MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB
PAGES FROM HISTORY
PRE-
1892-
Athletic News, October 31, 1892
ARDWICK BEAT MIDDLESBROUGH.
There was not a very large “gate” at Hyde-
Athletic News, November 21, 1892
The Middlesbrough club were engaged with Ardwick, the match being a return “friendly.” The Ardwickians managed to defeat Middlesbrough when they visited them by six goals to three, and, strange to say, the home team exactly reversed matters by inflicting the same defeat on them last Saturday. There was a very thin attendance of spectators when the game started, the attraction further up the road absorbing all the interest. The visitors had their full team except Davy Russell, and it was expected that the game would be a good one. The home lot, however, were much too good for the Mancunians, more so than the score indicates. Ardwick were awarded a penalty kick, but Fall, the Middlesbrough custodian saved finely amidst the applause of the spectators. The Ardwick defence was accordingly shaky at times, the backs especially. The forwards played nice football, and passed beautifully during the course of the game but found the home defence very strong.
Northern Review 28 January 1893 -
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What’s the odds against the English Cup finding a resting place in Middlesbrough! That sanguine toned expression was on the lips of many scores of ardent supporters of the old club, the natural result of the reaction following a tie in which the scoring for a long time was in favour of the vanquished. To attempt to describe the bleak horror depicted on the faces of the directors, and the gradual rolling away of the black clouds leaving a wealth of smiles, genial enough to ripen a field of wheat is a task I will not attempt. Let it suffice to say it was a glorious victory, pulled off despite early mistakes that would almost have broken the spirit of most teams, a victory enjoyed and appreciated to the fullest extent by those who witness the gallant performance.
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It was a very dismal state of affairs when the excursionists arrived from Middlesbrough, and were told in reply to their eager enquiries that Newcastle United were two goals to nil, with the game well in hand. It was, indeed, a facer to those who had journeyed with confident hearts to the scene of battle.
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What a battle it was and to those well acquainted with the undercurrent of affairs, how fraught the result with important consequences. It was more than a struggle between old and keen rivals, more than an English Cup tie, the existence of the clubs was in a great measure at stake. The victory has given to the Middlesbrough club a new lease of life, making possible the production at the end of the season of a favourable balance sheet. What would have happened, in all probability, is not now necessary to mention it; the danger has passed. Newcastle United could even less than Middlesbrough afford to lose the tie, therefore both sides played at high pressure.
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Almost the last words of President Dodds to his men, before the kick-
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I was greatly pleased with the manner the Middlesbrough men took their misfortune.
There was no shirking or losing of heart or temper. A quiet confidence was maintained,
more fibre put into their play and every effort made to rub out the score. For a
weary, long period no tangible results were made, but at last Blyth got in a beauty,
no further score being made when the whistle piped the half-
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An enthusiastic Tynesider, who was my nearest neighbour during the resting period, told me that as soon as his champions commenced rushing down the slope, my champions would be, as it were, mats to wipe twenty two No. 9 kickers upon. I thanked him kindly and gently insinuated that it was hardly likely, whereupon I was asked “not to be a fool.” Nevertheless I maintained my opinion because the Middlesbrough men were confident of attacking better up the slope than they could down, an opinion justified by recent experience, the only difficulty, a serious one, being that a sudden downward rush of their opponents might win the tie. Never was judgement more fully borne out, they breasted the hill gallantly, ran round the defence and quickly equalised. McKnight putting a champion shot. Very nearly a rush down resulted in putting Newcastle again in front, but Fall came out with excellent judgement and saved. In a few minutes Lewis headed a goal from a corner, and Middlesbrough had as good as won. Quickly there was a new disposition of players, and the defence strengthened. This was a wise and sane proceeding, at the same time it was not required s by this time Newcastle were beaten, and the game was nearly all to their opponents to the end.
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Mr. Sam Omerod, of Accrington, acted as referee, and gave every satisfaction to the winners, perhaps less to the vanquished, as the referee generally takes more than a fair share of blame for defeat. I must say no match could have been more orderly or better conducted. He was instantaneous in detecting the least bit of foul play and inflicting the penalty. His only mistake was in allowing Newcastle the second goal when Fall was dragged through by the neck.
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Turning to the players, Fall made one or two costly mistakes, but afterwards was
all there, and saved more than once with brilliance. McManus was as safe as a church,
and Tom Bach made him an efficient partner. The opinion of Tyneside about Jem Stott
was that a better centre half-
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The forwards were all in capital trim. McCabe, when he warmed up, ran away from
his opponents and centred beautifully. McKnight displayed not only good playing
powers but qualities of generalship. There was not much lost to his side for want
of an appeal. Blyth was as good as anybody on the field, putting in solid, useful
work from start to finish. The left wing showed up grandly, and were always dangerous.
I believe if McKnight had kept forward towards the finish more goals would certainly
have been scored; but, as I before remarked, the safe game in Cup ties is always
the best. The feature of the Newcastle play was the grand defence of Whitton, Jeffrey,
and Miller, especially in the first half. The forwards were not clever, the Middlesbrough
half-
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As I expected, the defeat has been too much for Newcastle United, a scapegoat
must and has been found to answer for “future developments.” To begin with the secretary
and president have resigned in consequence of the result of the tie. The facts are
of the usual character. Last week the secretary received a letter, purporting to
have been written by a member of the Ironopolis Club, in which Miller was accused
of sending a large sum of money to a well known Middlesbrough publican, to back the
Middlesbrough team. Miller was heart-
Northern Review, March 11, 1893.
Middlesbrough v Royal Arsenal.
There would be about 2,000 spectators to witness the performance of the scratch
team selected by Middlesbrough to fight against the famous South Country team, Royal
Arsenal. The professionals were Fall, McManus, Blythe, Lewis, and Black, and those
not included Crone, Taggart, Stott, Bach, McCabe, and McKnight. Bach was willing
to play, but was not selected, being unwell. McKnight had not the chance of accepting,
the directors having suspended him for one month, owing to bad play in recent matches.
Phil Bach, of the Swifts, appeared in place of Crone, Walsh (Swifts), T.Morran (Vulcan),
and R.Hunter (Swifts), instead of the usual half-
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It looked any odds on the powerful team sent by the Royalists when they lined
up on the half-
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Royal Arsenal did not like the mixture of mud and water and when a player went into it full length as occasionally happened, the steam left them and they made no more show during the afternoon. Sometimes they stuck in with their feet and allowed their opponents to canter away unmolested. As might be expected, the home team suffered considerably from the same cause, but not to the extent of the others. If the visitors can shoot straight, which one is inclined to doubt, the “amateurs” would have spent a hot time had the ground been hard.
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In goal, Fall, although threatened frequently, had little or nothing to do.
Phil back played grandly, even Crone could not have performed better on the difficult
ground. Old McManus was at his best, and the pair bothered the opposing forwards
so that they could not shoot. Jack Walsh always works like a steam engine and this
was his day out. Moran, was a trifle light, but did exceedingly well and is nearly
good enough for any organisation. There was plenty of pluck about Hunter’s play and
he achieved his share of success, although lacking a little in artistic finish and
polish. In “Tot” Collinson, Blythe found a suitable and capable partner and rarely
did this pair, once in possession of the ball, lose it until they voluntary banged
it into the centre. The centres from the outside wing made by Collinson were remarkably
good and quite took away the feeling that the team would miss McCabe, probably the
amateur is the better man. D.Mullen was the only failure and how it happens he does
this sort of thing in the first eleven, when the Swifts swear by his skill, is a
mystery. On Saturday he was either not going at all or too much -
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The victory was received with every signs of satisfaction. It must not be forgotten
that some of the players will not often be available, the two most successful, Collinson
and Moran, being wanted by their own club. Both lads are well worthy of their places
in the town team, and may have them if they choose, but will they so decide! The
Vulcan will not part without a struggle, Eh! Major General Forrester; and the lads
may not wish to join. I understand another set of promising players will be given
a trial against Stockton, but of what avail, except as a stop-
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