Capt. Thomas Sowerby Rowlandson. M.C. was killed in action during the 1914-18 war at the age of 36.
He was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge .
He won a blue at Association Football and went on to play in goal regularly for Corinthian FC.
Later he played in the Football League for Newcastle United in season 1905-06 and also had a spell with Sunderland.Rowlandson represented England (Amateur) against Netherlands in 1907.
The following appeared in BO Corbett's The Annals of the Corinthian F. C. (1906):
The lot of a goal-keeper may not be considered the most
enviable on the field, and it is certainly one of the most nerve-trying.
All other players have each their opportunity of retrieving
any chance mistake by a brilliant recovery. Not so with the goalkeeper ; he has
to wait in solitary sorrow till the opposing side may again be pleased to test
his abilities. This may to some extent explain why many goal-keepers display marvellous
powers in practice games, yet in an important match seem to lose all their activity
and cleverness before the eyes of a large crowd.
Yet the art of goal-keeping is not without its interest. Of
course, one of the greatest advantages to a goal-keeper is being able always to
play behind the same pair of backs. He gets thoroughly acquainted with their
play, knows where to find them at a corner-kick, and has no fears that they
will obstruct his view of the ball. Moreover, many backs are very fond of passing
back to the goal-keeper when hard pressed. If the goal-keeper is not aware of this
habit, the back may unfortunately accomplish what the opposing forward has long
been trying to do.
In taking a goal-kick it is always advisable to use the
instep, and not the toe of one's foot, as in the latter case the ball has an
awkward tendency to skid off in the wrong direction, especially on a wet day,
with the result that a well-meant pass often finds itself at the foot of an
opposing forward. For this very reason it is always best to kick a wet, greasy
ball towards the touch-line, away from the centre.
In the case of a hard low shot, the goal-keeper should
always try and pick the ball up with his hands in the same way as he would
field a ball at cricket, remembering that a ball thrown to a half or back is
often of more advantage to the side than a reckless punt down the field.
Of course, in a scrimmage near goal it is often the case
that a goal-keeper has only time to punch the ball away with his fists. Still,
he is generally able to take the precaution of punching it away to the side of
the ground.
Perhaps the most dreadful moment in the life of a goal-keeper
is when he has to face a penalty-kick. Naturally every goal-keeper has his own
theory of how and where to stand at such a trying time. My own idea is to stand
on one side of the goal, and at the moment when the ball is being kicked, to
move sharply across the goal mouth with the eyes fixed on the man, and not the
ball. By this method the intention of the enemy is more easily divined.
Next to saving a penalty, a goal-keeper's nerve is most tested
when a forward breaks through the defence and runs free towards the goal. In such
a case many a goal-keeper has been censured for running out to meet the
opponent ; but I feel sure that more goals are saved than lost by this policy.
The forward is very apt to be bustled by an advancing goal-keeper, while in any
case he has a less open goal at which to shoot.
It may not be out of place to say a word about training. It
is a very prevalent idea that a goal- keeper needs no training ; but surely
training quickens the eye, and no goal-keeper can achieve any great success
unless he does all in his power to increase his quickness and activity. For
years it has been my practice to kick a ball against the wall of a large barn,
and then to pick it up and punch it on the rebound.
Lastly, a goal-keeper should always be provided with two pairs
of boots for dry and wet grounds, as well as a pair of woollen gloves, which
will be found especially useful if the ball is likely to be at all greasy.
