1882/83
Weekly Exchange,
Match played 7 October 1882
ATTERCLIFFE (SHEFFIELD) v. MIDDLESBROUGH.
The first important match of the season at Middlesbrough, took place on Saturday,
on the new ground of the Middlesbrough Football Club, Linthorpe-road. This is the
second match between these teams. The first was played in the early part of the year,
and resulted in the easy victory for Middlesbrough. The composition of the Sheffield
team on Saturday was considerably improved, and a close contest was anticipated.
The ground, notwithstanding the wet weather of the last day or two, was in very good
order, thanks to the energy and enterprise of the home club, who have spent no less
than £200 in its improvement during the past twelve months, and it is intended to
make the field in every respect an admirable one for all kinds of athletic sports.
Middlesbrough won the toss, and elected to play with the wind. The play was immediately
taken into the Sheffield territory, and after Cochrane had kicked the ball over the
bar, Mattison scored a goal. A good deal of scrimmaging followed near the centre
and in the Middlesbrough territory, and after about twenty minutes’ play , Pickstock
made a fine shot which dropped on Ewbank’s head, and the Middlesbrough captain put
the leather through very cleverly. The ball was taken down in front of the Middlesbrough
goal very smartly, but was at length brought into the Sheffield fortress, and after
some really good play on both sides Middlesbrough scored another goal. The visitors,
a little irritated, began to use their hands rather freely, but no objection was
made by the home team. The Middlesbrough men were very nearly scoring another goal
just before half time was called. Pickstock, with a fine kick, landing the ball immediately
in front of the Sheffield goal, and the goal keeper fell with the ball, which slipped
from him. He managed to recover his feet and secure the ball before any of the home
players got up, and the ball was soon driven into opposite quarters. Half-time was
then called. The general opinion at this time was that the match was virtually over,
the play of Middlesbrough being superior in nearly all points to their opponents.
After half-time the Middlesbrough men quickly took the ball down to their opponents’
goal, but the corner kick which resulted was of no use, as Barker kicked behind.
The Sheffield team caught the ball on the left wing, and carried it rapidly up the
ground. A shot at goal was made, which Thomas caught in his hand, but the ball being
slippery it rebounded underneath the bar, and the first and only goal for the visitors
was registered. The ball had not been started long when a goal was scored by the
foot of the Middlesbrough captain. After some good play a goal was scored by Borrie,
making the fifth goal for the home team, shortly after which time was called. The
best players on the Attercliffe side were Emmett, Swallow, Pilling, and W.Barker,
while the Middlesbrough captain and Cochrane, Pringle, and Pickstock played up to
form. The teams were :- MIDDLESBROUGH - Goal, A.Thomas: backs, W.Ransford and S.Kemp;
half-backs, A.Pringle, O.H.Cochrane, and C.Booth; forwards, J.Ewbank (captain), A.Mattison,
A.Borrie, J.Whitehouse, and W.Pickstock. SHEFFIELD ATTERCLIFFE- Goal, A.Jackson (captain);
backs, Curtis and G.Barker; half-backs, Swallow, Emmett, Bennett; forwards, Pilling,
W.Barker, F.Shepherd, W.Talbot, and R.Ibbord. Umpires - Mr Beardshaw, Attercliffe,
and Mr F.Hardisty, hon.sec. Middlesbrough Football Club; referee- Mr J.Bastard.
Weekly Exchange,
Match played 30 December 1882
MIDDLESBROUGH (ASSOCIATION) V. DUMBARTON.
On Saturday afternoon a grand exhibition of the Association game was displayed
between the Middlesbrough Association and a team from Dumbarton near Glasgow, and
after a hotly-contested game ended in the Middlesbrough team being victorious by
three goals to two. Teams:-- MIDDLESBROUGH-- Goal Thomas; backs Ransford and Kemp;
half-backs, Cochrane, C.Booth (capt.), and Peel; forwards, Pringle, Mattison, Borrie,
Thompson, and Pickstock. Umpire, Mr H.F.Hardisty, hon.sec. Middlesbrough Club. DUMBARTON--
Goal, Lindsay; backs W.Veitch and T.Veitch; half-backs. R.Delvin and G. Galbraith;
forwards, J.Liddle (capt), J.Marshall, J.Hutton, R.McIntyre, R.Anderson, and G.Jennings.
Umpire, Mr D. McCawlay; referee, Mr F.H. McInnes.
Weekly Exchange,
Match played 13 January 1883.
Middlesbrough v. TYNE.
On Saturday afternoon, a match between these clubs was played on the Linthorpe-road
Ground, Middlesbrough, and resulted in the signal defeat of the visitors to the tune
of 12 goals to one. Borrie was in great form for the home team, several times running
the length of the field, passing all his opponents, and kicking no less than six
goals. The other goals were kicked by Mattison, Dales, and Pick stock (two each.)
The only goal obtained for the Tyne was kicked by Ainsley. Those who figured best
for the losers were the brothers Messent and Thompson. The teams were :-- MIDDLESBROUGH
-- Goal, A. Thomas; backs, W. Ransford and S. Kemp; half-backs, C. Booth (captain),
H. Cochrane, and R.Peel; forwards, A. Pringle, A. Mattison, A. Borrie, T. Dales,
and W. Pickstock. TYNE -- A. Gould (goal); backs, G. Wedware and P.Corder; half-backs,
J.Watson and T.D. Davison; forwards, P.G. Messent (captain), Mr Fenwick, J.Thompson,
G. Ainsley, E. Messent, and P. Pattinson. Umpire : Mr F. Hardisty for Middlesbrough,
and Mr J. Bastard for Tyne.
Weekly Exchange,
Match played 24 March 1883.
FOOTBALL
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CLEVELAND FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP.
FINAL TIE: MIDDLESBRO’ v. REDCAR
The final tie for the honour of holding the challenge cup, value £55, offered
by the Cleveland Football Association, came off on Saturday afternoon, at Feethams,
Darlington, the opposing teams being Middlesbrough and Redcar. Despite the raw and
severely cold character of the weather, there was a capital gate, the attendance
being considerably augmented by a contingent from Middlesbro’ and Redcar, there being
some 1,000 odd visitors from the two towns. The ground was in fairly good condition,
although the rain of a few hours previously had produced a somewhat greasy surface.
Middlesbrough won the toss, and chose the north end to play from during the first
half -- forty-five minutes -- with the wind, of course in their favour, Bulman, for
Redcar, kicking off. The respective teams on the ground were made up as follows :-
MIDDLESBRO’ -- Goal, A. Thomas; backs W. Ransford and J. Bosher; half backs, O.H.
Cochrane, C. Booth (capt.), and A. Pringle; right-wing, A. Mattison and J.Thompson;
centre, A. Borrie; left-wing, T. Dales and W. Pickstock. REDCAR -- Goal, J. Howcroft;
backs, T. Alvey and T. Bradbury; half-backs, G. Yeo, W. Agar, and S. Cruse; right
wing, W.Harrison (capt.) and W. Wetherill; centre, W. Bulman; forwards, R.Ableson
and J. Bulman. Mr P. Huntingdon, Port Clarence and Mr J. Bastard, hon. Treasurer
of the Cleveland Football Association, acted as umpires, and Mr W. Wilkinson, Sheffield,
as referee. This was not the first occasion upon which teams had met, and a close
contest was expected to result, Middlesbrough being looked upon, perhaps with a shade
of favour. At the outset of the game, Redcar kept the ball well in their opponents
ground, and for a short time looked as if they would be the first scorers, notwithstanding
the stiffish breeze which they faced. Middlesbrough, however, retaliated with some
effective play, and before the first 15 minutes had elapsed drew first blood, and
obtained a goal, after some sharp work of defence by Redcar, particularly on the
part of Howcroft, who is “all there” as a goal-keeper. A corner kick shortly afterwards
fell to Middlesbrough, but nothing came of it. A little later Ransford, one of the
Middlesbrough backs, came to grief, and was out for the remainder of the game. Indeed
the Tees-side team were especially unfortunate in this respect, for before half-time
was called Booth, the captain, was also injured, and although he pluckily did what
he could in the vicinity of the goal, his disabled condition did not permit of his
being of much service. A few minutes later a well -worked corner was kicked by Redcar,
who had shown a little more determined play. Middlesbrough followed wiyh a strong
offensive game, and soon put on another goal. Harrison had been doing splendid work
all along for Redcar, who appeared to play to their captain with commendable discretion,
and a well meant goal was not long afterwards put to their account. The newly obtained-honour
for Redcar was, however, soon succeeded by another goal to their opponents, although
this was of so unsatisfactory a character that an appeal was made to the referee,
who unhesitatingly allowed it -- this making the third goal for Middlesbrough to
one. On change of sides the wind had almost wholly dropped, but, as against this
drawback to Redcar, Middlesbrough was practically playing two men short. For a few
minutes after half-time play was very even, somewhat in favour of Redcar, Harrison
shortly afterwards kicked a splendid goal, which raised the hopes of the team’s
partisans to the highest pitch. Some vigorous offensive, albeit somewhat disorganised,
play ensued on the part of Redcar, and the ball had a lengthened sojourn in their
opponents’ ground, where the Redcar men had several splendid chances, but owing to
egregiously bad kicking, nothing came of them. Middlesbrough, short-handed as they
were, acted on the offensive whenever opportunity offered, and with some fine dribbling
played into their opponent’s ground, and once when a gallant attempt was made for
goal, it was only foiled by the alert vigilance of Howcroft. At the close of the
game, Redcar had failed to put on anything to their score, and Middlesbrough came
out, for the second year in succession, victors by three goals to two. The Redcar
backs throughout the game had played remarkably well, and kicked with great freedom
and strength, but both Thompson and Borrie seemed to be too fast for them. J. Bulman,
on the left wing, made several grand runs, and centred very finely at times, but
was badly supported by the centre man. It was to be regretted that, notwithstanding
the many corner kicks obtained by Redcar towards the close of the game, they failed
to score off them because of their very inaccurate kicking. Bosher, as back for the
Middlesbro’ team, was in his best form. Cochrane is very speedy, and particularly
useful for offensive work. We noticed that T. Dales, from Battersea College, was
in his old place on the left wing with Pickstock, between whom there was some very
fine passing. Indeed, in the Middlesbrough forwards throughout, there was scarcely
a weak man. The team would unquestionably have added to their sum total had they
not sustained the loss of two men before half the game was played. Under the circumstances
they were obliged to act mainly on the defensive. The result of the contest seemed
to be popular, and great cheering ensued. The goals were kicked -- for Middlesbrough,
Borrie (2) and Mattison; for Redcar, Weatherill and Harrison.
Weekly Exchange,
Match played 26 March 1883
MIDDLESBROUGH v. ACTON (LONDON)
A match between these clubs was played on the ground of the Middlesbrough Football
Club, in Linthorpe-road, on Monday afternoon, and resulted in a victory for Middlesbrough
by six goals to one. Play was commenced at three o’clock, Hardwick, from the centre,
kicking off on behalf of Acton, and the ball was quickly taken by the visitors down
to the Middlesbrough goal, only to be returned by the captain of the Middlesbrough
team, R.Peel, who throughout played a good game. Middlesbrough forwards were very
busy, and soon had the ball in front of the Acton goal-line, and it was put through
by along shot from Cochrane soon after play commenced. Mattison did the needful in
scoring goal number two, while Pickstock, who played well up, scored third goal,
and T.Dales the fourth and fifth goals, the sixth and last goal being shot by Pickstock,
After Middlesbrough had scored five goals, Acton succeeded in obtaining one, which
was kicked by Leach. The London men attribute their defeat to the heavy ground, stating
that they are used to playing on much drier ground than that of Monday. Teams:- MIDDLESBROUGH-
Goal, A,Thomas; backs, R.Peel (captn.) and J.Bosher; half-backs, O.H.Cochrane, B.McNellis,
ana A.pringle; forwards, T.dales, W.Pickstock, J.Thompson, W.Fox, and A.Mattison.
ACTON- Goal, T.M.Ford; backs, J.R.Everall and E.Tossel; half-backs, A.Savage, H.Manley,
and F.Attoe; forwards, W.G.Stringfield, S.Pailthorpe, J.Hardwick, E.W.Leach, and
E.Collins. Umpires, Messrs Manley and Hardisty. Referee, Mr Wallace.
