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as5680 · 11-04-2015, 03:45 PM

New Teams Joining the League in 1868

At the January meeting of the Metropolitan League, the two teams elected to the join the league for the upcoming season were officially welcomed into membership.

GREENWICH MERIDIAN
Ballpark: Greenwich Park; Jersey Colour: Sea Green
The club plays its games at the southern end of Greenwich Park and is named after the prime meridian for Britain which passes through Greenwich. Inspired by this, club members laid out the home field so that the home plate was right on the meridian line. Greenwich's maritime associations inspired the club colour of sea green.

ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS
Ballpark: Barrack Field; Jersey Colour: Gold
Formed by the soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the club plays its games within the grounds of the barracks. Wearing the Royal Artillery cap badge on its jerseys, the club has previously selected only players from the artillery but as members of the Metropolitan League, it may be that this policy will now be relaxed.

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The first decision which was required of the new clubs, as well as the existing six members, was to decide on the format of the league's schedule for the 1868 season. With eight clubs, continuing to play each other six times would require forty-two games in a season. This was widely seen as too many and rejected without a vote, on the grounds that it would require either a much longer season or games to be played on days other than Saturdays.

Playing four rounds of games would have left only twenty-eight games in the schedule, a reduction of two on the previous format. A proposal to play this format was defeated by six votes to two, as many clubs did not want to make the season shorter.

An amended plan was then suggested whereby the thirty game schedule be maintained by playing four rounds in this way, but adding two more games between the clubs who are closer together geographically. This was vociferously opposed by Angel Islington, who under the plan would likely be required to play more games than any other side against the champion City of London Club.

The idea of keeping the thirty game schedule was popular with the teams however and when the idea was put to a vote, it was accepted by the narrow margin of five to three.

The schedule will therefore see every team play each of the other seven four times, twice at each team's home park. There will then be one more home game for each team against its paired rival to complete the thirty weeks. The clubs are paired together as follows:

Angel Islington/City of London Club
Clapham Common/Old Westminsters
Greenwich Meridian/Royal Artillery Barracks
Kensington Victoria/Marylebone Regents

During the debate, the proposed pairings were disputed by the Old Westminsters on the grounds that their home field is geographically closest to that of Kensington. It was however pointed out that it is impossible for all eight teams to be paired with their closest neighbour and that the proposed arrangement was fairest to every club.

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LOGOS AND JERSEYS OF THE NEW LEAGUE TEAMS
Left to right: Greenwich Meridian, Royal Artillery Barracks

11-04-2015, 03:45 PM	#107
as5680 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Didcot, England Posts: 1,426	New Teams Joining the League in 1868 At the January meeting of the Metropolitan League, the two teams elected to the join the league for the upcoming season were officially welcomed into membership. GREENWICH MERIDIAN Ballpark: Greenwich Park; Jersey Colour: Sea Green The club plays its games at the southern end of Greenwich Park and is named after the prime meridian for Britain which passes through Greenwich. Inspired by this, club members laid out the home field so that the home plate was right on the meridian line. Greenwich's maritime associations inspired the club colour of sea green. ROYAL ARTILLERY BARRACKS Ballpark: Barrack Field; Jersey Colour: Gold Formed by the soldiers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the club plays its games within the grounds of the barracks. Wearing the Royal Artillery cap badge on its jerseys, the club has previously selected only players from the artillery but as members of the Metropolitan League, it may be that this policy will now be relaxed. ----------------------------------------------------- The first decision which was required of the new clubs, as well as the existing six members, was to decide on the format of the league's schedule for the 1868 season. With eight clubs, continuing to play each other six times would require forty-two games in a season. This was widely seen as too many and rejected without a vote, on the grounds that it would require either a much longer season or games to be played on days other than Saturdays. Playing four rounds of games would have left only twenty-eight games in the schedule, a reduction of two on the previous format. A proposal to play this format was defeated by six votes to two, as many clubs did not want to make the season shorter. An amended plan was then suggested whereby the thirty game schedule be maintained by playing four rounds in this way, but adding two more games between the clubs who are closer together geographically. This was vociferously opposed by Angel Islington, who under the plan would likely be required to play more games than any other side against the champion City of London Club. The idea of keeping the thirty game schedule was popular with the teams however and when the idea was put to a vote, it was accepted by the narrow margin of five to three. The schedule will therefore see every team play each of the other seven four times, twice at each team's home park. There will then be one more home game for each team against its paired rival to complete the thirty weeks. The clubs are paired together as follows: Angel Islington/City of London Club Clapham Common/Old Westminsters Greenwich Meridian/Royal Artillery Barracks Kensington Victoria/Marylebone Regents During the debate, the proposed pairings were disputed by the Old Westminsters on the grounds that their home field is geographically closest to that of Kensington. It was however pointed out that it is impossible for all eight teams to be paired with their closest neighbour and that the proposed arrangement was fairest to every club. ----------------------------------------------------- LOGOS AND JERSEYS OF THE NEW LEAGUE TEAMS Left to right: Greenwich Meridian, Royal Artillery Barracks Attached Images Last edited by as5680; 11-04-2015 at 07:22 PM.