30.11.13

International Appearance Landmarks

The table below shows the first player to reach landmark numbers of international appearances.

10
Harry McNeil
Scotland
14.03.81



20
Olphert Stanfield
Ireland
24.02.94
30
Olphert Stanfield
Ireland
27.03.97



40
Vivian Woodward
England *
25.05.11
* This includes appearances for England Amateur and Great Britain, which FIFA classify as full internationals. The FA do not. leaving Woodward with 23 caps. 




40
Billy Meredith
Wales
18.01.13


50
Imre Schlosser
Hungary
05.11.16
60
Imre Schlosser
Hungary
09.11.19

During our era (pre 1937) no one reached 70 caps.
Ángel Romano (Uruguay) played his 69th and final international on 14.07.1927




28.11.13

George Ramsay and Aston Villa




I can see now the little dapper, well-built laddie...getting hold of the ball on the extreme wing, well within his own territory, and going off like streaked lightning, wiggling, waggling past opponents one after another and finally landing the ball between the sticks.
William McGregor


George Ramsay had a 52 year association with Aston Villa.

He entered the world of Villa when that world was still very young. Ramsay moved to Birmingham from Glasgow in 1874, and it was during that that very year  that the football club had been formed. Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team had decided to arrange some winter activity and 4 members (Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price and William Scattergood) established the football club, inspired by seeing others play at Heathfield Road. Ramsay came across the Chapel boys playing in  Aston Park. He joined in and impressed- so much so that he was invited to join the club and soon took over the captaincy. 
Ramsay's influence on Aston Villa's formative years was so great that his tombstone records him as being 'a founder of Aston Villa'. 
 Ramsay played for Villa  for 8 years (1874–1882) before a serious injury ended his career.He introduced the Scottish passing style of play to the club and was instrumental in securing the services of  former Third Lanark forward Archie Hunter. The club's first enclosed ground at Perry Bar was acquired in 1876 under his guidance and he captained Villa to their first ever trophy win- the 1879–80 Birmingham Senior Cup, first entering the FA Cup in the same season. 

Ramsay took on the role of secretary/ manger in 1884 and remarkably remained in charge until 1926. 
Under Ramsay Aston Villa won the FA Cup 6 times (188718951897190519131920) and the Football League championship 6 times (1893–941895–961896–971898–991899–19001909–10), in 1897 they became the second team to 'do the double'.

26.11.13

Herbert Chapman stats



Arsenal Football Club is open to receive applications for the position of TEAM MANAGER. He must be experienced and possess the highest qualifications for the post, both as to ability and personal character. Gentlemen whose sole ability to build up a good side depends on the payment of heavy and exhorbitant [sic] transfer fees need not apply.
Athletic News. 11.05.25





Herbert Chapman was a genius. There was no one else in English Football with his vision. He was a modernizing force in the game, not just as a spectacle, but as a tactically sophisticated affair. The notion of space and movement as crucial factors in the outcome of the game. The notion of thinking. The notion of preparing, not just physically, but mentally, of having a plan, of having a better plan, of having the best plan. 

Season
Div.
Pos.
FA Cup
Northampton Town
169 games  49.7% win
1907-08
SL
8th
R1
1908-09
SL
winners
R1
1909-10
SL
4th
R2
1910-11
SL
2nd
R2

Leeds City
119 games 42.85 % win
1912-13
Div 2
6th
R1
1913-14
Div 2
4th
R2
1914-15
Div 2
15th
R2
The 8 games Leeds City played in 1919-20 are not included

Huddersfield Town
194 games 48.97% win
1921-22
Div 1
14th
winners
1922-23
Div 1
3rd
R3
1923-24
Div 1
winners
R3
1924-25
Div 1
winners
R1

Arsenal
403 games 49.88% win
1925-26
Div 1
2nd
R6
1926-27
Div 1
11th
Runners up
1927-28
Div 1
10th
Semi final
1928-29
Div 1
9th
R6
1929-30
Div 1
14th
winners
1930-31
Div 1
winners
R4
1931-32
Div 1
2nd
Runners up
1932-33
Div 1
winners
R3
1933-34*
Div 1
winners
R6
·         Mr Chapman died  6th  January 1934

Career
885 games 48.47% win


There are two kinds of visionary; those that dream of a whole new world, and those who dream of just one thing. Chapman's vision was of the greatest football team in the world. His genius was actually creating something close to that.
Bernard Joy

25.11.13

More simultaneous internationals...



Laranjeiras

October 22nd 1922 was a busy day in South American  international football. 
At  Laranjeiras, Río de Janeiro, Brazil played Paraguay in the final of the South American championship.Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay were tied, and playoff matches were planned for the three teams. Uruguay withdrew, so only one playoff match was played between Brazil and Paraguay to determine the champion. Brazil won the match 3-0 with goals from Neco and Formiga (2) Formiga or 'Ant' was the nickname of Afrodísio Camargo Xavier ). It was Brazil's second South American Championship.

Brazil-South American Champions 1922


Meanwhile in São Paulo...another Brazil selection were playing Argentina for the Copa Julio A. Roca. Brazil won this match 2-1 thanks to 2 goals by Gambarotta. 
Having ended their involvement in the championships on October 18th under strange circumstances (10 Paraguay players leaving the field in protest at the 79th minute) Argentina, the undoubted masters of the simultaneous international,were also busy that day, in addition to the Copa Julio A. Roca match with Brazil they also played the Chileans 1-0 in a friendly at Buenos Aires, winning 1-0.


22.10.22
Brazil
3
0
Paraguay
Rio
SAC
Brazil
2
1
Argentina
São Paulo
Copa Roca
Argentina
1
0
Chile
Buenos Aires
Friendly

The following year there was another double international date for Argentina. December 2nd 1923 saw  the South American Championship final at Montevideo's Parque Central. The hosts defeated their rivals 2-0 thanks to goals from Petrone and Somma. 
Across the Rio Del Plata another version of the Albiceleste were hosting Brazil in a Confraternity Cup match. The day didn't go well for Argentina, as Brazil ran out 2-0 winners in this match,  Zezé and  Nilo getting the goals. 

24.11.13

The Empire Stadium


Completed just 4 days before the 1923 FA Cup Final, The Empire Stadium was built in exactly 300 days at the cost of £750,000. 
The official capacity was 125,000, though after the free for all lunacy of the 1923 FA Cup  Final attendances were generally in the 90,000- 93,000 bracket.



22.11.13

The Evolution of The Football League 1888-1915

1888-89
One Division, 12 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Accrington



Aston Villa       



Blackburn Rovers  



Bolton Wanderers  



Burnley



Derby County      



Everton



Notts County      



Preston North End 



Stoke 



West Bromwich Albion  



Wolverhampton Wanderers




1889-90
One Division, 12 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected


Burnley



Derby County      



Notts County      



Stoke


1890-91
One Division, 12 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Sunderland
Stoke
Burnley
Bootle


Notts County      
Darwen



Grimsby Town



Newton Heath




Sunderland Albion
1891–92
One Division, 14 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Darwen

Accrington
Ardwick
Stoke

Aston Villa       
Nottingham Forest


Derby County      
Newton Heath


West Bromwich Albion  

Sunderland Albion
1892–93
2 Divisions, 28 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Ardwick

Accrington
Liverpool Caledonian
Bootle

Stoke
Middlesbrough / Ironopolis combined
Burslem Port Vale


Newcastle East End
Burton Swifts*



Crewe Alexandra



Grimsby Town



Lincoln City



Newton Heath



Northwich Victoria



Nottingham Forest



Sheffield United*



Small  Heath



Walsall Town Swifts



The Wednesday



*Failed election before the expansion to 2 divisions

1893-94
2 Divisions, 31 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Liverpool
Accrington (resigned)
Burslem Port Vale
Doncaster Rovers        

Middlesbrough Ironopolis
Bootle (resigned)
Crewe Alexandra
Loughborough Town
Newcastle United

Lincoln City

Rotherham Town

Walsall Town Swifts

Woolwich Arsenal




1894-95
2 Divisions, 32 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Burton Wanderers
Middlesbrough Ironopolis
Crewe Alexandra
Blackpool             

Bury
Northwich Victoria
Manchester City (formerly Ardwick)
Loughborough Town
Leicester Fosse


Rotherham Town
Rossendale United
1895-96
2 Divisions, 32 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Loughborough Town
Walsall Town Swifts
Burslem Port Vale
Blackpool           



Crewe Alexandra



Lincoln City


1896-97
2 Divisions, 32 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Blackpool            
Burslem Port Vale

Fairfield
Gainsborough Trinity
Crewe Alexandra

Glossop North End
Walsall Town Swifts
Rotherham Town

Luton Town



Macclesfield



Tottenham Hotspur

1897-98
2 Divisions, 32 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Luton Town
Burton Wanderers
Lincoln City      
Burslem Port Vale


Burton Swifts
Crewe Alexandra



Fairfield



Glossop North End



Millwall Athletic



Nelson

1898-99
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Barnsley

Lincoln City      
Bristol City
Burslem Port Vale

Loughborough Town
Nelson
Glossop North End     



New Brighton Tower    




1899-1900
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Chesterfield
Darwen
Barnsley
Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough
Loughborough Town
Kettering

Luton Town

Stalybridge Rovers




1900-01
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Blackpool
New Brighton Tower (resigned)
Burton Swifts
Crewe Alexandra

Walsall Town Swifts
Stockport County
Darwen



Doncaster Rovers



Southport Central



Stalybridge Rovers

1901-02
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Bristol City

Chesterfield Town
Walsall Town Swifts
Doncaster Rovers

Gainsborough Trinity



Stockport County


1902-03
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Bradford City
Doncaster Rovers
Burnley
Crewe Alexandra


Stockport County
Southport Central



West Hartlepool




Willington Athletic
1903-04
2 Divisions, 36 teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Doncaster Rovers
Stockport County
Glossop North End
Crewe Alexandra


Leicester Fosse


1904-05
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Chelsea
Doncaster Rovers
Port Vale (formerly  Burslem Port Vale)

Clapton Orient



Hull City



Leeds City



Stockport County




1905-06
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected


Burton United (in 1901 Burton Swifts & Burton Wanderers  merged )
Oldham Athletic


Chesterfield Town
Wigan Town


Clapton Orient


1906-07
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Fulham 
Burton United
Chesterfield Town
Bradford Park Ave
Oldham Athletic
Port Vale
Lincoln City      
Rotherham Town



Salford United




Wigan Town
1907-08
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Bradford Park Ave
Lincoln City 
Chesterfield Town
Burton United
Tottenham Hotspur
Stoke  
Grimsby Town
Southport Central



Queens Park Rangers*



Rotherham County*




*withdrew
1908-09
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Lincoln City 
Chesterfield Town
Blackpool
Stoke 




Rotherham County
1909-10
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Huddersfield Town
Grimsby Town
Birmingham City (formerly Small Heath)
Chesterfield Town



Hartlepools United




Stoke 
1910-11
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Grimsby Town
Lincoln City
Barnsley
Burton Town



Cardiff City



Chesterfield Town



Crewe Alexandra



Croydon Common



Darlington



Hartlepools United



Macclesfield



Merthyr Town



Port Vale



Portsmouth



Rochdale



Rotherham Town



St Helen's Town



South Liverpool



South Shields Adelaide



Southend United



Southport Central




Walsall
1911-12
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Lincoln City
Gainsborough Trinity
Leeds City
Cardiff City



Chesterfield Town



Doncaster Rovers




Newcastle City
1912-13
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected


Blackpool
Chesterfield Town


Stockport County
Darlington



Gainsbrough Trinity



Nelson*



South Shields



Stalybridge Celtic




*withdrew
1913-14
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected


Lincoln City
Chesterfield Town


Nottingham Forest
Darlington



Gainsborough Trinity



South Liverpool



South Shields




Stoke
1914-15
2 Divisions, 40  teams
In
Out
Re elected
Not Elected
Stoke
Glossop North End
Leicester Fosse
Chesterfield



Darlington



South Shields