New thread for the next season. Royal Engineers finally win the FA Cup this season. This is also the last international before Scotland really hit their stride and start to dominate the English, with the game ending 2-2.
Here are the main matches of the season in chronological order. I hope fellow posters can add the missing goalscorers and best players from match reports. Sheffield-London 2-0, 7.11.1874, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 8000 (with Sheffield rules) goals: ? best players: ? Alcock from Wanderers and Kinnaird from Old Etonians played. London were two men short and had to recruit local substitutes. London - Sheffield 3-1, 16.1.1875, The Oval, Attendance: less than 1000 (with London rules) goals: ? best players: ? Alcock, Kingsford, Wollaston, Birney was selected from Wanderers. Queen’s Park - Vale of Leven 2-1, 16.1.1875, Glasgow best players: ? There was a great deal of interest in the game as the teams had not met for two seasons. Queen’s took the lead in 15 minutes through Harry McNeil. After a quick counter-attack, McGregor equalised. This was the first goal conceded by Queen’s Park in the club’s history. Queen’s then pressed their opponents hard and, after a scrimmage in front of goal, the ball was knocked between the posts. Vale disputed the score and refused to continue, forcing the abandonment of the game. FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers - Oxford University 1-2, 30.01.1875, The Oval ? goals: ? best players: ? Queen’s Park-Notts County 6-0, 30.1.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5000 best players: ? Notts County travelled north to Hampden Park on Saturday 30 January. The Scotsman commented “With the exception perhaps of our International and Sheffield meetings, what may be regarded as the most important match of the season came off at Hampden Park”. The English side were no match for Queen’s Park. Harry McNeil opened the scoring after only four minutes and added a second. Goal number three came when Tom Highet sent the ball to Jimmy Weir who charged the keeper and the ball went through. Willie Mackinnon got number four with a fine long shot. The fifth goal was a Spencer own goal and the sixth came just before the finish when Weir dribbled through the Notts defence and sent a shot spinning under the tape. FA Cup Semi-final, Royal Engineers - Oxford University 1-1, 27.2.1875, The Oval ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, Old Etonians - Shropshire Wanderers 1-0, 27.2.1875, The Oval goals: Bonsor best players: ? Glasgow- Sheffield 2-0, 27.2.1875, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: ? goals: McLeish, Miller best players: ? On the Wednesday before the Sheffield game, Queen’s Park withdrew their players from the Glasgow side, leading to accusations of putting the honour of the city in jeopardy. Glasgow still won the match 2-0. http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html FA Cup Semi-final replay, Royal Engineers - Oxford University 1-0, 5.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour (in extra time) best players: ? ENG-SCO 2-2, 6.3.1875, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1874-75/M0004Sco1875.html best players: ? Notts County- Queen’s Park 1-1, 8.3.1875, Nottingham, Attendance: 2,000 best players: ? The 2,000 spectators were treated to an exciting contest which ended in a 1-1 draw. Widdowson scored for Notts and Queen’s equalised through Tom Lawrie, after good work by Harry McNeil and Willie Mackinnon. Harry McNeil seems to have created quite an impression with the local fans. FA Cup Final, Royal Engineers - Old Etonians 1-1, 13.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour / Bonsor best players: ? Former Royal Engineers captain Francis Marindin could not play as he was posted overseas. Cuthbert Ottaway received a severe hack on his ankle 37 minutes into the final and was forced to leave the field; in his absence, the Old Boys were regarded as fortunate to have held on for a 1-1 draw. FA Cup Final replay, Royal Engineers - Old Etonians 2-0, 16.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour, Stafford best players: ? for Royal Engineers, Lubbock and Kinnaird for Old Etonians Old Etonians loses the services of a few players who have prior commitments. Unable to obtain adequate replacements, they arrive at the ground an hour late. Scottish Cup Semi-final, Clydesdale - Queen’s Park 0-0, 20.3.1875, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 best players: ? Queen’s dominated the match throughout but were thwarted time after time by former Queen’s man Robert Gardner in the Clydesdale goal. Scottish Cup Semi-final replay, Queen’s Park - Clydesdale 2-2, 27.3.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5000 best players: ? Clydesdale took the lead in 30 minutes when Anderson scored direct from a corner kick. Queen’s equalised with a Willie Mackinnon header. Despite Queen’s having the advantage of the wind in the second half, it was Clydesdale who went back into the lead. However, five minutes later, Tom Highet equalized. Sheffield - London 0-2, 29.3.1875, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Attendance: ? (with mixed rules) goals: J. Kenrick (2) best players: ? Eight Wanderers players were selected, Kinnaird also played. Scottish Cup Semi-final second replay, Clydesdale - Queen’s Park 0-1, 3.4.1875, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 best players: ? An even game in very blustery conditions. Half an hour into the second half, Queen’s got the only goal of the game. Robert Leckie headed for goal and Wilson sent the ball between his own posts in trying to clear. Scottish Cup final, Queen's Park - Renton 3-0, 10.4.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 7000 best players: ? The 7,000 spectators saw a game that was pretty even until Queen’s opened the scoring after an hour’s play when Angus McKinnon fired home a Weir corner kick. Five minutes later, goal number two arrived after what the North British Daily Mail described as “one of the greatest runs that has ever been seen in a match”. Tom Highet and Robert Neill advanced the length of the field exchanging passes, culminating in Neill crossing for Highet to score. Then, with about three minutes to go, Willie Mackinnon scored goal number three with a fine shot from a Highet corner.
Additional information in blue type. Sheffield-London 2-0, 7.11.1874, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 8000 (with Sheffield rules) goals: Owen, WE Clegg best players: All Sheffield especially Gregory / Kinnaird, Green, Sparham, Brockbank, Wylie, Alcock. Sheffiield displayed better teamwork. Alcock from Wanderers and Kinnaird from Old Etonians played. London were two men short and had to recruit local substitutes. London - Sheffield 3-1, 16.1.1875, The Oval, Attendance: less than 1000 (with London rules) goals: Wollaston 2, Bonsor / Gregory best players: Kinnaird, Heron / Wylie, Wood, WE Clegg, Gregory Alcock, Kingsford, Wollaston, Birney was selected from Wanderers. Queen’s Park - Vale of Leven 2-1, 16.1.1875, Glasgow best players: ? There was a great deal of interest in the game as the teams had not met for two seasons. Queen’s took the lead in 15 minutes through Harry McNeil. After a quick counter-attack, McGregor equalised. This was the first goal conceded by Queen’s Park in the club’s history. Queen’s then pressed their opponents hard and, after a scrimmage in front of goal, the ball was knocked between the posts. Vale disputed the score and refused to continue, forcing the abandonment of the game. FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers - Oxford University 1-2, 30.01.1875, The Oval ? Yes goals: Briley / Simpson, Otter best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final Royal Engineers - Clapham Rovers 3-2, 30.01.1875, The Oval Goals: Mein, Stafford, Rawson / Bevington, “scrimmage” Queen’s Park-Notts County 6-0, 30.1.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5000 best players: All QP / Widdowson, Robinson, EH Greenhalgh. Notts County travelled north to Hampden Park on Saturday 30 January. The Scotsman commented “With the exception perhaps of our International and Sheffield meetings, what may be regarded as the most important match of the season came off at Hampden Park”. The English side were no match for Queen’s Park. Harry McNeil opened the scoring after only four minutes and added a second. Goal number three came when Tom Highet sent the ball to Jimmy Weir who charged the keeper and the ball went through. Willie Mackinnon got number four with a fine long shot. The fifth goal was a Spencer own goal and the sixth came just before the finish when Weir dribbled through the Notts defence and sent a shot spinning under the tape. FA Cup Semi-final, Royal Engineers - Oxford University 1-1, 27.2.1875, The Oval ? Yes Goals: Renny-Tailyour / Bain best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, Old Etonians - Shropshire Wanderers 1-0, 27.2.1875, The Oval goals: Bonsor best players: ? Glasgow- Sheffield 2-0, 27.2.1875, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: ? goals: McLeish, Miller best players: Kennedy On the Wednesday before the Sheffield game, Queen’s Park withdrew their players from the Glasgow side, leading to accusations of putting the honour of the city in jeopardy. Glasgow still won the match 2-0. http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html FA Cup Semi-final replay, Royal Engineers - Oxford University 1-0, 5.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour (in extra time) best players: ? ENG-SCO 2-2, 6.3.1875, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1874-75/M0004Sco1875.html Goals: Wollaston, Alcock / McNeil, Andrews best players: ? Notts County- Queen’s Park 1-1, 8.3.1875, Nottingham, Attendance: 2,000 best players: ? The 2,000 spectators were treated to an exciting contest which ended in a 1-1 draw. Widdowson scored for Notts and Queen’s equalised through Tom Lawrie, after good work by Harry McNeil and Willie Mackinnon. Harry McNeil seems to have created quite an impression with the local fans. FA Cup Final, Royal Engineers - Old Etonians 1-1, 13.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour / Bonsor best players: Onslow Former Royal Engineers captain Francis Marindin could not play as he was posted overseas. Cuthbert Ottaway received a severe hack on his ankle 37 minutes into the final and was forced to leave the field; in his absence, the Old Boys were regarded as fortunate to have held on for a 1-1 draw. FA Cup Final replay, Royal Engineers - Old Etonians 2-0, 16.3.1875, The Oval goals: Renny-Tailyour, Stafford best players: ? for Royal Engineers, Lubbock and Kinnaird for Old Etonians Old Etonians loses the services of a few players who have prior commitments. Unable to obtain adequate replacements, they arrive at the ground an hour late. Scottish Cup Semi-final, Clydesdale - Queen’s Park 0-0, 20.3.1875, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 best players: ? Queen’s dominated the match throughout but were thwarted time after time by former Queen’s man Robert Gardner in the Clydesdale goal. Scottish Cup Semi-final replay, Queen’s Park - Clydesdale 2-2, 27.3.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5000 best players: ? Clydesdale took the lead in 30 minutes when Anderson scored direct from a corner kick. Queen’s equalised with a Willie Mackinnon header. Despite Queen’s having the advantage of the wind in the second half, it was Clydesdale who went back into the lead. However, five minutes later, Tom Highet equalized. Sheffield - London 0-2, 29.3.1875, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Attendance: ? (with mixed rules) goals: J. Kenrick (2) best players: Carr Eight Wanderers players were selected, Kinnaird also played. Scottish Cup Semi-final second replay, Clydesdale - Queen’s Park 0-1, 3.4.1875, Kinning Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 best players: ? An even game in very blustery conditions. Half an hour into the second half, Queen’s got the only goal of the game. Robert Leckie headed for goal and Wilson sent the ball between his own posts in trying to clear. Scottish Cup final, Queen's Park - Renton 3-0, 10.4.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 7000 best players: ? The 7,000 spectators saw a game that was pretty even until Queen’s opened the scoring after an hour’s play when Angus McKinnon fired home a Weir corner kick. Five minutes later, goal number two arrived after what the North British Daily Mail described as “one of the greatest runs that has ever been seen in a match”. Tom Highet and Robert Neill advanced the length of the field exchanging passes, culminating in Neill crossing for Highet to score. Then, with about three minutes to go, Willie Mackinnon scored goal number three with a fine shot from a Highet corner. Newspaper sources: Bradford Observer, Edinburgh Evening News, Glasgow Herald, Morning Post, Penny Illustrated, The Scotsman, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Sheffield Independent, Sources are from the British Newspaper Archive, managed by the British Library Board.
23 Man Shortlist (20 players thus far) Alcock, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward Birley, Francis ENG (Wanderers) back Bonsor, Alexander ENG (Old Etonians) forward Carr, William ENG (Sheffield FC) goalkeeper Clegg, William ENG (The Wednesday) forward Gardner, Robert SCO (Clydesdale) goalkeeper Gregory, R ENG (Hallam (Sheffield)) forward Highet, Thomas SCO (Queen's Park) forward Kennedy, Alexander SCO (Eastern) half-back Kenrick, Jarvis ENG (Wanderers) forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO (Old Etonians) forward Lubbock, Edgar ENG (Old Etonians) half-back MacKinnon, William SCO (Queen's Park) forward McNeil, Harry SCO (Queen's Park) forward Onslow, Gerald ENG (Royal Engineers) half-back Rawson, Herbert ENG (Royal Engineers) forward Renny-Tailyour, Henry SCO (Royal Engineers) forward Taylor, Joseph SCO (Queen's Park) back Weir, James SCO (Queen's Park) forward Wollaston, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward For the Top 3 finalists I would nominate 1. McNeil, Harry SCO (Queen's Park) forward SCO Cup; 1 cap, scores at least four important goals this season 2. Renny-Tailyour, Henry SCO (Royal Engineers) forward scores at least four important goals in the FA Cup winning team, marries in the summer and finishes his football career 3. Kinnaird, Arthur SCO (Old Etonians) forward the 1875 Football Annual hailed him as "still among the first players of the day"; plays 16 matches, his team lost in the final of the FA Cup Kinnaird could be replaced by Bonsor, MacKinnon or Wollaston as well.
OK, I will add them to the list. Did Owen and Wood play for Sheffield FC and Heeley, respectivelely? And what is your opinion about the Top 3 candidates?
23 Man Shortlist (updated with 23 players) Alcock, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward Birley, Francis ENG (Wanderers) back Bonsor, Alexander ENG (Old Etonians) forward Carr, William ENG (Sheffield FC) goalkeeper Clegg, William ENG (The Wednesday) forward Gardner, Robert SCO (Clydesdale) goalkeeper Heron, Hubert ENG (Wanderers) forward Gregory, R ENG (Hallam (Sheffield)) forward Highet, Thomas SCO (Queen's Park) forward Kennedy, Alexander SCO (Eastern) half-back Kenrick, Jarvis ENG (Wanderers) forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO (Old Etonians) forward Lubbock, Edgar ENG (Old Etonians) half-back MacKinnon, William SCO (Queen's Park) forward McNeil, Harry SCO (Queen's Park) forward Onslow, Gerald ENG (Royal Engineers) half-back Owen, John ENG (Sheffield FC) forward Rawson, Herbert ENG (Royal Engineers) forward Renny-Tailyour, Henry SCO (Royal Engineers) forward Taylor, Joseph SCO (Queen's Park) back Weir, James SCO (Queen's Park) forward Wollaston, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward Wood, A ENG (Heeley) forward
Yes. Wood also played for Sheffield. McNeil and Kinnaird look fine for Top 3 places. Not so sure about Renny-Tailyour, tempting though it is to include someone from Royal Engineers. Would probably replace him with Willie MacKinnon.
Suggested XI 1874-75 (2-2-6): Gardner - Lubbock, Taylor - Kinnaird, Kennedy - Weir, W MacKinnon, McNeil, WE Clegg, Gregory, Heron.
In the two editions of the FA Cup final Lubbock played as half-back and Kinnaird as forward (source: Mitchell's book on Kinnaird).
Positions were fairly fluid. In his five internationals to date, Lubbock had played three times as back and twice as half-back. Kinnaird's forte was tackling and he was sometimes listed as a half-back, depending on who else was playing. So was Alcock.
Final results for the season. 23 Man Shortlist Alcock, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward Birley, Francis ENG (Wanderers) back Bonsor, Alexander ENG (Old Etonians) forward Carr, William ENG (Sheffield FC) goalkeeper Clegg, William ENG (The Wednesday) forward Gardner, Robert SCO (Clydesdale) goalkeeper Heron, Hubert ENG (Wanderers) forward Gregory, R ENG (Hallam (Sheffield)) forward Highet, Thomas SCO (Queen's Park) forward Kennedy, Alexander SCO (Eastern) half-back Kenrick, Jarvis ENG (Wanderers) forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO (Old Etonians) forward Lubbock, Edgar ENG (Old Etonians) half-back MacKinnon, William SCO (Queen's Park) forward McNeil, Harry SCO (Queen's Park) forward Onslow, Gerald ENG (Royal Engineers) half-back Owen, John ENG (Sheffield FC) forward Rawson, Herbert ENG (Royal Engineers) forward Renny-Tailyour, Henry SCO (Royal Engineers) forward Taylor, Joseph SCO (Queen's Park) back Weir, James SCO (Queen's Park) forward Wollaston, Charles ENG (Wanderers) forward Wood, A ENG (Heeley/Sheffield) forward Top3 1. McNeil, Harry SCO (Queen's Park) 2. Kinnaird, Arthur SCO (Old Etonians) 3. Renny-Tailyour, Henry SCO (Royal Engineers) Team of the Season (2-2-6): Gardner - Lubbock, Taylor - Kinnaird, Kennedy - Weir, W MacKinnon, McNeil, WE Clegg, Gregory, Heron.
Renny-Tailyour is in the Top 3 but not in the team of the season. If he stays in the Top 3, he could replace Gregory or Heron in the team for consistency.
I have replaced Heron with Renny-Tailyour. Team of the Season (2-2-6): Gardner - Lubbock, Taylor - Kinnaird, Kennedy - Weir, W MacKinnon, McNeil, WE Clegg, Gregory, Renny-Tailyour.