30.4.17

England, 1876

We are used now to hyperbole in the media. Victorian journalism was more restrained. 
Here's how The Athletic News introduced the England team who faced Scotland on 5th March 1876:


The following constitute the English team:

A.H Savage, Crystal Palace (goal): He is a very good goal keeper and a powerful kick.
* A H Stratford, Wanderers (back): Can play forward or back, plays well as a full back, being a good and strong tackler.
E. Field, Clapham Rovers (back): A first rate back.
E.H Bambridge, Swifts (half back): Is a very useful forward as well, especially at the wings, keeps the ball when he gets possession of it, and is happy as a goal keeper.
B.G Jarrett, Cambridge University (half back): A real good player, and has shown good form this year.
Hubert Heron, Wanderers: As a wing player is very useful, and at times brilliant, is fast aside, dribbles skilfully, used to be a little selfish in his style of play, but of late very much improved in this respect; played in the International matches, 1873, 1874 and 1875.
W.J Maynard, Fist Surrey Rifles (new man): Very powerful and strong forward.
C.E Smith, Crystal Palace: One of the best players in his team.
A.W Cursham, Nottingham: One of the best of the Northern players- a very fast and energetic forward. 
F.Heron, Wanderers: Dribbles well, but is rather too light.
W.S Buchanan, Clapham Rovers: A good dribbler, the best of his team.
H. Heron captains the team for England.

*Stratford did not play; his place was taken by F.T Green (Wanderers)

 





Hubert Heron



Scotland won 3-0. It was a case of a heavier, dribbling team being outdone by combination. 


28.4.17

Pepe Soares



José Manuel Soares, known as Pepe was an inside forward who played 14 times for Portugal (including 2 as a substitute), scoring 7 goals. He made 3 appearances at the 1928 Olympics.
Pepe's debut for his club Belenenses (against Benfica on 28th February,1926)  was the stuff of legend. Pepe came on in the 75th minute with Benfica leading 4-1. In the next 13 minutes, Belenenses scored three goals. When Belenenses were awarded a 90th minute penalty Pepe was ordered to take it as there were no volunteers. He scored to make it 5-4. 
Pepe made his international debut at the age of 19 (16.03.27).
He died of food poisoning at the age of 23.



27.4.17

Texas

soccer_dallas-athletics_dmn_122508-PHOTO



Yorkshireman Ernest Oates founded Dallas Athletics in 1908. This was the first Association football team in Texas.
Read historian Paula Bosse's account of the venture here.
View archive material here.


24.4.17

Celtic v English Clubs in the 19th Century


Image result for celtic fc 1889




1888-89
1888 was Celtic’s foundation year- they played their first match in May. They reached the final of the Scottish Cup in the 1888-89 season.

31.12.88
Celtic                    
7
1
Mitchell St George's
03.01.89
Celtic
6
2
Corinthians
16.02.89
Corinthians
3
1
Celtic
23.03.89
Newcastle West End
3
4
Celtic
19.04.89 
Bolton Wanderers
2
0
Celtic
20.04.89
Burnley                
1
3
Celtic
23.05.89 
Celtic
5
1
Bolton Wanderers            
25.05.89 
Celtic
2
1
Preston North End     

1889-90
During this season Celtic lost to Queen’s Park in the first round of the Cup.

21.09.89 
Sunderland            
0
1
Celtic
28.09. 89
Celtic
3
2
Sunderland
03.10.89
Celtic
1
0
Blackburn Rovers
12.10.89 
Celtic             
0
2
Everton   
21.12.89
Sunderland        
1
2
Celtic
01.01.90
Celtic
3
2
Everton
22.02.90
St George’s  
5
2
Celtic
04.04.90 
Bolton Wanderers
4
0
Celtic
05.04.90 
Everton
3
1
Celtic
07.04.90
Blackburn Rovers
1
1
Celtic
12.04.90 
Celtic                    
1
1
Notts County                
10.05.90 
Celtic
2
2
Bolton Wanderers            
17.05.90
Celtic
4
2
Wolverhampton Wanderers
22.05.90 
Celtic
1
0
Preston North End           

1890-91
The inaugural season of league football in Scotland saw Celtic finish behind Dumbarton and Rangers. They reached the last 8 in the Cup.

02.10.90
Celtic
2
2
Sunderland
27.03.91 
Bolton Wanderers
2
2
Celtic
28.03.91 
Ardwick
2
7
Celtic
30.03.91
Blackburn Rovers
0
2
Celtic
31.03.91 
Wednesday
1
3
Celtic
13.04.91
Celtic
5
5
Blackburn Rovers
18.04.91 
Celtic
2
0
Bolton Wanderers           
21.04.91 
Celtic
4
0
Preston North End           

1891-92
Celtic finished runners-up in the League and won the Scottish Cup.

01.10.91
Celtic
3
2
Blackburn Rovers
04.04.92
Celtic
4
1
Nottingham Forest  

1892-93                                               
Celtic were League champions and lost in the Cup Final.

01.09.92 
Sheffield United
1
0
Celtic
02.09.92 
Middlesbrough
0
2
Celtic
03.09.92 
Newcastle East End
0
1
Celtic
05.09.92 
Sunderland
1
0
Celtic
06.10.92
Celtic
0
3
Sunderland
07.11.92
Stoke
0
5
Celtic
26.12.92 
Ardwick
0
5
Celtic
31.12.92 
Ardwick
0
1
Celtic
03.01.93
Celtic
1
1
Notts County                
01.04.93
Celtic
3
0
London Caledonian
15.04.93
Celtic
2
2
Blackburn Rovers
18.04.93
Celtic
1
2
Everton
23.04.93
Celtic
2
0
Everton

1893-94
Celtic were League champions and were beaten by Rangers in the Cup Final.

28.09.93
Celtic
3
2
Sunderland
21.10.93
Celtic
3
1
Preston North End
02.01.94
Celtic
0
4
Everton
31.03.94
Celtic
1
3
Sunderland
07.04.94
Celtic
2
1
London Caledonians
09.04.94
Celtic
2
3
 Aston Villa
10.04.94
Celtic
2
3
Bury
11.04.94
Blackburn Rovers
0
0
Celtic
21.04.94
Celtic
2
1
Aston Villa
28.04.94
Celtic
4
1
Everton

1894-95
Reached the last 8 of the Cup, runners up in the League.

27.09.94
Celtic
2
3
Sunderland
01.12.94
Manchester City
0
0
Celtic
26.12.94
Celtic
0
3
Everton
31.12.94
Celtic
0
2
Burnley
02.01.95
Celtic
4
1
Everton
15.04.95
Celtic
1
3
Blackburn Rovers

1895-96
Knocked out in the 1st round of the Cup, Celtic were League champions.

02.09.95
Manchester City
3
0
Celtic
03.09.95
Liverpool
2
0
Celtic
04.09.95
Newcastle United
3
0
Celtic
21.09.95
Preston North End
3
2
Celtic
26.09.95
Celtic
1
1
Sunderland
30.09.95
Celtic
2
3
Sunderland
14.10.95
Sheffield United
0
1
Celtic
25.12.95
Bury
2
2
Celtic
26.12.95
Everton
3
2
Celtic
08.02.96
Celtic
4
1
Bolton Wanderers
13.04.96
Celtic
3
2
Sunderland *

Some sources have a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United on this date- which is an error.

20.04.96
Celtic
3
2
Aston Villa
22.04.96
Celtic
2
1
Everton
27.04.96
Celtic
1
0
Derby County   
28.04.96
Celtic
2
1
Burnley

1896-97
Knocked out in the 1st round of the Cup again, Celtic finished 4th in the League.

28.09.96
Celtic
2
3
Sunderland
25.12.96
Celtic
1
6
Everton
06.02.97
Celtic
2
4
Sunderland
13.02.97
Corinthians
4
0
Celtic
15.02.97
Woolwich Arsenal
4
5
Celtic

1897-98
Celtic were League champions but went out of the Cup in the 2nd round.

26.12.97
Celtic
1
0
Sunderland
12.03.98
Sheffield United
1
0
Celtic
28.03.98
Celtic
1
3
Blackburn Rovers
16.04.98
Celtic
1
1
Sheffield United

1898-99
Celtic won the Scottish Cup and finished 3rd in the League.

10.04.99
Celtic
0
2
Wigan County
15.04.99
Celtic
2
0
Liverpool

1899-1900
Celtic won the Scottish Cup for the 3rd time and were runners up in the League.

23.12.99
Celtic 
2
3
Blackburn Rovers

1900
Celtic were runners up in both League and Cup.

03.09.00
Aston Villa
2
1
Celtic
20.10.00
Celtic
2
0
Everton
21.12.00
Aston Villa
3
1
Celtic
25.12.00
Celtic
1
2
Blackburn Rovers

Key to opponent’s status:
Division One
Division Two
Minor Leagues
Non League 


Overall:
P
W
D
L
F
A
92
44
13
35
175
159

Home:
P
W
D
L
F
A
57
30
8
19
124
100

Away:
P
W
D
L
F
A
35
14
5
16
51
59

v First Division opposition:
P
W
D
L
F
A
67
28
12
27
119
117

v Corinth:

P
W
D
L
F
A
3
1
0
2
7
9



Celtic's first meeting with an English side was a benefit match for East End Poor Children's Dinner against the Birmingham club Mitchell St George's.
Celtic had only been in existence for 7 months when they attracted a crowd of 20,000 for a match against Corinthian FC that raised  £400  for charity.