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![](../../images/Opps/EngMS(2)flg.jpg) "MAGNIFICENT
FOOTBALL BEFORE A BIG CROWD"
Sporting Life |
Officials |
England |
Team Records |
Scotland |
Referee
Richard
Thomas
Gough
37
(mid-1859), Worthen,
Welsh FA |
|
Linesmen |
George Stuart
Sherrington 35 (20 August
1861), Islington, Suffolk FA |
Walter Crichton
Scotland FA President |
|
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England
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating
1st |
Colours |
"England wore white shirts and the
orthodox blue nicks." |
Captain |
Gilbert
Smith |
Selection |
The five-man FA
International Selection Committee |
P 4 of 13, W 2 - D 0 - L 2 - F 12 - A
4. |
P 30th of 195, W 23 - D 4 - L 3 - F 122 - A
28. |
fourth, fifth or
sixth captaincy |
team chosen at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, on Monday evening, 29 March 1897. |
England
Lineup |
|
two changes to the previous match
(Robinson & Chadwick>Foulke &
Becton) |
league position (23rd March) |
ave lge pos:
4th⁹ |
|
Robinson, John W. |
26 346 days |
22 April 1870 |
G |
Derby County FC
(FL1 3rd) |
2 |
2ᵍᵃ |
|
Oakley, William J. |
23 341 days |
27 April 1873 |
RB |
Corinthians FC |
7 |
0 |
|
Spencer, Howard |
21 223 days |
23 August 1875 |
LB |
Aston Villa FC
(FL1 TOP) |
2 |
0 |
|
Reynolds, John |
28 41 days |
21 February 1869 |
RH |
Aston Villa FC
(FL1 TOP) |
8 |
2 |
final app
1892-97 |
|
Crawshaw, Thomas H.,
injured 10th min. |
24 96 days |
28 December 1872 |
CH |
Wednesday FC
(FL1 7th) |
7 |
0 |
|
Needham, Ernest |
24 72 days |
21 January 1873 |
LH |
Sheffield United FC
(FL1 2nd) |
5 |
1 |
|
Athersmith
Harper, W.
Charles |
24 328 days |
10 May
1872 |
OR |
Aston Villa FC
(FL1 TOP) |
4 |
1 |
![](../../images/Misc/Goal5.png) |
Bloomer, Stephen |
23 73 days |
20 January 1874 |
IR |
Derby County FC
(FL1 3rd) |
7 |
13 |
=mst gls |
|
Smith, Gilbert O. |
24 129 days |
25 November 1872 |
CF |
Old
Carthusians AFC
&
Corinthians FC |
10 |
4 |
|
Chadwick, Edgar W. |
27 293 days |
14 June 1869 |
IL |
Everton FC
(FL1 8th) |
7 |
3 |
final app
1891-97 |
|
Milward, Arthur |
26 203 days |
12 September
1870 |
OL |
Everton FC
(FL1 8th) |
4 |
3 |
final app
1891-97 |
reserves: |
Jimmy Turner (Derby County FC
(FL1 3rd)) |
team notes: |
Tommy Crawshaw received a leg injury
in the tenth minute of the match, and returned after five minutes
with a heavily bandaged leg~and spent
some of time off the field of play, recovering. Jack Reynolds had
already played five times for the Irish team, scoring once (1890-91
(two appearances and one goal against England)). |
appearance notes: |
Gilbert Smith is
the eighth player to have made ten England appearances, whereas the
aforementioned Reynolds, is the fifteenth to have made eight. 24
players have now made seven appearances. Ernest Needham is the 33rd
England player to have made five appearances. 55 have made four and
132 have played for England more than once. Smith is the third
player to make ten appearances under the guidance of the ISC, whereas
Reynolds is the to make eight. Only seventeen different players
were used across 1896-97, still one short of the record set in
1883-84, and equalled in 1884-85 and 1886-87. For the first time
since the 1887-88 season, there have been numerous ever-presents
(six).
|
records: |
This is the first
'Home' defeat for eight years, ending a sequence of eleven matches
unbeaten at home. Tom Hyslop's 22nd minute goal also extended
England's Home record of 317 minutes without conceding. |
"...whilst the Englishmen were located at the Tavistock in the same
neighbourhood" - Sporting Life, Monday, 5 April 1897 |
|
2-3-5 |
Robinson - Oakley, Spencer - Reynolds, Crawshaw, Needham
- Athersmith, Bloomer, Smith, Chadwick, Milward. |
Averages: |
Age |
25 years 29
days |
Appearances/Goals |
5.7 |
2.4 |
England teams
v. Scotland: |
1896: |
Raikes |
Lodge |
Oakley |
Henfrey |
Crawshaw |
Crabtree |
Bassett |
Goodall |
Smith |
Wood |
Burnup |
1897: |
Robinson |
Oakley |
Spencer |
Reynolds |
Needham |
Athersmith |
Bloomer |
Chadwick |
Milward |
|
|
Scotland
Team |
|
Rank |
No official ranking system established; ELO rating
2nd |
Colours |
"Scotland play in dark blue shirts and white knickers";
"attired in blue shirts and white knickers" |
Captain |
William Lambie |
Selection
Trainer: J. Aitken |
The Scottish Football Association
Selection Committee, of seven members. |
only, W 1 - D 0 - L 0 - F 2 - A 1. |
following the match vs. Ireland, Monday evening, 29 March 1897 |
Scotland
Lineup |
|
Patrick, John |
27 83 days |
10 January 1870 |
G |
St. Mirren FC |
2 |
3ᵍᵃ |
final app
1897 |
278 |
|
Smith, Nicol |
23 99 days |
25 December 1873 |
RB |
Rangers FC |
1 |
0 |
|
Doyle, Daniel |
32 199 days |
16 September 1864 |
LB |
The Celtic FC |
6 |
0 |
|
Gibson, Neil |
24 39 days |
23 February 1873 |
RH |
Rangers FC |
6 |
1 |
|
Cowan, James |
28 168 days |
17 October 1868 |
CH |
Aston Villa FC, England |
2 |
0 |
|
Wilson, Hugh |
28 16 days |
18 March 1869 |
LH |
Sunderland FC, England |
2 |
1 |
|
Bell, John Watson |
28 179 days |
6 October 1868 |
OR |
Everton FC, England |
4 |
2 |
279 |
![](../../images/Misc/Goal5.png) |
Millar, James |
26 52 days |
10 February 1871 |
IR |
Rangers FC |
1 |
1 |
280 |
|
Allan, George Horsburgh |
21 223 days |
23 August 1875 |
CF |
Liverpool FC, England |
1 |
0 |
only app
1897 |
![](../../images/Misc/Goal5.png) |
Hyslop, Thomas |
25 226 days |
20 August 1871 |
IL |
Rangers FC |
2 |
1 |
born as Bryce Thomas Scouller |
final app
1896-97 |
|
Lambie, William Allan |
24 83 days |
10 January 1873 |
OL |
Queen's Park FC |
9 |
5 |
final app
1892-97 |
reserves: |
not known |
team notes: |
Ned Doig was the original chosen goalkeeper, but his club, Sunderland
AFC, needed him to play for them in a vital league fixture against
Stoke FC, on the same day, because his club could not find a suitable
replacement His place going to Patrick. Hugh Wilson, the Sunderland
captain, was permitted to play for his country as he had a ready
replacement. Even after
the programme was printed, the advertised David Russell (The Celtic FC) was replaced by Neil Gibson. |
"There was a large crowd at St. Enoch's Station, Glasgow, to see the
Scottish team off on Friday afternoon, and a large number of passengers
accompanied the players. The Scotsmen made Covent Garden Hotel their
headquarters." - Sporting Life, Monday, 5 April 1897 |
|
2-3-5 |
Patrick - Smith, Doyle - Gibson, Cowan, Wilson -
Bell, Miller, Allan, Hyslop, Lambie |
Averages: |
Age |
26 years 125
days |
Appearances/Goals |
3.3 |
0.9 |
|
|
Match Report
The Morning Post, Monday, 5 April 1897 |
Sharp
to time Scotland started the game—they had won the toss—and had the worst of
what was largely a cross wind. Reynolds sent the ball up to the right
wing, and Athersmith and Bloomer were quickly at the Scottish goal.
Patrick stumbled in partially saving a long shot from the left wing and
left the ball dead right in front of the posts. Athersmith strove hard to
get it, but Doyle just beat him, and, in order to avert immediate danger
conceded a corner. This was well taken, but Doyle and Smith by fine
kicking cleared their lines. For awhile England continued to get the most
of the play; but they soon had the misfortune to lose Crawshaw for five
minutes. He was badly hacked, and retired to have the wood dressed. The
game was very fast, and even in Crawshaw's absence the Englishmen made
sundry strong attacks. Milward tried one or two long shots, and G. O.
Smith and Athersmith each sent the ball just outside the posts. The
Scottish fine back play repeatedly made itself felt, and Bell, Allan,
Hyslop each more than once beat the English full backs, and were only
prevented from scoring by Robinson in goal. So, with varying fortune, the
game had progressed for 20 minutes, when England at last scored. Reynolds
got the ball out to Athersmith, who reached the line, and then with a
wonderful kick dropped the ball in front of goal, and Bloomer put it into
the net. This success of England was cheered to the echo by the vast
company. But Scotland's turn was at hand. The English lead was retained
for only about five minutes, and then, following a free kick for hands,
Hyslop obtained a goal out of a scrimmage and made the score one all.
There was a keen fight fight for another point by both sides, and the pace
of the game if anything increased. Both goalkeepers had much to do; but
Patrick was not so severely tried, for the reason that the shots which
came to him were largely made at long range. His method of defence,
however, possessed some uncertainty, and he once or twice failed to gather
the ball cleanly. Chadwick and Milward each sent in terrific kicks which
struck the outside of the left post, while a lightning shot by G.O. Smith
passed within a few inches of the goal. The Scottish halves and backs
continued to do well, and their forwards made one or two fine attacks,
with which Bell, Millar, and Allan were mostly associated. Oakley turned
his speed to much use once or twice when Bell had escaped him; but
Robinson was often hard pressed. There was not much to choose between the
teams in the closing moments of the first half, and at the interval the
score remained at one goal all.
To begin with in the second half the most noteworthy things in the
football were runs by Milward and Chadwick, who each had a shot at the
Scottish goal, but both were wide of the mark. Anoter soon followed from
Athersmith, and this Patrick had much trouble in saving. For awhile the
English forwards made the game very warm for the visitors. But Smith and
Doyle covered the goalkeeper splendidly, and eventually the game turned
considerably in favour of Scotland. Lambie, Bell, and Allan had the most
to do in three sharp attacks on the English goal, and thrice did Robinson
have to use his hands. There were several free kicks to the Scottish, one
right in front of the English posts. But nothing resulted, for the ball
was kicked high over the bar. A spell of fine work by the Englishmen
promised well for a score, but G. O. Smith's low swift shot was well saved
by Patrick, who easily stopped another from Reynolds. After a little more
brilliancy the pace of the game rather slackened. Each side attacked
strongly, and twice England seemed likely to score after corner kicks, but
the energy and vigilance of the Scottish full backs were untiring, and
they cleared time after time. The Scottish were often busy at the other
end, and Oakley and Spencer found plenty to do in kicking and stopping.
Bell was particularly strong on the Scottish right, while Lambie and
Hyslop each seemed certain to get through. Several hard and swift shots
were saved by Robinson, after which Robinson took the game to the other
end. A free kick to England in front of the Scottish posts raised the
hopes of England, but after a scrimmage the ball was kicked behind. About
this time the English halves had some long kicks, at goal, none of which,
however, yielded anything, while some penalties against Scotland were also
of no consequence to the football. Robinson soon had more work to do in
goal, and in one instance he only saved by turning the ball behind his own
line. Nothing came from the corner kick, after which Oakley sent the ball
up to Reynolds, who gave Patrick another long dropping shot, which was
easily cleared. The play had become very even, and each side in turn
attacked, but the Scottish forwards finished better than those of England.
G. O. Smith did some pretty dribbling and passed out well to the wings,
whose kicking was a little wild. Then came the decisive point of the
match. Robinson, who had already sved two shots in quick succession, had
another low one from Allan, and this he did not fully clear, and, as he
stumbled, Millar dashed up and put the ball into the net. Only seven
minutes remained, during which the Scottish had the better of the play,
without, however, increasing their score.
|
Match Report
The Times, Monday,
5 April 1897 |
Scotland
beat England at the Crystal Palace on Saturday by two goals to one. They
have now won 13 games to seven, and six games have been drawn. Scotland,
who had perhaps the best of the luck, owed their success as much as
anything to the perfect defence of their full backs and the finished
work of their halves. England's game was, almost at the outset, much
hampered by an accident to Crawshaw, the centre half, for not only was
he absent from the field for a time, but when he returned his form was
obviously affected by the wound on his leg...
Soon after Crawshaw's return the
Englishmen scored the first goal, Bloomer seizing an opening made by a
dexterous centre from almost off the line by Athersmith. But England were
not long in front--less than five minutes in fact--for, after a free
kick, the ball was scrimmaged through by the Scottish, Hyslop apparently
giving it the final impetus that sent it past Robinson...
...Robinson failed at last to stop a shot from Miller, which
followed immediately after one in saving which he had stumbled and had not
recovered when Miller got up. This decided the match, for the last seven
minutes passed without any change in the score. |
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In Other News....
Oxford beat Cambridge
to win the University Boat Race for the eighth year in succession.
It was on 3 April 1897
that the great German classical music composer, Johannes Brahms, died at
the age of 63, in Vienna. |
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Teams in a silver box denotes a player
representing England |
Domestic
Football Results (3 April 1897) |
The Football
League Division One:
Liverpool 2 Wednesday 2
Anfield, Liverpool
(6,000)
Michael, Becton (pen) ~
Brady, Bell |
Liverpool were without George Allan (Scotland),
but did start with Fred Geary, Frank Becton nad Harry Bradshaw |
Wednesday were without Tom Crawshaw but did start with
Fred Spiksley |
Preston North End 4 Everton 1
Deepdale, Preston
(5,000)
Henderson, Sanders (2),
Smith ~ Campbell |
North End started with Bob Holmes |
Everton were without Alf Milward and Edgar Chadwick,
as well
as Jack Bell
(Scotland) |
Stoke 0 Sunderland 1
Victoria Ground, Stoke
(5,000) Cowan |
Stoke started with Tommy Clare and Joe Schofield |
West Bromwich Albion 3 Burnley 0
Stoney Lane, West Bromwich
(3,100)
McLeod, Williams, Flewitt |
Albion started with Joe Reader and Bill Williams |
Although Burnley defeated West Brom, 5-0, just a week later, they were now destined for the test matches which would, ultimately, relegate them to the Second Division for the first time. |
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The Football
League Division Two:
Burton Wanderers
2 Lincoln City 0
Derby Turn, Burton
(1,000)
Handley, Arkesden |
Gainsborough Trinity 2 Blackpool 0
The
Northolme, Gainsborough
(2,000)
C.Brown, Webster |
Grimsby Town 3 Burton Swifts 0
Abbey Park, Grimsby
(4,000)
Fletcher (2), Graham |
Notts County 1 Small Heath 2
Trent
Bridge, Nottingham
(5,000)
Boucher ~
Abbott (2) |
County had George Toone starting |
Walsall 0 Newcastle United 2
Hilary Street, Walsall
(4,000)
Smellie, Aitken (pen) |
Woolwich Arsenal 0 Newton Heath 2
Manor Ground, Plumstead
(6,000)
Boyd, Donaldson |
Newton Heath secured their place in the test matches, but defeats at Burnley and Sunderland would leave them in the Second Division for another season.
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Source Notes |
TheFA
Scottish FA England Football Factbook
Richard Keir's Scotland - The Complete International
Record Scottish Sport History
London Hearts |
|
Rothman's Yearbooks The Football Association Yearbooks
Original Newspaper Reports
Ancestry.com LFC History |
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