AGF Fodbold

This is a very simple post. No story, no statistics, just a couple of old team photographs.

The team is AGF Fodbold, of Aarhus in Denmark. 

1908

1927

I tend to admire any attempt to break from the traditional team photograph, and this is one of my favourites, largely due to the coach's breeches and cigarette.

The Rev. Frank Marshall

The Rev. Frank Marshall was a clergyman and the headmaster of Almondbury Grammar School, Huddersfield. He was the co-author of Football; the Rugby Union game (1895). Rev Marshall was a referee and president of  the Yorkshire RFU.
In the 1880s and 1890s he was at the centre of a crusade against 'broken time payments' in Rugby football. Rev. Marshall believed that for anyone to receive payments in any form for playing football was morally reprehensible. His zeal for preserving amateurism knew no bounds. He was a committee member at Huddersfield FC, but this didn't prevent him for reporting them for professionalism, leading to a ban. 
Rev. Marshall's activities ultimately led to what is known as The Great Schism. In 1895 clubs who favoured 'broken time payments' to compensate their working class players for wages lost when they were playing football, broke away from the Rugby Union and formed the Northern Union. These clubs developed a different code that created a faster, more exciting game that we now know as Rugby League. 
So, what has this got to do with us, concerned as we are with the history of the Association game?

The  FA Cup 4th round tie played between Preston North End and the London club Upton Park on January 19th 1884 can be considered one of the most significant games in the history of Association football. The controversy following this game (which will be dealt with in more detail in a later post) led directly to the Football Association's acceptance of professionalism.

Liverpool Mercury 21.01.84

Was this the same Rev. F. Marshall?
It has never been made clear who provided the catalyst that inspired  Upton Park, in the person of the Secretary- Mr Barnett, to report Preston to the FA. Their local rivals Blackburn Olympic denied any involvement. Indeed, the press commented that none of the leading Lancashire clubs would be able to defend themselves against charges of professionalism.
I can find no other references to Rev F Marshall as a referee of Association games, and he seems to have had no input into the debate that raged on into the summer of 1885 regarding professionalism in football.

The Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup 1883

Matches such as this were the staple in the pre League football days.

Even in friendly competition local and regional rivalries could become fierce; when a trophy and medals were at stake competition became more intense. Winning a County trophy also enabled a club to secure more lucrative friendly fixtures. In the 1880–81 season West Bromwich Albion had inflicted Stoke's first defeat in competitive football in the first round of this competition. 

This Staffordshire Cup Final, played on April 21st 1883, drew a crowd of  6,150 . To put that into context the FA Cup Final at The Oval that season saw an attendance of 8,000, and the England v Scotland fixture at Bramall Lane  was watched by 7,000,

This match was played at Stoke Athletic Ground. Stoke had scored 42 goals en route to the final. 

1,500 West Bromwich Albion supporters travelled on a Football Special to Stoke.  The 2 clubs were founder members of the Football League 5 years later and 131 years later both feature in the Premier League. 

 Neither team wore the colours with which we now associate them- Albion wore red and white hoops and Stoke blue and black hoops. 

West Bromwich Albion won a thrilling game by 3-2. It was the club's first trophy. 

Both Stoke and West Bromwich Albion entered the FA Cup for the first time in the 1883–84 season.

West Bromwich Albion

Villa's New Internationals-1913

Harry Hampton was with Aston Villa for 16 seasons,  scoring 242 goals in 376 games. He remains Aston Villa's top scorer in Football League matches (215).
Hampton won 4 England caps:
v Wales 17.03.13 (1 goal)
v Scotland 05.04.13 (1 goal)
v Wales 16.03.14
v Scotland 14.04.14


Outside Right Charlie Wallace made his England debut in the same match as Hampton.
Wallace made 3 international appearances, separated by the war:
v Wales 17.03.13
v Ireland 14.02.14
v Scotland 10.04.20

Wallace spent 10 seasons at Villa, his 350 appearances bringing 57 goals. 18 of Wallace's goals came from the penalties, but he is better known for one he missed- in Villa's 1913 FA Cup Final win over Sunderland he shot wide from the spot.

Hamilton Crescent

Cricket was being played in Hamilton Crescent before the West of Scotland Cricket Club was founded in 1862.

Hamilton Crescent's place in sporting history was assured when it was chosen by Queen's Park to host what is considered to be the first ever international Association football match.

As we have seen , Charles Alcock had , in his enthusiasm to spread the association game, instituted 'international' matches in 1870. The 'Scottish' teams involved were not truly representative, the players usually having only tenuous connections with Scotland. Alcock didn't want this to be the case, however. He wanted genuine Scottish representation, as we can see from the following letter, which appeared in  The Glasgow Herald in November 1870:

ENGLAND versus SCOTLAND

Sir,—Will you allow me a few lines in your paper to notify to Scottish players that a match under the above title will take place in London on Saturday, 19th inst, according to the rules of the Football Association? It is the object of the committee to select the best elevens at their disposal in the two countries, and I cannot but think that the appearance of some of the more prominent celebrities of football on the northern side of the Tweed would do much to disseminate a healthy feeling of good fellowship among the contestants, and tend to promote to a still greater extent the extension of the game. In Scotland, once essentially the land of football, there should still be a spark left of the old fire, and I confidently appeal to Scotsmen to aid to their utmost the efforts of the committee to confer success on what London fondly hopes to found, an annual trial of skill between the champions of England and Scotland. Messrs. A. F. Kinnaird, 2 Pall Mall East, London, and J. Kirkpatrick, Admiralty, Somerset House, London, will be glad to receive the names of any Scottish player who will take part against England in the match in question.—I am, etc.,

Charles W. Alcock, Hon. Secretary of Football Association.

West Dulwich, Surrey, 1st November, 1870.

Queen's Park responded to the letter by asking if one of their members could play, They nominated Robert Smith (conveniently he had recently moved to London and was playing for South Norwood). Smith consequently played in the 2nd and 3rd 'Alcock Internationals'.

Queen's Park wrote to Alcock in the summer of 1872. What was happening regarding international matches? would the Football Association be disposed to send a team to play Scotland in Scotland? In effect the  Queen's Park club assumed responsibility for responding to Charles Alcock's challenge to Scottish footballers. There was no Scottish Football Association at the time. Queen's Park were in effect the governing body in Scottish football, as well as dominating the game on the pitch they were also arbiters and guardians of the rules. One thing that they didn't have, however, was a ground of their own. They still played in public parks.

Queen's Park were devilishly good at organizing things. They set up subcommittees to handle every aspect of preparing for the visit of the English.  The West of Scotland Cricket Club were approached regarding the use of Hamilton Crescent. Queen's Park anticipated the match being a lucrative event. The following terms were agreed:

West of Scotland Cricket Club to receive £10* for staging the match and and a further sum of £10 should the receipts exceed  £50. 

This was a bold move by Queen's Park, who only had £7 in their account and had been offered the Burnbank Rugby ground free of charge.

It paid off, though, as the takings reached £102 19s. 6d. Admission was 1 shilling and the attendance topped 4,000. 

The match cost a total of  £69 11s. 6d to stage, leaving Queen's Park a balance of £33 8s which they used to fund their journey to London for the following season's international.

One thing about this first international troubles me- if, according to  F.I.F.A. regulations, a match must be organised according to the prescribed rules by two National Football Associations, then should this game be considered a full international? There was no Scottish FA. Queen's Park organised the match, selected the team and provided all the players (who incidentally played in Queen's Park's colours). 

Hamilton Cresecent had served it's purpose well, though. Queen's Park moved into the first Hampden Park in 1873, but the internationals of 1874 and 1876 were both played in Hamilton Crescent, as were the first 2 matches of the 1877 Scottish Cup Final between Glasgow Rangers and Vale of Leven. (It took 2 replays to settle the tie- the 2 matches at Hamilton Crescent were drawn, 1-1). 

* 1872 Pre decimal money: 1 pound (£) = 20 shillings (s). 1 shilling = 12 pence (d). A general labourer earned about £1 per week. 

French Losses 1914-19

22 French internationals died during World War I:

René Camard - Association Sportive Francais Paris (08.02.87- 16.03.15) 
The outside left won 1 cap against Belgium in 1907.
Killed in action in Carnoy (Somme).

Julien Denis - Racing Club de Calais (14.08.81- 25.09.15) 
Half back, 2 caps in 1908. Calais' stadium is named in his honour.
Killed in action at Souchez.

Charles Dujardin - Union Sportive Tourquennoise (15.04.88 - 29.08.14) 
 1 cap v Switzerland 1913
 Died from injuries sustained in the battle of the Aisne.

Émile Dusart - Racing Club de Roubaix (03.09.92 -13.03.19)
Defender- 1 cap v Hungary in 1914.
A nurse, he died of influenza at Mainz.

René Fenouillère - Red Star Amical Club de Paris (22.10.82 - 04.11.16) 

The forward won 1 cap, in the 1908 Olympics at London.

The stadium of U.S. Avranches is named in his honour.

 Killed in action at Reims.

André François - Racing Club de Roubaix (1885 - 17.03.15)

6 caps,3 goals.Captain at the 1908 Olympics (in a  17-1 loss against Denmark).

Died of injuries in Meuse.

Charles Geronimi - AF Garenne Colombes Paris (08.02.95 - 09.11.18) 

Inside left, he won 1 cap, v Luxembourg in 1914. 

Died of  injuries at Souilly.

Raymond Gigot - Club Français Paris (11.05.85-25.09.15)

Outside left, 1 cap, v Belgium in 1905. 

Killed in action at Pas de Calais.

Raoul Gressier - Racing Club de Calais (19.11.85 - 06.10.15)

1 cap against Denmark at the 1908 Olympics for the team designated France B, losing 9-0.

Missing in action at Tahure.

Ernest Guéguen - Union Sportive Servannaise et Malouine Saint-Malo (30.05.85 - 25.09.15)
1 cap, v England Amateurs 1913. 
 Killed in action in the Second Battle of the Marne.

Victor  Hitzel - JA Levallois (?-?)
A forward, he won 1 cap against England Amateurs in 1909.

Albert Jenicot - Racing Club de Roubaix (15.02.85 - 22.02.16) 
aka Jules Aristide Jenicot
A forward who made 3 international appearances in 1908, including an Olympic match.
Killed in action at Vacherauville.

Emile Lesmann - JA Saint-Ouen (03.05.91 - 15.09.14)
A forward who faced Belgium in 1912.
Killed at The battle of Marne.

Jean Loubiere - Gallia Club Paris (07.01.92 - 04.02.15)

 Goalkeeper in 1 match against  Luxembourg in 1914 

 Killed in action at Massiges.

Pol Morel - Red Star Amical Club de Paris (05.03.90 - 28.09.15) 
A forward who won 2 caps in 1911
Killed in action at Servins.

Eugène Petel - AS Amicale Alfortville (1881-?)

1 cap, v Belgium , 1910.

André Puget - Racing Club de Paris (12.01.82 - 09.05.15) 

Outside right- 1 appearance v  Belgium in 1907.

Killed in action at the Battle of Artois.

Marius Royet - Union Sportive Parisienne (19.06.80 - 08.11.18) 
9 caps and 2 goals, including 1 in France's first ever international in 1904. 
Died of influenza in Mannheim. 

Pierre Six - Olympique Lillois (18.01.88 - 1916)
Played for France B at the 1908 Olympics. 
Killed in action at the Somme.

Julien Verbrugghe - Association Sportive Française Paris (26.12.89 - 21.08.16)  
France's youngest ever international (16 years and 10 months) in a 15-0 loss to England Amateurs  (1906). 3 further caps in 1911.
Killed in action at the Somme.

 Francis Vial - Club Athletique de Vitry (?-1916)

1 cap v Luxemblourg, 1911.

Justin Vialaret -  CA Paris XIVe (12.11.83 - 30.09.16)
Played 1 match for France B at the 1908 Olympics. 

Steve Bloomer's England goals

Steve Bloomer , the great inside right, scored 395 goals in his club career (Derby County 527 games, Middlesbrough 130 games).
He was also a prolific scorer in international football.
Making his debut as a 21 year old he got 2 goals in his first match. He then proceeded to score in each of his first 10 internationals, collecting 19 goals in the process.
In his 8th international he overtook Tinsley Lindley as England's highest ever scorer (Lindley had held the record for 7 years).
Bloomer scored in 16 of 23 games played, a strike rate of 1.217 goals per game.

He scored 37.3 % of England’s goals in games in which he played.

1904- goal number 26.

The table charts his international goals with descriptions from contemporary press reports in italics.

							Goals
1	09.03.95	England	9	0	Ireland	Derby CCC	2
		Steve got England’s 2nd (4 mins- put in a splendid run and notched a second point- a shot that the Irish goalkeeper had not the slightest chance of stopping) and 6th (58 mins- scored from a pass from Goodall). Contemporary press reports credited him with England’s 1st goal, which was later deemed an own goal.
2	06.04.95	England	3	0	Scotland	Goodison	3
		Playing at outside left, Steve opened the scoring in the 30th minute. A pass from a free kick by Holt after Goodall had been fouled.
3	07.03.96	Ireland	0	2	England	Solitude, Belfast	4
		Steve’s goal in the 75th minute was England’s 2nd. … a low, swift shot…
4	16.03.96	Wales	1	9	England	Cardiff Arms Park	8
		2nd   a shot that the Welsh custodian never saw until it was in the net. (25 mins). 4th  (40 mins) Sandilands dashed away and with a beautiful center enabled Bloomer to score. …a ‘daisy cutter’ 6th (60 mins) after a fine combined run in the teeth of the wind Bloomer was entrusted with the final chance and made no mistake in banging the ball past the Welsh goalkeeper. 8th   (83 mins) Bassett and Bloomer ran the ball down and the latter finished with a successful shot. 9th  (89 mins) from a pass by Bassett.
5	20.02.97	England	6	0	Ireland	Trent Bridge, Nottingham	10
		1st (19 mins ) Passing to Smith, The English captain cleverly returned to Bloomer, who sent in, amid loud cheering, a straight,  high shot that gave Scott no chance whatever.    6th (85 mins) from Athersmith’s pass… Scott made a noble bid to save, but found it totally beyond his powers. A capital shot by the nimble Bloomer.
6	29.03.97	England	4	0	Wales	Bramall Lane, Sheffield	11
		Steve got England’s  2nd goal in the 44th minute. Athersmith …made a splendid run down the wing and passed to Bloomer who gave Trainer no chance with a lightning shot.
7	03.04.97	England	1	2	Scotland	Crystal Palace	12
		Steve put England in front in the 19th minute. Athersmith… reached the line, and then with a wonderful kick dropped the ball in front of goal, and Bloomer put it into the net.  Athersmith… shot across goal. Bloomer, however, was on the spot, and, taking possession in the melee, he got past Patrick…
8	02.04.98	Scotland	1	3	England	Celtic Park	15
		The ‘sovereigns’ game. England’s captain, Wreford-Brown, presented Bloomer with a gold sovereign after he scored. He was responsible for England’s 2nd   (a high shot) and 3rd(A bad bit of play by Gibson gave Bloomer what was practically an open goal) goals , in the 23rd and 72nd minutes.  Bloomer’s 2nd goal saw him overtake Tinsley Lindley to become England’s all-time top scorer.
9	18.02.99	England	13	2	Ireland	Roker Park, Sunderland	17
		Bloomer, following up a shot by Athersmith which Lewis could not quite get away, kicked the  5th goal (40 mins) He scored England’s 13th (89 mins) Bloomer also missed a penalty at 5-0.
10	20.03.99	England	4	0	Wales	Ashton Gate, Bristol	19
		2nd (44 min),  when (Jones) ventured out to save a good one from Athersmith he was successful, but before he could get back Bloomer put the ball into the net.  4th (86) Forman… pressed towards the goal and Bloomer stopped the ball, and, turning round, scored…
11	08.04.99	England	2	1	Scotland	Villa Park
		This was Bloomer’s 11th International and the first in which he did not score.
12	07.04.00	Scotland	4	1	England	Celtic Park	20
		Steve scored in the 35th minute to make it 3-1. Athersmith dribbled down past Robertson. Drummond caused him more trouble, but could not clear, and Bloomer dashing onto the ball (scored).
13	18.03.01	England	6	0	Wales	St James' Park, Newcastle	24
		1st    (38) Corbett raced up the wing and centred finely to Bloomer, the latter snapping the ball nicely passed Roose just below the crossbar. 3rd (?) Foster’s shot… was cleared by Roose but Bloomer got onto the ball and kicked a third… 4th   (80) from a scrimmage …took a shot and hitting the inside of the post… 6th  (83) a blunder by Morris… Roose delaying his rush too long.
14	30.03.01	England	2	2	Scotland	Crystal Palace	25
		Steve made it 2-2 in the 80th minute with what was reported to be a sensational goal. Bloomer broke almost from his own goal line…with sound judgement he drew Rennie out of goal and made the score ‘two goals all’.
15	03.03.02	Wales	0	0	England	Racecourse, Wrexham
16	22.03.02	Ireland	0	1	England	Balmoral Showgrounds, Belfast
17	03.05.02	England	2	2	Scotland	Villa Park
		Bloomer captained England in this match, however, he ended the 1902 International campaign without a goal.
18	09.04.04	Scotland	0	1	England	Celtic Park	26
		Steve marked his comeback with a 64th minute winner. (Watson) missed his kick and the ball came to Bloomer , who found the net with a high shot…quite unsavable
19	25.02.05	England	1	1	Ireland	Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough	27
		A 50th minute equalizer. An easy thing for him, as he received it close in and had no one but the goalkeeper to beat.
20	27.03.05	England	3	1	Wales	Anfield
21	01.04.05	England	1	0	Scotland	Crystal Palace
22	18.03.07	England	1	1	Wales	Craven Cottage
		Another comeback, but no scoring boots…
23	06.04.07	England	1	1	Scotland	St James' Park, Newcastle	28
		Fittingly Steve Bloomer scored on his international farewell- his 42nd minute strike levelling the game. He took a pretty pass from Veitch … and drove in a great low shot which shook the rigging , and caused a tumult that might have been expected to bring down the scores of people who were finding scanty and precarious foothold on the steep slates of four storey houses facing the ground.

Bloomer held the England record for 4 years , when his total was overtaken by Vivian Woodward.