MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

PAGES FROM HISTORY

PRE-LEAGUE FOOTBALL - [ENTERED DIVISION 2 1899]

Season 1883/84

Weekly Exchange 16 February 1884

 

    We are glad to notice that our Middlesbro’ Football Club have considered the comfort of their numerous friends by providing a very neat and comfortable-looking stand, capable of accommodating 400 spectators. This will provide a much felt want, and will no doubt tend to the further patronage of a pastime that is becoming ever and more in favour. The stand has been designed by Mr A. Griffin, who also acted as honorary architect; while Coun. Sanderson has not only been at the expense of  providing the brick foundations, but also sacrificed a great amount of time in superintending the work.

 

Weekly Exchange 16 February 1884

The Sheffield Challenge Cup.

    The Middlesbrough Association Football Club have decided to compete against Lockwood Brothers at Sheffield on Saturday in the semi final tie for the Sheffield Challenge Cup.

Season 1884/85    ---    Weekly Exchange September 27, 1884

FOOTBALL NOTES

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    The summer is about over , and all our pleasant outdoor games at an end. Those of our ardent athletes who take part in the winter pastime will be making, or have made, preparations for the popular sport football.

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    In the Cleveland district we are likely to have a number of good matches, both under the Association and Rugby Union rules.

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    The Middlesbro’ club have entered for the English Challenge Cup, and are again fortunate enough to get the first tie at home, and from the strength of the team opposed to them (Grimsby district) are likely to get through the first round with victory. Redcar also play on the home ground for the same cup, and they think they can beat Sunderland, whom they meet.

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    Neither clubs are entered for the Sheffield Cup, for since last season there has been some restriction as to distance put upon it, which confines the contesting teams to the Sheffield district.

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    The entries for the Cleveland Cup closed with 16 clubs in for it, being an increase over last season, one or two junior teams, who aspire to senior honours, having joined the association and entered for the cup. A Junior cup is also is to be offered during the coming season, and we hear rumours already of teams being got together under the restricted age of 18, and a keen competition may be expected, the Redcar division having determined that the minor trophy shall rest there, if the senior one cannot be attained, but the Grove Hill juniors will take some shaking off.

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    The Rugby Union rules have not become so popular in Middlesbro’ as the dribbling game, perhaps owing to the difficulty experienced by beginners understanding the very many points required to be known by a player under this code, and we, in consequence find no new club being formed to play under these rules. At present the once junior team “The Rovers,” is we believe the only team playing the “carrying game.” This club has gradually worked its way to the fore, having had its interests well and substantially looked after by a gentleman who is a staunch supporter  of out-door sport, and now they would not fear to face even the County cup holders. Last year they entered for the Yorkshire Challenge Cup, and although beaten in the first round, were not by any means disgraced, as their opponents had a little luck. No doubt they gained some experience, and they have gone in again for cup honours and are drawn against Shipley, but will have to play from home. Besides this tie, arrangements have been made for home and home contests with Durham, Northern, York, Darlington, and other clubs, but the difficulty they labour under is the possession of a good ground to play their matches on. We hear that strenuous efforts are being put forth to obtain one and if they succeed in their endeavours, no doubt the Rugby game will be clearer exemplified and become much more popular. We trust they may obtain the use of the field they are applying for, as there is no reason why they should not, and that the game should not be quite as popular as the Association.

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    On Saturday last, it was fully expected that football would be in full swing, but the weather was too fine to admit of much brisk play.

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    The Middlesbrough Association Club played the second scratch game, when the teams were to have been “forwards” against “backs,” but owing to the captain of the former, A. Borrie, not turning up, and the absence of one or two other prominent dribblers, the game was robbed of much of its interest. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, two teams were got together, and the game ended in a “draw.” There was not much science displayed to call for special mention, and we noticed that there were a few “old warriors” on both sides. The club expects to be able to put a very strong team into the field this season, although they may not have the services of either Ewbank or T.Dales, but we learn that they have secured the membership of an “International forward,” which will be a great acquisition.

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    The first home and home match will be played next Saturday, against Darlington, and no doubt the team will be as follows ;-- J.Thompson, Wilson, Borrie, Pringle, and Pickstock (forwards), Peel, Cochrane, and Blackburn (half-backs), Ransford and Miller (backs), and Dawkins (goal), which will be a combination quite strong enough to beat their opponents easily.

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Weekly Exchange 17 January 1885

 

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F O O T B A L L

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THE ETONIAN MATCH

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To the Editor of the Daily Exchange.

DEAR SIR,--Would you kindly allow me space in your valuable paper to give a hint to the Middlesbrough Football Club about getting their first eleven team into a bit of condition for the 24th inst., when they meet the Old Etonians in the fourth round of the English Challenge Cup competition to be played at London. There is certainly very little time to train for it, still if the players leave off tobacco, reduce the liquor supply, take walking exercise in the evening, and follow the old maxim of “Early to bed, &c,” this will go a long way towards winning the game. Otherwise, we will have another “Heeley” defeat, and very likely a more severe one. Unless our players do something to get into condition they had better remain at home and save expenses. The following is my idea of the team that should uphold the honour of Middlesbrough. Goal--Dawkins: backs  -- Miller and Wynn; half-backs Thompson, Cochrane, and Pauls; forwards -- Borrie, Fox, Pringle, Wilson, and Ewbank; or Thompson and Pringle might reverse places. Such a combination would take a lot of beating. --I remain, dear Sir, yours very truly,

A MEMBER OF THE CLUB.                                                         

10th  Jan. 1885.

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Weekly Exchange 9 May 1885

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Football has closed its career for the season, and given  place to hand ball in a variety of forms, the favourites being lawn tennis and cricket. The transition from the cold of winter to the heat of summer has made the change imperative. The game of hand ball in some form or other is very old, but the game of football is comparatively modern. Still it is old enough for us to claim it as a national game both in England and Scotland. Sir W. Dave

   Describing London in 1634 complained of the sport -- “one of your heroic games called football” he styles it -- being carried on in the streets, especially in such irregular and narrow roads as Crooked-lane.” It soon got shifted into the fields, however The village green formed a splendid arena, and there, especially in the west of England, was it often played on holidays. Indeed, in times when our Christianity in one sense seems to have been of a more muscular turn than now it was played on Sunday morning or on Sunday afternoon. We have heard it said of one vicar of a parish in the south of Durham that on the condition that the lads of the village attended church service faithfully in the forenoon, he himself habitually gave the first “kick off” in the afternoon, and that one Sunday afternoon when the lads in advertently kicked the ball through his study window, all he said was-- “What a splendid kick!” But we live in more reverential times and wisely provide a secular half-holiday for such recreation. In Scotland we had one memorable match played on the 5th of December, 1815, in Ettrick Forest, betwixt the Ettrick men and the men of Yarrow, the one team backed by the Earl of Home, and the other by Sir Walter Scott, who was sheriff of the forest, and who deemed it worth celebrating in his immortal verse. Two of those verses may not be inappropriate here:--

 

“We forget each contention of civil dissension,

And hail, like our brethren, Home Douglas and Car;

And Elliott and Pringle in pastime shall mingle,

As welcome in peace as their fathers in war.

 

Then strip lads, and to it, though sharp be the weather,

And if by mischance you should happen to fall,

There are worse things in life than a tumble on heather,

And life is itself but a game at football.”

 

Sir Walter’s muse has thus made the game almost as romantic as a tournament. As a winter game it is unrivalled in interest both to the player and the onlooker. Nor can we complain of its popularity in these times. Over the length and breadth of the land it has become a universal favourite. Is it not then highly gratifying to be informed from the annual report of the Cleveland Football Association that Middlesbrough football players are gradually making their mark further and further upon the national record and that they ran the Old Etonians very close in the fourth round in the English Cup Competition? This annual report will now become much more extended in its interest in consequence of the greater attention  now bestowed by the general public upon the game. We note with satisfaction, that the committee are doing their utmost to secure good matches. The public are so much interested that they have become critical and will not be content with indifferent playing. Nor can our best team be expected to put their best foot forward unless they have to contend with players at least as good as themselves. It is hardly matter for congratulations upon the whole for them to win so often; a thrashing now and then would do them a world of good in inciting them to a higher form of play. Constant winners are extremely apt to become careless. As in chess it is always best practice to play with those that can beat you. It is the manner of play, and not the fortune of the game which is praiseworthy. We are pleased to note the secretary’s advice to captains to discourage rough playing. It is a game more of skill than of force, and such rough force as “charging” should be resorted to as little as possible. It is much higher form to do without it, and accomplish your aim by smartness and adroitness. In the report, we expected that mention would be made of the charity match, but perhaps that does not come as yet within the formal jurisdiction of the association. We trust however that it will not be lost sight of. The success of the single match augers well for the success of the series which we understand are to be played in competition for the promised Charity Challenge Cup. There is a feature in the arrangements for playing which augers well for the preservation of its integrity. A number of emphatic resolutions against football professionalism were passed. Let us have it and keep it free from such a taint.  Let us play for love and not for money -- to be rewarded and not to be merely paid -- between which there is all the difference between noble emulation and sordid calculation. How far play is legitimate work is a question that need not be answered here, but there is no doubt that the more play and the less sense of work about a genuine game there is, the greater is the pureness of the pleasure derived therefrom. A “game” and “gaming” are terms which express closely enough how play may be abused, so that from being a great good it may become a positive evil

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Season 1885/86

 

Weekly Exchange 7 November 1885

 

Middlesbrough v Horncastle

The latter scratched to Middlesbrough owing to the great distance Horncastle had to travel. The Lincolnshire team endeavoured to get the mach played at Sheffield but Middlesbrough refused.

 

Weekly Exchange 24 April 1886

 

    The Tyne team presented a very woeful front to the Middlesbrough eleven on Saturday, and were beaten by 7 to nil. Considering the invariable success of the local men when these two teams meet, it would really be wise on the part of the Middlesbrough committee to transfer this match for the future to the fixtures of the Swifts; provided of course that the Tyne people would acquiesce in such an arrangement.

 

And

 

   There is one member of the Middlesbrough Eleven remarkable for the standard of excellence which he has maintained for very many years, and also for his untiring devotion during the same period to the interests of the club, both on the field as a player, and in committee as an unseen worker. I refer to W.Pickstock, whose genial bearing and never failing good temper have made him an almost universal favourite. I am glad to know that the many excellent features of his football career are to be fittingly acknowledged, and that a movement has emanated from the Middlesbrough Football Committee to raise a fund, for the purpose of conveying to him a substantial recognition of the valuable services which he has rendered to the club. I understand that Messrs A. Fairgreave and H  Walker have been appointed secretaries to the fund, and I am sure either of them will be pleased to receive contributions, large or small, towards such a laudable object. I sincerely that the affair may be a gigantic success, and make Billy’s heart rejoice.

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The Weekly Exchange,

Events of 3 April 1886

FOOTBALL.

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CLEVELAND CHALLENGE CUP.

FINAL TIE.

MIDDLESBROUGH v REDCAR.

    Pleasant weather favoured the meeting of these clubs at Redcar on Saturday, and the prospect of a good match attracted fully 2,000 spectators. The teams met a few weeks ago at Saltburn and played off for the trophy but a tie resulted, the game being brought to an abrupt termination owing to a serious accident to Mr E. Pauls, one of the Redcar half-backs. His position was taken by McCrie, a promising player, and Murphy was introduced into the lists of forwards, but despite their best efforts-- and the team played a better game than when they beat Middlesbrough in the English Cup tie same ground - they were unable to avert a disastrous defeat, Middlesbrough winning by eight goals to one.

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HOME COMING OF THE CONQUERORS.

    The reception accorded to the winning team on their return from Redcar presented a sight which will long be remembered in Middlesbrough for the intensity of the excitement, and the joyful enthusiasm which was displayed by the public, who have taken such a keen interest in the doings of their redoubtable champions. Immediately on the conclusion of the match the news was flashed to Middlesbrough, where the greatest enthusiasm prevailed at the decisiveness of the victory. Although Redcar had previously defeated Middlesbrough once and played a tie and a drawn game with them, it was still confidently believed in Middlesbrough, that they would suffer defeat on the occasion of the final tie. It was not, however, expected that Middlesbrough would inflict such a defeat upon them as that with which they were credited on Saturday. Although we know of one enthusiast who was bold enough to predict a victory of 10 to 1 for them, and when it became known that 8 to 1 in favour of Middlesbrough was the result, the excitement and enthusiasm knew no bounds. Arrangements were immediately effected to give to the plucky winners a reception worthy of this their most notable victory since the Challenge Cup competition was organised. The winners returned to Middlesbrough by the train arriving here at 7.30, and as the train steamed into the station a hearty and demonstrative cheer was sent up by the assembled multitude, which could not fail to gladden the hearts of Captain Cochrane and his merry men. If ever men could honestly exclaim “Save me from my friends” it was on Saturday night, when each man who had so splendidly done his duty that day, tried to force his way through the phalanx of sturdy and enthusiastic admirers. This completed, the team, accompanied by Mr Hardisty (the secretary), mounted the brake which was already in waiting, and preceded by Milburn’s brass band, to the ever familiar tune of “See, the Conquering  Hero comes,” wended their way up Linthorpe road , which was densely lined by cheering crowds, to Mr Lambert’s King’s Head, the chief quarters of the Middlesbro’ Football Club. Here the team alighted, and accompanied by a large crowd of supporters, adjourned to the long room, where the brilliant performances of the team were enthusiastically and fittingly celebrated. The chair was occupied by Mr Reed, the Cleveland Football association secretary, who opened the proceedings by congratulating the club upon its latest success. The massive challenge cup was filled with champagne, and every one in the room with the exception of the teetotallers, drank to the health of that day’s conquerors; and very musical and harmonious proceedings were indulged in for a considerable time, the Rugby game, and particularly the Middlesbrough Rovers, being also subject to an enthusiastic toast, which Mr W. T. Foxhall, the Rovers’ secretary, very fittingly acknowledged. The evening’s harmony was contributed by Sergeant Melville, the “father of the team,” Messrs Jackson Ewbank, G. Anderson, Mattison, Ransford, Pickstock, and Reed.