Henry Charles Malden

Henry Charles Malden (24 February 1829 – 13 June 1907) was a nineteenth-century schoolmaster and antiquarian, notable for his role in the history of football.

Early life

Malden was born in 1829 at Ryde, Isle of Wight, the son of Charles Robert Malden and his wife Frances (née Cole). From 1837 to 1843 he attended Windlesham House School, which had been founded by his father. At the age of 15 he studied with the Rev. Thomas Scott in preparation for university.

According to his daughter Rose, Malden "always considered himself the father" of the laws of Association Football because of his role in the creation of the 1848 Cambridge Rules.

In 1851, Malden graduated from Cambridge with a football "blue".

Career

After Cambridge, Malden immediately returned to Windlesham House School, where he served as senior tutor under his father.

Later life

In 1888, Malden suffered an attack of typhoid. He retired as headmaster of Windlesham House School, succeeded by his eldest son Charles. He moved to Crowborough, where he lived for nine years before moving again to Godalming in 1897. It was from Godalming that he wrote his 1897 letter to the Football Association describing his memories of the creation of the Cambridge rules of football, as noted above. He edited the parish registers of Godalming for publication in 1904.

He sat on Brighton Town Council from 1886 to 1892, and on Godalming Town Council from 1891 until his death.

He died in Godalming on 13 June 1907. He was survived by his wife Catharine and six children.

Publications