Clifton College Website

Celebrating 50 years of football at Clifton

To celebrate 50 years of playing school football a special commemorative tournament and dinner was held on the Close with teams from the Old Cliftonian Society, the Staff and the School represented. The College staff team was captained by Julian Edgell and included Mark Moore, Headmaster. Honour was maintained by a competitive 1-1 result.

Football was first started in 1957 as a result of John Cleese (comedian and actor most famous for being one of the founding members of the renowned comedy group Monty Python) constantly badgering the Headmaster. John Cleese of course was a big Bristol City fan and would have sacrificed most things to have played for them. How fitting it should be that today the Master in Charge of Football is David Rodgers, ex Bristol City Professional Footballer. The school now regularly fields 8 competitive sides during Lent Term.

Cleese's particular football party piece was to torment the opposition by getting into a corner of the football field and indulge himself in intricate passing with 2/3 other team members to wind up the opposition with no intention of making progress towards the opposition goal!!! The Cliftonian for 1958 states that "Cleese, the self-styled schemer has fiddled the ball, himself, his opponents and his fellow forwards into a state of neurotic frenzy! However it is obvious that he has the ability to beat two or more defenders in a short space and pinpoint his pass into gaps which would not otherwise have been evident". It should not be forgotten that John Cleese was a good sportsman and played for the 1st XI at Lords against Tonbridge. He famously removed Denis Compton in a match on the Close.

At the dinner Michael Filer was present from the team that played at BB, as a goalkeeper without nets in 1957!! And David Hancorn from the 1958 side.

The 1957 Easter Term Association Football Team consisted of J.R.Bernard, J.M. Huckman, M.H.Filer (photo), R.W.Snaith, J.M.Kerr, G.B.Daintry, D.J.Carter, R.W,Mathias, R.A.C.Weeks, J.H.Phillips, M.J.A.A.Smith, R.P.Hill, J.W.Wickenden, J.M.Cleese and R.P.Langley.

Steve Dunn, the premiership referee made a terrific speech with some wonderful stories of the difficulties of reffing at places like Millwall!!