"SIR,—Will you allow me a few lines in your paper to notify to Scotch players that a match under the above title will take place in London, on Saturday the 19th inst., according to the rules of the Football Association? It is the object of the committee to select the best elevens at their disposal in the two countries, and I cannot but think that the appearance of some of the more prominent celebrities of football on the northern side of the Tweed would do much to disseminate a healthy feeling of good fellowship among the contestants, and tend to promote to a still greater extent the extension of the game. In Scotland, once essentially the land of football, there should still be a spark left of the old fire, and I confidently appeal to Scotchmen to aid to their utmost the efforts of the committee to confer success on what London fondly hopes to find an annual trial of skill between the champions of England and Scotland. Messrs A. F. Kinnaird, 2 Pall Mall Lane, East, London, ad J. Kirkpatrick, Admiralty, Somerset House, London, will be glad to receive the names of any Scotch player who will take part against England in the match in question.—I am,  &c.,

CHARLES W. ALCOCK,
Hon. Sec. of Football Association,
West Dulwich, Surrey,
1st Nov., 1870.

       Match Report The Sporting Life, Wednesday, 23 November 1870, front page

   

The success which attended the match which took place last year under this denomination, determined those interested in football to establish it, if possible, as an annual one. The suggestion met with the unanimous approval of all to whom it was made, and the result of various meetings and consultations was that two international matches were arranged for the present season. The first of these came off at Kennington Oval, on Saturday last, in the presence of a very large number of spectators. More, however, might have been present, but that the London Athletic Club also held a meeting at Lillie Bridge on the same date, and drew away many who would otherwise have patronised the Oval. The weather was most favourable for the game, which proved a very excellent one. When the time approached for commencement, it was found that two of the proposed Scotch contingent, Messrs. Inglis and Hamilton, were absent, and there places had therefore to be filed by Messrs. Baillie and Primrose. No change was necessary in the English team, and all those whose names had been announced as contestants mustered at the post. Public opinion had inclined to the chance of the English Eleven ever since the publication of the respective probable players, and that it was not in fault proved by the result, as, though victory was only obtained by one goal, the ball was more frequently to be seen in contiguity to the Scottish than to the English goal posts. With commendable punctuality the ball was set in motion just as three o'clock (the time fixed upon) arrived, and at once began to show its bias for that portion of the ground defended by the Northerners. It was not, however, until after play had lasted for full twenty minutes that Alcock succeeded

in fairly getting the ball past his numerous opponents, and in running it down straight towards the goal defended by Kirkpatrick, that gentleman made a vigorous rush, but in the act of kicking slipped up, and enabled Walker, who was closely backing up Alcock, to send the ball through the posts. Upon changing ends the superior working powers of the South eleven were still manifest, and but for the wonderful goal keeping of Hogg, whom lameness compelled to retire from his post as behind, aided by fortuitous circumstances, further successes must inevitably have been achieved by England. On one occasion a kick by Alcock sent the ball against one of the posts, whence it rebounded on the wrong side; while on another, Baker actually accomplished a second goal, which was not allowed on account of his being "off side" at the the time of his making the kick. Frequently a good rush by the Scotch would take the ball down towards the English goals, but Lubbock, as behind, always proved equal to the occasion, and better play of his side in the bully would soon restore the ball to neutral ground. Play ceased at last at half-past four, the South being victorious by one goal to nothing. To pick out any as pre-eminent of the twenty-two engaged in this capital match, in which all exhibited science of no mean order, as well as unflagging energy, may seem a work of supererogation, but the names of Smith, Alcock, Hogg, Lubbock, Carter, Kinnaird, Vidal, Nepean, and Walker may be particularised without putting any of the others in the shade. The duties of umpires, undertaken by Messrs. A. Morten and M. P. Betts, were ably discharged. The return match, also to take place at the Oval, is fixed for February 25 next.

       Source Notes

Andy Mitchell's First Elevens: The birth of international football original newspaper report Douglas Lamming's A Century of English International Football 1872-1988 Douglas Lamming's A Scottish Internationalists' Who's Who 1872-1986

Mark Shaoul & Tony Williamson's Forever England: A History of the National Side CricInfo Original newspaper reports