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17 March 2024
 
 

Kirke Smith

Oxford University AFC

1 appearance, 0 goals

P 1 W 0 D 1 L 0 F 0: A
0
50% successful
1872

captain:
none
minutes played:
90

photo credit: University College, Oxford
Timeline
  Arnold Kirke Smith
  Sometimes recorded as Kirke-Smith. But Kirke is definitely only a middle name and the forename he came to be known by. He sometime signed himself as A. Kirke Smith. He just preferred to sign and call himself Kirke.
Barnes Hall in Ecclesfield Birth: St. George's Day, Tuesday, 23 April 1850 at Barnes Hall [left], Elliotts Lane, Ecclesfield, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
registered in Wortley April-June 1850
According to the 1851 census, the young Arnold Kirke is the youngest of nine children to William and Mary Ann (née Mackenzie), living at Barnes Hall in Elliotts Lane, Ecclesfield with four servants. His father is a solicitor and farmer.
According to the 1861 census, still living at Barnes Hall, Arnold K. is one of five children, although now only the second youngest, and eight servants, living with his parents.
According to the 1871 census, Arnold Kirke is an Oxford undergraduate and boarding at the Hammond's, at 82 Upper Grosvenor Street at Marylebone.
Marriage to Emma Lindsell, on 25 September 1877, at Biggleswade Parish Church.
  no registration found
Children Kirke and Emma Smith had five children together. Arthur Kirke (b.20 August 1878), Janet Elizabeth (b.3 June 1880), Douglas Kirke (b.24 May 1883), Martin Kirke (b.15 August 1885) and Kathleen Frances (b.1887)
"BIRTHS. ...SMITH―Aug. 20, at Eaton Socon, Beds., the wife of the Rev. Arnold Kirke Smith, of a son." - Sheffield Independent, Monday, 26 August 1878.
"SMITH―June 3, at Eaton Socon, Bedfordshire, the wife of the Rev. Arnold Kirke Smith, of a daughter." - The London Standard, Monday, 7 June 1880.
  According to the 1881 census, Arnold K. is now married to Emma, with two children, Arthur and Janet. He is a curate in charge of Somersham in Cambridgeshire, where they live along with three servants, in The Rectory, on Rectory Lane.
  "The Rev. Arnold Kirke Smith, who has just been inducted to the Vicarage of Somersham with Pidley and Colne, Hunts, is the first Vicar since the time of James I. The living has always been attached to the Regius Professor of Divinity at Cambridge. The separation was effected by Act of Parliament last session and came into force on December 25th." -  The Hampshire Advertiser, Saturday, 10 February 1883.
(His father died 20 October 1888)
According to the 1891 census, Arnold K. is now a Clerk in Holy Orders in Boxworth, also in Cambridgeshire. Still with his wife, and now with three more children, Douglas, Martin and Kathleen. Along with four servants, they all live at The Rectory in Grape Vine Row, Boxworth.
According to the 1901 census, Arnold K. is a CofE clergyman, living at St Peters' Rectory in Boxworth, with his wife, one of his daughters, Kathleen and three servants.
According to the 1911 census, Arnold Kirke is still at St Peters' Rectory with his wife and two of his daughters and two of his grand-daughters, as well as five servants.
(His youngest son, Martin Kirke, died 14 December 1915)
Cannot be found on the 1921 census.
(His second son, Douglas Kirke, died 21 May 1923)
photo credit: University College, Oxford
Death Saturday morning, 8 October 1927 at the Rectory in Boxworth, Cambridgeshire
aged 77 years 168 days registered in St. Ives October-December 1927

Obituary

"DEATH OF REV. A. KIRKE SMITH. - Former Curate at Biggleswade.
"We regret to announce that the Rev. Arnold Kirke Smith, rector of Boxworth, Cambs., whose health had been failing for some time, passed away suddenly at the Rectory on Saturday morning. Born 77 years ago, the son of the late Mr. William Smith, of Barnes Hall, Greenside, Sheffield, Mr. Kirke Smith was educated at Cheltenham and University College, Oxford (B.A. 1873). Ordained deacon in 1875 and priest in 1876, all his clerical life was spent in the diocese of Ely.
"He was curate at Biggleswade, 1875-7, of Aspley Guise 1877-8, of Eaton Socon 1878-81, curate-in-charge of Somersham, Hunts., 1881-2, Vicar of Somersham from 1883 until 1889, when he was presented to the Rectory of Boxworth. He was appointed Rural Dean of Bourn in 1903, but relinquished the office some years ago, being succeeded by the Rev. L. Iggulden, then Vicar of Caxton, but now Rector of Elsworth.
"During the 38 years Mr. Kirke Smith has been at Boxworth he has effected many improvements in the parish church, which at the time of his acceptance of the living was in a deplorable condition. Among the more notable may be mentioned an oak reredos, and the filling of every window with stained glass by Kemp. The spot chosen for his grave is beneath the window last filled.
"At Boxworth, Mr. Kirke Smith took the most sympathetic interest in the welfare of the people of the village. He knew every man, woman and child, and where help of any kind was needed, it was always given kindly and unobtrusively. His death is felt most keenly, for the people know they have lost a true friend.
"Throughout life Mr. Smith too a warm and active interest in all healthy sport. The village cricket clubs had his enthusiastic support, and until  prevented by advancing years, many were the games in which he played. At Sheffield he was noted hurdler, while at Oxford he was captain of the University Association football team. He also played for England. While at Boxworth he was a prominent member of the Cambridgeshire Hunt.
"Sunday, 25th September, was Mr. and Mrs. Kirke Smith's golden wedding day, but owing to the state of his health, all festivities had to be postponed. The villagers, however, marked the occasion by the presentation of an address accompanied by a cut glass bowl and a brass kettle on stand. In addition to his widow, Mr. Smith leaves one son, Mr. Arthur Kirke Smith, of Bombay, and two daughters, Mrs. Sykes and Mrs. Douglas Crossman. He had three sons, all of whom served in the war. The youngest, Lieut. Martin Kirke Smith, 4th Home Counties' Howitzer Brigade, when in command of a battery of trench mortars, was sot dead on Dec. 14th, 1915, while carrying a wounded officer of Engineers out of action, and his second son,  Lieut-Col. Douglas Kirke Smith, R.F.A., D.S.O. (mentioned in dispatches), died suddenly at Blackheath of heart failure on 21st May, 1923, and was buried at Boxworth. Mr. Arthur Kirke Smith served in India.
"The funeral took place at Boxworth on Tuesday afternoon."
- The Biggleswade Chronicle & Bedfordshire Gazette, Friday, 14 October 1927.

Funeral at St Peters' Church, Boxworth, where he is buried in the churchyard. Date not known
"SMITH the reverend Arnold Kirke of The Rectory Boxworth near Cambridge died 8 October 1927 Probate London 22 November to William Mackenzie Smith and Philip Gatty Smith.
Effects £30969 5s. 5d." [2019 equivalent: £1,960,166]
Emma Francis died 6 June 1928, and is buried with her late husband.
Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s) Smith was educated at Cheltenham College before going up to the Oxford University. He starred in their first ever game, 10 February 1872, and even scored in their first match against Radley College. He also played for the original Sheffield club.
Club honours FA Cup runners-up 1872-73;
Individual honours Sheffield FA
Height/Weight not known
Source Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990]

England Career

Player number One of eleven who became the first players (8) to appear for England.
Position(s) Centre-forward
Only match No. 1, 30 November 1872, Scotland 0 England 0, friendly match at The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Hamilton Crescent, Partick, Glasgow, aged 22 years 221 days.
Distinctions None

Beyond England

After leaving university at Oxford, he was ordained as a deacon in 1875 and as a priest a year later. Smith then became the curate at Biggleswade for two years. He was then curate at Aspley Guise for a year, and at Eaton Socon from 1878 to 1881 before moving to Somersham, Cambridgeshire, where he became curate in 1881, and then its Vicar in 1883.  After six years, he was then appointed as Vicar at Boxworth [left] where he remained until his death on 8 October 1927. Also appointed as the Rural Dean of Bourn in 1903. He never left the borders of the diocese of Ely. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.225/obituary.



The Numbers
parties Appearances minutes captain
1 1 90 0 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
1 0 1 0 0 0 =0 1 1 0 0 50 =0
His only match was a friendly match and at an away venue

Match History
 
 Club: Oxford University A.F.C. - one full appearance (90 min) F.A. Committee - one full appearance (90 min)x

apps match match details comp res. rundown pos

Age 20
u/o 25 February 1871 - England 1 Scotland 1, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr AD Started for Scotland for

Age 21
u/o 18 November 1871 - England 2 Scotland 1, The Surrey Cricket Ground, Kennington Fr AL Started for Scotland for
  

Age 22
1 1 30 November 1872 - Scotland 0 England 0
The West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Partick
Fr AD   for
  

the eighth player to appear on an England teamsheet
one of the first players (three) from Oxford University AFC to represent England

  

 
cg/dr