Loughborough Wednesday Football Club, who in later years became known as Loughborough Traders, shared the Athletic Grounds with Loughborough AFC of the Football League. At one time all the shops in Loughborough closed on Wednesday afternoons, so the men who wanted to play football, but couldn’t on a Saturday because of work, formed a ‘Wednesday’ team, with games played on those afternoons. The team ran successfully at the Grounds for a number of seasons.
A number of well known local personalities are shown in the above team photograph of Loughborough Wednesday Football Club in the 1897-98 season. The image was taken at the Athletic Ground with the Greyhound Hotel [69 Nottigham Road] in the background. During that season the club won all its games, with the exception of one with Castle Donington, which was drawn. In the picture are Mr Harry Rose, well-known local baker, E. R. and R. H. Moss, sons of Mr Ewin Moss, D. W. Noble, son of a former Loughborough Postmaster, Dr. J. McClaws, who for a number of years was associated with the Loughborough Medical Aid Centre, J. Keightley, local pianist of Toothill Road,and Mr F. J. Bachelor of Dead Lane, Loughborough.