral "The funeral of the late Mr. Robert Cunliffe Gosling, D.L., J.P., of Hassobury Park, took place in Farnham Churchyard, in the presence of a large gathering. The bearers were sixteen of the estate workmen, and the cortege was preceded by Supt. Fleck and eight members of the Essex Constabulary. At the church, the officiating clergy were the Bishop of Barking, Canon Steele (brother-in-law of the deceased), and the Rector, the Rev. J. G. Geare." - The Essex Chronicle, Friday, 21 April 1922.
Probate "GOSLING Robert Cunliffe of Hassobury Essex died 8 April 1922  Probate London 4 August to William Sullivan Gosling major H.M. Army and Alfred Henry Gosling and Lionel Drummond Gosling esquires..
 Effects £646,878 0s. 5d." [2019 equivalent: £37,034,578]
Cambridge University Alumni
GOSLING, Robert Cunliffe.
Adm. pens. at TRINITY May 30, 1887.
S. and h. of Robert[J.P. and D.L.], of Hassobury, Essex.
B. June 15, 1868, at Farnham, Hants.
Sch: Eton. Matric. 1887. B.A. 1890;		 Cricket 'blue', 1888, 1889, 1890; Football (assoc.) 'blue,' 1890.
Of Hassobury, Essex and Herts. D.L. for Essex.
High Sheriff of Essex, 1902.
Died Apr. 8, 1922 at Hassobury.
Brother of the next and of William S. (1889)
(Eton Sch. Lists; Book of Blues; Burke, L.G., 1925; Scott, MSS.; The Times, Apr. 11, 1922)
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career
Club(s) Attended and played for Eton College, captaining the side in 1887. Attended  Cambridge University, earning his 'blue' in 1890. By default, played for the Old Etonians AFC side.
Corinthians 1889-99 49 appearances, fourteen goals.
Club honours None
Individual honours None
Distinctions Donor of the Arthur Dunn Cup.
Also played cricket with Cambridge University, earning his blue, 1888-90. Also played with Essex 1894-96.
Height/Weight 6' 0", 13st. 0lbs [1890's].

Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of eight who became the 190th players (195) to appear for England.
Position(s) Outside-right/inside-forward
First match No. 45, 5 March 1892, Wales 0 England 2, a British Championship match at The Racecourse, Mold Road, Wrexham, aged 23 years 264 days.
Last match
3 years 31 days		 No. 55, 6 April 1895, England 3 Scotland 0, a British Championship match at Goodison Park, Walton, Liverpool, aged 26 years 295 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1891-92, 1892-93, 1893-94, 1894-95;
Team honours British Championship winners 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95;
Individual honours The Stripes (one appearance, February 1892)
The Amateurs (three appearances, 1ᶜ March 1893-March 1897)
The Whites (withdrew in March 1894)
Distinctions Died just ten days after Nevill Cobbold.
most appearanced Englishman at Old Etonians AFC.

Beyond England
He was Justice for Peace in Essex and Hertfordshire. He became the High Sheriff of Essex in 1902. President of Essex CC in 1914. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.109.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes goals ave.min comp. goals captain
8 5 5 450 2 225 min 2 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.
P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
5 4 1 0 16 5 +11 0 2 3 1 90 +4
All of his matches were played in the British Championship

Venue Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 3 2 1 0 9 4 +5 0 1 3.00 1.333 83.3 +2
Away 2 2 0 0 7 1 +6 0 1 3.50 0.50 100.0 +2

Captain Record

Venue P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3.00 0.00 100.0 +1
1 1 0 0 3 0 +3 0 1 3 0 100 +1

Tournament Record

British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1891-92 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 0 1 2.00 0.00 100.0 +1
BC 1892-93 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 0 0 5.00 2.00 100.0 +1
BC 1893-94 1 1 0 0 5 2 +3 0 0 5.00 2.00 100.0 +1
BC 1894-95 2 1 1 0 4 1 +3 0 1 2.00 0.50 75.0 +1
BC 1896-97 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 =0
BC All 5 4 1 0 16 5 +11 0 2 3.20 1.00 90.0 +4

All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 5 4 1 0 16 5 +11 0 2 3.20 1.00 90.0 +4
5 4 1 0 16 5 +11 0 2 3.2 1 90 +4

Match History

 Club: Old Etonians A.F.C. & Corinthians F.C. - five full appearances (450 min) F.A. International Select Committee - five full appearances (450 min)x

Age 23 trial  
one appearance - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 29 February 1892;

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

1 45 5 March 1892 - Wales 0 England 2
The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW   or
  

one of eight who became the 190th player (195) to appear for England
the sixteenth Old Etonian to represent England
one of five who became the 39th Corinthian to represent England

Age 24
47 25 February 1893 - England 6 Ireland 1, Wellington Road Football Ground, Handsworth BC HW withdrawn

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateurs, 22 March 1893;

2 49 1 April 1893 - England 5 Scotland 2
 Athletic Ground, Richmond		 BC HW 15 header il
  

Age 25
3 51 12 March 1894 - Wales 1 England 5
The Racecourse, Wrexham		 BC AW 85
 disallowed [1-5]		 ir

trial  
withdrew - The Whites vs. The Stripes, 15 March 1894;

52 7 April 1894 - Scotland 2 England 2, Celtic Park, Glasgow BC AD withdrawn captain
  

Age 26
4 54 18 March 1895 - England 1 Wales 1
Recreation Ground, West Kensington (Corinthians' home ground)		 BC HD   ir

trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateursᶜ, 28 March 1895;

5 55 6 April 1895 - England 3 Scotland 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool		 BC HW disallowed [3-0] ᶜil
  

the last ever Old Etonian to represent England

Age 28 trial  
one appearance - The Professionals vs. The Amateursᶜ, 15 March 1897;

60 29 March 1897 - England 4 Wales 0, Bramall Lane, Sheffield BC HW withdrawn
  


     

 
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