7.5.16

Last day drama -1903

On Saturday April 18th 1903 (which was FA Cup Final day) The Wednesday completed their League campaign with a 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion at Owlerton (goals from Andy Wilson, Fred Spikesley and Ambrose Langley).
Sunderland, in second place , just one point behind, had a game in hand.
The following Saturday Sunderland traveled the 20 km to play their local rivals Newcastle United at St James' Park. A win would see them retain the League title (they had won 4 previous titles in total; Aston Villa held the record with 5).
Newcastle went ahead in the 48th minute- a short range effort from Robert Smyth McColl. 
In the latter stages of the game, pressing for the  equalizer, Sunderland changed formation to 1-4-5 (Rhodes 'joining the halves'). Under the rules of the day  this led to  a lot of off sides- much to the anger of the Newcastle fans.

Newcastle United

Sunderland
Charlie Watts
GK
Ned Doig
Andy Aitken
RB
Jimmy Watson
William Agnew
LB
Ephraim 'Dusty' Rhodes
Peter McWilliam
RH
Billy Farquhar
Colin Veitch
CH
Alex Barrie
Jack Carr
LH
Dicky Jackson
Archie Turner
OR
Billy Hogg
Alec Gardner
IR
Robbie Robinson
Bob McColl
CF
Jimmy Millar
Bill Appleyard
IL
Joe Hewitt
Bobby Templeton
OL
Arthur Bridgett

'Toffee Bob' McColl was the founder of a chain of corner shops that can still be seen to this day.