Brigg Town FC HISTORY

Although games of football were probably being played in the Brigg area some time earlier, the first clear reference to an organised match in the town was reported by the Lincolnshire Chronicle newspaper in early January 1864. It records a game between the Gentlemen of Brigg and the Gentlemen of Lincoln which had to be postponed owing to the hardness of the pitch after bad weather. This was shortly after schoolmaster, J. C. Thring, had drawn up the Cambridge Rules and the Football Association had launched its first official set of rules just five weeks earlier, on December 1st 1863.

With football being well-established in the town by the mid-1860s, the game became a well-recognised institution. Club members practised to take part in important matches in neighbouring towns and by the 1870s games were being played at Lincoln, Grimsby and across the River Humber in Hull. Brigg Town had become a strong side and a much sought-after opponent by other town clubs.

At this time the club had no distinguishing colours but in 1877 it was decided to adopt magenta and white for the dress of its members.