with Michelle Nichols & Jonathan Auld
The legendary footballer - ‘ Ted ’ Raper
A broken headstone lies in Windsor Catholic Cemetery . It marks the final resting place of Edward Raper , a young man with a remarkable story who became a legendary footballer when the game was in its infancy .
Edward Joseph Raper was born in Pitt Town in 1857 , the son of Michael and Catherine Raper . Michael was born in Wicklow whilst Catherine hailed from Galway . Edward ’ s siblings were John , Mary and Jane .
Michael Raper was about 27 when he was appointed as a police constable in 1851 , an occupation he held for a number of years . By the 1860s he was recorded as a senior constable and later appointed as the gaoler at Windsor in the 1860s-1870s .
Originally the family lived at Pitt Town but later moved to Windsor . In 1867 Michael Raper acquired the Old Government Cottage located in George Street , Windsor .
It is not known where Edward Raper began his education , however , he did attend Kings School in Parramatta in his final year in 1873 . The following year Isabella Alexander announced the ‘ Maurice Alexander Bursary ’ in memory of her late husband .
The bursary , the first of its kind ,
Raper headstone in Windsor Catholic Cemetery , 2019 . Photo : M Nichols . allowed a student with insufficient resources to study at Sydney University . This gift afforded a young man without means to attain a higher education , which was usually only feasible for the wealthy .
The first student supported by this generous offer was Edward Raper , in 1874 , whilst undertaking his Bachelor of Arts degree and taking advantage of the sporting prospects on offer . Raper planned on becoming a lawyer and by the early 1880s became an articled clerk , employed by solicitors Iceton and Faithful in Sydney .
Not only was he a worthy student , Raper appears to have been an exceptional sportsman and was noted for his athletic physique , strength and power . He took advantage of the sporting opportunities at the university and was at the forefront of the embryonic sport of rugby in Australia .
Various forms of football have been played since the early 1800s in Australia , and the game now known as rugby union , started in the 1860s . Its growth was slow , with disputes about rules and the deficiency of suitable grounds .
Sydney University Football Club was established in the mid 1860s and is apparently the oldest club still playing rugby union in Australia . The Wallaroo Football Club was established in Sydney in 1870 and from then date the sport began to take momentum , particularly in private schools such as Newington and King , despite the various other football codes fighting for supremacy .
In 1874 a meeting took place where the rules were debated and adopted , and the Southern Rugby Football Union ( later the NSW Rugby Union ) was established . Edward Raper became Vice President of the union and was a major contributor to the success of the game . During the 1880s , it became a fashionable winter sport to play and watch , drawing large crowds to the games .
Edward ‘ Ted ’ Raper , became an outstanding footballer and formidable player . He was remembered not only as an admirable captain but also for guiding the game in its infancy and giving it a respectable reputation .
He also played cricket and was a member of the Carlingford team . Raper was reported as having a “ gentlemanly demeanor and prowess in the field .”
1878 Sydney University team – ‘ Ted ’ Raper ( captain ) is holding the football front row . Image : courtesy of JottingsOnRugby . com .
The NSW rugby union team travelled to Brisbane and played Queensland in 1882 . It was the first interstate tour , with Raper as captain of the winning NSW team . The same year , the NSW team toured New Zealand it was their first overseas tour , with Raper as both captain and manager .
The trip across the Tasman took five days and the team played seven matches , winning three . The tour was a great success and Raper was recorded in the New Zealand newspapers for “ his dashing forward play ” and that “ he could both run , collar , and dribble well , and that he knew the game thoroughly .”
As well as playing the game of football , Raper also reported for the Sydney Mail writing thorough accounts of various matches . He was regarded as a principled man both on and off the field and was known to have good judgment and temperament .
During his short yet successful representative career , Raper won eleven state caps , eleven tries and a total of 32 points . Early in February 1884 , Edward fell ill at his father ’ s residence in George Street , Windsor . He battled his illness for a fortnight before succumbing on the 16 February .
His death was the result of typhoid fever , meningitis and exhaustion . The funeral took place the following day and he was interred in the Windsor Catholic Cemetery . A special train conveyed dignitaries and friends from Sydney and Parramatta for the service , with cadets from Kings School surrounding the hearse as it made its way to the cemetery .
Raper was described as a “ brave hearted , genial and honourable Catholic gentleman , physically and intellectually a model of Australian manhood .”
Edward ’ s mother who suffered poor health for many years , passed away in 1898 aged 74 . His father Michael died in Sydney in 1911 , a few hours after undergoing an operation . He was 88 years old and was buried alongside his wife and son at the Windsor Catholic Cemetery .
Edward Raper ’ s headstone , a carved marble cross , was erected by his many friends late in 1884 . The newspaper reported : “ All lovers of football will be glad to learn that the committee to the Raper memorial fund has erected a handsome tombstone in the Windsor Cemetery over the remains of the deceased footballer … Grateful tribute to an old footballer .”
The monument states : “ This Loving Tribute to his genuine worth and many virtues is erected by those who cherish his memory and deplore their own loss .”
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