Here are the main matches of the 1886-87 season in chronological order. Any details about missing goalscorers and best players from match reports would be appreciated. Queen's Park-Preston North End 1-6, 25.9.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 8000 goals: ? best players: ? Professionalism had now been legalised in England and one of the leading professional sides, Preston North End, visited Hampden Park for a challenge match on Monday, 25 September 1886. Queen’s Park went down to a defeat unparalleled in the history of the club. The Spiders had been completely outplayed. Reports varied as to who scored the Queen’s Park goal. It came from William Turner or one of the Allans. Scottish Cup 3rd round, 3rd Lanark-Renton 3-1, 23.10.1886, Glasgow, CathkinPark goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup 1st round, Queen's Park-Preston North End 0-3, 30.10.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 16,000 goals: ? best players: ? The size of the crowd was described as “a number unprecedented in the history of the Association game in Scotland.” As expected, Preston North End proved too strong for Queen’s Park. However, Queen’s played much better than expected, despite going down to a 3-0 defeat. At the end of the game, the crowd rushed on to the pitch and made straight for one of Preston’s eight Scottish professional players, Jimmy Ross, who knocked over William Harrower. FA Cup 2nd round, Renton-Blackburn Rovers 2-2, 20.11.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Glasgow-London 2-2, 27.11.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup 2nd round replay, Blackburn Rovers-Renton 0-2, 4.12.1886, Blackburn, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? After 23 unbeaten FA Cup games, a 2-0 defeat by Scottish club Renton ended the run of Blackburn Rovers. The Blackburn Standard’s long factual account of the replay barely acknowledged the historic significance of the result, commenting only that ‘the Rovers showed very indifferent form in the latter half, especially the forwards’. Preston North End-Corinthians 2-0, 11.12.1886, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 2-3, 13.12.1886, Blackburn, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Hibernian- Aston Villa 3-8, 1.1.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: ? goals:? best players: ? Queen's Park-Corinthians 1-3, 1.1.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 17,500 goals: Allan / ? best players: ? The match created a great deal of interest and attracted a crowd of somewhere between 15,000 and 18,000. The attendance was around double that of the previous year and was put down partly to the fact that the price of admission had been sixpence, rather than the one shilling charged in 1886. Renton-Preston North End 3-3, 1.15.1887, Glasgow, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup 3rd round, Renton-Preston North End 0-2, 22.1.1887, Glasgow, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Scottish Cup Semi-final, Hibernian-Vale of Leven 3-1, 22.1.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Montgomery, Groves (2) / ? best players: ? North-South (International Trial) 4-2, 22.1.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: 1,000 Goals: 1-0 Green (1 min.), 1-1 Guy (15 min.), 2-1 Shaw (40 min.), 2-2 Cobbold (43 min.), 3-2 Cooper (60 min.), 4-2 Sayer (87 min.). Best Players: ? Scottish Cup Semi-final, Queen's Park-Dumbarton 1-2, 29.1.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 5,500 goals: Alex Hamilton / Robertson (2) best players: ? / McAulay Queen’s Park protested the result, citing Dumbarton’s rough play. British Home Championship, ENG-IRL 7-0, 5.2.1887, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Dewhurst 2', 87', Cobbold 25', 49', Lindley 27', 43', 52' best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0029Ire1887.html Scottish Cup Final, Hibernian- Dumbarton 2-1, 12.2.1887, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 15,000 goals: Montgomery, Groves / Aitken best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Aston Villa-Darwen 3-2, 12.2.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: ? goals: Dawson, Hunter, Hodgetts / ? best players: ? Corinthians-Queen's Park 2-0, 12.2.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 4,000 goals: ? best players: ? The Corinthians line-up contained nine international players whereas the Queen’s Park side was short of five regulars. FA Cup Quarter-final, Notts County-West Bromwich Albion 1-4, 19.2.1887, Nottingham, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Rangers-Old Westminsters 5-1, 19.2.1887, Glasgow, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? British Home Championship, SCO-IRL 4-1, 19.2.1887, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 1,000 goals: 1-0 Watt (5), 1-1 Browne (41), 2-1 Jenkinson (43), 3-1 Johnstone (55), 4-1 Lowe (75) best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-WAL 4-0, 26.2.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 4,500 goals: Cobbold 14', Lindley 55', 80', Powell 75' (o.g.) best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0030Wal1887.html FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Carthusians-Preston North End 1-2, 2.3.1887, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, Aston Villa-Rangers 3-1, 5.3.1887, Crewe, Attendance: ? goals: Huunter (2), Brown / ? best players: ? FA Cup Semi-final, West Bromwich Albion-Preston North End 3-1, 5.3.1887?, Nottingham, Attendance: ? goals: Pearson (2), Paddock / ? best players: ? The date may be wrong, as Preston North End played Corinthians on the same day. Corinthians- Preston North End 1-1, 5.3.1887, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-SCO 2-3, 19.3.1887, Blackburn, Leamington Road, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Lindley 32', Dewhurst 69' / McCall 30', Keir 68', Allan 70' best players: ? http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0031Sco1887.html The Football Association this year decided to play the international match with Scotland at Blackburn. No more appropriate ground could have been chosen, considering the keen interest that has been taken in the game by the district and the skill shown there, a proof of which lies in the fact that previous to this season the national competition had been four times successfully carried off by Blackburn teams. British Home Championship, WAL-SCO 0-2, 21.3.1887, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Attendance: 2,000 goals: 0-1 Robertson (40), 0-2 Allan (80) best players: ? Lancashire Cup Final, Preston North End–Bolton Wanderers 3-0, 26.3.1887, Bolton, Attendance: 15,000 goals: 1-0 Dewhurst (12 min.), 2-0 Dewhurst (14 min.), 3-0 J. Ross (36 min.). best players: ? Birmingham Cup Final, Long Eaton Rangers-West Bromwich Albion 1-0, ?.?.1887, venue: ?, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? FA Cup Final, Aston Villa-West Bromwich Albion 2-0, 2.4.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 15,500 goals: Hodgetts ?’, Hunter 89’ best players: ? After defeating Preston North End in the semis, West Bromwich began the match as favourites. For forty-five minutes, the Aston Villa defense was besieged. The Albion strikers even attempted to run the goalie over his own goal line. However, the first half ended goalless. In the second half, momentum began to shift Villa's way, as West Brom lost confidence. Preston North End-Renton 2-1, 8.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Aston Villa-Hibernian 3-0, 9.4.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Preston North End-Dumbarton 2-0, 9.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Blackburn Rovers-Dumbarton 3-0, 11.4.1887, Blackburn, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Preston North End-Corinthians 3-1, 11.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Charity Cup Quarterfinal, Queen's Park-Dumbarton 3-0, 16.4.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 6,000 goals: John Allan, Lambie, Watt best players: ? Preston North End- Queen's Park 1-0, 30.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: Goodall best players: ? Queen’s Park were at Deepdale on Saturday 30 April facing Preston North End for the third time that season. On this occasion, the match was close. Charity Cup Semifinal, Queen's Park-Vale of Leven 2-3, 7.5.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 9,000 goals: Alex Hamilton, Lambie / McColl, scrimmage, ? best players: ? Charity Cup Final, Renton-Vale of Leven 1-0, ?.5.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park ?, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? At the Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Football Association, a resolution was passed forbidding Scottish clubs to play for any cup other than their own national one. This marked the end of the involvement of Scots teams in the English FA Cup. Hibernian-Preston North End 2-1, 13.8.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Scottish Cup holder Hibernian beats Preston North End 2-1 in Edinburgh, a match co-billed by the FA and SFA as the Association Football Championship of the World. Maybe this match should belong to the next season.
Maybe we should include more results from the regional cups. Preston North End overcame Blackburn Rovers 7-1 in the Lancashire Cup (I know no further details) on their road to wining the cup. It would be interesting to know how FA Cup winner Aston Villa fared in the Birmingham Cup. It is also surprising West Bromwich Albion lost in the final to a relatively unknown team, Long Eaton Rangers. Maybe some of these teams missed key players from their line-up, or did not take these competitions too seriously. But I have the impression these two cup competitions were important for the professional Northern clubs, before the establishment of the Football League.
Additions in red. Queen's Park-Preston North End 1-6, 25.9.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 8000 goals: Turner / Goodall 2, J Ross, Dewhurst, Gordon, Drummond 2 best players: Nick Ross, Howarth, Goodall, Drummond, Gordon Professionalism had now been legalised in England and one of the leading professional sides, Preston North End, visited Hampden Park for a challenge match on Monday, 25 September 1886. Queen’s Park went down to a defeat unparalleled in the history of the club. The Spiders had been completely outplayed. Reports varied as to who scored the Queen’s Park goal. It came from William Turner or one of the Allans. Lancashire Cup, Preston 7 Blackburn 1, 9.10.1886, Preston, Attendance 10,000 Birmingham Cup, West Bromwich Albion 1 Aston Villa 0, 9.10.1886, West Bromwich, Attendance 10,000 There is no report of either of these games despite large attendances. The newspapers do not appear to be interested. Scottish Cup 3rd round, 3rd Lanark-Renton 3-1, 23.10.1886, Glasgow, CathkinPark, Attendance 6,000 goals: ?, Johnstone, ? / McIntyre best players: Lindsay (Renton gk) FA Cup 1st round, Queen's Park-Preston North End 0-3, 30.10.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 16,000 goals: Gordon, Dewhurst, J Ross best players: Howarth The size of the crowd was described as “a number unprecedented in the history of the Association game in Scotland.” As expected, Preston North End proved too strong for Queen’s Park. However, Queen’s played much better than expected, despite going down to a 3-0 defeat. At the end of the game, the crowd rushed on to the pitch and made straight for one of Preston’s eight Scottish professional players, Jimmy Ross, who knocked over William Harrower. FA Cup 2nd round, Renton-Blackburn Rovers 2-2, 20.11.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: ? Goals: ?? / scrimmage ? best players: McNee, Barbour, Kelso / Suter, Fecitt Glasgow-London 2-2, 27.11.1886, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Heggie, Marshall / Wilson 2 best players: Marshall, Heggie / Fox, Turner FA Cup 2nd round replay, Blackburn Rovers-Renton 0-2, 4.12.1886, Blackburn, Attendance: 7,000 goals: McNee, Barbour best players: McNee After 23 unbeaten FA Cup games, a 2-0 defeat by Scottish club Renton ended the run of Blackburn Rovers. The Blackburn Standard’s long factual account of the replay barely acknowledged the historic significance of the result, commenting only that ‘the Rovers showed very indifferent form in the latter half, especially the forwards’. Preston North End-Corinthians 2-0, 11.12.1886, Preston, Attendance: 10,000 goals: Thomson, Dewhurst best players: Robertson, Howarth / Bambridge, Cobbold Blackburn Rovers-Corinthians 2-3, 13.12.1886, Blackburn, Attendance: ? goals: Walton 2 / Ingram, Challen, Cobbold best players: Sourbutts / Holden-White, Cobbold Hibernian- Aston Villa 3-8, 1.1.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: ? Goals: Groves ?? / Hunter 2, scrimmage, Davis, ???? best players: Hunter Queen's Park-Corinthians 1-3, 1.1.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 17,500 goals: Allan / Dewhurst, Challen, og best players: Cobbold The match created a great deal of interest and attracted a crowd of somewhere between 15,000 and 18,000. The attendance was around double that of the previous year and was put down partly to the fact that the price of admission had been sixpence, rather than the one shilling charged in 1886. Renton-Preston North End 3-3, 1.15.1887, Glasgow, Renton, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Kelly, 2 scrimmages / J Ross, Thomson, Dewhurst best players: Kelso / Thomson FA Cup 3rd round, Renton-Preston North End 0-2, 22.1.1887, Glasgow, Attendance: ? Goals: J Ross, Gordon best players: Gordon Scottish Cup Semi-final, Hibernian-Vale of Leven 3-1, 22.1.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Montgomery, Groves (2) / McNicol best players: Groves North-South (International Trial) 4-2, 22.1.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: 1,000 Goals: 1-0 Green (1 min.), 1-1 Guy (15 min.), 2-1 Shaw (40 min.), 2-2 Cobbold (43 min.), 3-2 Cooper (60 min.), 4-2 Sayer (87 min.). Best Players: Green, Forrest / Bambridge, Cobbold Scottish Cup Semi-final, Queen's Park-Dumbarton 1-2, 29.1.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 5,500 goals: Alex Hamilton / Robertson (2) best players: / McAulay Queen’s Park protested the result, citing Dumbarton’s rough play. British Home Championship, ENG-IRL 7-0, 5.2.1887, Sheffield, Bramall Lane, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Dewhurst 2', 87', Cobbold 25', 49', Lindley 27', 43', 52' best players: Lindley, Cobbold, Bambridge, Howarth http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0029Ire1887.html Scottish Cup Final, Hibernian- Dumbarton 2-1, 12.2.1887, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 15,000 goals: Montgomery, Groves / Aitken best players: Groves FA Cup Quarter-final, Aston Villa-Darwen 3-2, 12.2.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: ? goals: Dawson, Hunter, Hodgetts / Rostron, Shorrock best players: Dawson, Yates / Corinthians-Queen's Park 2-0, 12.2.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 4,000 goals: Challen, Dewhurst best players: PM Walters, AM Walters, Dewhurst / Arnott, Berrie, Hamilton The Corinthians line-up contained nine international players whereas the Queen’s Park side was short of five regulars. FA Cup Quarter-final, Notts County-West Bromwich Albion 1-4, 19.2.1887, Nottingham, Attendance: 14,000 goals: H Cursham / T Green, Bayliss, Woodhall, ? best players: ? FA Cup Quarter-final, Rangers-Old Westminsters 5-1, 19.2.1887, Glasgow, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Lafferty, Lawrie, Lindsay, 2 scrimmages / Jansen best players: Lafferty, Lindsay, Fraser British Home Championship, SCO-IRL 4-1, 19.2.1887, Hampden Park, Glasgow, Attendance: 1,000 goals: 1-0 Watt (5), 1-1 Browne (41), 2-1 Jenkinson (43), 3-1 Johnstone (55), 4-1 Lowe (75) best players: ? British Home Championship, ENG-WAL 4-0, 26.2.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 4,500 goals: Cobbold 14', Lindley 55', 80', Powell 75' (o.g.) best players: Bambridge, Cobbold http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0030Wal1887.html FA Cup Quarter-final, Old Carthusians-Preston North End 1-2, 2.3.1887, The Oval, Attendance: ? goals: Cobbold / Graham, Gordon best players: Cobbold, PM Walters, AM Walters / Drummond, Dewhurst, Graham, Nick Ross FA Cup Semi-final, Aston Villa-Rangers 3-1, 5.3.1887, Crewe, Attendance: ? goals: Hunter (2), Brown / Lafferty best players: Hunter FA Cup Semi-final, West Bromwich Albion-Preston North End 3-1, 5.3.1887?, Nottingham, Attendance: ? goals: Pearson (2), Paddock / scrimmage best players: Roberts (gk) / Dewhurst. Preston much the better side – still the best team in England or Scotland. The date may be wrong, as Preston North End played Corinthians on the same day. Date is correct. Corinthians game was the following week (see below). Corinthians- Preston North End 1-1, 5.12. 3.1887, The Oval, Attendance: ? Goals: Challen / og best players: Dewhurst / Cobbold British Home Championship, ENG-SCO 2-3, 19.3.1887, Blackburn, Leamington Road, Attendance: 12,000 goals: Lindley 32', Dewhurst 69' / McCall 30', Keir 68', Allan 70' best players: Roberts (gk) / Arnott, Forbes http://www.englandfootballonline.com/Seas1872-00/1886-87/M0031Sco1887.html The Football Association this year decided to play the international match with Scotland at Blackburn. No more appropriate ground could have been chosen, considering the keen interest that has been taken in the game by the district and the skill shown there, a proof of which lies in the fact that previous to this season the national competition had been four times successfully carried off by Blackburn teams. British Home Championship, WAL-SCO 0-2, 21.3.1887, Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, Attendance: 2,000 goals: 0-1 Robertson (40), 0-2 Allan (80) best players: AO Davies / Kelso, Auld, Keir, J Marshall Lancashire Cup Final, Preston North End–Bolton Wanderers 3-0, 26.3.1887, Bolton, Attendance: 15,000 goals: 1-0 Dewhurst (12 min.), 2-0 Dewhurst (14 min.), 3-0 J. Ross (36 min.). best players: Thomson, Nick Ross / Roberts, Trainor FA Cup Final, Aston Villa-West Bromwich Albion 2-0, 2.4.1887, The Oval, Attendance: 15,500 goals: Hodgetts ?’, Hunter 89’ best players: Warner (Villa gk) After defeating Preston North End in the semis, West Bromwich began the match as favourites. For forty-five minutes, the Aston Villa defense was besieged. The Albion strikers even attempted to run the goalie over his own goal line. However, the first half ended goalless. In the second half, momentum began to shift Villa's way, as West Brom lost confidence. Archie Hunter scored 10 goals in 10 matches for Aston Villa this season, including at least one goal in every round of the FA Cup. Preston North End-Renton 2-1, 8.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Goodall, J Ross / McCallum best players: Rose (Preston gk) Aston Villa-Hibernian 3-0, 9.4.1887, Birmingham, Attendance: 6,000 goals: Hodgetts, og, Brown best players: Brown Preston North End-Dumbarton 2-0, 9.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: 5,000 goals: Nick Ross, Drummond best players: Nick Ross Birmingham Cup Final, Long Eaton Rangers-West Bromwich Albion 1-0, 9.4.1887, venue: ?, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Again no newspaper report. Blackburn Rovers-Dumbarton 3-0, 11.4.1887, Blackburn, Attendance: 5,000 goals: Townley 2, Walton best players: Walton Preston North End-Corinthians 3-1, 11.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: 5,000 goals: Dewhurst, Goodall, Gordon / Dr J Smith best players: Gordon Charity Cup Quarterfinal, Queen's Park-Dumbarton 3-0, 16.4.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 6,000 goals: John Allan, Lambie, Watt best players: J Allan / Keir Preston North End- Queen's Park 1-0, 30.4.1887, Preston, Attendance: ? goals: Goodall best players: Rowan / Arnott Queen’s Park were at Deepdale on Saturday 30 April facing Preston North End for the third time that season. On this occasion, the match was close. Charity Cup Semifinal, Queen's Park-Vale of Leven 2-3, 7.5.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park, Attendance: 9,000 goals: Alex Hamilton, Lambie / McColl, scrimmage, ? from corner best players: / Forbes, Whitelaw Charity Cup Final, Renton-Vale of Leven 1-0, 21.5.1887, Glasgow, Hampden Park ?,Yes Attendance: 10,000 goals: McKechnie best players: Wilson (Vale gk) At the Annual General Meeting of the Scottish Football Association, a resolution was passed forbidding Scottish clubs to play for any cup other than their own national one. This marked the end of the involvement of Scots teams in the English FA Cup. Hibernian-Preston North End 2-1, 13.8.1887, Edinburgh, Attendance: ? goals: ? best players: ? Scottish Cup holder Hibernian beats Preston North End 2-1 in Edinburgh, a match co-billed by the FA and SFA as the Association Football Championship of the World. Maybe this match should belong to the next season. Yes, should belong to 1887-88. Newspaper sources: Sporting Life, Athletic News, Birmingham Daily Post, Birmingham Mail, Derby Daily Telegraph, Lancashire Evening Post, Liverpool Daily Post, Liverpool Mercury, Manchester Courier, Nottingham Journal, Sheffield Daily Telegraph, York Herald, Yorkshire Post, Aberdeen Press, Dundee Evening Telegraph, Glasgow Herald, Greenock Telegraph. Sources are from the British Newspaper Archive, managed by the British Library Board.
Suggested best XI 1886-87 (2-3-5): McAuley - Arnott, Nick Ross - Kelso, Forrest, Keir - Gordon, Dewhurst, Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.
Here are my suggestions for the nominees this season. 23 Man Shortlist Arnott, Walter SCO Queen's Park Bailey, Norman ENG Clapham Rovers / did he play for Old Westminsters in the FA Cup? Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts / did he play for Swifts in the FA Cup? Cobbold, Nevill ENG Old Carthusians Dewhurst, Fred ENG Preston North End Drummond, George SCO Preston North End Forbes, John SCO Vale of Leven Forrest, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Gordon, Jack SCO Preston North End Groves, William SCO Hibernian Howarth, Robert ENG Preston North End Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa Keir, Leitch SCO Dumbarton Kelso, Robert SCO Renton Lindley, Tinsley ENG Cambridge University / did he play for Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup? Marshall, John SCO 3rd Lanark McAuley, James SCO Dumbarton McNee, John SCO Renton Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Thomson, Samuel SCO Preston North End Trainer, James WAL Bolton Wanderers Walters, Arthur ENG Cambridge University / Old Carthusians Walters, Percy ENG Old Carthusians By country: Scotland (13), England (9), Wales (1) Perhaps more players from Aston Villa could be selected, but none of them were capped by England. Top3 1. Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa 2. Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University/Old Carthusians 3. Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End 4. Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts Although in the available match reports Cobbold, and even Nick Ross gathered more individual praise, these two players failed with their team in the FA Cup. Hunter, on the other hand, scored in each round and was the captain of the FA Cup winning team. Team of the Season (2-3-5): McAuley - Arnott, Nick Ross - Kelso, Forrest, Keir - Gordon, Dewhurst, Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.
Here are my suggestions for the nominees in this season. 23 Man Shortlist Arnott, Walter SCO Queen's Park Bailey, Norman ENG Clapham Rovers / did he play for Old Westminsters in the FA Cup? Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts / did he play for Swifts in the FA Cup? Cobbold, Nevill ENG Old Carthusians Dewhurst, Fred ENG Preston North End Drummond, George SCO Preston North End Forbes, John SCO Vale of Leven Forrest, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Gordon, Jack SCO Preston North End Groves, William SCO Hibernian Howarth, Robert ENG Preston North End Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa Keir, Leitch SCO Dumbarton Kelso, Robert SCO Renton Lindley, Tinsley ENG Cambridge University / did he play for Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup? Marshall, John SCO 3rd Lanark McAuley, James SCO Dumbarton McNee, John SCO Renton Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Thomson, Samuel SCO Preston North End Trainer, James WAL Bolton Wanderers Walters, Arthur ENG Cambridge University / Old Carthusians Walters, Percy ENG Old Carthusians By country: Scotland (13), England (9), Wales (1) Perhaps more players from Aston Villa could be selected, but none of them were capped by England. Top3 1. Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa 2. Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University/Old Carthusians 3. Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End 4. Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts Although in the available match reports Cobbold, and even Nick Ross gathered more individual praise, these two players failed with their team in the FA Cup. Hunter, on the other hand, scored in each round and was the captain of the FA Cup winning team. Team of the Season (2-3-5): McAuley - Arnott, Nick Ross - Kelso, Forrest, Keir - Gordon, Dewhurst, Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.
Bambridge played for Swifts in the FA Cup. Bailey did not appear in the competition. Nor did Lindley, who did not return to Nottingham Forest from Cambridge University until 1888. Hunter deserves the number one spot. This was his best season. Aston Villa were surprise winners of the FA Cup.
Final results of the season. 23 Man Shortlist Arnott, Walter SCO Queen's Park Bailey, Norman ENG Clapham Rovers Bambridge, Charles ENG Swifts Cobbold, Nevill ENG Old Carthusians Dewhurst, Fred ENG Preston North End Drummond, George SCO Preston North End Forbes, John SCO Vale of Leven Forrest, James ENG Blackburn Rovers Gordon, Jack SCO Preston North End Groves, William SCO Hibernian Howarth, Robert ENG Preston North End Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa Keir, Leitch SCO Dumbarton Kelso, Robert SCO Renton Lindley, Tinsley ENG Cambridge University Marshall, John SCO 3rd Lanark McAuley, James SCO Dumbarton McNee, John SCO Renton Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Thomson, Samuel SCO Preston North End Trainer, James WAL Bolton Wanderers Walters, Arthur ENG Cambridge University / Old Carthusians Walters, Percy ENG Old Carthusians By country: Scotland (13), England (9), Wales (1) Top3 1. Hunter, Archibald SCO Aston Villa 2. Cobbold, Nevill ENG Cambridge University/Old Carthusians 3. Ross, Nick SCO Preston North End Team of the Season (2-3-5): McAuley - Arnott, Nick Ross - Kelso, Forrest, Keir - Gordon, Dewhurst, Hunter, Cobbold, Bambridge.