Here are the main matches of the 1875-76 season in chronological order. I hope fellow posters can add the missing goalscorers and best players from match reports. Queen's Park - Wanderers 5-0, 9.10.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Weir (2), Lawrie (2), Campbell best players: In July Queen's Park Club has invited Wanderers to play home-and-home matches in the upcoming season. Thus in October Wanderers, with Alcock and Kinnaird in their ranks, becomes the first English club to travel north of the border, but the untrained team is outclassed, losing 5-0. The game attracted the largest-ever crowd for a football match in Scotland. Between 11,000 and 12,000 spectators were in the ground, with thousands more watching from the adjoining parks and buildings. Queen’s opened the scoring in six minutes through James Weir and went on to score a further four times to record a resounding 5-0 victory. Goals from Charles Campbell and Thomas Lawrie made it 3-0 at half-time and Weir and Lawrie both scored again the second period. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Queen’s Park - Clydesdale 2-0, 27.11.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 goals: o.g., MacKinnon best players: There was a crowd of 3,000, including many ladies, at Hampden Park on Saturday 27 November for the Scottish Cup third round tie with Clydesdale. Queen’s took the lead in ten minutes with an own goal and William Mackinnon got a second shortly before half-time to finish the scoring. Former Queen’s man Robert Gardner in the Clydesdale goal saved his side from a heavier defeat. London - Sheffield 4-0, 1.1.1876, The Oval, Attendance: ? (with London rules) goals: Kinnaird scores the third goal best players: Stratford, Wollaston and Kenrick from Wanderers are selected Scottish Cup Semi-final, Queen’s Park - Vale of Leven 2-1, 8.1.1876, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 10,000 goals: McGill, McNeil / ? best players: On Saturday 8 January 1876, the country’s two leading sides, Queen’s Park and Vale of Leven, met at Hampden Park in the fifth round, or semi-final, of the Scottish Cup. The match had been eagerly awaited and the 10,000 spectators “of all classes” included a large contingent who travelled by special train from Alexandria. Long before kick-off, the ground all around the ropes was crammed with eager spectators. Queen’s took the lead halfway through the first half with a fine David McGill shot but Vale equalised just before half-time. Queen’s were very much on the offensive in the second half but Vale ‘keeper Wood was in splendid form. However, with 20 minutes to go, a pinpoint Weir cross set up Harry McNeil to fire home the winner for Queen’s Park. FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers – Sheffield FC 2-0, 29.1.1876, The Oval goals: F. Heron (2) best players: Played in a thick fog. FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Etonians – Clapham Rovers 1-0, 29.1.1876, The Oval goals: Bonsor best players: FA Cup Quarter-final, Swifts – Royal Engineers 3-1, 29.1.1876, Chatham ? goals: best players: Wanderers - Queen's Park 2-0, 5.2.1876, London goals: ? best players: Wanderers becomes the first club to defeat Queen's Park. Queen's Park did not return to action until Saturday 5 February when they played a return fixture with the Wanderers at the Kennington Oval in London. The English side deservedly won 2-0 on a particularly narrow pitch. Queen’s took a gamble on the fitness of James Weir and it backfired badly. The player was little more than a passenger throughout. Sheffield-Glasgow 0-2, 19.2.1876, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 6,000 (with Sheffield Rules) goals: ?, Andrews best players: http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html Harry McNeil captained the Glasgow side that defeated Sheffield 2-0 at Bramall Lane. The Telegraph comments on the lithe and wiry physique of the Scots and on their showing fine concerted play in contrast to the individualistic approach of Sheffield. There is reference to the bar (instead of the tape), and ends were changed at 45 minutes rather than after a goal. Glasgow's second goal came when goalkeeper Carr tried to make a quick throw out but hit Andrews on the legs, the ball rebounding into the goal. The usually partisan Sheffield press admitted that their team was outplayed both 'in speed and tactics'. FA Cup Semi-final, Old Etonians - Oxford University 1-0, 19.2.1876, The Oval goals: Sturgis best players: FA Cup Semi-final, Wanderers - Swifts 2-1, 26.2.1876, The Oval goals: Birley, Wollaston, ? best players: SCO-ENG 3-0, 4.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 15,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1875-76/M0005Sco1876.html goals: 1:0 (8') William MacKinnon, 2:0 (12') Harry McNeil, 3:0 (16') Thomas Highet best players: Joseph Taylor captained Scotland against England. It was seen at a glance that England had not sent her best men to Scotland, but many of those who did appear were no mean exponents of the 'dribbling game'. The Southrons were heavier men, and the experienced one could foretell that the condition of the ground would militate materially against their chance and, as it afterwards turned out, this helped to intensify the Northern victory. Scottish Cup Final, Queen’s Park - 3rd Lanark 1-1, 11.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 10,000 goals: 0-1 Drinnan, 1-1 Highet best players: Hamilton Crescent hosted another big game on Saturday 11 March when Queen’s Park and the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers contested the Scottish Cup Final. There were fully 10,000 spectators in attendance. The match was expected to be a walkover for Queen’s Park but the team played indifferently. Almost straight from the kick-off, a Queen’s Park clearance was met by Drinnan who, to the astonishment of the crowd, put the Volunteers into the lead. Queen’s improved somewhat in the second half and Thomas Highet equalised with one of the goals of the season. Queen’s then attacked incessantly but the game ended in a draw. The Queen’s Park team was J Dickson; J Taylor and R W Neill; C Campbell and J Phillips; T Lawrie, W M Mackinnon, D McGill, A McKinnon, T C Highet and H McNeil. FA Cup Final, Wanderers - Old Etonians 1-1, 11.3.1876, The Oval, Attendance: 3,500 goals: Edwards 35', Bonsor 50' (or scrimmage) best players: Arthur Kinnaird, the captain of Old Etonians is injured in the early stages and drops back into goal. Scottish Cup Final replay, Queen’s Park - 3rd Lanark 2-0, 18.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 7,500 goals: Highet (2) best players: The Cup Final replay took place at Hamilton Crescent on the following Saturday. The Queen’s Park side showed two changes, with Andrew Hillcoat and T F Smith replacing Lawrie and A McKinnon. A crowd of around 7,500 saw a better match than the first encounter. Queen’s early pressure paid off when Thomas Highet scored a fine goal in 15 minutes. The same player scored a second 11 minutes into the second half to secure the Scottish Cup for Queen’s Park for the third year in succession. FA Cup Final replay, Wanderers - Old Etonians 3-0, 18.3.1876, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 goals: Wollaston 30', Hughes 33', Hughes 50' best players: The replay took place one week later at the same venue. The Wanderers fielded an unchanged team, but the Etonians had to make a number of changes, as Meysey was injured and three other players were unavailable due to other commitments. The revised team, with a still limping Kinnaird, is no match for the Wanderers. SCO-WAL 4-0, 25.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 17,000 goals: 1:0 (40') John Ferguson, 2:0 (48') James Lang, 3:0 (53') Billy MacKinnon, 4:0 (70') Harry McNeil best players: Sheffield-London 6-0, 25.3.1876, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 7,000 (with Sheffield rules) goals: best players: Stratford, Birley, Greig and Kenrick from Wanderers are selected Clydesdale – The Wednesday 2-0, 1.4.1876, Glasgow goals: best players:
Additional information in blue. Queen's Park - Wanderers 5-0, 9.10.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Weir (2), Lawrie (2), Campbell best players: Weir / Rawson In July Queen's Park Club has invited Wanderers to play home-and-home matches in the upcoming season. Thus in October Wanderers, with Alcock and Kinnaird in their ranks, becomes the first English club to travel north of the border, but the untrained team is outclassed, losing 5-0. The game attracted the largest-ever crowd for a football match in Scotland. Between 11,000 and 12,000 spectators were in the ground, with thousands more watching from the adjoining parks and buildings. Queen’s opened the scoring in six minutes through James Weir and went on to score a further four times to record a resounding 5-0 victory. Goals from Charles Campbell and Thomas Lawrie made it 3-0 at half-time and Weir and Lawrie both scored again the second period. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Queen’s Park - Clydesdale 2-0, 27.11.1875, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3000 goals: o.g., MacKinnon best players: Weir, Highet, MacKinnon / GM Wilson, Gardner There was a crowd of 3,000, including many ladies, at Hampden Park on Saturday 27 November for the Scottish Cup third round tie with Clydesdale. Queen’s took the lead in ten minutes with an own goal and William Mackinnon got a second shortly before half-time to finish the scoring. Former Queen’s man Robert Gardner in the Clydesdale goal saved his side from a heavier defeat. London - Sheffield 4-0, 1.1.1876, The Oval, Attendance: ? (with London rules) goals: Kenrick 2, Bain, Kinnaird best players: Maynard, Kenrick, Rawson / Hunter Stratford, Wollaston and Kenrick from Wanderers are selected Scottish Cup Semi-final, Queen’s Park - Vale of Leven 2-1, 8.1.1876, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 10,000 goals: McGill, McNeil / Lamont best players: McNeil, MacKinnon, Lawrie, Robert Neil, Phillips (all Queen's Park). On Saturday 8 January 1876, the country’s two leading sides, Queen’s Park and Vale of Leven, met at Hampden Park in the fifth round, or semi-final, of the Scottish Cup. The match had been eagerly awaited and the 10,000 spectators “of all classes” included a large contingent who travelled by special train from Alexandria. Long before kick-off, the ground all around the ropes was crammed with eager spectators. Queen’s took the lead halfway through the first half with a fine David McGill shot but Vale equalised just before half-time. Queen’s were very much on the offensive in the second half but Vale ‘keeper Wood was in splendid form. However, with 20 minutes to go, a pinpoint Weir cross set up Harry McNeil to fire home the winner for Queen’s Park. FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers – Sheffield FC 2-0, 29.1.1876, The Oval goals: F. Heron (2) best players: Heron, Lindsey, Birley Played in a thick fog. FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Etonians – Clapham Rovers 1-0, 29.1.1876, The Oval goals: Bonsor best players: FA Cup Quarter-final, Swifts – Royal Engineers 3-1, 29.1.1876, Chatham ? The Oval Goals: WS Bambridge, Selwyn, Sale / Rawson best players: Wanderers - Queen's Park 2-0, 5.2.1876, London goals: Wollaston, Kenrick best players: Rawson, Birley / Highet, Neil Wanderers becomes the first club to defeat Queen's Park. Queen's Park did not return to action until Saturday 5 February when they played a return fixture with the Wanderers at the Kennington Oval in London. The English side deservedly won 2-0 on a particularly narrow pitch. Queen’s took a gamble on the fitness of James Weir and it backfired badly. The player was little more than a passenger throughout. Sheffield-Glasgow 0-2, 19.2.1876, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 6,000 (with Sheffield Rules) goals: Andrews 2 best players: All Glasgow forwards http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html Harry McNeil captained the Glasgow side that defeated Sheffield 2-0 at Bramall Lane. The Telegraph comments on the lithe and wiry physique of the Scots and on their showing fine concerted play in contrast to the individualistic approach of Sheffield. There is reference to the bar (instead of the tape), and ends were changed at 45 minutes rather than after a goal. Glasgow's second goal came when goalkeeper Carr tried to make a quick throw out but hit Andrews on the legs, the ball rebounding into the goal. The usually partisan Sheffield press admitted that their team was outplayed both 'in speed and tactics'. FA Cup Semi-final, Old Etonians - Oxford University 1-0, 19.2.1876, The Oval goals: Sturgis best players: Rawson FA Cup Semi-final, Wanderers - Swifts 2-1, 26.2.1876, The Oval goals: Birley, Wollaston / Sale best players: SCO-ENG 3-0, 4.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 15,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1875-76/M0005Sco1876.html goals: 1:0 (8') William MacKinnon, 2:0 (12') Harry McNeil, 3:0 (16') Thomas Highet best players: All Scottish forwards / Jarrett, Charles Smith Joseph Taylor captained Scotland against England. It was seen at a glance that England had not sent her best men to Scotland, but many of those who did appear were no mean exponents of the 'dribbling game'. The Southrons were heavier men, and the experienced one could foretell that the condition of the ground would militate materially against their chance and, as it afterwards turned out, this helped to intensify the Northern victory. Scottish Cup Final, Queen’s Park - 3rd Lanark 1-1, 11.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 10,000 goals: 0-1 Drinnan, 1-1 Highet best players: MacKinnon, Taylor, McNeil / Miller Hamilton Crescent hosted another big game on Saturday 11 March when Queen’s Park and the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers contested the Scottish Cup Final. There were fully 10,000 spectators in attendance. The match was expected to be a walkover for Queen’s Park but the team played indifferently. Almost straight from the kick-off, a Queen’s Park clearance was met by Drinnan who, to the astonishment of the crowd, put the Volunteers into the lead. Queen’s improved somewhat in the second half and Thomas Highet equalised with one of the goals of the season. Queen’s then attacked incessantly but the game ended in a draw. The Queen’s Park team was J Dickson; J Taylor and R W Neill; C Campbell and J Phillips; T Lawrie, W M Mackinnon, D McGill, A McKinnon, T C Highet and H McNeil. FA Cup Final, Wanderers - Old Etonians 1-1, 11.3.1876, The Oval, Attendance: 3,500 goals: Edwards 35', Bonsor 50' (or scrimmage) best players: E Lyttelton Arthur Kinnaird, the captain of Old Etonians is injured in the early stages and drops back into goal. Scottish Cup Final replay, Queen’s Park - 3rd Lanark 2-0, 18.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 7,500 goals: Highet (2) best players: The Cup Final replay took place at Hamilton Crescent on the following Saturday. The Queen’s Park side showed two changes, with Andrew Hillcoat and T F Smith replacing Lawrie and A McKinnon. A crowd of around 7,500 saw a better match than the first encounter. Queen’s early pressure paid off when Thomas Highet scored a fine goal in 15 minutes. The same player scored a second 11 minutes into the second half to secure the Scottish Cup for Queen’s Park for the third year in succession. FA Cup Final replay, Wanderers - Old Etonians 3-0, 18.3.1876, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 goals: Wollaston 30', Hughes 33', Hughes 50' best players: Birley, Lindsay, Wollaston, Hughes, Edwards / E Lyttelton (best on either side again), Alleyne, A Lyttelton, Stronge, Bonsor. The replay took place one week later at the same venue. The Wanderers fielded an unchanged team, but the Etonians had to make a number of changes, as Meysey was injured and three other players were unavailable due to other commitments. The revised team, with a still limping Kinnaird, is no match for the Wanderers. SCO-WAL 4-0, 25.3.1876, Glasgow, West of Scotland Cricket Ground, Attendance: 17,000 goals: 1:0 (40') John Ferguson, 2:0 (48') James Lang, 3:0 (53') Billy MacKinnon, 4:0 (70') Harry McNeil best players: Sheffield-London 6-0, 25.3.1876, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 7,000 (with Sheffield rules) goals: Woodcock, Sorby 2, Gregory 2, Mosforth best players: Mosforth, Sorby Stratford, Birley, Greig and Kenrick from Wanderers are selected Clydesdale – The Wednesday 2-0, 1.4.1876, Glasgow goals: “scrimmage”, Raeburn best players: Newspaper sources: London Daily News, Morning Post, Dundee Courier, Glasgow Herald, The Scotsman, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Sheffield Independent. Sources are from the British Newspaper Archive, managed by the British Library Board.
So all three quarter-finals were played at The Oval on the same day? The Wanderers match was played in a thick fog, where it was hardly possible to see the ball.
23 Man Shortlist Andrews, Peter SCO Eastern - forward Birley, Francis ENG Wanderers - half-back Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park - half-back Ferguson, John SCO Vale of Leven - forward Heron, Francis ENG Wanderers - forward Heron, Hubert ENG Wanderers - forward Highet, Thomas SCO Queen's Park - forward Hughes, Thomas ENG Wanderers - forward Kenrick, Jarvis ENG Wanderers - forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO Old Etonians - forward Lang, James SCO Clydesdale - forward Lindsay, William ENG Wanderers - back Lyttelton, Edward ENG Old Etonians - half-back MacKinnon, William SCO Queen's Park - forward McGeoch, Alexander SCO Dumbreck - goalkeeper McNeil, Harry SCO Queen's Park - forward Neill, Robert SCO Queen's Park - back Rawson, Herbert ENG Royal Engineers - forward Rawson, William ENG Oxford University - back Sorby, Thomas ENG ? (Sheffield) - forward Taylor, Joseph SCO Queen's Park - back Weir, James SCO Queen's Park - forward Wollaston, Charles ENG Wanderers - forward What Sheffield club did Sorby play for? Top3 1. MacKinnon, William 2. McNeil, Harry 3. Highet, Thomas 4. Birley, Francis I find it very difficult to choose between these three Queen's Park forwards, any permutation of them would be acceptable. MacKinnon was singled out between the best players in match reports five times, McNeil four, and Highet three times. But we do not know the best players in all selected matches, and Highet scored five important goals this season, two more than either MacKinnon or McNeil. Last season I chose McNeil, so I think we should have MacKinnon this season. But we could give the top honour to Highet as well, he was actually elected captain of Queen's Park for 1876-77 but declined the honour.
Heathcote Sorby played for Thursday Wanderers and Sheffield FC. He was more commonly known as Heathcote (his mother's maiden name) than Thomas. Billy Mosforth of Sheffield Albion, age 17, was now probably the best player in the north of England. He was an early exponent of swerved shots and would become the first man to represent both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. According to FA Cup rules, all matches from the quarter-finals onwards had to be staged at The Oval. Old Etonians v Clapham Rovers was played on another part of the ground. Among the Queen's Park forwards, Weir and McNeil (or McNiel as you say) were the best footballers. Weir may have been a touch past his peak by now. Willy (or Billy) MacKinnon also had good ball control and was more physical. He did enjoy a good year. There was not much to choose between McGeogh and the English Arthur Savage in goal this season. Savage was five years older and kept well for London and Crystal Palace, as well as representing England. His Wikipedia page is not very flattering, but newspaper reports of the time are more generous. Possible XI (2-2-6): McGeogh - Taylor, W Rawson - E Lyttelton, Birley - Weir, McNeil, MacKinnon, Highet, Kinnaird, Billy Mosforth
I agree to replace Sorby with Mosforth. Current 23 Man Shortlist Andrews, Peter SCO Eastern - forward Birley, Francis ENG Wanderers - half-back Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park - half-back Ferguson, John SCO Vale of Leven - forward Heron, Francis ENG Wanderers - forward Heron, Hubert ENG Wanderers - forward Highet, Thomas SCO Queen's Park - forward Hughes, Thomas ENG Wanderers - forward Kenrick, Jarvis ENG Wanderers - forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO Old Etonians - forward Lang, James SCO Clydesdale - forward Lindsay, William ENG Wanderers - back Lyttelton, Edward ENG Old Etonians - half-back MacKinnon, William SCO Queen's Park - forward McGeoch, Alexander SCO Dumbreck - goalkeeper McNeil, Harry SCO Queen's Park - forward Mosforth, William ENG Sheffield Albion - forward Neill, Robert SCO Queen's Park - back Rawson, Herbert ENG Royal Engineers - forward Rawson, William ENG Oxford University/Wanderers - back Taylor, Joseph SCO Queen's Park - back Weir, James SCO Queen's Park - forward Wollaston, Charles ENG Wanderers - forward
Final results for the season. 23 Man Shortlist Andrews, Peter SCO Eastern - forward Birley, Francis ENG Wanderers - half-back Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park - half-back Ferguson, John SCO Vale of Leven - forward Heron, Francis ENG Wanderers - forward Heron, Hubert ENG Wanderers - forward Highet, Thomas SCO Queen's Park - forward Hughes, Thomas ENG Wanderers - forward Kenrick, Jarvis ENG Wanderers - forward Kinnaird, Arthur SCO Old Etonians - forward Lang, James SCO Clydesdale - forward Lindsay, William ENG Wanderers - back Lyttelton, Edward ENG Old Etonians - half-back MacKinnon, William SCO Queen's Park - forward McGeoch, Alexander SCO Dumbreck - goalkeeper McNeil, Harry SCO Queen's Park - forward Mosforth, William ENG Sheffield Albion - forward Neill, Robert SCO Queen's Park - back Rawson, Herbert ENG Royal Engineers - forward Rawson, William ENG Oxford University/Wanderers - back Taylor, Joseph SCO Queen's Park - back Weir, James SCO Queen's Park - forward Wollaston, Charles ENG Wanderers - forward Top3 1. MacKinnon, William 2. McNeil, Harry 3. Highet, Thomas Team of the Season (2-2-6): McGeogh - Taylor, W Rawson - E Lyttelton, Birley - Weir, McNeil, MacKinnon, Highet, Kinnaird, Mosforth