Llewelyn Kenrick
Founder of the Football Association of Wales.
- Born:
-
1847
- Died:
-
1933
- Place of Birth:
- Rubaon
- School:
- Ruabon Grammar School
- Biography:
-
Kenrick trained as a solicitor and became Coroner for East Denbighshire in 1906, but is best known for founding the Football Association of Wales and popularising the game throughout the country.
He was born in Ruabon, Wrexham, in 1847, the son of a local ironmaster. He attended Ruabon Grammar School, then trained as a solicitor and opened a practice in Ruabon. A keen football player, he played for Shropshire Wanderers and was involved with the transformation of the Plasmadoc club into Druids, a team which continues to exist today. In 1876 Kenrick saw a letter in a newspaper challenging the Welsh nation to form its own football team. In order to rise to this challenge Kenrick formed the Football Association of Wales. Its constitution was drawn up in the Wynnstay Arms Hotel in Ruabon. In March 1876 the Welsh national side played for the first time, losing 4-0 to Scotland. Kenrick himself played for the team several times, the last time being in 1881 when he filled in for a missing player and had to play in his everyday clothes. He died in Ruabon in 1933. Contributed by Simon Mapp
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