Sir Nathaniel Creswick (31 July 1831 – 20 October 1917) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby le ...

who co-founded

Sheffield FC Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, although now based in nearby Dronfield, across the county boundary in Derbyshire. They currently compete in the . Founded in October 1857,

, the oldest football club in the world, in 1857. With

William Prest William Prest (1 April 1832 – 10 February 1885) was a cricketer and footballer born in York. He lived most his life in Sheffield where he went on to become co-founder of Sheffield Football Club and captained Sheffield Cricket Club (''aka'' ...

, he established the

Sheffield Rules The Sheffield Rules was a code of football devised and played in the English city of Sheffield between 1858 and 1877. The rules were initially created and revised by Sheffield Football Club, with responsibility for the laws passing to the Shef ...

, which were highly influential upon the modern

laws Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...

. He was also a founder of the Hallamshire Rifles.

Biography

Creswick was born in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

to Nathaniel and Elizabeth. His father was a silver-plating manufacturer. He was educated at

Sheffield Collegiate School Sheffield Collegiate School began in 1836 in new buildings on the corner of Ecclesall Road and Collegiate Crescent (now Grade II listed and part of Sheffield Hallam University). The school enjoyed academic success but lacked sound finances and ...

and became a solicitor of a silver-plate company. He became involved with several local sports clubs including the Clarkhouse Road Fencing Club and

Sheffield Cricket Club The Sheffield Cricket Club was founded in the 18th century and soon began to play a key role in the development of cricket in northern England. It was the direct forerunner of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and some of the teams fielded by Sheffi ...

. While at Sheffield CC, he joined several other players in informal football matches that started in 1855. He and William Prest decided to create an independent football club which was founded on 24 October 1857 with Creswick as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. The club, known as

Sheffield Football Club Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, although now based in nearby Dronfield, across the county boundary in Derbyshire. They currently compete in the . Founded in October 1857,

, is officially accepted by

FIFA FIFA (; stands for ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' ( French), meaning International Association Football Federation ) is the international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal. It was found ...

as being the oldest football club in the world. They also established a set of playing rules to be used by the club. These were later used by other clubs in the area and eventually spread to many clubs in the north of

and became known as the Sheffield Rules. Creswick resigned the office of secretary in February 1862, being replaced by

William Chesterman __NOTOC__ William Chesterman (22 December 1837 – 6 January 1930)Westby (2017), p. 37 was a British sportsman and industrialist. By his own confession a "weak but ardent footballer", Chesterman served as secretary of Sheffield Football Club f ...

. Creswick and Prest were also involved in founding the 2nd West Yorkshire Rifles (better known as the Hallamshire Rifles) in 1858. He remained with them until 1897 rising to the rank of Colonel. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

for services to the volunteer movement in the 1909 Birthday Honours. On 2 July 1891 Nathaniel Creswick chaired the Founders' meeting of Sheffield's first, pioneering golf club - The Sheffield and District Golf Club - whence he served as the club's first Captain and President. Like Creswick, a number of his fellow Founders had been early Sheffield FC players and Hallamshire Rifles officers too. Almost immediately The Sheffield & District Golf Club's course on Lindrick Common gained renown as a regular championship golfing venue, which it still is. In 1934 the club's members changed its name to Lindrick Golf Club. Most famously, in October 1957, Lindrick hosted the Ryder Cup, and became the last course on which the Great Britain and Ireland team, led by Dai Rees, beat the USA before the inclusion of European players. Since then Lindrick Golf Club has played host to a number of events including the Curtis Cup in 1960, the Dunlop Masters (1966 & 1977), the Sun Alliance Matchplay (1975) and Martini International (1982). Lindrick also regularly hosts Open Championship Regional Qualifiers.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Creswick, Nathaniel 1831 births 1917 deaths Footballers from Sheffield Sheffield F.C. players Creators of association football History of football in England Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath People educated at Sheffield Collegiate School Association footballers not categorized by position English footballers