Herbert Berens

Herbert Berens was an extremely popular man in the local area. He was born on 2 October 1867 and was educated at Westminster School, where he excelled at cricket. He played soccer for Old Westminsters before joining Cray Wanderers.

Our first definite reference to Herbert playing for Cray Wanderers comes on 27 September 1889, when he was in the Wands’ line-up for a 5-1 win against E T Budgens XI. A fixture seventeen months earlier, on 4 April 1888 when Cray lost 2-1 at home to Southall, showed a G Berens and a C Berens in the line-up, at right half and centre forward respectively. Southall, out of interest, were mentioned as being the winners of the Middlesex Cup in 1887.

Herbert Berens

Herbert played as a winger during his first years with Cray, and then moved to left back, the position he occupied in the final of the Sevenoaks Charity Cup in 1895-96 when Cray lost 1-0 to Sheppey at Crystal Palace.

The Berens family was very prominent in St Mary Cray. Herbert was manager of his father’s estate. He was also captain of the Cray Valley District Fire Brigade. His death, in 1897, at the age of 30, was a great shock and tragedy. For Cray Wanderers, he held the position of Treasurer, and was captain of the Second XI at the time of his death. It seems that he had been in poor health in early October 1897 and consequently never played in the early part of the season. Instead of recovering, his health gradually deteriorated through the autumn. He developed acute pneumonia, and finally bronchitis. He died on 2 December 1897, exactly two months after his 30th birthday.

Herbert’s grave

in Orpington

Ironically, shortly before his death, he had been working very hard to find the Club a new and permanent ground—a strangely familiar story!

A huge crowd attended his funeral. The local constabulary were praised for controlling those present with ‘wise discretion’. Cray Wanderers were represented by F W Collins (Secretary), T Greenslade (Chairman), H Eke (Captain) and R Gilbert. Harry Hutchins officially represented the Fire Brigade.

Herbert died unmarried. The report of the funeral describes a number of brothers attending, including two named G Berens (one a vicar) and one named C Berens. However, it is believed that Richard Berens Senior had only two surviving sons, Richard Junior and Herbert. So the other Berens, possibly including the two who played for Cray in 1888, may have been cousins, or other relatives.

It is said that Herbert was the motive force of Cray Wanderers in the 1890s, and it was largely through him and his family that the Club became well known and successful. A generous amount of financial support was provided behind the scenes. Herbert’s playing career coincided with Cray making a name for themselves throughout the county, firstly in the Kent Junior Cup and then as founder members of the Kent League. It seems that Herbert was not himself involved in the foundation of the Cray Wanderers football club, although other members of his family may have been.

This information comes from research of the ‘Sidcup Times’. A visit was also made to Victoria Library in Buckingham Palace Road, London, to look at their microfilm of the ‘Westminster & Pimlico News’ between 1887 and 1889 to see if there was any information could be discovered about Herbert Berens and Old Westminsters FC. Surprisingly, practically nothing existed. The only reference to Old Westminsters was in an issue dated 19 November 1887, which recorded that they had played a 2-2 draw with the Royal Engineers at Chatham Lines the previous week. This would suggest that they had a strong fixture list. If it could have been confirmed that Herbert or any of the other Berens family had played for the Old Boys team, this might have given us some insight

insight into just how good he, or they, were. We do have a note that Nat Mercer, a Cray Wanderers player around 1888-91, remembers the Old Westminsters being one of Cray’s opponents in those days.

Taken from an original work by Kevin Goodhew, with additions.

Back to Forever Amber