Acton was an English

association football Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

club, founded in 1873 under the name St Stephens (Westminster). In 1879 the club changed its name to Acton F.C. and moved to a ground in Acton.

History

Although the club was founded as a Westminster club, it originally played at

Battersea Park Battersea Park is a 200-acre (83-hectare) green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in London. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, London, Chelsea and was opened in 1858. The park occupies ...

. Its membership was limited to 30. The club first entered the

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...

in 1877–78, losing in the first round to Remnants. It next entered two years later, by which time the club had changed its name to Acton. The club then entered every year until 1885–86. However the club only won two ties; a first round tie against

Kildare Kildare () is a town in County Kildare, Ireland. , its population was 10,302, making it the 7th largest town in County Kildare. It is home to Kildare Cathedral, historically the site of an important abbey said to have been founded by Saint ...

in 1880–81, after a replay, and against

Finchley Finchley () is a large district of north London, England, in the London Borough of Barnet. north of Charing Cross, nearby districts include: Golders Green, Muswell Hill, Friern Barnet, Whetstone, London, Whetstone, Mill Hill and Hendon. It is ...

in 1881–82, again after a replay. The club's last tie was a home defeat to Old Carthusians in November 1886, by a score given as 6–1 or 7–1. The club was a founder member of the

London Football Association The London Football Association (LFA) is the regional Football Association for inner areas of London. The London FA was established in 1882 and is affiliated to The Football Association. The London FA administers all levels of men's, women's and ...

in 1882. It claimed to have played 44 matches in the 1884–85 season, winning 13, drawing 12, and losing 19, which would have made it one of the most active clubs in London. Within two years however the club was in abeyance. The club revived in 1888–89, with a new secretary and colours, but playing at the same ground. The revival seems to have lasted only one season. By 1894, the club's ground had been taken over by amateur club Ealing Association.

Colours

The club's colours were scarlet and dark blue hooped shirts, with white shorts, and either scarlet (as St Stephen's) or blue (as Acton) stockings. In 1888 the club adopted chocolate and blue, probably in halves.

Ground

As St Stephen's, the club played at

. Its Acton ground was near the Mill Hill Tavern in Gunnersbury Lane.

References

Defunct football clubs in England Defunct football clubs in London Association football clubs established in 1873 Association football clubs disestablished in 1889 {{England-footyclub-defunct-stub