North Eastern Daily Gazette, Monday, March 23, 1903.
FOOTBALL PICKINGS
[BY “OLD BIRD.”]
VISITING PLAYERS STONED AT SUNDERLAND.
REFEREE AND LINESMEN SMUGGLED AWAY QUIETLY.
On the Sheffield Wednesday players and officials leaving Roker Park Ground after
their victory over Sunderland, they were assailed with stones and mud by a crowd
of about a thousand, mostly lads. Fortunately none of the players were hurt, but
several windows in the neighbouring houses were broken, and it was no fault of the
assailants that the Wednesday team escaped without hurt. Such a scene is most regrettable.
There was nothing throughout the game to provoke this un-English demonstration --
nothing can possibly excuse it. As the referee, Mr Armitt, was leaving the playing
pitch to get to his dressing room an orange was thrown at him with great violence,
but, fortunately missed its mark. An inspector of police advised the referee and
linesmen, Messrs Boldison and Dennis, in view of the hooligans outside, to wait in
their room until matters quietened down. This they did, it being nearly an hour after
the close of the game before they left the ground, being driven away in a cab, and
so escaped violence. That the referee will report the occurrence is practically certain.
Should the club suffer, the rowdy section of their supporters are alone to blame.
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North Eastern Daily Gazette, April 9, 1903.
A commission sat in Manchester on Wednesday to consider a report by Mr Armitt and
the Sheffield Wednesday club as to their treatment by spectators at Sunderland on
March 21st. Mr Armitt alleged that oranges were thrown at him, and the Sunderland
players and directors that they had stones and other missiles thrown at them as they
were leaving the ground. The Commission decided to close the ground for a week, from
Monday next, and ordered Sunderland to pay the expenses of the meeting. This means
that Middlesbrough will be unable to play their return match at Roker Park on the
18th.
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North Eastern Daily Gazette, April 11, 1903.
SUNDERLAND V MIDDLESBROUGH
TO BE PLAYED AT NEWCASTLE
Yesterday a deputation of the Sunderland club waited upon the directorate of
Newcastle United for the purpose of asking permission to play their league match
with Middlesbrough at St. James’s Park on Saturday next, owing to the suspension
of the Roker Park ground. The Newcastle management readily conceded to the wishes
of the Sunderland club, offering them the park for either next Wednesday or Saturday.
On the latter date the final tie is to be replayed between Morpeth Harriers and Dudley
Wanderers for the Northumberland Senior Cup. The Sunderland directorate decided to
oppose Middlesbrough after the cup tie.
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North-Eastern Daily Gazette, 17, April 1903
FOOTBALL.
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THE GREAT LEAGUE GAME AT NEWCSTLE.
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EXCITING SITUATION.
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The interest of followers of football the world over will be concentrated tomorrow,
writes “Old Bird,” not so much upon the final at Crystal Palace as upon the League
match between Middlesbrough and Sunderland at Newcastle. There has been a good deal
of idle talk about Middlesbrough doing he Wearsiders a good turn, but I can safely
assert that it will not be for the want of trying if the “Borough” fail to win. There
was a formidable array of Sunderland officials on the grandstand at the Linthorpe-road
ground at the Cliftonville match on Tuesday – a most unusual occurrence. Middlesbrough
are finishing up well, and I hope to see them come off victorious tomorrow. Sheffield
Wednesday is a Yorkshire club, and we supporters of the “Borough” are mostly Tykes,
therefore there is all the more reason why we should give them a show. The Wednesday
have struggled hard for the chief honours of the year, and whether they gain their
desires depends very much upon the result of the match at St, James’s ground tomorrow.
Sunderland were very lucky to take both points when at Middlesbrough as the result
of a fluky goal, and if the “Borough” eleven only show their best form tomorrow they
will continue to hold the title of “Cock o’ the North.” There is certain to be a
great tussle for supremacy. The Middlesbrough team lunch at the Wellington Hotel
at 11.30, and travel to Tyneside by the 12.14 train. The kick-off is fixed for 4
o’clock; it may be a quarter of an hour later. Middlesbrough will play in red shirts.
After the match they will have tea, and at 8 o’ clock will start on their journey
to Edinburgh along with Sunderland, both clubs being due to play matches in that
fine city on Monday.
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North-Eastern Daily Gazette, Monday, 20, April 1903
Sunderland’s victory over Middlesbrough was achieved by an all-round excellent display
on the part of the winners, who were full value for the two points throughout the
game. The “Borough” vanguard gave a very indifferent display. Muir was practically
a passenger, Goodson’s play in consequence being ineffective. The two Robertson’s
were the better of a moderate line. McAuley put in some pretty work at times, but
there was a complete lack of understanding shown, and the better wing men, the right,
were idle most of the second half so badly were they fed. Davidson played a splendid
game, being closely followed by Jones, but Smith was by no means smart, and as a
result Hogg had more work to do, and he was at times anything but safe. Ramsay played
a sound game, as did Williamson, some of the latter’s clearances being very well
done.
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I was delighted with the cool, clever play of the ex-Grangetown lad, Rhodes. He was
the best back on the field. His kicking was strong and accurate, and his tackling
more than the “Borough” vanguard could withstand. Doig kept goal excellently, and
McCombie played well. McAllister was the pick of the half-backs, but there was not
much in it, Farquhar and Jackson being little his inferior. The forwards were all
good without doing anything very brilliant. Both Hewitt and Miller’s goals were praiseworthy,
Williamson having no shadow of a chance of clearing them.
