The World...1867

It's hard to imagine a time when football did not enjoy mass popularity, and unless you've ever tried to organise a works or pub team , it's equally difficult to appreciate the obstacles that Alcock, Kinnaird et al overcame in order to bring the game to a wider public.
 As Alcock himself reflected in 1880:
What was ten or fifteen years ago the recreation of a few … has now become the pursuit of thousands – an athletic exercise, carried on under a strict system … almost magnified into a profession.

The world of Association football in the 1860s and early 1870s was narrow and parochial, described in correspondence to the press as a 'local clique.'
A great sense of fun also reaches out to us across the years- these were hip young men engaged in something novel and almost esoteric.

Alcock, in particular, was always on the lookout for novelty- ultimately it was this desire that gave us both international football and the FA Cup.

In 1867 a combined Eton and Harrow team challenged The Rest of the World.
A fitting example of how the most rag tag scratch matches in which these pioneers were involved has retained a place in the annals of the Association game, for the first match , which took place on January 8th 1867 , The World (referred to in some quarters of the press as The Universe) could only muster 8 players.
The 8 who took to the field at Westminster's Vincent Square ground were:

C.W Alcock (Old Harrovians / Wanderers)

K Muir McKenzie (Old Carthusians / Wanderers)

M Muir McKenzie (Old Carthusians / Wanderers)

H.F Deacon (Civil Service)

H.G Phipps (Old Harrovians)

J.E Tayloe  (Old Westminsters)

C.M Tebbut (Wanderers)

C.G Waudby (Civil Service)

Selected but absent were:

F Lucas (Old Westminsters)

S.H West (Westminster School)

W.J Dixon (Westminster School)

The Eton Harrow line up was: A.F Kinnaird (E), E Freeth (E), C.J Thornton (E), E.L Corrie (E), E.A Owen (E), A Crompton (H) & F.R Broughton (H).

The game ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Vincent Square playing fields can still be seen in London SW1.

For the rematch, held at the same venue on 23.01.67, The World turned out only 7 players. Despite the fact that Eton and Harrow had a one man advantage The World (who were practically Old Carthusians) ran out 0-2 winners.

K Muir McKenzie (Old Carthusians / Wanderers)

M Muir McKenzie (Old Carthusians / Wanderers)

J Butter (Charterhouse School)

E.C.S Gibson (Charterhouse School)

C.E.B Nepean (Charterhouse School)

J.A Foote (Charterhouse School)

J Kirkpatrick (Civil Service)

Selected but absent were:

O.S Walford

W.J Dixon (Westminster School)

E.C Bovill                            

H.J Smith

The Eton Harrow line up was: A.F Kinnaird (E), A.L Gallus/ C.W Alcock (H), E Freeth (E), C.M Tebbut, S.T Holland, J.H Morgan, E Trower & H.F Deacon.

I note that Tebbut played both for and against The World.

The matches that shaped Association football- The 1870s

International Football in the 1870s

A number of matches during this decade left an indelible mark on the development of the game, as competitive cup football and international fixtures came into being. There were also developments and consolidations regarding the Laws of The Game that gave football a look that would be more familiar to a present day eye.

Scotland v England - 1872
After CW Alcock's attempt to organize international fixtures in 1870-71 the first truly representative international fixture took place on 30.11.72. If we follow FIFA's definitions this match shouldn't really count as a full international, as there was no Scottish FA, but that's pedantic nit picking. Queen's Park club served as a national association for Scotland until the inception of the Scottish FA in 1873,
It is a misconception that the Scottish team was Queen's Park in disguise- true, all 11 players were members of Queen's Park but there were 2 London based players included and dual or multiple club membership was commonplace. The England selection was geographically more diverse than one might expect (although JC Clegg's recollections suggest that there was a degree of north south divide in evidence). It was a case English muscle and hard work vs Scots guile and combination. 0-0.

The FA Cup 1871-72
Alcock's masterstroke- a knock out tournament based on the house matches of Harrow school. This signalled the arrival of competitive Association football and was a catalyst in the broader development of the game.
The first round of matches was played on November 11th 1871:

Upton Park	0	3	Clapham Rovers
Jarvis Kenrick is credited with the first ever FA Cup goal
Barnes	2	0	Civil Service
Maidenhead	2	0	Marlow
Hitchin	0	0	Crystal Palace
There was no replay-both teams progressed to the next round
The following matches were not played :
Queen’s Park	v		Donnington School
Failing to arrange to play this match did not prevent both sides from being placed in the draw for the next round.
Royal Engineers (walk over)	v		Reigate Priory
Wanderers (walk over)	v		Harrow Chequers
Hampsted Heathens (bye)

Sheffield v Glasgow - 1876

This was the in the third in the Sheffield vs Glasgow series of matches. The significance is that I believe it is the match that led to Clydesdale's JJ Lang becoming the first Scottish footballer to move to England in order to make his living from the game. 

The following is taken from everybody's favourite soccer history blog:

Sheffield 0 Glasgow 2 

 Bramall Lane 19.02.76

Again Sheffield Rules were played .
The press quoted odds of 5-4 on for Glasgow before the game.

6000 were  at Bramall Lane in wet conditions. The Telegraph comments on the lithe and wiry physique of the Scots and on their showing fine concerted play in contrast to the individualistic approach of Sheffield. There is reference to the bar (instead of the tape), and ends were changed at 45 minutes rather than after a goal. Andrews opened the scoring in the 20th minute.  

Glasgow's second goal came when goalkeeper Carr tried to make a quick throw out but hit Andrews on the legs, the ball rebounding into the goal. 

The usually partisan Sheffield press admitted that their team was outplayed both 'in speed and tactics'. 

London v Sheffield 1877
Up until this point Sheffield rules had existed alongside Association- similar but not the same- and were the favoured rules in South Yorkshire and the Midlands. In 1877 the last of the differences between the codes were resolved.
On 17.11.77 the 18th fixture between London and Sheffield (if we include the 1866 match) was the first played under the unified rules. The London side, led by Arthur Kinnaird, outclassed Sheffield and won 6-0.

Remnants v Darwen 1879

The Daily News 31.01.79

Not quite a team of mill workers - (Darwen had 2 Scottish professionals and a doctor in the side!), but this match represents the first real challenge to the old order in English football. Football in Lancashire was taking off- professionalism was on the rise and cup football had begun to grip the enthusiasm of the proletariat.
For the full story see Keith Dewhurst's Underdogs - essential reading for anyone interested in 19th century Association football.

Cads of the most unscrupulous kidney

1891 pitch markings

It is a standing insult to sportsmen to have to play under a rule which assumes that players intend to trip, hack and push their opponents, and to behave like cads of the most unscrupulous kidney. The lines marking a penalty area are a disgrace to the playing fields of a public school.
C B Fry (1907)

 By the beginning of the 20th century the Public Schools' influence on Association Football had declined markedly. Old Etonians had been the last 'Old Boys'' club to reach the FA Cup Final in 1883, Queen's Park (1885) the last amateur club to achieve the feat.
England's international XIs were becoming increasingly professional in make up.
The FA Amateur Cup, a knockout tournament for amateur teams affiliated to the FA, was introduced in 1894, but again teams from industrial, northern areas tended to prevail. In the first 10 seasons of the Amateur Cup Old Carthusians (twice) and Old Malvernians were the only Old Boys' clubs to lift the trophy. The Old Boys' clubs then resorted to instituting a competition exclusively for the Public Schools. This was the Arthur Dunn Cup, named in honour of the Cambridge University, Old Etonians, Corinthian and England player who had first proposed such a competition but had died before any action was taken.

ATB Dunn

The Committee formed at the inaugural meeting features many eminent names from this particular sphere:
President: Lord Kinnaird (Eton).
 Vice-Presidents: R C Guy (Forest), R C Gosling (Eton)
 Committee: R T Squire (Westminster), G O Smith (Charterhouse), W J Oakley (Shrewsbury), C Wreford-Brown (Charterhouse), R E Foster (Malvern), W M Cowan (Brighton), J R Mason (Winchester). 
Hon Secretary: N Malcolmson
The trophy was donated by Cunliffe Gosling, traditionally held to be the richest man to ever play football for England. 

The reactionary nature of these privileged amateurs is illustrated by the fact that a decade after the introduction of the penalty kick the concept caused such an affront to their notion of fair play that, given their own competition to govern, they effectively ignored the penalty kick rule. They also used unregistered referees. These two issues brought the Public Schools into conflict with the FA and led to the Public Schools being granted representation on the Council of the Football Association (in the person of Mr Malcolmson).

1914 FA Cup Final

The FA Cup Final, the first to be attended by a reigning monarch in the person of  King George V. It was the first Cup Final appearance of both clubs, and the last to be played at Crystal Palace. 

The souvenir card shows Tommy Boyle the Burnley captain, and Harry Lowe of Liverpool.

Lowe was injured in the League match at Middlesborough the week before the final. Ephraim Longworth led the Reds for the game with Burnley.

Dawson missed the final through injury.

 Referee Herbert Bamlett (a future manager of Manchester United) signals as Bert Freeman (bisected here by the crossbar) scores the only goal of the final in the 57th minute. 

The King presents the Cup to Boyle- Lord Kinnaird extreme right. 

Wanderers v Cambridge University

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal,  Saturday 9th November 1867   

Even the great administrative genius and inspirational football missionary Charles Alcock could only get 9 players to turn out against Cambridge University.  The Cambridge press seem to gloat a little at Alcock's poor showing on this occasion. 

World Team of the Decade-1880s

Just a bit of fun to stimulate some debate. I'm going to select a team for every decade from the 1880s to the 1930s. The inspiration? In November 1905 The Daily Mail chose a World XI to challenge another planet at football. I came across this when reading about Leigh Richmond Roose. 
As yet I have not been able to track down that 1905 World XI.
A difficult selection, as the 1880s was probably the decade in which the most profound changes in football took place. In 1880 the game at the highest level would have been almost exclusively the preserve of the old boys and amateurs. 
Three key developments shaped the decade:
 The emergence of the professional teams of Lancashire and the midlands.
The influx of Scottish professionals and the influence they had on the way the game was played.
The legalization of professionalism. 
Anyway, my selection for the 1880s- lining up in the 2-3-5 formation:

	Player	Team	Country
GK	Herby Arthur	Blackburn Rovers	England
In the 1880s the FA Cup was the measure of success in the domestic game and Arthur won it 3 years in a row with Rovers. Another considered was James Trainer of Preston North End.
RB	Nick Ross	Preston North End/Everton	Scotland
A pioneer professional, considered the best defender in the country, reputedly paid £10 a month in 1888.
LB	Fergus Suter	Blackburn Rovers	Scotland
One of the earliest professional signings in the game when he joined Darwen. Caused a stir by moving to neighbours Blackburn Rovers. Others considered were Walter Arnott ( Queen’s Park/ Scotland ) and P.M Walters (Old Carthusians/ England).
RH	Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird	Old Etonians	Scotland
Lord Kinnaird’s physical approach to the game may have been a bit old school even at the end of his own playing days, but his achievements cannot be overlooked. He could play in any position.
CH	Norman Bailey	Clapham Rovers	England
The first man to have a protracted run as England captain and the first to reach the magical figure of ten caps. A solid performer.
LH	Jimmy Forrest	Blackburn Rovers	England
The first openly professional player to represent England. Won the FA Cup 5 times.
OR	Billy Bassett	West Bromwich Albion	England
1.65 m in an era of physicality, Bassett was a winger who also scored goals.
IR	Fred Dewhurst	Preston North End	England
The team of the decade would have to have some representative from Corinthian FC, but Fred Dewhurst wasn’t your typical Corinthian- he was the only amateur in the Preston Invincibles line up. A prolific scorer at international level.
CF	John Goodall	Preston North End	England
I chose Goodall as one of the earliest in a long line of professional centre forwards who have been England superstars. I gave consideration also to Tinsley Lindley (Cambridge University, Nottingham Forest/ England) and Archie Hunter (Aston Villa/ Scotland).
IL	Jimmy Ross	Preston North End	Scotland
The Little Demon scored a goal a game in the first two seasons of the Football League. In his time at Preston he scored 250 goals in 220 appearances.
OL	James Brown	Blackburn Rovers	England
Brown was another leading figure in the FA Cup dominance of Blackburn Rovers. Charlie Bambridge (Swifts/England) was a contender.

I expect some criticism for the lack of Scotsmen in the team, and would welcome readers to submit their alternative selections.

The Alcock Internationals- game 3.

The third meeting of the two selections resulted in a 1-1 draw. 

The Oval  25.02.71
‘England’		‘Scotland’
Morten Betts	West Kent	James  Kirkpatrick [c]	Civil Service
Scorer of the first ever Cup Final goal
Charles  Stephenson	Westminster School	Robert Smith	Queen’s Park
Edgar Lubbock	West Kent	William Gladstone	Old Etonians
Charles Alcock [c],	Harrow Pilgrims	Quentin Hogg	Wanderers
Alfred J. Baker	Wanderers	Arthur Kinnaird	Wanderers
William Butler	Civil Service	F. McClean	Oxford University
		McClean was a pseudonym - he later appeared for England in the first official international as Frederick Chappell. He changed his name legally in 1873 and won FA Cups as Frederick Brunning Maddison (Oxford University 1874, Wanderers 1876)
John  Cockerell	Brixton	John  Inglis	Charterhouse
William P. Crake	Barnes	William Lindsay	Old Wykehamists
Thomas  Hooman	Wanderers	Arnold  Smith	Oxford University
Robert W. Vidal	Westminster School	Charles Nepean	Oxford University
Robert Walker	Clapham Rovers	Gilbert Primrose	Civil Service

London v Sheffield 1866

The Kentish Chronicle 14.04.66

The Football Association was concerned primarily with the unification of the codes of football and the promotion of their own rules. This agenda is illustrated by the exchanges with the Sheffield Football Club during the 1860s. Sheffield, as we have seen, had their own established set of rules but would compromise in order to play other clubs. In 1866 Mr Chesterman, Secretary of Sheffield FC,  wrote to the FA requesting a game against one of the clubs affiliated to the Association. The FA interpreted this as a challenge to an FA Selection and therefore the match played on  31st March 1866 at Battersea Park was the first FA representative match. 

The FA XI (aka London) was drawn from 4 clubs:

A. Pember (N.N.'s)
 The first president of the Football Association (1863-1867)

Kinnaird  (Wanderers)
(Lord)  Kinnaird went on to play in 9 FA Cup Finals (plus two replays), and was on the winning side 5 times.In 1873 he represented Scotland against England and was president og the FA (1890-1923).

C. W. Alcock  (Wanderers) 

E.D. Elphinstone (Civil Service)

D.M O'Leary (Barnes)

J. A. Barnes (Barnes)- (in some sources J.K Barnes)

A.J. Baker (N.N.'s) 

-Tebbut (N.N.'s)

E.C Morley (Barnes)
The Football Association's first secretary and second President.

-Martin (Wanderers) 

R. W. Willis (Barnes)
  He was the second Secretary of the FA1866–1868, the man who accepted the challenge


London won by 2 goals and four touchdowns  to nil. Sheffield FC invited the Football Association to a return match in Sheffield, to be played under the Sheffield Rules.
The FA however, in keeping with their object of unifying the codes, would only entertain playing under Association rules, and it was 5 years before another representative match took place. 

The Alcock Internationals- game 2.

Eight months after the first game Alcock's England XI met Kinnaird's Scotland for a rematch at The Oval. 
England won 1-0 thanks to a goal by Walker following a run by Alcock. Notice that at this point in the game's development that the teams changed ends after a goal had been scored. 
Note that one could  apply by post to be considered for selection.

Game 2:
19.11.70- The Oval.

‘England’  1-0   ‘Scotland’
‘England’		‘Scotland’
Charles Alcock (c)	Harrow  Pilgrims	James  Kirkpatrick [c]	Civil Service FC
Alfred J. Baker	Wanderers	Arthur Kinnaird	Wanderers
Thomas Carter	Eton College	Charles  Nepean	Oxford University
Eton schoolboy		Former Charterhouse pupil who became a vicar. 1874 FA Cup Winner with Oxford University.
John  Cockerel	Brixton	Galfrid  Congreve	No club
William P. Crake	Harrow School	Robert  Crawford	Harrow Chequers
Thomas Hooman	Wanderers	William Baillie  Hamilton	Civil Service FC
FA Cup winner with Wanderers (1872)
Edgar Lubbock	West Kent	Gilbert  Kennedy	Wanderers
Walter Paton                        Harrow School 17 year old Paton was still at Harrow School		William Lindsay        Old Wykehamists
Henry Preston	Eton College
		Quentin Hogg                        Wanderers  A Christian philanthropist
Robert W. Vidal	Westminster School	Henry  Primrose	Civil Service
		Sir Henry William Primrose K.C.B., C.S.I., I.S.O., P.C was later private secretary to the Prime Minister.
Robert  Walker	Clapham Rovers	Robert  Smith	Queen’s Park
Lt. Col. Robert Sandilands Frowd Walker, C.M.G. Introduced football to Malaya.		Captain and founder member of Queen's Park, 2 official internationals for Scotland.