England v Scotland 1899

England v Scotland, Villa Park, 08.04.1899

The England XI for this match was made up of 10 professionals and 1 amateur. These men illustrate the social gulfs that were bridged by the game in Victorian Britain.

Player 'a' is Raby Howell, of Liverpool. Howell was a Sheffield born Roma.
Player 'b' is Gilbert Oswald Smith. Smith was a Charterhouse pupil and went on to Oxford University. After graduating he played for Corinthians and Old Carthusians. He won 20 caps and scored 11 international goals in the period 1894 to 1901. 
This was the deciding match in the British Home Championships. 
In their games against Wales and Ireland Scotland had scored 15 goals and England 17! 
England ran out winners at Aston lower Grounds. G.O Smith's 20 yard lob went in off the post after 25 minutes and Settle had an easy finish after a good cross from Athersmith 5 minutes before the break. 
Hamilton pulled one back in the 52nd minute after a scrimmage had floored Jack Robinson.

GK	Jack Robinson	Southampton
FB	Harry Thickitt	Sheffield United
	Jimmy Crabtree	Aston Villa
HB	Frank Forman	Nottingham Forest
	Raby Howell	Liverpool
	Ernest Needham	Sheffield United
F	Charlie Athersmith	Aston Villa
	Steve Bloomer	Derby County
	G.O Smith	Old Carthusians
	Jimmy Settle	Bury
	Fred Forman	Nottingham Forest

GK	Ned Doig	Sunderland
FB	Nicol Smith	Glasgow Rangers
	Davie Storrier	Celtic
HB	Neil Gibson	Glasgow Rangers
	Alexander Christie	Queen’s Park
	John Robertson	Southampton
F	John Campbell	Celtic
	Robert Hamilton	Glasgow Rangers
	Robert McColl	Queen’s Park
	Hugh Morgan	Liverpool
	Jack Bell	Celtic

Sheffield and England in the 19th Century...

The City of Sheffield was a major centre of footballing development , and its influence on the evolution of the Association game cannot be overlooked.  There were Sheffield men present in the England XI right from the very start. Charlie Clegg played in the 5th 'Alcock International' and also in the first official international in 1872. Clegg, who went on to be a massively influential administrator, later complained about the snooty attitude of his southern teammates. 
During the 19th century 7 Sheffield based clubs had players capped by England:

Reverend John Robert Blayney Owen

Jack Hunter - in the 7 internationals in which he played England won only once and conceded 31 goals! He went on to lead Blackburn Olympic to FA Cup victory, being largely responsible for the professional approach they took to the game. 

Billy Mosforth-The Little Wonder, often described as England's first working class player (more on this matter in the near future) and the first player to represent both Wednesday and Sheffield United.

United's first international- Harry Lilley

 Michael Whitham

Raby Howell- the first Roma to play for England.

England's most famous 1 cap wonder? Billy Foulke

The Wednesday
Charles Clegg	Forward	1 cap	1872
William Clegg	Half Back	1 cap	1873
Billy Mosforth	Outside Left	5 caps	1877-82
Teddy Brayshaw	Centre Half	1 cap	1887
Billy Betts	Centre Half	1 cap	1889
Fred Spiksley	Outside Left	7 caps	1893-98
Tom Crawshaw	Centre Half	10 caps	1895-1904
Sheffield FC
John Owen	Forward	1 cap	1874
John Hudson	Half Back	1 cap	1883
Owlerton
William Carr	Goalkeeper	1 cap	1875
Heeley
Jack Hunter	Half Back	7 caps	1878-1882
Sheffield Albion
William Clegg	Forward	1 cap	1879
Billy Mosforth	Outside Left	4 caps	1879-80
Thursday Wanderers
Thomas Heathcote Sorby	Forward	1 cap	1879
Sheffield United
Harry Lilley	Left Back	1 Cap	1892
Michael Whitham	Right Back	1 Cap	1892
Ernest Needham	Half Back	16 Caps	1894-1902
Raby Howell	Right Half	1 Cap	1895
Billy Foulke	Goalkeeper	1 Cap	1897
Tommy Morren	Centre Half	1 Cap	1898
Harry Thickett	Right Back	2 Caps	1899

Rab Howell

The only man from the Roma community to play for England.
Howell scored on his debut for England in 1895 in a 9-0 win over Ireland. His next (and last) cap came against Scotland 4 years later. Howell won a League Championship with Sheffield United in  1897-98.
The description is by Ernest Needham.