JOHN Roach is perhaps not the most famous football player from Oswestry.

However he played a leading role in the emergence of the town's first clubs and success across the border in Wales.

Indeed he would even go on to play for Wales despite being born of Irish parentage in the family home on Bailey Street in April 1861.

While working for the Cambrian Railways he began his football career with an Oswestry White Star .

The club reached the knockout rounds of the FA Cup in 1884.

They were sharing a ground with the local cricket club on Victoria Road where they beat Northwich St John before beating Wrexham Olympic 4-3 at the Racecourse Ground to earn a third round home draw with the Queen's Park club from Glasgow.

Border Counties Advertizer: John Roach is believed to be among those pictured.

John Roach is believed to be among those pictured.

The match was the biggest football fixture in Shropshire to that point with more than 4,000 people descending on the ground with many making the trip thanks to special excursion trains laid on by Cambrian Railways.

The cultured Scots then proceeded to treat the spectators to an exhibition of football previously unseen in the Welsh Marches as they ran out 7-1 winners.

It had been a pleasant learning curve for the Shropshire club who then went on to reach the Welsh FA Cup final for the first time in their history, beating Ruabon-based Druids 1-0 after a replay.

A large cheerful crowd thronged the local railway station when the train carrying the victorious team came slowly to a halt at the platform.

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The victorious party then boarded the horse drawn brake that awaited their arrival and the trophy was paraded in triumph through the streets of the town.

On November 8, 1884 Oswestry White Stars travelled to play Crewe Alexandra in the first round of the FA Cup and were beaten 2-1.

Later in the season they again reached the final of the Welsh FA Cup but his time it was the Druids who carried off the trophy with a 3-0 victory.

Border Counties Advertizer: Oswestry Railway Station.

Oswestry Railway Station.

Nevertheless, the Oswestry players managed to win the Shropshire Senior Cup when the beat Wellington St George in a game that took place in front of the grandstand on Monksmoor Racecourse in Shrewsbury.

On April 11, 1885 John Roach won his only international cap when he represented Wales against Ireland.

The game took place on the home of the Ulster Cricket Club at Ballynafiegh in Belfast where Roach scored twice as his side easily beat the hosts 8-2.

During the rest of his football career, John Roach represented the Shropshire County FA on several occasions and made five guest appearances for an Everton side which had yet to become members of the Football League.

Border Counties Advertizer: Albert Road. Picture: Google Street.

Albert Road. Picture: Google Street.

In October 1891 John Roach married local girl Margaret Evans at St Oswald’s Church and the couple first settled at 5 Lorne Street in Oswestry.

He continued to be employed as a blacksmith's striker by the Cambrian Railway Company.

At the time of the 1911 census the couple, who have no children, are found to be living at 60 Albert Road in Oswestry where John died on February 22, 1929 and buried in Oswestry Cemetery.

With thanks to Tony Onslow.