ENGLISH FOOTBALLERS
ABROAD.
FIVE or six years ago who could have
foreshadowed the visit of
an English football team to Germany as within the scope of
practical politics before the end of the century? Six years since,
the game was unknown, at least to the bulk of the youth of
Germany. At that time, it is true, there were international contests
of a kind. In 1893, Herr W. Bensemann was
captain of the Carlsruhe (sic) Football
Club. An enthusiast of
enthusiasts, in his hands football in South Germany was bound
to develop. Through his initiative, international matches
were arranged and duly carried out. Teams representing
South Germany played in Paris and in Switzerland,if
not in other European centres. North Germany was not fortunate
enough to have a leader of Mr. Bensemann’s energy.Football
there, indeed, is only the product of the last two or three
years. That it should have made the headway it has in
this short space of time says a great deal for the zeal of those
who are responsible for its management there. Until quite
recently it would not have been possible to have played a
match of any pretensions in Berlin. There was in fact no
ground which could have been enclosed. In the last few
months this want has been remedied, and the excellent ground
close to Charlottenburg, known as the Sport-park,
on which the Englishmen played their first match,
will bear comparison with the majority of our English
football enclosures in respect of its playing condition.
That English players went out this year was mainly due
to the enterprise of Herr Bensemann. It was at his insistence
that the Council of the Football Association accepted the
invitation of the German Central Committee to send out the
best team they could of English players. For some time it
looked as if Mr. Bensemann had reckoned without his host.
In Hamburg as well as by the South German Association
the undertaking was coldly received. The trip was regarded
as premature by both these bodies. Objection was made
that it was not possible to collect a team thoroughly representative
of German football. Whatever their reasons the
objectors did their best to make the tour impossible.The
South German Association even went so far as to threaten
any of their players taking part in the matches with suspension.
In some cases it became more than a threat in more
than one instance actual suspension was the result. Whether
this attitude was right or wrong, whether it was
sportsmanlike or the reverse, it is not for us to say. The
fact is only mentioned to show the difficulties against which
Herr Bensemann and his colleagues on the German Central
Committee had to contend. Indeed until within a
few days of the departure of the English players it
was uncertain whether the trip would come off. But the
Central Committee, to their lasting credit be it said, carried
out all their engagements to the letter. Events showed,too,
that their judgment was correct. The fears that had been
expressed by those who opposed the project proved to be visionary.
From first to last the English players, professionals as
well as amateurs, had the warmest reception. Officially they
met with profuse hospitality everywhere unofficially, all
classes received them with courtesy, in many cases even with
a hearty welcome. Nor is it unreasonable to hope that
the football players of Germany and Austria will benefit materially
from the examples of such all-round experts as Bassett
and Rogers, of Holt and Crabtree. In goalkeeping the Germans
have little to learn. Even Waller, excellent as he is
could have taught them little had he been called upon to any
great extent, which he was not. Altogether the form of the
German players was full of promise. The best all-round
play was seen at Prague; but football there has been
played under better conditions. In one important respect
the Germans want little teaching. They played the game
in Prague, Berlin, and Carlsruhe alike in the proper spirit,
avoiding on the whole anything approaching to roughness
The forwards were fast, most of them, and showed fair
'combination. They only want experience to play really
well and the improved form of some of them at Carlsruhe
showed that they had already learned a little
of the science of the English players as the result of the
previous matches. The defence at Prague was the best we
saw It was more level and certainly the backs were more
severely taxed there. Still the best defensive player was
Ivor Schrieber (sic), who captained
the teams at Berlin and Carlsruhe.
As a half back he is distinctly promising, fast,and
sure to be clever with more experience. At full back,his
brother, E. Schrieber (sic) , Kohts and Westendorp at Berlin,Hildebrand
and Mayer at Prague, were all fairly good. All the
three goalkeepers were excellent. W. Langer was a bit uncertain
in the first half of the second match at Berlin. At Carlsruhe
he kept very well, as did Eichelmann at Berlin and Troy
at Prague. The successes of the English eleven were Rogers,
of Newcastle United, Holt and Crabtree. Rogers came as
something of a surprise forward. He is very fast as well as
strong, middles well, and is a good shot. On his form this
tour the Selection Committee of the Football Association will
do well to give him a trial in a big match. Holt, at half back,
played a consistently fine game. He showed all the pluck
and science that brought him to the forefront in his early
days. Crabtree at full back was at his very best, and his versatility
must have been quite an education to the Germans. Bach,
of Sunderland, was, of course, overshadowed by Crabtree.
Still he played a good game throughout at back. The
veteran Bassett, whose first International was in 1888, was
in very good form on the outside right in the first match. The
other grounds were uneven, and he was unable to show to
the same advantage. From a football standpoint the tour cannot
fail to do good. Socially too the visit appeared to
produce the best of feeling. The English team are indeed not
likely to forget the many acts of kindliness of which they
were the recipients. Herr Bensemann, who accompanied them
throughout, will be the central figure in their recollections
of a most pleasurable trip. The brothers Schrieber at Berlin
and Professor Leudenfeld in Prague did very much too to add to
their enjoyment. Amateurs and professionals met with the
same reception off, as well as on the field. There was not a
shadow of a distinction throughout the tour. Moreover it is
gratifying to record that the most cordial relations existed between
all the members of the team throughout.
Illustrated Sporting and
Dramatic News - 09.12.99
Schrieber should read Schricker.
