England Match No. 31 - Scotland - 19 March 1887

England Football Online
Results 1872-90	Page Last Updated 10 June 2022	*Alba*

27 vs. Scotland

29 vs. Ireland
previous match (21 days)
30 vs. Wales

next match (322 days)
32 vs. Wales
33 vs. Scotland
34 vs. Ireland

Saturday, 19 March 1887
Home International Championship 1886-87 (4th) Match

England 2 Scotland 3 [1-1]

Leamington Street, Wagtail, Blackburn, Lancashire
Kick-off (GMT): ''punctually, at half past three'; 'within a few minutes of 3 30'; 'at 3.32'; 'at 25 minutes to four'.
Attendance: 'upwards of 12,000'; '12,000 spectators who were present'.

Norman Bailey won the toss

William Sellar kicked-off

[1-1] Tinsley Lindley 32
'after Macaulay had thrown away'

[0-1] James McCall 30
'McCall got off and outpacing Bailey and Walters had no difficulty in shooting'

[2-2] Fred Dewhurst 51
'a good pass by Bambridge'
The Daily Mail match report states that Cobbold deflected in Dewhurst's shot. The goal was appealed against for offside, but allowed

[1-2] Leitch Kier free-kick 50
foul awarded for hands

[2-3] Jimmy Allan 53
'rushed the leather past Roberts, three goals being scored in three minutes'

"Owing to the recent bad weather the ground was very wet and slippery"

Match Summary

Officials [umpires and referees are of equal relevance]		England	Team Records	Scotland
Umpires
Richard Philip Gregson 34 (9 March 1853), Clitheroe Lancashire FA secretary	Richard Browne Queen's Park FC & SFA President Other reports state that Tom Lawrie was the Scottish umpire.
Referee John Sinclair 31 (27 August 1855), Belfast (Irish FA) (P 3 W 0 D 1 L 2 F 3 A 5)

England Team

Rank:	No official ranking system established; ELO rating 2nd	Colours:		"some arrayed in their spotless white flannels and trousers, and others in white flannels and black unmentionables".
Capt:	Norman Bailey¹⁵ ¹ P 15 - W 6 - D 3 - L 6 - F 40 - A 28.	Selectors:		The Football Association Committee following trial games, with Secretary Charles W. Alcock having the primary influence, on Monday, 7 March 1887. P 31 - W 14 - D 5 - L 12 - F 97 - A 61.
	most captaincies so far
England Lineup (a record-equalling low one change to the previous match)
139	Roberts, Robert J.	23 91 days	18 December 1863	G	West Bromwich Albion FC	1	3ᵍᵃ
					first Albionite to represent England
	Walters, Percy M.	23 170 days	30 September 1863	RB	Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC	7	0
	Walters, Arthur M.	22 52 day	26 January 1865	LB	Cambridge University AFC, Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC	5	0
	Haworth, George	22 211 days	17 October 1864	RHB	Accrington FC	3	0
	Bailey, Norman C.	29 239 days	23 July 1857	CHB	Clapham Rovers FC & Corinthians FC	19	1
	oldest player to represent England competitively - until 1892				most experienced captain &	most apps
						final app 1878-87
	Forrest, James H.	22 268 day	24 June 1864	LHB	Blackburn Rovers FC	9	0
	Lofthouse, Joseph M.	21 339 days	14 April 1865	OR	Blackburn Rovers FC	5	0
	Dewhurst, Frederick	23 93 days	16 December 1863	IR	Preston North End FC & Corinthians FC	5	5
	Lindley, Tinsley	21 143 days	27 October 1865	CF	Nottingham Forest FC, Cambridge University AFC & Corinthians FC	6	8
	Cobbold W. Nevill	24 43 days	4 February 1863	IL	Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC	9	6
						final app 1883-87
	Bambridge, E. Charles	28 232 days	30 July 1858	OL	Swifts FC & Corinthians FC	18	12
							most gls
						final app 1879-87
reserves:		Herby Arthur (Blackburn Rovers FC, goal); Frank Coulton (Aston Villa FC) and Bob Howarth (Preston North End FC, backs); Andrew Amos (Old Carthusians AFC) and Frank Saunders (Swifts FC, forwards).
team notes:		Arthur and Percy Walters are the first set of brothers to play in the same team five times. Charlie Bambridge's brothers, Ernest, played for England in 1876, and Arthur in 1881-84.
records:		This defeat puts an end to England's record unbeaten record of nine matches that had been in place since March 1884. It also ends their unbeaten Home record of five matches. They have, however, created a new record of playing 280 minutes without conceding a goal at Home. This is the first occasion that all ten outfield players have remained unchanged from the previous match.

2-3-5		Roberts - P.Walters, A.Walters - Haworth, Bailey, Forrest - Lofthouse, Dewhurst, Lindley, Cobbold, Bambridge
Averages:		Age	23 years 332 days	Appearances/Goals		7.9	2.7
				most experienced XI so far

England previous teams vs. Scotland:
1886:	Arthur	P.Walters	A.Walters	Forrest	Squire	Bailey	Spilsbury	Brann	Lindley	Cobbold	Bambridge
1887:	Roberts			Haworth	Bailey	Forrest	Lofthouse	Dewhurst

Scotland Team

Rank:	No official ranking system established; ELO rating 1st	Colours:		"Most of the Scotties wore a sombre costume, dark blue jerseys and black unmentionables being the prevailing dress".
Capt:	Jimmy McAuley	Selectors:		The Scottish Football Association Selection Committee, chosen, following a trial match, on Tuesday, 8 March 1887.
Scotland Lineup
	McAuley, James	26 203 days	28 August 1860	G	Dumbarton FC	8	1 7ᵍᵃ
	Arnott, Walter	25 311 days	12 May 1861	RB	Queen's Park FC	7	0
	Forbes, John	25 65 days	13 January 1862	LB	Vale of Leven FC	4	0
	Kelso, Robert R.	21 168 days	2 October 1865	RHB	Renton FC	4	0
	Auld, John R.	25 71 days	7 January 1862	CHB	Third Lanark FC	1	0
	Keir, Leitch	25 270 days	22 June 1861	LHB	Dumbarton FC	3	1
	Marshall, John	nk	not known	OR	Third Lanark FC	3	1
	Robertson, William	nk	not known	IR	Dumbarton FC	1	0
	Sellar, William	22 149 days	21 October 1864	CF	Battlefield FC	3	0
	McCall, James	22 17 days	2 March 1865	IL	Renton FC	2	2
	Allan, James	nk	not known	OL	Queen's Park FC	1	1
reserves:		John Lindsay (Renton FC, goal); Andrew Hannah and Archibald McCall (both Renton FC, backs); James McGhee (Hibernian FC), A.Martin (Abercorn FC) and J.Hutton (St Bernard's FC, half-backs); Alexander Hamilton (Queen's Park FC) and William Groves (Hibernian FC, right-wing); John Lindsay (Rangers FC, centre); James Lowe (St. Bernard's FC) and C.McLaren (Vale of Leven FC, left-wing);
team notes:		James McAuley played as a forward on his debut, scoring one of the five goals, against Wales, 25 March 1882.

2-3-5		McAuley - Arnott, Forbes - Kelso, Auld, Keir - Marshall, Robertson, Sellars, McCall, Allan
Averages:		Age	24 years 112 days⁸	Appearances/Goals		3.4	0.2

Match Report - York Herald, Monday, 21 March 1887	In Other News.....
The sixteenth annual contest between Association elevens representing England and this Scotland took place at Blackburn in fine weather, and in the presence of a large attendance. Owing to the recent bad weather the ground was very wet and slippery, and, of course, considerably affected the play. England won the toss, and Sellar started the ball for Scotland. The play at the start was very fast, and within the first ten minutes each goal-keeper had to save twice The Englishmen, who were playing in the wind, pressed their opponents, and Cobbold sent in two fine shots, which Macaulay, the Scotch goal-keeper, just saved A little later Macaulay had to handle the ball repeatedly, and then McColl got right away and scored a goal for Scotland after half an hour's play. Soon afterwards Lindley made matters even, and at half-time the score stood�one goal each. Within five minutes after changing ends 'hands' against England was given, and from Kier's free-kick a goal resulted for Scotland. The Englishmen played up splendidly, and directly afterwards equalised matters, the goal being appealed against but allowed. Then within a minute of the kick-off, Allan shot a third goal for Scotland. The English team made a fine effort to save the game, and forced their opponents to play on the defensive, Macaulay having to save shots from Bambridge, Cobbold, and Bailey. Though hard pressed the Scotchmen averted any further score, and the match ended in a victory for Scotland by three goals to two.		It was on 19 March 1887 that Father Keller, a Dublin priest, was imprisoned in Kilmainham Jail for refusing to disclose details relating to a bankruptcy case, on the grounds that they were given to him in confidence as a clergyman. He was released two months later by the Court of Appeal.

The Football Association this year decided to play the international match with Scotland at Blackburn. No more appropriate ground could have been chosen, considering the keen interest that has been taken in the game by the district and the skill shown there, a proof of which lies in the fact that previous to this season the national competition had been four times successfully carried off by Blackburn teams. Though threatening in the early morning, the weather proved bright and seasonable. This, however, had its drawback. The hot sun soon caused the frost to disappear, and by the time fixed for the start the turf was in an almost unplayable condition. Great preparation had been made for the match, and special trains from Scotland and other parts brought large numbers of visitors. It was estimated that there were upwards of 12,000 people present. Both teams were thoroughly representative. Within a few minutes of 3 30 the game was begun by Sellars, England at first playing down the incline, with the wind at their backs... The home players again visited their rivals' half, but Arnott relieved his side by a long kick, while M'Coll finished up a splendid run along the left side and scored the first goal for Scotland. A very short time had elapsed, when a combined rush by the forwards ended in Lindley equalising matters... M'Coll and Allan resisted this invasion, and a free kick fell to the Scotchmen. This was undertaken by Keir with such judgement that the ball was scrimmaged through, and Scotland scored their second goal. Again the record was made level, Dewhurst scoring from a fine pass by Bambridge. Directly afterwards Allan registered a third goal for the Scotchmen; the last three points had been scored in less than five minutes... - The Times, Monday, 21 March 1887 The play was very good considering that the men had to operate with a heavy and dirt-laden ball... Shooting was very difficult but Lindley and Bambridge were too slow in getting rid of the ball. Cobbold was good, but Dewhurst has been seen to better advantage, while the same might be said of the Walters brothers... The contest was a match between goalkeepers and Roberts (England) fumbled twice and lost the match... - North British Daily Mail, Monday, 21 March 1887 A. M. Walters handled the ball in trying to get it away, and Scotland had a free kick in front of the home citadel. The ball was rushed down at the forest of players round the goal, and seemed to pass all but keeper Roberts, who fancied someone had touched it, and got his hand on the leather but was charged through the goal, thus causing the registration of the second goal for Scotland. No sooner had the start been made from the centre than Dewhurst shot the ball in, and Cobbold helped it past Macauley, an appeal for offside being disallowed, and the scores were two each... - Daily Mail, Monday, 21 March 1887
Source Notes
TheFA Scottish FA Cris Freddi's England Football Factbook ScottishSportHistory: Andy Mitchell		LondonHearts.com The Football Association Yearbook James Corbett's England Expects Original Newspaper Reports John Treleven