Here are the main matches of the 1884-85 season in chronological order. Any details about missing goalscorers and best players from match reports would be appreciated. Queen's Park-Dumbarton 0-0, 18.10.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 best players: ? Queen’s Park’s new ground, also named Hampden Park, is opened on Saturday 18 October. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Queen's Park-Battlefield 2-3, 25.10.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Harrower, o.g. / J. Sellar, Walker, ? best players: ? Queen’s Park suffered one of the most sensational defeats in the history of Scottish football. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Pollokshields Athletic-Dumbarton 4-1, 25.10.1884, Pollok Park, Glasgow goals: ? best players: ? Vale of Leven-Blackburn Rovers 2-0, 8.11.1884, Alexandria goals: ? best players: ? Aston Villa-Queen's Park 2-1, 8.11.1884, Birmingham, Attendance: 15,000 goals: Arthur Brown, ? / Anderson best players: ? Preston North End-Vale of Leven 1-0, 29.11.1884, Preston goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup 2nd round, Blackburn Rovers-Blackburn Olympic 3-2, 6.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: 11,000 goals: ?, Fecitt / ? best players: ? The most eagerly anticipated of all Blackburn derbies took place on 6 December at Leamington Road, Rovers’ home since 1881. It was watched by some 11,000 who saw the home side fall behind 2-1 but equalise from what Olympic were convinced was an indirect free-kick. The furious visitors began to leave the field and were only reluctantly persuaded back, their mood changing from black to worse when recent signing Harry Fecitt scored the winning goal. Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 1-8, 15.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: 10,000 goals: ? best players: ? Corinthian Football Club undertakes a northern tour in the middle of December, with seven tough games in eight days. The Corinthians fielded their strongest side and thrashed the cup holders 8-1, largely due to the speed and accurate passing of the Corinthian forwards. The result not only inspired interest in the tour but also created instant recognition of the club as one which had come to play and could compete with the best. Blackburn Olympic-Corinthians 4-4, 17.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: ? goals: ? / Smith (2), Lindley, Cobbold best players: ? Preston North End-Corinthians 3-1, 20.12.1884, Preston, Attendance: 7,000 goals: ? / Smith best players: ? Glasgow-London 6-2, 20.12.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5,000 goals: ? best players: ? Notts County-Corinthians 3-2, 22.12.1884, Nottingham, Attendance: 2,000 goals: ? / Smith, Cobbold best players: ? Queen's Park-Dumbarton 2-1, 27.12.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Harrower, Hamilton / Brown best players: ? Queen's Park-Aston Villa 4-3, 1.1.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Anderson (3), Christie / Whateley, Brown (2) best players: ? Blackburn Rovers-Dumbarton 2-0, 1.1.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Queen's Park-Vale of Leven 3-2, 10.1.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Allan, Watt, Christie / ? best players: ? FA Cup 3rd round replay, West Bromwich Albion-Aston Villa 3-0, 10.1.1885, West Bromwich goals: Loach (2), Bayliss best players: ? FA Cup 4th round, Swifts-Nottingham Forest 0-1, 24.1.1885, The Oval ? goals: Widdowson best players: ? North-South (International Trial) 2-1, 31.1.1885, County Cricket Ground (Derby), Attendance: 3,000 Goals: 1-0 Brown, 1-1 Cobbold (40 min.), 2-1 Brown. Best Players: ? Queen's Park-Renton 4-1, 7.2.1885, Cathkin Park, Glasgow goals: Anderson, Christie (2), ? / ? best players: ? Glasgow-Sheffield 9-1, 14.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: several thousand goals: reports on the identity of the goal scorers varied enormously best players: ? Scottish Cup Final, Renton-Vale of Leven 0-0, 21.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3,000 best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, West Bromwich Albion-Blackburn Rovers 0-2, 21.2.1885, West Bromwich goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Etonians-Nottingham Forest 0-2, 21.2.1885, The Oval goals: Danks, Lindley best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Notts County-Queen's Park 2-2, 21.2.1885, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Attendance: 20,000 goals: 0-1 Christie, 1-1 Gunn, 2-1 Cursham, 2-2 Sellar best players: ? Extra stands had been erected at the ground but such was the size of the crowd (up to 20,000) that encroachment by spectators presented a great problem. Scottish Cup Final replay, Renton-Vale of Leven 3-1, 28.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5,000 goals: A. McCall, McIntyre (2) / ? best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final replay, Queen's Park-Notts County 2-1, 28.2.1885, Derby, Attendance: 18,000 goals: 0-1 Jackson, 1-1 Sellar, 2-1 Arnott best players: ? The FA decided that the cup replay would take place at Derby on the following Saturday. British Home Championship, ENG-IRL 4-0, 28.2.1885, Manchester, Whelley Range, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Charlie Bambridge 43', Benjamin Spilsbury 75', Eames (o.g.) 77, James Brown best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0023Ire1885.html FA Cup Semi-final, Blackburn Rovers-Old Carthusians 5-1, 7.3.1885, Trent Bridge, Nottingham goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, Queen's Park-Nottingham Forest 1-1, 14.3.1885, Derby, Attendance: 15,000 goals: 0-1 Danks or Lindley, 1-1 Anderson best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-WAL 1-1, 14.3.1885, Blackburn, Attendance: 7,500 goals: Mitchell 35', Lewis 37” best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0024Wal1885.html British Home Championship, SCO-IRL 8-2, 14.3.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 goals: 1-0 Lamont (10), 2-0 Turner (12), 3-0 Calderwood (15), 4-0 Marshall (35), 5-0 Higgins (51), 6-0 Barbour (53), 7-0 Higgins (60), 8-0 Higgins (70), 8-1 Gibb (85), 8-2 Gibb (90) best players: ? Corinthians-Preston North End 3-2, ?.1885, London goals: ? best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-SCO 1-1, 21.3.1885, The Oval, Attendance: 8,000 goals: 0-1 Lindsay (20), 1-1 Bambridge (57) best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0025Sco1885.html British Home Championship, WAL-SCO 1-8, 23.3.1885, The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Attendance: 4,000 goals: 0-1 Calderwood (8), 0-2 Anderson (20), 0-3 Allan (30), 1-3 R.A.Jones (50), 1-4 Lindsay (56), 1-5 Anderson (76), 1-6 Calderwood (80), 1-7 Lindsay (84), 1-8 Lindsay (88) best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final replay, Queen's Park-Nottingham Forest 3-0, 28.3.1885, Merchiston Park, Edinburgh, Attendance: 15,000 goals: o.g., Sellar (2) best players: ? Blackburn Olympic-Renton 3-1, 3.4.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Bolton Wanderers-Renton 2-1, 4.4.1885, Bolton goals: ? best players: ? Preston North End-Vale of Leven 5-1, 4.4.1885, Preston goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Final, Blackburn Rovers-Queen's Park 2-0, 4.4.1885, The Oval, Attendance: 12,500 goals: 1-0 Forrest 18’, 2-0 Brown 70’. best players: ? An understrength Queen’s Park side played with great spirit but failed to reach their best form and Rovers had the edge throughout. Blackburn Rovers-Vale of Leven 1-0, 6.4.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Preston North End-Corinthians 0-1, 6.4.1885, Preston goals: ? best players: ? On Monday 6 April, the Corinthians embarked on a short and very intensive tour of England. Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 1-2, 8.4.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Aston Villa-Corinthians 1-0, ?.4.1885, Birmingham goals: ? best players: ? British Home Championship, IRL-WAL 2-8, 11.4.1885, Belfast, Attendance: 1,500 goals: 1:0 (23') Thomas Molyneux, 2:0 (40') Alexander Dill, 2:1 (50') William Owen, 2:2 (52') Herbert Sisson, 2:3 (55') John Roach, 2:4 (59') Herbert Sisson, 2:5 (60') Herbert Sisson, 2:6 (64') John Roach, 2:7 (69') Tom Burke, 2:8 (89') Humphrey Jones best players: ? Birmingham Cup Final, Aston Villa-Walsall Swifts 2-0, ?.1885, venue?, goals: ? best players: ? Lancashire Cup Final, Blackburn Rovers-Blackburn Olympic 2-1, ?.1885, venue?, goals: ? best players: ? Charity Cup Semifinal, Queen's Park-Renton 3-2, 25.4.1885, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Harrower (2), Watt / ? best players: ? Charity Cup Final, Queen's Park- Dumbarton 1-0, 9.5.1885, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Watt best players: ?
Additions in red: Queen's Park-Dumbarton 0-0, 18.10.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 best players: ? Queen’s Park’s new ground, also named Hampden Park, is opened on Saturday 18 October. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Queen's Park-Battlefield 2-3, 25.10.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Harrower 2, o.g. / J. Sellar, Walker, Fraser, W Sellar best players: ? Queen’s Park suffered one of the most sensational defeats in the history of Scottish football. Battlefield was an offshoot of the Queen's Park club with players being members of both. Several players represented both teams. Scottish Cup 3rd round, Pollokshields Athletic-Dumbarton 4-1, 25.10.1884, Pollok Park, Glasgow goals: ? best players: / McAuley (gk) Vale of Leven-Blackburn Rovers 2-0, 8.11.1884, Alexandria goals: ? best players: ? Aston Villa-Queen's Park 2-1, 8.11.1884, Birmingham, Attendance: 15,000 goals: Arthur Brown, scrimmage from corner / Anderson best players: Archie Hunter Preston North End-Vale of Leven 1-0, 29.11.1884, Preston goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup 2nd round, Blackburn Rovers-Blackburn Olympic 3-2, 6.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: 11,000 goals: Fecitt 2 McIntyre / Whitehead, scrimmage from corner best players: ? The most eagerly anticipated of all Blackburn derbies took place on 6 December at Leamington Road, Rovers’ home since 1881. It was watched by some 11,000 who saw the home side fall behind 2-1 but equalise from what Olympic were convinced was an indirect free-kick. The furious visitors began to leave the field and were only reluctantly persuaded back, their mood changing from black to worse when recent signing Harry Fecitt scored the winning goal. Aston Villa 3 Cambridge University 1, 13.12.1884, Perry Barr, Attendance 4,000 Goals: Archie Hunter, Albert Brown, Davis / Marsh Best Players: Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 1-8, 15.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: 10,000 goals: Brown / Lindley 2, Smith 2, Cobbold, ??? best players: Cobbold Corinthian Football Club undertakes a northern tour in the middle of December, with seven tough games in eight days. The Corinthians fielded their strongest side and thrashed the cup holders 8-1, largely due to the speed and accurate passing of the Corinthian forwards. The result not only inspired interest in the tour but also created instant recognition of the club as one which had come to play and could compete with the best. Darwen 2 Corinthians 1, 16.12.1884, Darwen Goals: Rostron (guest from Great Lever), unknown from Shorrock corner / Cobbold Best Players: Blackburn Olympic-Corinthians 4-4, 17.12.1884, Blackburn, Attendance: 1,000 goals: Yates 2, Astley, scrimmage / Smith (2), Lindley, Cobbold best players: ? Sheffield 2 Corinthians 1, 18.12.1884, Sheffield Goals: Beardshaw, Dixon / Siddall Best Players: / Spilsbury, JW Holm Bolton Wanderers 6 Corinthians 0, 19.12.1884, Bolton, Attendance 1,500 Goals: Struthers 2, Hewitson 3, scrimmage Best Players: Preston North End-Corinthians 3-1, 20.12.1884, Preston, Attendance: 7,000 goals: Thompson, Drummond, Dewhurst / Smith best players: ? Glasgow-London 6-2, 20.12.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5,000 goals: ?????? / Ibbs 2 best players: Arnott, C Campbell, Anderson / Holden-White Notts County-Corinthians 3-2, 22.12.1884, Nottingham, Attendance: 2,000 goals: H Cursham 2, Jackson / Smith, Cobbold best players: ? Queen's Park-Dumbarton 2-1, 27.12.1884, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Harrower, Hamilton / Brown best players: ? Queen's Park-Aston Villa 4-3, 1.1.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Anderson (3), Christie / Whateley, Brown (2) best players: ? Blackburn Rovers-Dumbarton 2-0, 1.1.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Queen's Park-Vale of Leven 3-2, 10.1.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow goals: Allan, Watt, Christie / ? best players: ? FA Cup 3rd round replay, West Bromwich Albion-Aston Villa 3-0, 10.1.1885, West Bromwich goals: Loach (2), Bayliss best players: ? FA Cup 4th round, Swifts-Nottingham Forest 0-1, 24.1.1885, The Oval ? goals: Widdowson best players: ? North-South (International Trial) 2-1, 31.1.1885, County Cricket Ground (Derby), Attendance: 3,000 Goals: 1-0 Brown, 1-1 Cobbold (40 min.), 2-1 Brown. Best Players: ? Queen's Park-Renton 4-1, 7.2.1885, Cathkin Park, Glasgow goals: Anderson, Christie (2), ? / ? best players: ? Glasgow-Sheffield 9-1, 14.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: several thousand goals: reports on the identity of the goal scorers varied enormously best players: ? Scottish Cup Final, Renton-Vale of Leven 0-0, 21.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 3,000 best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, West Bromwich Albion-Blackburn Rovers 0-2, 21.2.1885, West Bromwich goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Etonians-Nottingham Forest 0-2, 21.2.1885, The Oval goals: Danks, Lindley best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Notts County-Queen's Park 2-2, 21.2.1885, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, Attendance: 20,000 goals: 0-1 Christie, 1-1 Gunn, 2-1 Cursham, 2-2 Sellar best players: ? Extra stands had been erected at the ground but such was the size of the crowd (up to 20,000) that encroachment by spectators presented a great problem. Scottish Cup Final replay, Renton-Vale of Leven 3-1, 28.2.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 5,000 goals: A. McCall, McIntyre (2) / scrimmage best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final replay, Queen's Park-Notts County 2-1, 28.2.1885, Derby, Attendance: 18,000 goals: 0-1 Jackson, 1-1 Sellar, 2-1 Arnott Campbell best players: Allan / Coulby (gk) The FA decided that the cup replay would take place at Derby on the following Saturday. British Home Championship, ENG-IRL 4-0, 28.2.1885, Manchester, Whelley Range, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Charlie Bambridge 43', Benjamin Spilsbury 75', Eames (o.g.) 77, James Brown best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0023Ire1885.html FA Cup Semi-final, Blackburn Rovers-Old Carthusians 5-1, 7.3.1885, Trent Bridge, Nottingham goals: Brown 2, Fecitt, Sourbutts, Lofthouse / Barnby best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, Queen's Park-Nottingham Forest 1-1, 14.3.1885, Derby, Attendance: 15,000 goals: 0-1 Danks or Lindley, 1-1 Anderson best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-WAL 1-1, 14.3.1885, Blackburn, Attendance: 7,500 goals: Mitchell 35', Lewis 37” best players: Brown, Bambridge / Mills-Roberts (gk) http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0024Wal1885.html British Home Championship, SCO-IRL 8-2, 14.3.1885, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 goals: 1-0 Lamont (10), 2-0 Turner (12), 3-0 Calderwood (15), 4-0 Marshall (35), 5-0 Higgins (51), 6-0 Barbour (53), 7-0 Higgins (60), 8-0 Higgins (70), 8-1 Gibb (85), 8-2 Gibb (90) best players: ? Corinthians-Preston North End 3-2, 17.1.1885, London The Oval, Attendance 5,000 goals: Pawson 2, Lindley / Dewhurst, Nick Ross best players: Pawson, Cobbold / Nick Ross British Home Championship, ENG-SCO 1-1, 21.3.1885, The Oval, Attendance: 8,000 goals: 0-1 Lindsay (20), 1-1 Bambridge (57) best players: PM Walters, AM Walters, Cobbold, Bambridge, Bailey, Brown / Paton, Sellar, Allan, Hamilton http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1884-85/M0025Sco1885.html British Home Championship, WAL-SCO 1-8, 23.3.1885, The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Attendance: 4,000 goals: 0-1 Calderwood (8), 0-2 Anderson (20), 0-3 Allan (30), 1-3 R.A.Jones (50), 1-4 Lindsay (56), 1-5 Anderson (76), 1-6 Calderwood (80), 1-7 Lindsay (84), 1-8 Lindsay (88) best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final replay, Queen's Park-Nottingham Forest 3-0, 28.3.1885, Merchiston Park, Edinburgh, Attendance: 15,000 goals: o.g., Sellar (2) best players: ? Birmingham Cup Final, Aston Villa-Walsall Swifts 2-0, 28.3.1885, venue?,Aston Lower Grounds goals: Whateley, Vaughton best players: Harvey Blackburn Olympic-Renton 3-1, 3.4.1885, Blackburn goals: ? best players: ? Bolton Wanderers-Renton 2-1, 4.4.1885, Bolton goals: ? best players: ? Preston North End-Vale of Leven 5-1, 4.4.1885, Preston goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Final, Blackburn Rovers-Queen's Park 2-0, 4.4.1885, The Oval, Attendance: 12,500 goals: 1-0 Forrest 18’, 2-0 Brown 70’. best players: G Howarth An understrength Queen’s Park side played with great spirit but failed to reach their best form and Rovers had the edge throughout. Blackburn Rovers-Vale of Leven 1-0, 6.4.1885, Blackburn goals: Brown best players: Suter, Turner Preston North End-Corinthians 0-1, 6.4.1885, Preston goals: Allan best players: ? On Monday 6 April, the Corinthians embarked on a short and very intensive tour of England. Derby County 3 Corinthians 3, 7.4.1885, Derby Goals: A “Jammer” Smith, Sugg, Chatterton / Spilsbury, Lindley, Dixon Best Players: Morley Hill (gk), Sugg, Hickingbotham / Dixon, Lindley, AM Walters Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 1-2, 8.4.1885, Blackburn goals: Yates (guest from Olympic) / Spilsbury 2 best players: PM Walters, AM Walters Aston Villa-Corinthians 1-0, 11.4.1885, Birmingham goals: Arthur Brown best players: ? British Home Championship, IRL-WAL 2-8, 11.4.1885, Belfast, Attendance: 1,500 goals: 1:0 (23') Thomas Molyneux, 2:0 (40') Alexander Dill, 2:1 (50') William Owen, 2:2 (52') Herbert Sisson, 2:3 (55') John Roach, 2:4 (59') Herbert Sisson, 2:5 (60') Herbert Sisson, 2:6 (64') John Roach, 2:7 (69') Tom Burke, 2:8 (89') Humphrey Jones best players: ? Notts County 1 Preston 2 11.4.1885, Nottingham, Attendance 3,000 Goals: Jackson, / Thompson, Nick Ross Best Players: Lancashire Cup Final, Blackburn Rovers-Blackburn Olympic 2-1, 18.4.1885, venue?, Preston goals: Fecitt, ? / Slater best players: ? Charity Cup Semifinal, Queen's Park-Renton 3-2, 25.4.1885, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Harrower (2), Watt / ? best players: ? Charity Cup Final, Queen's Park- Dumbarton 1-0, 9.5.1885, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Watt best players: ? Newspaper sources: Morning Post, The Sportsman, Athletic News, Derby Daily Telegraph, Lancaster Gazette, Lichfield Mercury, Liverpool Mercury, Nottingham Journal, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Sheffield Independent, Yorkshire Post, Dundee Advertiser, Edinburgh Evening News, Glasgow Herald. Sources are from the British Newspaper Archive, managed by the British Library Board.
Suggested best XI 1884-85 (2-3-5): McAuley - PM Walters, AM Walters - Campbell, Forrest, Bailey - Anderson, J Brown, Archie Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.
Here are my suggestions for the nominees this season. 23 Man Shortlist Allan, David SCO Queen's Park Anderson, William SCO Queen's Park Arnott, Walter SCO Queen's Park Bailey, Norman ENG Clapham Rovers Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts Brown, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University (did he play for Old Carthusians in the FA Cup?) Forrest, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Harrower, William SCO Queen's Park Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa Kelso, Robert SCO Renton Lindsay, Joseph SCO Dumbarton Lofthouse, Joseph ENG Blackburn Rovers McAuley, James SCO Dumbarton McPherson, John SCO Vale of Leven Mills-Roberts, Robert WAL St. Thomas' Hospital Paton, Michael SCO Dumbarton Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Sellar, William SCO Battlefield / Queen's Park Smith, John SCO Queen's Park Walters, Arthur ENG Cambridge University (did he play for Old Carthusians in the FA Cup?) Walters, Percy ENG Oxford University (did he play for Old Carthusians in the FA Cup?) By country: Scotland (14), England (8), Wales (1) Top3 1. Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University 2. Brown, James ENG Blackburn Rovers 3. Anderson, William SCO Queen's Park Team of the Season (2-3-5): McAuley - P Walters, AWalters - Campbell, Forrest, Bailey - Anderson, J Brown, A Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.
Looks good to me. The Walters brothers and Cobbold all played for Old Carthusians in the FA Cup. There is a sense this season that English teams have caught up with the Scots. Blackburn Rovers were expected to beat Queen's Park in the FA Cup Final, whereas when the two teams met in the final the year before Queen's Park were strong favourites. Scottish teams are still playing with six forwards while the English have switched to the pyramid 2-3-5.
No. He was banned by the Scottish FA soon after for playing against a team with professionals (for Corinthians). He used the pseudonym Miller or Mellor for Corinthians because he knew he was breaking SFA regulations.
In that case it is surprising Old Carthusians lost so decidedly, the defense with the Walters brothers allowing five goals to be scored.
Corinthians were trying to turn the clock back to the beginning of the previous decade when London-based amateurs ruled. There were similarities with Wanderers in that neither had their own ground and both borrowed players from other clubs. Corinthians tended to arrange most of their games during the Christmas and Easter holiday periods. With regulations tighter now they were not able to borrow players for the FA Cup as Wanderers had done, and never entered the competition.
I think Smith was banned only in January 1885, after the Corinthians match against Preston North End in December. So he could have played against Batterfield. Interestingly, it looks like Smith played in the first FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest, after he was banned by the Scottish FA. Do you have the line-ups for the Queen's Park vs Battlefield match in October 1884?
Cobbold suffered a knee injury during the game which hampered Carthusians. But Blackburn were much the better side, their passing game overcoming the more individualistic Carthusians.
Queen's Park: McCallum - Watson, Gow - Campbell, McDonald - Anderson, H Miller (not Smith), Harrower, Watt, Christie, Allan. Battlefield: Mann - Angus, D Cunningham - Fraser, Black - John Sellar, Walker, W Sellar, James Sellar, J Cunningham, Webster.
Well, maybe we have too many players from Queen's Park in the Top 23 (six and Sellar, who also played for Battlefield). Maybe Harrower (not capped) and Smith (not capped because of his suspension, although he played well for Corinthians) could be left out to make room for more players from Blackburn or Preston. Currently there are just three players from Blackburn Rovers. Maybe Suter and goalkeeper Arthur (capped 3 times) could be addded. The problem is we have few match reports with player descriptions this season.
Suter for Harrower looks sensible. I would keep Smith. Blackburn did lose 8-1 to Corinthians. With more matches taking place, the press are losing interest in club friendlies and minor competitions such as Charity Cups. It appears that they often do not send anyone to report on these games, but just confirm the score. There are probably fewer than 30 games in a season that the newspapers are interested in.
Yes he did. Just found a report in a London publication. He had a poor game, missed chances and was struggling to run at the end. Dank scored the Forest goal. Best players were Leighton, Widdowson, Danks, Lindley and the backs Caborn and Hancock for Forest. W Sellar, Anderson, Allan, Campbell and Arnott for Queen's Park. Arnott was below par in the FA Cup Final.
Smith was banned from playing for or against any Scottish club or the Scottish national team. Maybe the FA Cup was outside the jurisdiction of the Scottish FA, so Smith could play there.
Final results of the season. 23 Man Shortlist Allan, David SCO Queen's Park Anderson, William SCO Queen's Park Arnott, Walter SCO Queen's Park Bailey, Norman ENG Clapham Rovers Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts Brown, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Campbell, Charles SCO Queen's Park Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University/Old Carthusians Forrest, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa Kelso, Robert SCO Renton Lindsay, Joseph SCO Dumbarton Lofthouse, Joseph ENG Blackburn Rovers McAuley, James SCO Dumbarton McPherson, John SCO Vale of Leven Mills-Roberts, Robert WAL St. Thomas' Hospital Paton, Michael SCO Dumbarton Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Sellar, William SCO Battlefield/Queen's Park Smith, John SCO Queen's Park Suter, Fergus SCO Blackburn Rovers Walters, Arthur ENG Cambridge University/Old Carthusians Walters, Percy ENG Oxford University/Old Carthusians By country: Scotland (14), England (8), Wales (1) Top3 1. Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University 2. Brown, James ENG Blackburn Rovers 3. Anderson, William SCO Queen's Park Team of the Season (2-3-5): McAuley - P Walters, AWalters - Campbell, Forrest, Bailey - Anderson, J Brown, A Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.