Fergie Suter

Following James Reddie Lang's spell with The Wednesday in 1876 the next examples of Scottish players moving to England in order to play football for money are Fergus Suter and James Love, who joined Darwen in 1878.
Glaswegian full-back Suter had played for Partick and Glasgow Rangers. 
Over the New Year holiday in 1878 Partick visited Lancashire and played both Darwen (losing 3-2) and Blackburn Rovers (losing 2-1).
Suter was a stonemason, although it was noted that he didn't continue his trade when he was living in Lancashire. Darwen alays denied he was a professional, but Suter later commented  I would interview the treasurer as occasion arose.
Suter's play drew positive comments in the press- he was an active proponent of combination play, linking with his half backs and forwards and launching attacks himself rather than just seeing his role as being to clear his lines with long kicks. The way in which he lofted free kicks for the centre forward to head also seems to have been an innovation. Suter featured in Darwen's legendary cup run of 1879, but in 1880 he shocked the town by transferring to their neighbours and rivals Blackburn Rovers.

The acrimony wasn't helped when Suter and Darwen's Thomas  Marshall grappled in a cup tie  in November 1880 at Alexandra Meadows. The match was abandoned, the return match was cancelled, and the two sides declined to meet other than in cup ties in the future. 
The local press featured some interesting correspondence in the wake of this match:

 Here is another interesting letter. Transfer gossip and speculation are nothing new:

Whilst with Rovers Suter  appeared in four FA Cup Finals, picking up 3 winner's medals. He was still around when the Football League came into being, but only played in one League match, appearing in goal against West Bromwich Albion on 22nd December 1888.

The Lancashire FA

In January 1879 the Lancashire FA selected its first representative team. North Wales were invited to play at Darwen.
In the 19th century North Wales equaled Wales in football terms. South Wales was still very much a Rugby loving area. Association football in Wales was concentrated in Denbighshire, Montgomreyshire, Flintshire, Wrexham and the borders of Shropshire.
This was  a time when northern players were only beginning to be rewarded with England caps - North Wales, however, had 10 internationals on show.
Hargreaves scored Lancashire's goal with a header from a Tootil corner. North Wales equalised when Heywood shot from 20 yards (a remarkable thing judging by the reporting) and Doctor Greenwood collided with the goalkeeper, allowing the ball 'to slowly roll between the posts' .
2000 spectators were present at Darwen Cricket Ground , where the pitch was snow covered.

Lancashire FA		1	1		North Wales
04.01.1879 Darwen Cricket Ground
W. Green	St Mark’s Blackburn	G		G. Glascodine **		Oswestry
F. Suter	Darwen	B		L.L. Kenrick (c) **		Oswestry
D. Greenwood*	Blackburn Rovers	B		H. Edwards **		Wrexham
C. Tootil	Turton	H		K. Crosse **		Druids
W.H Moorehouse	Darwen	H		T. Owen **		Oswestry
W.Y Hargreaves (c)	Bolton Wndrs  & Camb U	F		H. Sabine**		Oswestry
T. Bentley	Turton	F		J. H. Jones		Wrexham
T. Bury	Darwen	F		Digby Owen **		Oswestry
J.Yeates	Accrington	F		G. Savin **		Oswestry
R.J Gledhill	Darwen	F		W. Roberts **		Llangollen
R. Birtwhistle	Blackburn Rovers	F		Dennison Heywood **		Oswestry

·         England International

** Wales international

Llewelyn Kenrick in later life.

Knyvett Crosse

Doctor Greenwood- he was a member of a cotton manufacturing family (in 1881 the family company employed 280 workers). Doctor was his given name. He later won 2 England caps (he was 18 years old when this match was played). 

Gone but not forgotten- Darwen

Founded: 1875 (adopted Association Rules)
Joined League: 1891
Left League: 1899
Folded: 2009

Darwen's finest days came before the introduction of league football. Winners of the first ever Lancashire Cup (1879–80), they reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup in 1878-79 and the semi finals in 1880-81.
They were probably the first Lancashire club to use professionals (Suter and Love imported from Partick in 1879).

During their league years Darwen attracted crowds in the region of 4-7,000.

Season	League	FA Cup
1891–92	14 (R)	R2	Darwen joined the League when it was expanded from 12 to 14 clubs. They finished bottom with only 4 wins (including 9-3 v Stoke!) and a -74 goal difference.
1892–93	Div.2-3 (P)	R3
1893–94	Div.1-15 (R)	R1
1894-95	Div.2-6	R1
1895–96	Div.2-9	R1
1896–97	Div.2-11	Q3
1897-98	Div.2-14	Q5
1898-99	Div.2-18	Q3	2 wins and a goal difference of 22 for and 141 against,18 consecutive defeats, which remains a record…

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.