Llewelyn Kenrick

Samuel Llewelyn Kenrick (9 June 1847 – 29 May 1933) was a Welsh solicitor who became the founder of the Football Association of Wales and organised the first Welsh international football match against Scotland in 1876. As such he became the "father of Welsh football".

Early life and family Kenrick was born into the land-owning, industrialist Kenrick dynasty of Wynn Hall, Ruabon, Wales, the son of William Kenrick (1798–1865) who had founded the Wynn Hall Colliery, and a descendant of the Wynn family. After attending Ruabon Grammar School, Kenrick trained as a solicitor (admitted 1871) and practised at Ruabon.

Two of his cousins, Harriet and Florence Kenrick, were the first and second wives of the politician Joseph Chamberlain.

In 1909 Kenrick married Lillian Maud, daughter of the Rev. A. L. Taylor, headmaster of Ruabon Grammar School, although they had no children.

Football career His earliest football appearances were in England when he played for Priorslee at Shifnal, Shropshire. At this time, there was no organised league system and Druids played friendly matches against other local clubs although they occasionally ventured further afield to play in England and Scotland, including a match against Queens Park at Hampden Park in 1877.

Shropshire Wanderers Kenrick also played for the Shropshire Wanderers Kenrick saw the advertisement but decided that the international match should be Association football.

To be selected, the players had to be born in Wales or have sufficient residence in the Principality. Although Kenrick corresponded with several Welsh clubs and the Universities in order to raise a team he was criticised for allegedly overlooking players from the south. Kenrick played at left back and acquitted himself well, with the match report commenting: "Evans and Kenrick, the backs, played splendidly for Wales".

Football Association of Wales

Provisionally known as the "Cambrian Football Association", the Football Association of Wales was founded at a meeting held on 2 February 1876 at the Wynnstay Arms Hotel in Wrexham, initially to formalise the arrangements for the forthcoming match against Scotland.

Fortunately, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn was in attendance; as the local JP (and also the sitting Member of Parliament), he went next door, opened the Court, extended the hotel's licensing hours, thus enabling the meeting to continue. The meeting ended with Kenrick appointed as the first chairman and honorary secretary

Kenrick continued to serve the FAW until 1884, when he left, probably because of the trend towards professionalism. In 1897, when the FAW secretary was charged with fraud, Kenrick returned to guide the association through the crisis. He made the final break a few months later over the minor issue of the allocation of gate money to Welsh Cup semi-finalists and finalists. The first match was played on Saturday 13 October at Newtown against the Druids and ended in a 1–1 draw. The game started at 2.30 in front of a large crowd with the high wind causing problems. Evans scored for Newtown in the first half, although Druids equalised through Daniel Grey to take the match to a replay. The match report says that "Ll. Kendrick (was) prominent for Druids."

Druids won the replay 4–0 and progressed to the final against Wrexham. The match was a cliffhanger, with no score until the Wrexham forwards charged the Druids' defenders to take the ball over the line to win the game in the final minute, with James Davies being credited with the goal.

Following the loss of their Plasmadoc ground in the autumn of 1878, Druids were temporarily disbanded. however decided not to join them and instead Kenrick and several of his Druids team-mates joined the Oswestry club. As captain of the Druids, Kenrick collected the cup from Sir Evan Morris, who acclaimed him as the founder of Welsh football. The Scots were again victorious, winning 2–0. The match report in the Wrexham Advertiser stated:

Kenrick missed the 1878 match against Scotland (lost 9–0) but returned to the side the following year for matches against England and Scotland. Described as "a small, muscular player and a full-back with a reputation as a fearsome shoulder-charger",

According to the Wrexham Advertiser:(John) Hawtrey, the English goalkeeper, threw the ball out but was charged over at the same time and (Jack) Vaughan running up placed the leather safely through the goal for Wales. The Englishmen strove hard to get on terms with their opponents. Shot after shot was aimed at the Welsh goal but each attempt was rendered futile. When time was called Wales were declared winners by one goal to love.

This was the first victory by the Welsh international side, five years after their first international match.

Legal career Kenrick was Clerk to the Ruabon Magistrates from 1896 and was appointed coroner for East Denbighshire in 1906, a post he held until his death in 1933.

Date Venue Opponent Result Goals Competition 25 March 1876 Hamilton Crescent, Partick 0–4 0 Friendly 5 March 1877 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 0–2 0 Friendly 18 January 1879 Kennington Oval, London 1–2 0 Friendly 7 April 1879 Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 0–3 0 Friendly 26 February 1881 Alexandra Meadows, Blackburn 1–0 0 Friendly

Death Kenrick died on 29 May 1933 in Ruabon at the age of 85, and was buried at Ruabon Cemetery.