31.8.13

Cuthbert Ottaway, England's handsomest ever captain?

Women, gay men, aesthetes... If we are going to have a poll to select England's handsomest ever captain I would like to nominate the first man ever to have the honour of leading his country, Cuthbert Ottaway.

30.8.13

Brazil 1919

 The Brazil team that won the 1919 South American Championship. Left to right from the top line:

Píndaro 
Píndaro de Carvalho Rodrigues (26-Flamengo) Full back Pindaro was one of the players who split from Fluminense to found Flamengo. He sported some fantastic headgear during his career, and later coached Brazil at the 1930 World Cup.

Marcos 
Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça (24-Fluminense) Marcos became a goalkeeper as a youth because he had lung problems. He was a real hero of the 1919 championship, particularly for keeping a clean sheet in the deciding match with Uruguay which lasted 150 minutes.

Bianco
Bianco Spártaco Gambini (25-Palestra Itália)

Sergio 
Sérgio Pereira Pires (21-CA Paulistano)

Amílcar 
Amílcar Barbuy (26-Corinthians)
A player who was for many years considered the most skillful to come out of Brazil.

Fortes
Agostinho Fortes Filho (17-Fluminense)
Young Fortes, a versatile half back, made his international debut in the second game of the tournament.

Millon 
Adolpho Millón Júnior (23-Santos)

Arnaldo 
Arnaldo Patusca da Silveira (24-Santos)
Arnaldo was captain of the team. He made a total of 16 appearances for the Seleção.

Neco
Manoel Nunes (24-Corinthians)
Described as the first idol of Corinthians- Neco joined the club as a youth, and aside from one season at Macenzie his association with the club as player and manager lasted 25 years. He played 15 times for Brazil, scoring 8 goals. He was top scorer in the 1919 South American championship with 4 goals. Neco was a carpenter and he was sacked for taking time off work to play in the 1919 tournament.

Fried
Arthur Friedenreich (27-CA Paulistano)
The player of the tournament and scorer of the winning goal in the play off. Fried became a national hero and Brazil's first football superstar. The boot with which he scored the winning goal in the final against Uruguay was paraded around the city on a pole with a banner proclaiming The glorious foot of Friedenreich. The boot was later displayed  in jewellers' shop windows across Rio. 

Héitor 
Héitor Marcelino Domingues (20-Palestra Itália)
In 15 years at Palestra  Héitor played 330 games, scoring 284 goals. In a 12 year international career he played 11 matches and scored 4 goals.


 A crowd scene from the first Brazil v Uruguay match

Brazil after the victory over Uruguay in the second match

29.8.13

Jack Leslie



...known throughout England for his skill and complexion.
The Herald (1930)

They must have forgotten I was a coloured boy. They found out I was a darkie and I suppose that was like finding out I was foreign.

Jack Leslie

In the 1920s manager  Bob Jack  assembled a potent team at Plymouth Argyle.  Argyle finished second in the Third Division (South) for 6 seasons in a row,eventually making it into the Second Division for the 1930–31 season. A key member of the team was Jack Leslie, a Londoner of Jamaican descent. Leslie was at Argyle, his only senior  club, from 1921–1935. During this time he scored 137 goals in 401 appearances.


Bob Jack was informed by the Football Association that Leslie had been selected for England. The FA then decided that Leslie wouldn't be capped after all, as he was (as they put it) a man of colour. 
Shame on the Football Association.

27.8.13

The Alcock Internationals- game 1.

From the Secretary of the Football Association

A match between the leading representatives of the Scotch and English sections will be played at The Oval on Saturday the 19th February next, under the auspices of the Association.  Players duly qualified and desirous of assisting either party must communicate with Mr AF Kinnaird of 2 Pall Mall East, SW or Mr J Kirkpatrick, Admiralty, Somerset House, WC on behalf of the Scotch, or with Mr Charles W Alcock, Boy Court, Ludgate Hill, EC or Mr RG Graham, 7 Finch Lane, EC on the part of the English.
The Field 22nd January 1870













Crawford- 17 year old scores fluky long range goal

Charles Alcock's deeds speak of a missionary zeal for promoting Association Football. He was, of course,  the founder of the FA Cup tournament. Additionally Alcock was also a prime mover in the development of international football.
Prior to the first officially recognized international in 1872  Alcock arranged a series of matches between 'England' and 'Scotland'.
These matches were far from the formal occasions that international matches became within a few years. They were played at The Oval, the headquarters of English football at the time, on account of Alcock's ease of access to the facilities as secretary of Surrey County Cricket Club, but watched by small crowds ( ranging from 500 to just under 1000- football was not a great draw as a spectator sport in the early days-cricket was still very much the national game- 2,000 watched the 1872 Cup Final  at The Oval and between 2,500 and 4,000 were at the 1873 international at the same ground).
The main barrier to these games being considered true internationals is the absence of Scotsmen! They were, effectively, between scratch teams drawn from Alcock's Old Boys' associates- the class of  men who at the time made up the players, administrators and enthusiasts of the game. The Morning Post described the team for the 5th match as 'the Scotchmen of the metropolis'.
The first match featured only one man who was actually born in Scotland- Kenneth Muir Mackenzie. His teammates were 6 English born, and  1 each born in Wales, Jersey, Canada and India.  The excellent historian Andy Mitchell has established that 10 of the Scotland team did in fact have bona fide Scottish heritage.  For good measure 3 of the England team were born oversea (2 in India and 1 in Ireland).
There were only 2 non public schoolboys involved-Alfred J. Baker and Alexander Nash. The old man of the England XI was Edward E. Bowen (32) whilst Morten in opposition was about 38. England featured 3 teenagers (Vidal-16, Thornton-17, Crake-18 ) and 'Scotland'  2 (Crawford -17, Gordon-19).
The rather casual approach might be reflected in the fact that for the  first match there were no officials , and that Crawford scored Scotland's goal  from long range when the English decided to play with 11 outfielders and no goalkeeper. 
The teams for the first match lined up as follows. Note that many of the players were associated with multiple clubs (such was the nature of the clubs- metropolitan institutions and old boys clubs). Here I have recorded the player affiliation as it was represented in the press at the time. 
All 5 matches were played at The Oval.

Game 1:


‘England’  1-1   ‘Scotland’   05.03.70 
‘England’
‘Scotland’
Alfred H. Thornton
Harrow Chequers
Alexander  Morton
Crystal Palace
Born in India, he later became a banker.
Morton later represented England in an official international.

Charles Alcock (c)
Harrow Chequers
Robert  Crawford
Harrow School
Arguably the most influential figure in the history of football.
Served in the Afghan War with distinction but later found infamy having beaten his manservant to death in Africa

Edward E. Bowen
Wanderers
William Gladstone
Old Etonians
A master at Harrow School
Son of the Prime Minister WE Gladstone  and himself an MP

Alfred J. Baker
NNs
George  Gordon
NNs

A Civil servant who emigrated to Australia

William C. Butler
Barnes
Charles Baillie  Hamilton
Civil Service FC
The only member of the England XI who was not a member of the Wanderers club, he later became a captain in the army.


William P. Crake
Harrow School
William Baillie 
Hamilton
Harrow Chequers
Crake was born in India and came to England to attend Harrow school. He later returned to India as a merchant. In 1872 he won the FA Cup with Wanderers.

The Baillie  Hamilton brothers were both Harrow boys who went on to become prominent Civil Servants
Evelyn Freeth
Civil Service
Arthur Kinnaird
Crusaders
Went on to become a prominent Civil Servant, for which he was knighted.

A truly legendary figure as a player and administrator.
Edgar Lubbock
Old Etonians
James  Kirkpatrick [c]
Civil Service
Played in 4 FA Cup Finals, winning in 1872 (Wanderers) and 1879 (Old Etonians).

Sir James Kirkpatrick, 8th Baronet. FA Cup winner with Wanderers (1878)
Alexander Nash
Clapham Rovers
William Lindsay
Old Wykehamists

He was orphaned during the Indian Mutiny. 3 times Cup winner with Wanderers (1876,77& 78). Later capped by England in an official international (1877)

Giulio Cowley Smith
Crusaders
J Wingfield  Malcolm
London Scottish Rifles

Another  MP

Robert W. Vidal
Westminster School
Kenneth
Muir Mackenzie
Old Carthusians
'The prince of dribblers', Robert Walpole Sealy Vidal was later known as Robert Walpole Sealy. He playd in 3 FA Cup Finals, winning in 1872 (Wanderers) and 1874 (Oxford University). Served on the FA Committee 1872 and 1874. 1 cap for England in official internationals (1873).

The only Scottish born player to feature



26.8.13

Argentina and Uruguay: Minor Copas



During the period covered by this blog Argentina and Uruguay played each other 132 times. That works out at almost 4 meetings a year. 111 of these matches were official internationals. Remarkably only 25 of the 132 matches are designated as friendlies (a further 2 are listed as charity matches).
The South American Championship (13), The World Cup (1) and The Olympic Games (2) account for a further 16 matches. 
89 of the meetings were for minor trophies.


Copa Lipton

Copa Lipton
Donated by Sir Thomas Lipton, the Scottish business man.  The condition was that the countries could only be represented by native born players. When matches were drawn the visitors got the trophy.

15.08.05
Argentina
0
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.06
Uruguay
0
2
Argentina
Montevideo 
15.08.07
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.08
Uruguay
2
2
Argentina
Montevideo
15.08.09
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.10
Uruguay
3
1
Argentina
Montevideo
15.08.11
Argentina
0
2
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.12
Uruguay
2
0
Argentina
Montevideo
15.08.13
Argentina
4
0
Uruguay
Avellaneda
15.08.15
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.16
Uruguay
1
2
Argentina
Montevideo
15.08.17
Argentina
1
0
Uruguay
Avellaneda
20.09.18
Uruguay
1
1
Argentina
Montevideo
07.09.19
Argentina
1
2
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
12.11.22
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
24.06.23
Argentina
0
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
30.08.27
Argentina
0
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
21.09.28
Uruguay
2
2
Argentina
Montevideo
28.09.29
Argentina
0
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires

Argentina wins: 7 Uruguay wins: 6 Draws:  6



Copa Newton
Instituted by Nicanor Newton, a director of the Argentine Football Association. When matches were drawn the visitors got the trophy, and charities benefited from the money made.

21.10.06
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
06.10.07
Uruguay
1
2
Argentina
Montevideo
13.09.08
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
19.09.09
Uruguay
2
2
Argentina
Montevideo
17.09.11
Uruguay
2
3
Argentina
Montevideo
06.10.12
Argentina
3
3
Uruguay
Avellaneda
26.10.13
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
12.09.15
Uruguay
2
0
Argentina
Montevideo
15.08.16
Argentina
3
1
Uruguay
Avellaneda
02.09.17
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
29.09.18
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
24.08.19
Uruguay
2
1
Argentina
Montevideo
25.07.20
Argentina
1
3
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
17.12.22
Argentina
2
2
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
25.05.24
Uruguay
2
0
Argentina
Montevideo
25.05.24
Argentina
4
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
14.07.27
Uruguay
0
1
Argentina
Montevideo
30.08.28
Argentina
1
0
Uruguay
Avellaneda
20.09.29
Uruguay
2
1
Argentina
Montevideo
25.05.30
Argentina
1
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires

Argentina wins: 9 Uruguay wins: 7 Draws:  4


Copa Premio Honor Argentino

04.10.08
Argentina
0
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
10.10.09
Argentina
3
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
13.11.10
Argentina
1
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
27.11.10
Argentina
2
6
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
22.10.11
Argentina
2
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
22.09.12
Argentina
0
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
31.08.13
Argentina
2
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
13.09.14
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
15.08.18
Argentina
0
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
25.08.18
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
19.10.19
Argentina
6
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
08.08.20
Argentina
1
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires

Argentina wins: 7 Uruguay wins: 3 Draws:  2


Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo
Celebrating the centenary of Argentine independence, this was a triangular tournament that also included Chile, the first tournament of its type in South America.  This match proved to be the decider.

12.06.10
Argentina
4
1
Uruguay
Buenos Aires




Copa Premio Honor Uruguayo
Education minister Juan Blengio Rocca and the Uruguay Football federation established the competition as a parallel to Copa Premio Honor Argentino. Games were often played on July 18th, Uruguay’s Constitution Day.

08.10.11
Uruguay
1
1
Argentina
Montevideo
29.10.11
Uruguay
3
0
Argentina
Montevideo
25.08.12
Uruguay
3
0
Argentina
Montevideo
05.10.13
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
30.08.14
Uruguay
3
2
Argentina
Montevideo
18.07.15
Uruguay
2
3
Argentina
Montevideo
01.10.16
Uruguay
0
1
Argentina
Montevideo
18.07.17
Uruguay
0
2
Argentina
Montevideo
18.07.18
Uruguay
1
1
Argentina
Montevideo
27.07.18
Uruguay
3
1
Argentina
Montevideo
18.07.19
Uruguay
4
1
Argentina
Montevideo
18.07.20
Uruguay
2
0
Argentina
Montevideo
10.12.22
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
22.07.23
Uruguay
2
2
Argentina
Montevideo
30.09.23
Uruguay
0
2
Argentina
Montevideo
31.08.24
Uruguay
2
3
Argentina
Montevideo

Argentina wins: 5 Uruguay wins: 8 Draws:  3

Copa Montevideo

01.12.12
Uruguay
1
3
Argentina
Montevideo


Copa Presidente Roque Sáenz Peña
 Roque Sáenz Peña was President of Argentina from 1910-1914.

15.06.13
Argentina
1
1
Uruguay
Avellaneda
09.07.13
Argentina
2
1
Uruguay
Avellaneda


Copa Círculo de la Prensa

28.09.13
Argentina
4
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
This match is not considered an official international as the Argentina XI was selected by a breakaway association.

01.10.16
Argentina
7
2
Uruguay
Avellaneda
29.10.16
Uruguay
3
1
Argentina
Montevideo
This was a 2 leg match, Argentina the winners.

07.12.19
Uruguay
4
2
Argentina
Montevideo

Argentina wins: 2 Uruguay wins: 1


Copa Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores

15.07.23
Argentina
2
2
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
08.12.23
Argentina
2
3
Uruguay
Avellaneda

10.08.24
Argentina
0
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires



Copa Confraternidad Rioplatense
16.11.24
Uruguay
1
0
Argentina
Montevideo
A unofficial international with both teams being drawn from dissident associations

Copa Buenos Aires
01.05.25
Argentina
1
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
A unofficial international with both teams being drawn from dissident associations

Copa Centro Automovilístico Uruguayo
Simultaneous fund raisers for the victims of an earthquake in Argentina.
16.06.29
Uruguay
1
1
Argentina
Montevideo
Argentina were presented with the trophy before the match.

Copa Cámara de Diputados Argentina
Simultaneous fund raisers for the victims of an earthquake in Argentina.

16.06.29
Argentina
2
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
Argentina presented Uruguay with the trophy to honour their visit.

Copa Héctor Gómez
 Hector Gómez, was a football administrator and one of the founders of CONMEBOL.

18.06.35
Uruguay
1
1
Argentina
Montevideo
20.09.36
Uruguay
2
1
Argentina
Montevideo


Copa Juan Mignaburu
 Juan Mignaburu was a former president of the Argentine Football Association.

15.08.35
Argentina
3
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires
09.08.36
Argentina
1
0
Uruguay
Buenos Aires