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25 vs. Scotland
 
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31 vs. Scotland
Saturday, 27 March 1886
British International Championship 1885-86 (3rd) Match

 
Scotland 1 England 1 [0-1]
  
originally due to be played on 20 March

Hampden Park, Cathcart Road, Crosshill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire
Kick-off (GMT): 'Exactly at 3.30'.

Attendance: 'upwards of 10,000 persons assembling'; 'not less than 12,000 spectators present'

England's first visit to the new Hampden Park, the second incarnation;
eighth visit to Glasgow, to Lanarkshire and to Scotland, all still without a victory
Wally Arnott kicked-off Norman Bailey won the toss
  [0-1] Tinsley Lindley 35
'shot the ball past McAulay'
[0-1] Arnott scores from a freekick: disallowed
Joe Lindsay injured - ten men 65
[1-1] George Somerville 80
 'one of his daisy-cutters' out of a scrimmage
 
"The rain of a very heavy description came down and continued throughout the whole game"
This match very nearly did not take place because of the ongoing row over payments to players. On Tuesday, 26 January 1886, the SFA met in Glasgow. They 'decided not to play England an international football match this year because England intended to send forth her full strength by including professional football players in the team. The Scottish Football Association disapprove of there being professional football, and hold that when Scotland is willing to select eleven amateur players England should adopt the same course. England will not agree to this, and consequently there is a rupture between the Associations representing the two countries.' - The Dundee Courier and Argus, Wednesday, 27 January 1886.

Match Summary

Officials [umpires and referees are of equal relevance]

Scotland

Team Records

England

Umpires Some sources say this match was played on 31st March, after the Wales' match. But this is just wrong. All newspaper reports put this match rightly on 27 March. It must be remembered that the four Associations were not playing for a Championship, this was added retrospectively.
Nicholas Lane Jackson
36 (1 November 1849), West Hackney, London (Corinthians FC)
(FA Hon. Secretary)
Alexander Stuart 
Scotland (SFA vice-President)

another source names James McKillop
Referee
Alexander Hunter
23/24 (early 1862), Tiverton, Devon
(Welsh FA secretary)
 

Scotland Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 1st
Colours "attired in dark blue jerseys, with Scottish lion rampant"
Captain Wally Arnott Selection The Scottish Football Association Selection Committee, chosen, following a trial match
P 2 of 3, W 1 - D 1 - L 0 - F 6 - A 1. team chosen on Tuesday, 23 March 1886.
Scotland Lineup
  McAuley, James 25
211 days
28 August 1860 G Dumbarton FC 7 1ᵍ 5ᵍᵃ
  Arnott, Walter 24
319 days
12 May 1861 RB Queen's Park FC 6 0
  Paton, Michael 26
141 days
7 November 1859 LB Dumbarton FC 5 0
  Campbell, Charles 32
66 days
20 January 1854 RHB Queen's Park FC 13 1
mst apps
112   Macdonald, John 24
93 days
24 December 1861 LHB Edinburgh University AFC 1 0
  Hamilton, Alexander 20
246 days
24 July 1865 OR Queen's Park FC 3 0
  Sellar, William 19
187 days
21 September 1866 IR Battlefield FC 2 0
  Lindsay, Joseph, injured off 65 min 27
134 days
13 November 1858 Centre
Forward
Dumbarton FC 8 6
113 Somerville, George 22
289 days
11 June 1863 Queen's Park FC 1 1
114   Aitken, Ralph Allen 23
44 days
11 February 1863 IL Dumbarton FC 1 0
115   Gray, Woodville 19
290 days
10 June 1866 OL Pollockshields Athletic FC 1 0
reserves: not known
team notes: A team of Probables and Improbables were chosen by the SFA on Tuesday, 9 March 1886. A first eleven was then chosen to play England on 23 March, the remaining eleven were to play Wales.
James McAuley played as a forward on his debut, scoring one of the five goals, against Wales, 25 March 1882.
Joseph Lindsay was still playing with an injury he received in a club match the week before. It resulted it him retiring from the field.
records: Scotland have now gone seventeen matches without defeat.
 

2-2-6

McAulay -
Arnott, Paton -
Campbell, Macdonald -
Hamilton, Sellar, Lindsay, Somerville, Aitken, Gray

Averages:

Age 24 years 84 days Appearances/Goals 4.4 0.7

 

England Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 2nd
Colours "wore white jerseys with the usual badge"

Captain
Norman Bailey Selection The Football Association Committee, with Secretary Charles W. Alcock having the primary influence.
most captaincies so far
P 12 of 15, W 4 - D 3 - L 5 - F 31 - A 24. P 27 of 31, W 11 - D 5 - L 11 - F 81 - A 57
¹ teams chosen at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet Street, on Friday evening, 19 March 1886
England Lineup
(seven changes to the previous match)
  Arthur, W.J. Herbert 23
41 days
14 February 1863 G Blackburn Rovers FC 4 3ᵍᵃ
  Walters, Percy M. 22
178 days
30 September 1863 RB Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 4 0
  Walters, Arthur M. 21
60 days
26 January 1865 LB Cambridge University AFC, Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 3 0
  Forrest, James H. 21
276 days
24 June 1864 RHB Blackburn Rovers FC 5 0
  Squire, Ralph T. 22
198 days
10 September 1863 CHB Cambridge University AFC, Old Westminsters AFC & Corinthians FC 2 0
  Bailey, Norman C. 28
246 days
23 July 1857 LHB
 
Clapham Rovers FC & Corinthians FC 16 1
 
oldest player to represent England competitively so far most experienced captain & most apps
  Spilsbury, Benjamin W. 21
238 days
1 August 1864 OR Cambridge University AFC, Derby County FC & Corinthians FC 3 5
final app 1885-86
133   Brann, George 20
338 days
23 April 1865 IR Swifts FC & Corinthians FC 1      0
Lindley, Tinsley 20
151 days
27 October 1865 CF Nottingham Forest FC, Cambridge University AFC & Corinthians FC 2      2
  Cobbold W. Nevill 23
51 days
4 February 1863 IL Cambridge University AFC, Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 5      3
  Bambridge, E. Charles 27
240 days
30 July 1858 OL Swifts FC & Corinthians FC 14     12
most gls
reserves: not known
team notes: The Scottish FA insisted that J.H. Forrest wear a different-coloured shirt to the rest of the England team. The Scots were still dominated by the gentlemen-amateurs of Queens' Park FC who objected to playing against a professional (He was receiving £1 a week from Blackburn Rovers FC). His club also had to agree not to pay him his wages this week.
"[Forrest] was the only professional in the side, and had to wear a tight fitting jersey in contrast to the loose shirts worn by the amateurs." - Lancashire Evening Post, Saturday, 9 January 1926.
The original team stated that it was either Fred Dewhurst or Spilsbury was to play.
Arthur and Percy Walters are the first set of brothers to play in the same team three times.
Charlie Bambridge's brothers
, Ernest, played for England in 1876, and Arthur in 1881-84.
appearance notes: Charlie Bambridge is the second England player to make fourteen appearances, whereas James Forrest and Nevill Cobbold are the thirteenth/fourteenth to make five. Herby Arthur with Percy Walters are the nineteenth/twentieth to make four appearances.
35 players have now played for England three or more times, and 64 have done so more than once.
records: They have now gone on a record unbeaten sequence of six matches, lasting two years.
Thanks to the experience of Bailey and Bambridge,
England has now topped the five appearances per player ratio.
Norman Bailey continues to hold on to and extend the world appearance record.
 
2-3-5 Arthur -
P.Walters, A.Walters -
Bailey, Forrest, Squire -
Spilsbury, Brann, Lindley, Cobbold, Bambridge
Averages: Age 23 years 18 days Appearances/Goals 5.4     2.0
most experienced team so far
"The teams dined in the evening in the Royal Hotel, George Square" - Dundee Courier, Monday, 29 March 1886.
  
England previous teams vs. Scotland:
1885:

Arthur

P.Walters

A.Walters

Bailey

Forrest

Amos

Lofthouse

Danks

Brown

Cobbold

Bambridge

1886:

Forrest

Squire

Bailey

Spilsbury

Brann

Lindley

 

       Match Report Sporting Life, Monday, 29 March 1886

On Saturday last the International contest between England and Scotland took place at Hampden Park, Mount Florida, near Glasgow which, without exception, is one of the best in the kingdom for a struggle of the kind, but unfortunately for all concerned, rain of a very heavy description came down and continued throughout the whole game. The Scotchmen were the first to enter the field, headed by Arnott (their captain) amidst a round of applause, but the appearance of the English was greeted with what would be called an ovation. Scotland won the toss, but no wind prevailing, this was no advantage, as the ground is as level as a bowling green. Arnott started the game, and so nicely did he put the ball, that it landed right into goal in Arthur's hands, who returned it, and the English forwards got it well up to their opponent's goal. Paton sent it back, and getting at the foot of Aitken and Lindsay, it was dribbled into close proximity of the visitor's' citadel, and Arthur had twice to show his dexterity by throwing out, and a severe attack on the English lines ended in Gray sending the ball behind. On starting the ball again Scotland pressed their rivals, but Sellars shot high over the bar. Twice again Arthur had to clear his trust, which he did at the most critical moment. After this the England team showed to more advantage than their opponents, their passing being much admired and applauded by the the spectators. Both side slackened down in their play, more especially the Scotch forwards, who seemed to be all at sixes and sevens, not playing anything like a combined game. The English team had one or two good chances, but their shooting was anything but reputable. A shot was made at the English posts, but Arthur cleared it away. Macauly in turn was compelled to fist out. Some play in mid-field ensued, and the rain now came down in torrents, and both sides played under considerable difficulties. Several shots were made at each goal, but the Englishmen had the advantage, and on several occasions gave the Scotch backs more work they cared for. Two or three corners fell to the visitors, but without effect. Lindley, when thirty minutes of the game were gone, getting well up to the Scotch posts, sent the ball through midst great applause. This put the Scotchmen on their mettle, and for a time they bothered the opposing backs, but nothing further was done up to half time, and the teams changed sides—England one, Scotland nil. On resuming after a little, Somerville sent the ball through the English goal, and Arnott took the kick, which was claimed as a goal, but after consultation, the point was disallowed. Lindsay, one of the Scotch centres, being crippled, had now to retire, and the home team had to fight the battle with ten men, but it seemed to spur them to renewed exertion, as they had as much of the game as their opponents, and gave the English goal-keeper great anxiety, and Somerville with a nice, low shot equalised matters. Some hard play ensued from this to the end for the winning point, if anything, the Scotchmen having the best of it, but the game ended in a draw, one goal each.
   

       Match Report The Times, Monday, 29 March 1886

It seemed at one time highly improbable that this season's match between England and Scotland would take place owing to the Scotch Association refusing to recognise professionalism. Matters, however, having been satisfactorily arranged between the national Associations, the game was played at Glasgow on Saturday. The weather proved very unfavourable, rain falling incessantly, and the turf was consequently heavy. Still, the inclement afternoon did not deter upwards of 10,000 persons assembling at Hampden-park to witness the fifteenth annual match...
England now made determined attempts to score, but, although several corner kicks fell to the invaders, more than half an hour had elapsed since the start when the first goal was registered, Lindley, the English centre forward, guiding the ball between the posts...
Scotland now showed good form, and the home team managed to equalize the score, Somerville obtaining the second goal of the match after a corner kick..

  
              In Other News....
It was on 26 March 1886 that two members of the Cabinet resigned over the Prime Minister's Irish Home Rule proposals.
  
Other Football Results (27 March 1886)
Although some friendly matches were played on this day, specifically Wednesday Club—Notts County and an Inter-Association match between Kent and Surrey, neither were impacted by the England fixture.
 
     

      Source Notes

TheFA
Scottish FA
Cris Freddi's England Football Factbook
ScottishSportHistory: Andy Mitchell (incl. Heritage numbering)
Richard Sanders (HFK)
  LondonHearts.com
The Football Association Yearbook
James Corbett's England Expects
Original Newspaper Reports
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