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=== Mr. NOAH CLARK – ‘FATHER’ OF THE ALBION

An edited copy of the obituary in the Sussex Daily News, 5th November 1930 ===

The death took place yesterday morning at ‘Wincombe’ 136 (now 238) Dyke Road, Brighton, of Mr. Noah Clark - ‘father’ and Director of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. Mr. Clark, aged 81yrs, had been in ill health for a considerable time. His passing will be deeply regretted not only by the many supporters of the Albion but by football enthusiasts in the county and in numerous parts of England.

Mr Clark was born at 10, Trafalgar St, Brighton on 2nd April 1849, his Father Robert, a fishmonger. In early life (1863 - 1869) he went to Newlyn nr. Penzance and there while still in his boyhood, he was buying and selling fish in the market.

As a young man he returned to Sussex and settling in Brighton, he commenced business in the Fish market. Success attended him and he began to acquire fishing boats. Starting with one he added others, until eventually he owned half-a-dozen. With the decline of the fishing industry off Brighton, this branch of his enterprise diminished until his last boat, the ‘Jessie’ was sold. Afterwards, he continued in business as a fish salesman at 200, Kings Road Arches.

HIS FOOTBALL ACTIVITIES

To trace back Mr. Noah Clark’s association with football in Brighton and Hove, one has to travel almost to the very beginning of professional association play in the county. About the year 1898, a professional association football club was formed in Brighton and Hove under the title of Brighton United. It joined the old Southern League and also the United League (largely a London organisation) and its playing field was the Sussex County Cricket Ground. Mr. Clark was not one of the original founders of the Club, but joined subsequently, taking shares and being appointed a Director. Mr. E. W. Everest was the club secretary and among its original promoters were Alderman Nye of Hove, Mr. Charles Meaden, the late Alderman J.J Clark J.P. of Hove and the late Mr Thomas Harrington.

Mr. Clark was one of the greatest helpers in the closing days of this Club, always ready to provide funds towards paying the players wages, and even their travelling expenses so that away fixtures might be fulfilled. The expense of running a professional club was great, in those early days, as now. The gate receipts could not meet it, and the Brighton United organisation was eventually wound up.

THE FORMATION OF THE ALBION

In the season after the demise of Brighton United, Mr. Clark was interested in a team of partly professional and partly amateurs, called the Brighton & Hove Rangers. They played for a season at Withdean, on a field close to the present fountain.

Then, the following season, at a meeting at the Seven Stars, Ship Street, the late Mr. I. de Costa and Mr. Noah Clark were two of the prime movers in the formation of the club to which the name ‘Brighton & Hove Albion’ was given.

Mr. Avenall was another of its Directors. Players included remnants from the professionals of the old Brighton United and Brighton Rangers and in early September 1901, found their team playing their first match at Dyke Road, pending the day when the County Cricket Ground should become available for the winter pastime. They competed in Division II of the Southern League.

ONE OF THE FIRST DIRECTORS

In the same season they secured as their home the ‘Goldstone Ground, Hove’ where their first match was played on 22nd February 1902. September 1902 found the Albion running teams in both the Southern League and the South Eastern League, as they did in the following season. Still the financial struggle was very severe. Mr. Noah Clark and the late Mr. Ben Parker were instrumental in those early days in securing for the shelter of spectators the present South Stand. It had been built for the show at Preston Park, and the two had bought it for the Albion, providing the money. The Albion did not let Mr. Clark down, for the money was returned to him, when the club attained a stronger financial position.

So time passed until May 1904, when the Brighton & Hove Albion Company was formed, at a meeting at the Dome at which it was estimated 2,000 people were present. Mr. G. T. Broadbridge presided and Mr. Noah Clark was one of the first Directors, others being the Chairman and Messrs Ben Parker, Stevens, T. Coster, R. T. Alderton, C. B. Bunker, Grinyer and Merryman.

FELLOW DIRECTORS GIFT

In the early days, the Albion barge was still sailing in very difficult waters. Mr. Clark, however, had the pleasure of seeing times of less troublesome voyaging arrive. The stability of the club strengthened, and gradually at the Goldstone Ground, improvement after improvement was added.

In 1926, in celebration of the coming-of-age of the company and Mr. Clark’s directorship of the company, his fellow Directors presented him with an Illuminated Address. Mr. W F Goodwin, the president, in handing to him this appreciation, said that Mr. Noah Clark was possibly the only man in England who may say he had owned a professional football club. At the same meeting Mr. C.F Brown, who presided as Chairman of the Club referred to Mr. Clark as ‘THE FATHER OF THE CLUB’.

MR. CLARK AND THE LAMBS

For years Mr. Clark’s special protégées were the Albion Reserves, ‘The Lambs’. Season after season, he accompanied them on their away matches. He was also accorded by his fellow Directors, the honour of travelling officially as the Director with the FA cup-tie teams.

As recently as the visit to Sheffield Wednesday, a few years ago, when the Albion team went to Yorkshire a day or two before the match to ‘acclimatise’, Mr. Clark was the Director to acclimatise with them. He was the subject too of a brilliantly drawn cartoon in The Sheffield Daily Press. Last season he was at the cup-tie matches both at Grimsby and at Portsmouth.

As recently as the Norwich City match on 18th October this year, Mr. Clark was at the Goldstone Ground. He was also present the previous Saturday (11th October), when tribute was paid to the memory of those who perished in the R101 airship disaster. The teams stood in a row in front of the West Stand, on the touchline, while a respectful silence was observed for two minutes. Mr. Clark took his place in the space between the Albion and Crystal Palace players. 1st Generation

Time-Line of Noah Clark: Noah Clark was born April 2, 1849 in Brighton, Sussex, England and died November 4, 1930 in Brighton, Sussex, England. He married 1st Alice (Clark) Chart3 July 17, 1870 in Saint Nicholas, Brighton, Sussex, England. She was born about 1844 in Horsham, Sussex, England and died 1893 - Registered in Brighton, Sussex, England, daughter of Charles Chart and Harriett (Chart) Penfold. He married 2nd Fanny (Cardwell/Clark) Pullen 1895 - Registered in Newent, Herefordshire, England. She was born about 1853 in Dymock, Gloucestershire or Ledbury the Leadington, Herefordshire, England and died March 20, 1925 in Brighton, Sussex, England, daughter of John Pullen and Barbara (Pullen) Pulling.

Other events in the life of Noah Clark:

Christening: October 7, 1849 in St Peter, Brighton, Sussex, England

Residence: 1851 at 10 Trafalgar Street in Brighton, Sussex

Residence: 1861 at 16 North Lane, Brighton, Sussex

Fact: In early life Noah went to Newlyn near Penzance, Cornwall & there while yet in his boyhood, he was buying & selling in the market.

Fact: As a young man he returned to Sussex & settling in Brighton, he commenced business in the Fish market. Success attended him and he began to acquire fishing boats. Starting with one he added others, until eventually he owned half-a-dozen.

Census: 1871 Living with wife Alice at 8 Robert Street in Brighton, Sussex. Occupation listed as a Fish Dealer

Fact: 1874 Post Office Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fishmonger at 7 Terminus Road.

Fact: 1878 Post Office Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fishmonger at 7 Terminus Road.

Census: 1881 Living with wife Alice, her daughter Harriot and niece Alice Chart (abt 1871/Horsham) at 7 Terminus Rd in Brighton, Sussex. Occupation listed as Fishmonger.

Fact: 1882 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fishmonger at 7 Terminus Road.

Fact: Jessie Anne Clark came to live with Noah after the death of her father.

Fact: 1889 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman, Trafalgar Lane, 29 The Beach & Fish Market. Residence Wincombe House, Dyke Road.

Census: 1891 Living with wife Alice and 2 nieces Alice Chart and Jessie Clark at 12 Clifton Street in Brighton, Sussex. Occupation listed as a Fish Salesman.

Fact: With the decline of the fishing industry off Brighton, this branch of his enterprise diminished until his last boat, the "Jessie” was sold. This was some 30yrs ago and afterwards, he continued in business as a fish salesman.

Census: 1901 Living with his second wife Fanny, niece Jessie A Clark and servant Nellie Young at 23 York Villas in Brighton, Sussex. Occupation listed as Fish Saleman.

Fact: Director of Brighton & Hove Albion 1904 - 1930

Fact: 1909 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman, Trafalgar Lane, 29 The Beach & Fish Market. Residence 23 York Villas, York Grove to Prestonville Road (North Side).

Census: April 2, 1911 Living with his second wife Fanny, grandniece Clara and a domestic servant @ Wincombe House, Dyke Road in Steyning, Sussex. Occupation listed as a Fish Salesman. Married 16 years. House has 8 rooms.

Fact: 1911 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman, Trafalgar Lane, 29 The Beach & Fish Market. Residence Wincombe House, Dyke Road.

Fact: 1913 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman at Fish Market, Fish Salesman, 29 The Beach & Fish Market, The Beach TN 2487X. Residence Wincombe House, Dyke Road.

Fact: 1918 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman at Fish Market. Residence Wincombe House, Dyke Road.

Fact: 1922 British Phone Book - Noah Clark, fish salesman, 209 Kings Road, Brighton. Residence; Wincombe House, Dyke Road, Preston.

Fact: British Phone Book 1924, 1926, 1928 & 1929 - Noah Clark, fish salesman, Arch 209 Kings Road, Brighton. Residence; Wincombe House, Dyke Road, Preston.

Fact: October 1930 Offices at 200 King Road Arches

Fact: 1930 Kelly's Directory Brighton - Noah Clark Fish Salesman at 209 King's Road Arches, Brighton.

Probate: April 2, 1931 Noah Clark of Wincombe 156 Dyke Road died November 4, 1930 Probate Lewes to Charles John Pullen Cardwell ironmonger and Charles Webb solicitor. Effects £17,432 10s. 8d. In 1930, £17,432 10s 8d would have the same spending worth of today's £582,595.26 14

Interred: Hove Cemetery