England
Football Online |
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Page Last Updated
28 February 2024 |
Alba |
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61 vs. Scotland
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64 |
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Admission to
Ground, 1s. Covered Stand, 5s extra. Track seats and Covered Stand
Reserved Terracing, 2s extra. Reserved portion on South Side of Field,
1s extra. A number of Tickets admitting to Ground and Reserved Seats
on Covered Stand to be had from W. MALEY,
30 Saltmarket, Glasgow; price, 10s each. |
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Saturday,
2 April 1898
Home International Championship 1897-98
(15th)
Match
Scotland 1
England 3
[0-2]
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Celtic Park,
Janefield Street, Parkhead, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire
Kick-off (GMT):
'3.30pm'; 'prompt to time';
Attendance: '37,000 to 38,000
spectators'; '36,850 passed through the turnstiles, 2000 free
admissions, 1000 entering whose admission is already included';
'about 40,000'; '55,000 people'
reports of crowds of 60,000 were duly
dismissed. Receipts:
'The officials returned the gate
drawings at £1829 10s 6d and the stands at £1400.' |
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England's
third visit to Parkhead; fourteenth visit to Glasgow, to Lanarkshire and to Scotland |
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Jimmy Cowan won the toss |
Gilbert Smith
kicked-off |
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[0-2] Roberston scores indirect free kick: disallowed |
[0-1]
Fred Wheldon
3 'getting into position to
send in a low, fast, oblique shot which sailed passed Drummond and
Anderson.' [0-2]
Steve Bloomer 23
'a capital pass from
Spiksley enabled Bloomer to beat Anderson hitting the cross-bar and
bounding through out of Anderson's reach' |
[1-2] Jimmy Millar
46
'Robinson saved brilliantly
from a low lunge by Campbell, rebounded off William's back into the
path Millar and quietly put the ball through.' |
[1-3] Steve Bloomer 70
'a Spiksley centre
gave Bloomer what was practically an open goal'
appeals for offside dismissed |
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"A large steel girder stand, capable of accommodating 9,000, and built
up to a height of 38ft, was erected at the east end of the field.
Seats of eight rows at both ends were provided in the cycle track, to
hold over 5,000, the whole of the alterations costing the Celtic Club
£2,000. The ground gave accommodation for 60,000. Twenty mounted
police patrolled outside the barricade round the ground, forty
policemen manned the entrances, and a detachment of 100 of the Argyle
and Sutherland Highlanders paraded on the pedestrian track between the
field of play and the cycle track." |
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"BLOOMER
IN FULL BLOOM" Scottish
Referee |
Officials |
Scotland |
Team Records |
England |
Referee
Thomas
Robertson
34 (9 December 1863), Baldernock, Stirlingshire, Scotland FA
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STATISTICS according to The Scottish Refereex
first half 2...corners...0
11...goal kicks...4 16...shies...16
13...free kicks...4 |
second half 2...corners...3
8...goal kicks...13 14...shies...14
6...free kicks...7 |
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Linesmen |
Percy
Alexander Timbs
32 (13 June 1865),
St. Giles,
London |
Dugald McKenzie
Scotltish FA President |
The Argyle & Sutherland
Highlanders not only provided the pre-match entertainment, but also added as
extra security to assist the large staff of policemen already assembled. |
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Scotland
Team |
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Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating
2nd |
Colours |
"The Scotchmen wore dark blue jerseys and white knickers..." "W.
G. Hay, who supplied the caps for the Irish and Welsh Internationals, will
also supply the headgear for the players." |
Captain |
James Cowan |
Selection
Trainer:
Danny Friel
(The Celtic FC) |
The Scottish Football Association
Selection Committee, of seven members, following the Ireland match. |
only match, W 0 - D 0 - L 1 - F 1 - A 3. |
The first
Anglo-Scot to captain |
after a discussion in Belfast, chosen in Glasgow on Tuesday, 29
March 1898 |
Scotland
Lineup |
|
Anderson, Kenneth |
22 253 days |
23 July 1875 |
G |
Queen's Park FC |
3 |
6ᵍᵃ |
final app
1896-98 |
|
Drummond, John |
27 354 days |
13 April 1870 |
RB |
Rangers FC |
8 |
0 |
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Doyle, Daniel |
33 198 days |
16 September 1864 |
LB |
The Celtic FC |
8 |
0 |
final app
1892-98 |
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Gibson, Neil |
25 38 days |
23 February 1873 |
RH |
Rangers FC |
7 |
1 |
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Cowan, James |
29 167 days |
17 October 1868 |
CH |
Aston Villa FC, England |
3 |
0 |
final app
1896-98 |
291 |
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Robertson, John Tait |
21 36 days |
25 February 1877 |
LH |
Everton FC, England |
1 |
0 |
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Bell, John Watson |
29 178 days |
6 October 1868 |
OR |
Everton FC, England |
5 |
2 |
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Campbell, John |
25 226 days |
19 August 1872 |
IR |
The Celtic FC |
4 |
0 |
292 |
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Maxwell, William Sturrock |
22 193 days |
21 September 1875 |
CF |
Stoke FC, England |
1 |
0 |
only app
1898 |
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Millar, James |
27 51 days |
10 February 1871 |
IL |
Rangers FC |
3 |
2 |
final app
1897-98 |
293 |
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Smith, Alexander |
22 146 days |
7 November 1875 |
OL |
Rangers FC |
1 |
0 |
reserves: |
'Before the start some dubiety existed as to Cowan's fitness owing to
indisposition, and Aleck King was in readiness to take the field in
case of emergency.' |
team notes: |
The only Celts in the team, Danny Doyle and Jimmy Campbell, were
playing on their home ground. |
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2-3-5 |
Anderson - Drummond, Doyle - Gibson, Cowan, Robertson -
Bell, Campbell, Maxwell, Millar, Smith.
For the second half, Campbell went centre,
Maxwell partnered Smith on the left, and Millar joined Bell on the
right. |
Averages: |
Age |
26 years 35
days |
Appearances/Goals |
4.0 |
0.4 |
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England
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating
1st |
Colours |
"...while the English team wore white with the rose on the left
breast."
"in their clean white jerseys and dark
knickers." |
Captain |
Charles Wreford-Brown |
Selection
in charge: John James Bentley
assistant: William McGregor (Aston Villa) |
The five-man
FA
International Selection Committee
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P 2/3 of 2/3, W 1 - D 1 - L 0 - F 4 - A 2. |
P 33rd of 195, W 26 - D 4 - L 3 - F 131 - A
31. |
second certain captaincy, possible third |
team chosen at the Queen's Hotel, Chester on Monday, 28 March 1898, following the Wales
match. |
England
Lineup |
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three changes to the previous match
(Perry, Booth & Goodall out) |
league position (28th March) |
ave lge pos:
5th⁷ |
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Robinson, John W. |
27 345 days |
22 April 1870 |
G |
New Brighton Tower FC
(LL TOP) |
5 |
5ᵍᵃ |
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Williams,
William |
22 72 days |
20 January 1876 |
RB |
West Bromwich Albion FC
(FL1 4th) |
4 |
0 |
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Oakley, William J. |
24 340 days |
27 April 1873 |
LB |
Corinthians FC |
10 |
0 |
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Forman, Frank |
22 314 days |
23 May 1875 |
RH |
Nottingham Forest FC
(FL1 7th) |
2 |
0 |
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Wreford-Brown, Charles |
31 175 days |
9 October 1866 |
CH |
Old
Carthusians AFC &
Corinthians FC |
4 |
0 |
final app
1889-98 |
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Needham, Ernest |
25 71 days |
21 January 1873 |
LH |
Sheffield United FC
(FL1 TOP) |
7 |
1 |
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Athersmith
Harper, W.
Charles |
25 327 days |
10 May
1872 |
OR |
Aston Villa FC
(FL1 5th) |
7 |
2 |
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Bloomer, Stephen |
24 72 days |
20 January 1874 |
IR |
Derby County FC
(FL1 9th) |
8 |
15 |
the 43rd brace scored |
mst gls |
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Smith, Gilbert
O. |
25 128 days |
25 November 1872 |
CF |
Old
Carthusians AFC
&
Corinthians FC |
13 |
5 |
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Wheldon, G. Frederick |
28 151 days |
2 November 1869 |
IL |
Aston Villa FC
(FL1 5th) |
4 |
6 |
final app
1897-98 |
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Spiksley, Frederick |
28 67 days |
25 January 1870 |
OL |
Wednesday FC
(FL1 3rd) |
7 |
7 |
final app
1893-98 |
travelling
reserves: |
forward
John Goodall (Derby County FC
(FL1 9th)) and
half-back
Jimmy Crabtree (Aston Villa FC
(FL1 5th)) |
other
reserves: |
back
Ambrose Langley (Wednesday FC
(FL1 3rd)), and forwards
Charles Alexander (Corinthians FC) and
Cuthbert James Burnup (Cambridge
University AFC,
Old Malvernians AFC &
Corinthians FC). 'As a matter of
fact, it took the Selection Committee far longer to choose the
reserves than the actual team.' |
team notes: |
Tommy Morren (Sheffield United FC
(FL1 TOP))
was initially selected to play as the centre-half, but due to an ankle
injury 'in consequence, he could not
accept an invitation to play against Scotland.' |
appearance notes: |
Gilbert Smith is the seventh player to have made thirteen England
appearances, whereas Bill Oakley is the ninth to have made ten.
Steve Bloomer is the seventeenth player to have made eight
appearances. 27 players have now made seven and Jack Robinson is 35th
to have made five. 59 players have now made four, whilst Frank Forman
is the 135th player to have made than one appearance for England,
Smith is the third player to make thirteen appearances
under the guidance of the ISC, and Oakley is the fourth to make ten. |
records: |
The fifth time England have won all
three games in one season. |
goalscoring
records: |
Steve Bloomer, with his first goal in the match, becomes England's
outright top goalscorer, ahead of Tinsley Lindley, and with his
second, he extends his record, and becomes the first player to score
two goals at Celtic Park and the fifth different England player to
score at the venue. |
"There will be a large turnout of English legislators which
foregathers at Preston Station on Friday afternoon. Lunch will be provided
in the dining-room there, and the party will proceed to Glasgow, where they
arrive at 6.45 and afterwards attend the Empire Theatre."..."reached Glasgow
Central Station at 7.30, over forty-five minutes late due to an accident in
Preston. Needham, Forman, and Spikesley, arrived at eleven o'clock."..."The
Central Hotel is to be their headquarters. Smith and Oakley arrived on
Thursday evening." |
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2-3-5 |
Robinson - Oakley, Williams - Forman, Wreford-Brown,
Needham - Athersmith, Bloomer, Smith, Wheldon, Spiksley. |
Averages: |
Age |
26 years 22
days |
Appearances/Goals |
6.5 |
3.0 |
"After the match the players drove to their respective hotels—the Englishmen
to the Central, and the Scotsmen to the Bath Hotel. On the way from the
field the English conveyance was nearly overturned through the driver taking
one of the corners too sharply. The English team had dinner privately, while
the Scots made merry over tea. Needless to say the best of good fellowship
prevailed at the English table. The team left Glasgow at 10.45, a
considerable crowd giving them a hearty send-off." |
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England teams
v. Scotland: |
1897: |
Robinson |
Oakley |
Spencer |
Reynolds |
Crawshaw |
Needham |
Athersmith |
Bloomer |
Smith |
Chadwick |
Milward |
1898: |
Williams |
Oakley |
Forman |
Wreford-Brown |
Wheldon |
Spiksley |
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Match Report
The Sporting Life, Monday,
4 April 1898 |
Punctual to the advertised time—in fact, quite four minutes before 3.30—the
English team, in their clean white jerseys and dark knickers, trotted down
the steps of the pavilion, and the men were received with hearty cheering.
They quickly set to work with the ball, and, after a kick or two, the more
sombre-looking Scots in dark jerseys and white knickers, ran nimbly on to
the field. Needless to say they had a hearty ovation. The home captain won
toss, and opened by defending the West-End goal. The first send-off by the
visitors was momentarily stopped, and a little scrambling in mid-field set
every one's teeth on edge. All were watching Cowan, upon whom many
Scottish hopes were set. Promptly the Aston Villan was there. In an
instant almost, at all events in less than three minutes from the start,
the English forwards had a great chance, and lightning-like the ball was
sent into the Scottish net, and Wheldon had the credit of first blood,
thereby gaining the splendid bicycle offered by an enterprising firm to
the scorer of the first goal. Play changed ends, and quite an unearthly
howl went up as the Scottish forwards ran up abreast of Robinson. Relief
came, however, and the attack was lost. Wreford-Brown in his own quarter
skied a ball which was caught and run ahead by Gibson. This was stopped,
and a great rush up was beautifully stopped by Drummond. The English
division were at this juncture full of energy, bordering almost on
nervousness. And were brought up again by the Rangers' man on the right
wing. He had a splendid try, but the leather went sailing over. The play
went to mid-field, and the English players combining well, got to the
front of Anderson sent in a strong message, but Drummond was ready and
cleverly nullified the attack. Williams close to the touch line, had a
back heel kick that was caught by Campbell, who ran up and sent it over,
Bell, too, had a run all to himself, and the ball was looking dangerous.
When its progress was stopped a close mid-field play was again the order
of the day. Several fouls were now failing to Scotland's lot, but the
Northern men did not have the luck to profit thereby, and rushing up the
English forwards beat the opposing backs, and sent in a message that was
cleverly accounted for by Anderson, the Scots custodian. The somewhat
wafery and glaring sun now shone for a little, and the Englishmen had it
all in their eyes. Nevertheless, they worked smartly and well, Wheldon,
Bloomer, and Needham putting in splendid efforts in saving, running up,
and placing individually, and in combination. The strongholds were in turn
visited by each forward division, but the back defence was in each
instance equal to the attack, and so the game was carried forth and back
again, testing the pace and power of each man, and putting to the test the
resource of almost every player on the field. A great bit of open play
resulted in all moving up to the front of the Scottish stronghold, when
Bloomer with a splendid open chance sent the ball into the net, thus
scoring goal number two for England. Nervously speedy play ensued, and it
was apparent that the visitors were the quickest on the ball; their
passing was also good, but the Scottish lot seemed to have more weight and
power. They did not score, however, nor could they in any particular break
down the opposing backs. Half-time score—ENGLAND
Two goals SCOTLAND
Nil.
Captain Cowan had transposed his men for the concluding portion of play,
Maxwell took inside left, Miller outside left, and Campbell centre. This
looked better, although many would have wished that Drummond had been in
his favourite place. He, however, had been doing as much and perhaps more
than was expected of him. The home men had apparently made up their minds
to force the play, and this they did to no little purpose. They rushed up,
and the forwards were soon in possession, but the ball was sent past.
Another attack was made in turn by the Englishmen, but Robertson was
ready. Play veered from end to end, and after no little manœuvring Miller
got up, and sent through a low, swift shot that beat Robinson, and put
Scotland within one of the rival team. Immediately afterwards the Scottish
forwards were on the ball, made another rush up, shot, but the leather
went past amid cries of 'Hard lines!' Goal kick and corner for Scotland
followed, but nothing came of the chance. Bell, Williams, Gibson, and
Robertson were conspicuous at this juncture, each putting in good hard
work, but the back division of each team was fast, firm, nimble, sure, and
determinedly successful in repelling the advances of the opposing
forwards. It was now apparent that Scotland was to drop for the year, and
although her sons made grand efforts and endeavoured to confuse the
English lot, it was to no purpose. The wings worked neatly, and there was
some very fine passing that at some times was taken advantage of, and at
others was woefully lost. After some earnest give and take work, G. O.
Smith passed to Bloomer and the Derby County man put in goal number three
for England. In no wise shaken off, the Scots pied themselves to the task
in hand, and were playing neatly and well, but not to the same purpose as
the more nimble representatives of England, who now acting on the
defensive, stopped all further advances, and managed to score the eighth
win to the credit of Old England.
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Match Report
The Times, Monday,
4 April 1898 |
Never in the
history of Association football in Scotland has a match aroused such
interest as the 27th encounter between Scotland and England on Saturday.
Celtic-park, Glasgow, had undergone radical alterations with a view to
accommodating an exceptionally large crowd, and events proved that the
executive were fairly accurate in their estimate. It was stated that the
holding capacity of the ground was 60,000, and in that case the
attendance must have been close upon that number, as to all appearances
all available space was occupied. The ground was opened at 11 o'clock,
and at that early hour the crowd began to assemble. When a start was
made at half-past 3 the lofty and capacious terraces at each end and the
various stands and enclosures were crowded. The scene was a remarkable
one, and it says a good deal for the foresight of the management that,
despite the presence of so great a throng, the match passed off without
the least disturbance. With regard to the contest it may at once be said
that the Englishmen for the first time for two years defeated their
opponents over the border by three goals to one, and, as they had
previously disposed of Ireland and Wales, became the winners of the
international championship. The result was, of course, a great
disappointment to the great majority of those present, and the closing
stages of the match, when England's victory was assured, passed off very
quietly. At the finish there was very little cheering, the thousands of
spectators dispersing rapidly.
...within three
minutes of the start Wheldon kicked a goal for England, and 20 minutes
later Bloomer added another...
...the Scotch
forwards opened the second half in a very spirited manner, Miller
heading a goal within five minutes of the restart...
...During that
period the result hung in the balance, but gradually the English team
pulled themselves together, and when Bloomer kicked the third goal 20
minutes from the finish England had the game safe...
On all hands it
was freely admitted that the Englishmen were the better side and
thoroughly deserved their success. The record between the two countries
now stands ;--Scotland, 13 wins ; England, eight wins ; and seven drawn
games. |
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In Other News....
It was on 2 April 1898 that
an inquest delivered its verdict of the suicide of Eleanor Marx,
youngest daughter of the great German philosopher, Karl Marx. She had
drunk hydrogen cyanide on discovering that her terminally-ill partner of
15 years, the playwright, Edward Aveling had secretly married a young
actress, the previous year, under his pen name. Aveling died, just four
months later, from kidney disease. |
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Middlesbrough beat
Thornaby, 2-1 in the FA Amateur Cup semi-final at Brotton, in a game
played behind closed doors due to the smallpox epidemic in
Middlesbrough. |
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Teams in a silver box denotes a player
representing England |
Domestic
Football Results (2 April 1898) |
The Football
League Division One:
Aston Villa 1 Stoke 1
Lower Grounds, Aston
(8,000)
Harvey ~
Molyneux |
Villa were without Charlie Athersmith,
Fred Wheldon, Jimmy Crabrtree
and Jimmy Cowan |
Stoke were without Billy
Maxwell, but started with Joe Schofield |
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Bolton Wanderers 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
Burnden Park, Bolton
(3,650)
Fitchett, Nicoll |
Wanderers started with Jack Sutcliffe |
Albion were without Bill Williams, but started with Joe
Reader, Tom Perry, Billy Bassett and Ben Garfield |
Everton 2 Nottingham Forest 0
Goodison Park, Liverpool
(10,000) L.Bell,
Divers |
Everton were without
Jack Bell and Jack Robertson, but
did start with Johnny Holt |
Forest were without Frank Forman |
Notts County 3 Liverpool 2
Trentbridge Cricket Ground, Nottingham
(8,000)
Boucher
(2), Leonard
~ McCowie, Becton |
County started with George Toone |
Liverpool started with Fred Geary, Frank Becton and and Harry Bradshaw |
Sheffield United 1 Sunderland 0
Bramall Lane, Sheffield
(20,000) Johnson |
United were without Ernest Needham, but started with Willie Foulke
and Tom Morren |
Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 Blackburn Rovers
2
Molineux, Wolverhampton
(4,000) Beats,
Wood
(2
(1 pen)) ~ Booth, Proudfoot |
Wolves started with Harry Wood |
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Sunderland travelled to Sheffield in the hope that
they could dislodge the leaders, and even prevented two of their team
(goalkeeper, Doig, and Wilson) from playing for Scotland on the same
day, whilst their hosts allowed Needham to play for England. It was not
enough, however, and United increased their lead to three points, with
two games remaining (Sunderland had three to play). Six days later, on
Good Friday, Sheffield United clinched their one and only Championship
title with a victory at Bolton, as Sunderland lost at Bury. |
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The Football
League Division Two:
Blackpool 1 Walsall 1
Athletic Grounds, Blackpool
(1,200)
Martin ~
Griffin |
Grimsby Town 1 Newton Heath 3
Abbey
Park, Grimsby
(3,000)
Blythe ~
Cassidy (2), Boyd |
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Leicester Fosse 0 Manchester City 0
Filbert Street,
Leicester
(6,000) |
Luton Town 1 Small Heath 2
Dunstable Road, Luton
(3,000)
Couper
~ Dunlop, Inglis |
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Newcastle United 5 Gainsborough Trinity 2
St. James' Park,
Newcastle upon Tyne
(12,000)
Peddie (3), Smith (2) ~
Morris, Scott (pen) |
Trinity started with Jimmy Bagshaw |
Woolwich Arsenal 1 Burnley 1
Manor Ground, Plumstead
(12,000)
Hunt
~ McInnes |
Newcastle secured their place in the end-of-season test matches. As
events transpired, they had actually done enough already to secure
promotion, but they would not know that until the Football League agreed
to extend the First Division to 18 clubs, the following month, and
Newcastle were voted into it, even
though they had failed to win promotion via the test matches.
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Source Notes |
TheFA
Scottish FA England Football Factbook
Richard Keir's Scotland - The Complete International
Record Scottish Sport History |
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Rothman's Yearbooks The Football Association Yearbooks
Original Newspaper Reports
Ancestry.com
London Hearts |
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