SPORTING rivals came together to honour the unsung Huddersfield hero who founded two footballing superpowers.

Officials and former players from Liverpool and Everton football clubs gathered in Shepley yesterday to pay tribute to Ben Swift Chambers.

Mr Chambers, born in Stocksmoor, in 1845, was the Methodist minister who started Everton FC in 1878.

The club split in two in 1892, when Liverpool FC was formed.

Graeme Sharp, who played for Everton from 1980 to 1991, said: “When you look at the history of both clubs and how they started, he was so influential. This is an ideal opportunity for us to get together and remember that.

“The relationship between the fans has deteriorated to an extent, but if we can show them there’s a unity going back all those years, maybe we can restore some of that.”

Brian Hall, who played for Liverpool from 1968 to 1976, added: “It has reminded me of the wonderful rapport between Everton and Liverpool fans over so many years.”

Yesterday’s memorial ceremony at Shepley Methodist Church was exactly 131 years since Mr Chambers became minister at St Domingo Methodist Chapel in the Everton district of Liverpool.

A keen believer that sport could teach young men important values, he started a cricket team, but advised the players to play football during the winter.

St Domingo Football Club was formed, later to be named Everton FC. They originally played their games at Anfield, now Liverpool’s home ground.

Everton chaplain Henry Corbett said: “Why did he found the football clubs? If he were alive today, he would say because of love and compassion.

“He saw that people could be helped by sport.”

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry said: “Through cricket and football Ben Chambers showed his commitment to getting young boys off the street.

“He did not see football and faith as incongruous, but rather as complementary.”

A disagreement over an increase in rent at Anfield caused the split which led to the formation of Liverpool FC in 1892.

But Peter Lupson, who researched the history of the clubs for his book Thank God for Football, said he hoped Mr Chambers’ story would prove the two were united.

He said: “There are so many wonderful points of contact between these two clubs and that’s why I’m so excited about today, because we are bringing it right up to date.

“We are making it clear there’s no bitter division between these two clubs.”

Mr Chambers’ grave was cleaned and given a new headstone thanks to funding from the two clubs. It was dedicated after yesterday’s ceremony.

The new epitaph on his grave reads: “Ben Swift Chambers, who set the ball rolling that led to the birth of Everton and Liverpool football clubs.”

Everton director Sir Philip Carter said: “There are few things more important on Merseyside than football.

“Both Liverpool and Everton have a proud heritage and the history of our clubs is a source of immense pride to our supporters.

“To honour a gentleman who was so pivotal to the creation of football in our city is entirely appropriate.

“Ben Chambers was a visionary and everyone with an interest in football in Merseyside owes him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

The life of Ben Swift Chambers

He was born in Stocksmoor on August 30 1845.

He trained as a Methodist minister and went to Everton in 1877.

The same month he formed the St Domingo Methodist Chapel cricket team.

The players started playing football during winter a year later and St Domingo Football Club was formed.

The club moved to Anfield in 1884.

They became league champions in 1891.

In 1892 landlord John Houlding increased the rent and the club committee rebelled.

The club split, leading to the creation of Liverpool FC.

Mr Chambers died in 1901.