Here are the main matches of the 1877-78 season in chronological order. I hope fellow posters can add the missing goalscorers and best players from match reports. Scottish Cup 2nd round replay, Vale of Leven-Dumbarton 4-1, 27.10.1877, Alexandria goals: best players: Scottish Cup 3rd round, 3rd Lanark- Queen's Park 1-0, 10.11.1877, Glasgow, Cathkin Park goals: Miller best players: Queen’s Park is defeated for only the third time ever and knocked out of the Scottish Cup. The only goal of the game came after half an hour. The Queen’s ‘keeper slipped as he attempted to kick the ball clear and Miller pounced to score. Queen's Park-Notts County 6-1, 17.11.1877, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: goals: Weir (3), scrimmage, Highet (2) / Keeley best players: Sheffield-London 0-6, 17.11.1877, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 10,000 goals: best players: Kinnaird is the captain of London as a back. FA Cup 1st round replay, Sheffield FC– Notts County 3-0, 1.12.1877, Sheffield, Bramall Lane goals: best players: Queen's Park-Cambridge University 0-0, 15.12.1877, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 1,250 best players: Scottish Cup 4th round replay, Vale of Leven-Rangers 5-0, 15.12.1877, Alexandria goals: best players: London - Sheffield 2-1, 29.12.1877, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: best players: Vale of Leven-Queen’s Park 1-1, 12.1.1878, Alexandria, Attendance: 4,000 goals: McDougal / Weir best players: The North British Daily Mail described it as “the finest match ever played in Scotland”. Notts County- Queen’s Park 1-2, 19.1.1878, Nottingham, Attendance: 5,000 goals: 0-1 Harry McNeil, 1-1 Cursham, 2-1 Weir or Ker best players: FA Cup 3rd round replay, Wanderers - Barnes 4-1, 26.1.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Wollaston, Wylie, Kinnaird, Green best players: Sheffield-Glasgow 2-4, 9.2.1878, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 7,000 goals: 0-1 McNeil, 0-2 Britten, 0-3 Campbell, 1-3 Cursham, 2-3 Cursham, 2-4 M McNeil best players: The seriousness with which Glasgow approached this fixture is revealed in the fact that 60 players from 15 clubs took part in trials before the team was selected. Sheffield were now criticised by their own press for passing too much. The lineups are here: http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html However, according to http://www.qphistory.com James Phillips, David Davidson, Willie McKinnon, Jimmy Weir and Harry McNeil played in the Glasgow side. FA Cup Quarter-final, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 3-3, 15.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: ? best players: FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers – Sheffield FC 3-0, 16.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Wylie, Wace, Denton best players: FA Cup Quarter-final replay, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 2-2, 27.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: ? best players: SCO-ENG 7-2, 2.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 10,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1877-78/M0007Sco1878.html https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4323 goals: 1-0 McDougall (7), 2-0 McGregor (32), 3-0 McNeil (39), 4-0 McDougall (41), 5-0 McDougall (46), 6-0 MacKinnon (62), 6-1 Wylie (65), 7-1 McNeil (70), 7-2 Cursham (75) best players: FA Cup Quarter-final 2nd replay, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 4-2, 12.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: FA Cup Semi-final, Royal Engineers - Old Harrovians 2-1, 16.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: Queen’s Park- Vale of Leven 2-0, 16.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Ker, McPherson (o.g.) best players: Some 12,000 spectators attended the match – an enormous crowd for the time. Despite being without goalkeeper John Dickson who had been confined to his house with a serious illness, Queen’s Park had a comfortable 2-0 win. Scottish Cup Semi-final 2nd replay, 3rd Lanark- Renton 1-0, 16.3.1878, Glasgow goals: best players: FA Cup Final, Wanderers - Royal Engineers 3-1, 23.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: 4,500 Goals: Kenrick 1-0 15', 1-1 Morris 20' , 2-1 Kinnaird 35', Kenrick 3-1 65', best players: Under the original rules of the competition, the Cup is retired and presented to the club on a permanent basis to mark their third straight win, but the Wanderers return the Cup to the Football Association on the condition that it never again be won outright by any club. SCO-WAL 9-0, 23.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 6,000 https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4322 goals: 1-0 P.Campbell (4), 2-0 Weir (15), 3-0 P.Campbell (18), 4-0 Baird (37), 5-0 Ferguson (38), 6-0 Weir (42), 7-0 Ferguson (50), 8-0 Watson (60), 9-0 Lang (70) best players: Scottish Cup Final, Vale of Leven-3rd Lanark 1-0, 30.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 5,000 goals: McDougall 65' best players: Vale of Leven, who needed replays to overcome Dumbarton and Rangers, retains the Scottish Cup. Wanderers – Vale of Leven 1-3, 13.4.1878, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 Goals: Wollaston / ? best players: Vale of Leven beats a weakened Wanderers side in heavy rain, a victory of the passing game over individual dribbling. Mostly goal-keeping errors are the reason for Wanderes’s defeat. Charity Cup Final, Queen's Park- Vale of Leven 1-0, 4.5.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: ? goals: best players:
Additions in blue Scottish Cup 2nd round, Clydesdale v Queens Park 0-2, 20.10.1877, Clydesdale Goals: Highet, Peden Best Players: Gardner / W MacKinnon, H McNeil, Highet Scottish Cup 2nd round replay, Vale of Leven-Dumbarton 4-1, 27.10.1877, Alexandria goals: best players: Scottish Cup 3rd round, 3rd Lanark- Queen's Park 1-0, 10.11.1877, Glasgow, Cathkin Park, Attendance 4,000 goals: Miller best players: Wallace (gk), Somers, Kennedy / Phillips, Davidson, Campbell Queen’s Park is defeated for only the third time ever and knocked out of the Scottish Cup. The only goal of the game came after half an hour. The Queen’s ‘keeper slipped as he attempted to kick the ball clear and Miller pounced to score. Queen's Park-Notts County 6-1, 17.11.1877, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: goals: Weir (3), scrimmage, Highet (2) / Keeley best players: Neill, Weir, Highet, McNeil / Greenhalgh, Jessop, Seals Sheffield-London 0-6, 17.11.1877, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 10,000 goals: Wylie 2, H Heron, Wollaston, Sparks, Wace best players: Mosforth / Wylie Kinnaird is the captain of London as a back. Reports say W Rawson was captain. FA Cup 1st round replay, Sheffield FC– Notts County 3-0, 1.12.1877, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance 1,500 goals: Cursham 2, Matthews best players: Queen's Park-Cambridge University 0-0, 15.12.1877, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 1,250 best players: Jarrett Scottish Cup 4th round replay, Vale of Leven-Rangers 5-0, 15.12.1877, Alexandria goals: Ferguson 2, McDougall, McFarlaue, ? best players: London - Sheffield 2-1, 29.12.1877, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Wylie, Dorling / Mosforth best players: C Warner (London gk) Vale of Leven-Queen’s Park 1-1, 12.1.1878, Alexandria, Attendance: 4,000 goals: McDougal / Weir best players: The North British Daily Mail described it as “the finest match ever played in Scotland”. Notts County- Queen’s Park 1-2, 19.1.1878, Nottingham, Attendance: 5,000 goals: 0-1 Harry McNeil, 1-1 Cursham, 2-1 Weir or Ker best players: Jessop / H McNeil, Campbell FA Cup 3rd round replay, Wanderers - Barnes 4-1, 26.1.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Wollaston, Wylie, Kinnaird, Green / Weston best players: Sheffield-Glasgow 2-4, 9.2.1878, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 7,000 goals: 0-1 McNeil, 0-2 Britten, 0-3 Campbell, 1-3 Cursham, 2-3 Cursham, 2-4 M McNeil best players: The seriousness with which Glasgow approached this fixture is revealed in the fact that 60 players from 15 clubs took part in trials before the team was selected. Sheffield were now criticised by their own press for passing too much. The lineups are here: http://gottfriedfuchs.blogspot.com/2014/02/sheffield-v-glasgow-1870s.html However, according to http://www.qphistory.com James Phillips, David Davidson, Willie McKinnon, Jimmy Weir and Harry McNeil played in the Glasgow side. FA Cup Quarter-final, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 3-3, 15.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Hedley 2, Barker / Roberts 2, Alington best players: FA Cup Quarter-final, Wanderers – Sheffield FC 3-0, 16.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Wylie, Wace, Denton best players: Wylie, Wace, Kinnaird, Lindsay FA Cup Quarter-final replay, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 2-2, 27.2.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Otter 2 / Bond, Hayes best players: SCO-ENG 7-2, 2.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 10,000 http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1877-78/M0007Sco1878.html https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4323 goals: 1-0 McDougall (7), 2-0 McGregor (32), 3-0 McNeil (39), 4-0 McDougall (41), 5-0 McDougall (46), 6-0 MacKinnon (62), 6-1 Wylie (65), 7-1 McNeil (70), 7-2 Cursham (75) best players: H McNeil FA Cup Quarter-final 2nd replay, Royal Engineers – Oxford University 4-2, 12.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: Barnet, Bond, Ruck, ? / Crowdy, ? best players: FA Cup Semi-final, Royal Engineers - Old Harrovians 2-1, 16.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: Barnet, Mayne / Prior best players: Queen’s Park- Vale of Leven 2-0, 16.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Ker, McPherson (o.g.) best players: Some 12,000 spectators attended the match – an enormous crowd for the time. Despite being without goalkeeper John Dickson who had been confined to his house with a serious illness, Queen’s Park had a comfortable 2-0 win. Scottish Cup Semi-final 2nd replay, 3rd Lanark- Renton 1-0, 16.3.1878, Glasgow goals: best players: FA Cup Final, Wanderers - Royal Engineers 3-1, 23.3.1878, The Oval, Attendance: 4,500 Goals: Kenrick 1-0 15', 1-1 Morris 20' , 2-1 Kinnaird 35', Kenrick 3-1 65', best players: Under the original rules of the competition, the Cup is retired and presented to the club on a permanent basis to mark their third straight win, but the Wanderers return the Cup to the Football Association on the condition that it never again be won outright by any club. SCO-WAL 9-0, 23.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 6,000 https://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=4322 goals: 1-0 P.Campbell (4), 2-0 Weir (15), 3-0 P.Campbell (18), 4-0 Baird (37), 5-0 Ferguson (38), 6-0 Weir (42), 7-0 Ferguson (50), 8-0 Watson (60), 9-0 Lang (70) best players: Scottish Cup Final, Vale of Leven-3rd Lanark 1-0, 30.3.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 5,000 goals: McDougall 65' best players: McIntyre, McLintock, Baird / Vale of Leven, who needed replays to overcome Dumbarton and Rangers, retains the Scottish Cup. Wanderers – Vale of Leven 1-3, 13.4.1878, The Oval, Attendance: 2,000 Goals: Wollaston / Ferguson 3 best players: / McIntyre, McLintock Vale of Leven beats a weakened Wanderers side in heavy rain, a victory of the passing game over individual dribbling. Mostly goal-keeping errors are the reason for Wanderes’s defeat. Charity Cup Final, Queen's Park- Vale of Leven 1-0, 4.5.1878, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 3,000 goals: best players: Newspaper sources: Bell's Life, London Evening Standard, Morning Post, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Sheffield Independent, Yorkshire Post, Dundee Evening Telegraph, Edinburgh Evening News, Glasgow Herald. Sources are from the British Newspaper Archive, managed by the British Library Board.
Suggested best XI 1877-78 (2-2-6): Gardner - McIntyre, Kinnaird - C Campbell, Jarrett - Wylie, McDougall, Highet, W MacKinnon, H McNeil, Mosforth.
Here are my suggestions for the nominees for this season. 23 Man Shortlist Baird, John SCO Vale of Leven Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park Campbell, Peter SCO Rangers Cursham, Arthur ENG Notts County Ferguson, John SCO Vale of Leven Gardner, Robert SCO Clydesdale Highet, Thomas SCO Queen's Park Jarrett, Beaumont ENG Cambridge University Kennedy, Alexander SCO 3rd Lanark Kinnaird, Arthur SCO Wanderers Lang, James SCO 3rd Lanark MacKinnon, William SCO Queen's Park McDougall, John SCO Vale of Leven McGregor, John SCO Vale of Leven McIntyre, Andrew SCO Vale of Leven McLintock, Alexander SCO Vale of Leven McNeil, Harry SCO Queen's Park Mosforth, William ENG The Wednesday Neill, Robert SCO Queen's Park Phillips, James SCO Queen's Park Vallance, Tom SCO Rangers Weir, James SCO Queen's Park Wylie, John ENG Wanderers Top3 1. McNeil, Harry best player and 2 goals against ENG 2. Campbell, Charles captain of Scotland and Queen's Park 3. McDougall, John SCO Cup, scores a hat-trick against England Team of the Season (2-2-6): Gardner - McIntyre, Kinnaird - C Campbell, Jarrett - Wylie, McDougall, Highet, W MacKinnon, H McNeil, Mosforth.
A good list. 18 of the 23 are Scottish-based but there is no arguing with the results. There is also Kinnaird who had represented Scotland.