1891/92
Birmingham St.Georges – Luton FA Cup – Preston FACup – Ironopolis
South Durham and Cleveland Mercury,
Match played 24 October 1891
MIDDLESBROUGH, 5 ; BIRMINGHAM ST. GEORGES, 1.
These teams met in a friendly encounter on the Linthorpe-road Ground, Middlesbrough,
on Saturday, before a good attendance. The teams were :--
MIDDLESBROUGH. -- Goal, Mackay; backs, Crone and McManus; half-backs, Waller
(capt.), Bell and Bach ; forwards, Wilson, Campbell, D. Mullins, S. Wood, and Black.
BIRMINGHAM ST. GEORGE’S. -- Goal, H. Stansbie; backs, C. Coulton and J. Bryant;
half-backs, C. McGuffie, J. Richards, and J. Parrins; forwards, H. Matthews, T. Green,
H. Davis, W. Harrison, and W. Shaw.
South Durham and Cleveland Mercury.
Match played January 16 1892.
FOOTBALL.
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ASSOCIATION
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ENGLISH CUP.--FIRST ROUND.
MIDDLESBROUGH, 3; LUTON, 0.
At Luton. About four inches of snow had fallen in the district, but that had
been cleared away, and the ground was in fair condition, though rather hard and slippery.
A strong cold wind blew from end to end of the enclosure. Luton won the toss, and
Mollins kicked off, and within three minutes of the start Campbell scored a goal
for the visitors from a free kick. For some minutes after this Luton pressed, but
a mistake by one of the home forwards let Middlesbrough get away. Another good rush
by Luton resulted in H. Whitby sending in a shot which McKay had to fist out, and,
a little later, a foul was given against Middlesbrough in front of goal, but Crone
saved splendidly. Up to this time Luton had quite as much of the game as their opponents,
and several times the visitors’ defence was taxed. Coupland narrowly missed scoring
for the Northerners, and then a fine bit of combination by the Luton forwards took
the ball from end to end of the ground, and H. Whitby only just missed, while just
after Ball scored again from a well-placed corner. Half-time score: Middlesbrough,
2; Luton, none. Restarting, Middlesbrough at once pressed, and Bell struck the crossbar,
while Black shot wide. About five minutes afterwards Black scored a third goal for
Middlesbrough, who continued to have much the best of the play. Luton got one or
two chances, but failed to utilise these. Luton pressed towards the end, but did
not score. Final:--
MIDDLESBROUGH …………3 goals
LUTON………………………..None.
South Durham and Cleveland Mercury, February 6, 1892.
Middlesbrough 1 – Preston North End 2
To come nearer home I was rather surprised to find no more interest taken in
the Middlesbrough v. Preston North End encounter, as at no time was there scarcity
of room, and the ground would have accommodated one or two thousand more spectators.
The field had been sanded and put in excellent condition for play, the only drawback
to which was a very boisterous wind. Those who anticipated an easy win for the Prestonians,
and I was one of the number, were considerably astonished to see the gallant fight
made by the home team. During the first half they had much the best of the play,
and when the visitors did become dangerous they failed miserably in shooting at goal.
But the defence was fine, and up to three minutes of half-time the homesters were
unable to score, though Black was many times perilously near it, and was mainly responsible
for the goal that was scored, he putting in a splendid corner which was hustled through.
On changing ends the visitors made good use of the strong wind, and for the immense
proportion of the second half kept the game close to the Middlesbrough goal. But
for twenty-five minutes the defence was not to be broken through, until from a pass
by Jimmy Ross Gallacher equalised -an immense relief to the partisans of North End.
Five minutes later Jimmy Ross added a second, and the last goal of the match, though
Middlesbrough in the last two minutes were looking like making matters even, but
Campbell was pulled up by Jack Ross, and the whistle soon afterwards blew.
The form shown by Middlesbrough was of the very first order, Black especially
being wonderfully quick on the ball and clever in getting up the field. Bach at half-back
was a tower of strength, and repeatedly pulled the visiting forwards up with apparent
ease. Crone and Mcmanus played a champion game at back, and McKay saved numerous
nasty shots in fine style. In fact, he let nothing easy go past him, and he had a
score or so to stop. Jimmy Ross, Gallacher, and Jack Gordon were a long way the best
of the visiting forwards, though Gordon was very much off at his favourite screws
from the right. At times the passing was a treat, but on the whole game the performance
did not come up to the expectations of those who witnessed it. Beckton in the centre
was a complete frost and did nothing useful during the game. Stewart, was very serviceable
half-back; Ross and Holmes were, as usual, cool, collected, and almost impassable;
and Trainer did what he had to do in goal with his customary excellence.
Athletic News
26 March 1892, Victoria Ground, Stockton. Cleveland Cup Final.
THE CLEVELAND CUP FINAL
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MIDDLESBROUGH v MIDDLESBROUGH IRONOPOLIS
( BY THE FREE CRITIC )
I HAVE often thought I should like to see a match between two of the Tees-side clubs,
and the opportunity came on Saturday, when I made the long journey to Stockton to
see Middlesbrough and the Ironopolis disport themselves in the final for the Cleveland
Professional Cup at Stockton. The Cleveland Association has various assortments of
cups, and also possesses an Athletic Institute, which has been rigged up at Middlesbrough,
and is open to all the clubs in the Association. Use of baths, reading room, billiard
table, &c., being comparatively free. Saturday’s match was played at Stockton, and
at this ancient town, with an ancient station I alighted, and soon came across the
president and secretary of the Cleveland Association, who seemed quite happy at
the prospect of a good gate, although the various strikes would doubtless affect
the attendance. They might have done but there were about 12,000 of the strongest-lunged
individuals I have ever come across on a football ground. The Stockton club have
an enclosure of which they may feel proud. Not only is the turf sound, but it is
perfectly level and the stand accommodation is very extensive. Not much space is
wasted, and the erection behind the town goal is as near heaven as anything I have
seen in the way of stands, while underneath are comfortable and well-fitted dressing
and committee rooms. The “Washers” -- funny name that -- were without their clever
goalkeeper Chalmers, but the other folks were, I believe, out in full force, the
teams being --
MIDDLESBROUGH, --McKay, goal; Crone and McManus, backs; Waller, Bell, and Bach,
half-backs; Cronshaw, Campbell, McKnight, Wood, and Black, forwards.
IRONOPOLIS, --Watts, goal; Elliott and Langley, backs; Seymour, McNair, and
Millar, half-backs; Hill, Hughes, McArthur, Coupar, and Gordon, forwards.
Linesmen : Messrs Howcroft and Kellebar. Referee : Mr J J Bentley.
The game started amidst a tremendous roar, and there was very little in winning the
toss. Both teams commenced as if they meant business and had it all to do in the
first five minutes, and the ball was whizzed about from end to end for a short time.
Watts, the substitute in goal, having his stiffest job before a point was scored,
but his coolness in clearing made the “Washer” gentlemen more confident. It was a
rather trying time for the youngster, and there was the burly figure of McKnight
hanging ominously around, but Watts got the ball away, and very soon Hill, I think
it was, ran down the wing, centred finely, and Coupar rushed up at the right moment,
and McKay was beaten. And there arose a mighty shout, such as I have only once heard
equalled, and that was at Glasgow a fortnight ago. The “Nops”--we must use this occasionally
so as to vary the phraseology --went at it very hard after their initial success,
and they were far and away the better team, their attack being much more determined
than that of their opponents, and it reminded me very much of the game played by
West Bromwich Albion at the Oval, only that in Saturday’s match the Ironopolis had
most of the play besides scoring goals. The efforts of the Middlesbrough forwards
were very weak, and they lacked the go of their opponents, who were continually on
the ball, and little Hill in particular put in some rare good work. Both Crone and
McManus defended fairly well, and McKay had not a great deal to do; but presently
McArthur ran forward to a pass by Hughes and put the ball through for a second time,
after about twenty minutes play. During the rest of the first half, the Middlesbrough
men did all they could to get on an equal footing, and for about three minutes the
Ironopolis goal seemed pretty certain to fall, but both Elliott and Langley were
in splendid form and cleared time after time, while Seymour, at half back, was in
capital trim. Watts had two or three shots to save, but he managed it, and just before
half time a shot was put in at the bottom goal and went through, Ironopolis leading
by three to none. A breeze had now appeared on the scene, and seemed determined to
do all it could for the “Nops” for it blew pretty strongly in their favour; for all
that, the Middlesbrough people played up better than in the first half and seemed
to show more energy, but the result of the game was never in doubt, and after staving
off several attacks the Ironopolis forwards broke away, and when they did so they
were generally dangerous. Mckay saved several shots very well indeed, but the bulk
of the defensive work was done by McManus, particularly after he dropped illegal
tactics and went in for playing the game. He cleared in beautiful fashion, and he
had a couple of warm individuals to deal with in Hill and Hughes. On the other wing
Gordon was not up to much, but Coupar and McArthur played very well indeed, and were
nicely backed up. It fell to Seymour to increase the score by a long shot which just
went under the bar and apparently deceived McKay. The play toned down after this,
and grew somewhat uninteresting, for one side had a safe thing on, and the other,
although they fought desperately, were very wild and inaccurate in their passing.
Once or twice they had near shaves of scoring, young Watts again showing up prominently,
but the end came in a victory for the Ironopolis by four goals to none. The result
seemed to be rather unexpected, but was very popular, and there is no doubt it was
thoroughly deserved, for the visitors played sound and effective football all round,
and also played a game to get goals. In the first half there was a lot of feeling
shown, and Campbell and McNair were both cautioned for hacking, but in the second
portion, the feeling was not so keen, although there were any number of free kicks
given to both sides. On Saturday’s form The Ironopolis are a much smarter team than
Middlesbrough, but occasionally the latter showed points which only good players
are capable of. The mistake was that their attempts at combination were not sustained,
and their was not the devil in their play that there was in their opponents, who
are very little behind our League teams. They not only pass well, but they can dribble
and shoot and, best of all, they are continually on the run and make for the ball
on every possible occasion. In Hill they have a clever outside right, who slips his
opponents in a wonderfully tricky fashion; and indeed, all the forwards, with the
exception of Gordon, are real good ‘uns. Our old friend Peter Coupar, late of Bolton
Wanderers, Kidderminster, and Stoke, is in better form than when last I saw him,
and McArthur is a judicious centre, while Hughes feeds Hill extremely well. At half-back
Seymour was certainly the pick, and is a most energetic player, first at one end
of the field and then at the other. Millar put in some very fine kicks, but does
not bestow too much attention on the locality in which he sends the ball, and as
a rule it either went wide or to an opponent. He, however, is still a capital defender,
but a half-back wants to be more than that now-a-days. He can also charge in the
good old-fashioned way. McNair is not a brilliant centre-half, but he has had his
training in Renton, and knows how to feed his forwards. At back Elliott stood head
and shoulders above everybody else. I don’t mean literally, for I should imagine
about 20 of the players stood head and shoulder above him; but although he is not
a big one, there is plenty of him, and he both kicks and tackles freely, and possesses
a vast amount of resources. His companion did not play up to his usual form, so I
was told, but he was not at all bad, and Watts kept goal exceedingly well. Turning
to the losers, it is difficult to pick out one, with the exception of McManus, who
played really well, and it was only in the second portion that he shone, then he
played grandly, his kicking being very fine. Crone is a well-built, good-humoured
Irishman, and ought to be a capital back. McKay in goal could hardly be blamed, although
one of the shots appeared somewhat simple. There was not much judgment displayed
by the half-backs, and I should say that Waller, the old Sheffield Wednesdayite,
was about the pick, although Bach and Bell were responsible for some good work. The
forwards lacked cohesion, and their movements were clumsy in the extreme as compared
with the lithe actions of their opponents. Campbell played fairly well, but has developed
a real fine temper since he left Preston North End, and was responsible for more
than one shady trick. The whole five of them played without method, and their attack
was rather easily broken up by the stubborn defence opposed to them. Little Black,
on the extreme left, made some tricky runs, and knows how to centre, but his companions
did not know how to take advantage of them. I enjoyed the match very much, for there
was any amount of enthusiasm about it, and on the whole the spectators behaved in
a most praise-worthy manner.
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