Stuart, Alexander
Alexander Stuart, originally from Scotland, was an early enthusiast for association football in Exeter prior to his premature death in 1891.
With Henry Tucker, head of Park House School in Exeter, instrumental in putting sides together and helping spread soccer to other schools, Mr Stuart was asked to referee some of the code's earlier games in what was overwhelmingly a rugby-minded town. Apparently a leading referee in Scotland, he became involved in organising an Exeter XI, and later an Exeter District team, in games against Crediton and the locally-based South Staffordshire Regiment during the winter of 1888 and 1889. In a historical context it appears remarkable that, whilst the game in Exeter was taking such tentative and belated steps, the professionalised Football League was already in existence in the north and midlands.
Mr Stuart's next move was to help establish a football club based around St Matthew's Church where he was a sidesman. Established with the support of the Reverend Ponting, a noted cricket man, the new club started playing at Whipton Lane from October 1889. Also involved in rugby, Alexander Stuart served as St Matthew's secretary in the club's early days and refereed some of its matches.
Then, maybe surprisingly, his rugby commitments once more came to the fore as he became secretary of the Devon Rugby Football Union. However, around this time, his erstwhile colleague Henry Tucker had established an Exeter Association club for the 1891/92 season which had grown from a number of informal fixtures played during the previous winter. Playing on a more organised basis the new club, with Mr Tucker as secretary, had a home ground at Matford Lane in St Leonard's but was soon to give way to another club of the same name in 1893.
Whatever the extent of his involvement in this new association football venture, concern had been expressed as to how Alexander Stewart was 'overworking' in all aspects of his life. This may have been pertinent for, in November 1891, he succumbed to typhoid fever in November 1891 when still in his mid-thirties.
With Henry Tucker, head of Park House School in Exeter, instrumental in putting sides together and helping spread soccer to other schools, Mr Stuart was asked to referee some of the code's earlier games in what was overwhelmingly a rugby-minded town. Apparently a leading referee in Scotland, he became involved in organising an Exeter XI, and later an Exeter District team, in games against Crediton and the locally-based South Staffordshire Regiment during the winter of 1888 and 1889. In a historical context it appears remarkable that, whilst the game in Exeter was taking such tentative and belated steps, the professionalised Football League was already in existence in the north and midlands.
Mr Stuart's next move was to help establish a football club based around St Matthew's Church where he was a sidesman. Established with the support of the Reverend Ponting, a noted cricket man, the new club started playing at Whipton Lane from October 1889. Also involved in rugby, Alexander Stuart served as St Matthew's secretary in the club's early days and refereed some of its matches.
Then, maybe surprisingly, his rugby commitments once more came to the fore as he became secretary of the Devon Rugby Football Union. However, around this time, his erstwhile colleague Henry Tucker had established an Exeter Association club for the 1891/92 season which had grown from a number of informal fixtures played during the previous winter. Playing on a more organised basis the new club, with Mr Tucker as secretary, had a home ground at Matford Lane in St Leonard's but was soon to give way to another club of the same name in 1893.
Whatever the extent of his involvement in this new association football venture, concern had been expressed as to how Alexander Stewart was 'overworking' in all aspects of his life. This may have been pertinent for, in November 1891, he succumbed to typhoid fever in November 1891 when still in his mid-thirties.
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