Racing Club de Avellaneda

December 29, 2014, 9:43 am

Racing Club de Avallaneda traces its origins to Football Club Barracas al Sud, formed in 1901 by students at Colegio Nacional Central, reputedly the first club to be formed by native born Argentinians rather than British incomers.
After some internal wrangling over colours and the like the club became consolidated as Racing Club in 1903, taking its name from the Parisian team.
Racing Club joined the Argentine Football Association in 1905. they were promoted to the Primera División in 1910.
During the following decade they enjoyed a period of spectacular dominance in the league.
Here are the statistics from the 7 consecutive seasons in which Racing Club won league titles:

	P	W	D	L	F	A
1913	20	17	1	2	52	6
1914	12	11	1	0	42	7
1915	25	23	2	0	96	5
1916	21	15	4	2	39	10
1917	20	16	3	1	58	4
1918	19	17	2	0	49	9
1919	13	13	0	0	43	10

totals	130	112	13	5	379	51
		86%			2.91	0.39

1913-18: Asociación Argentina de Football (up until there were 2 Leagues, Asociación Argentina de Football and Federación Argentina de Football these merged in 1915)

1919: Asociación Amateurs de Football (this was a dissident league)

Ohaco

The leading crack at Racing during this era was Alberto Ohaco. In 11 seasons at the club he won 19 trophies, including 8 league championships (7 in succession). He was league top scorer for 4 seasons in a row (1912-1915). In all he scored 244 goals in 278 league matches.

↧

Sunderland & Sunderland Albion

December 30, 2014, 10:32 am

≫ Next: Ferencváros Xmas and New Year tour, 1911-12

≪ Previous: Racing Club de Avellaneda

Albion

Sunderland AFC joined The Football League for the 1890–91 season, the first 'new' club (ie not one of the original 12- they replaced Stoke) to join since the inauguration of the league in 1888. Their first 5 seasons in League football were a spectacular success:

1890–91- 7th
1891–92- champions
1892–93- champions
1893–94- 2nd
1894–95- champions
And yet, even as the seeds of this strength were being sown, there was a challenge to Sunderland's position as the principal team in the town.
Sunderland had been founded in 1879 as Sunderland and District Teachers' Association Football Club, by James Allan, a Scotsman. Sunderland first played competitive football in 1884 (entering the FA Cup).
The 1888 a rift occurred between Sunderland and James Allan (who was by then club treasurer). Allan and a number of other members were disheartened by the way the club was developing. Something of a 'final straw' was the FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough in December 1887. Sunderland won the tie 4-2 in a thrilling replay but were subsequently disqualified for fielding players who did not meet the FA's stringent guidelines on the use of professionals. The players in question, Monaghan, Richardson and Hastings had recently been signed from Scotland, and did not meet the eligibility criteria.
Charles Alcock issued a telegram on 29th December confirming Sunderland's expulsion.

Sunderland Daily Echo 28.12.87

James Allan

James Allan was instrumental in the founding of a new club, Sunderland Albion, in March 1888. Several former Sunderland players were to feature for Albion.

Here is a summary of their rather short existence:

Season	FA Cup	Football Alliance	Northern League
1888-89	R1
1889-90	R1 disq.	3rd
1890-91	R2	2nd	3rd
1891-92	R2		6th

Acknowledgements to F.C.H.D

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1888-89.

It could be argued that during this stage of Albion's existence the conduct of Sunderland was entirely designed to deprive their new neighbours of funds. At this point Albion were still playing on an unenclosed ground ( at Blue House Field, one of Sunderland's former homes) and not charging admission. They needed funds to establish themselves commercially, and there was also a possibility that Albion could have taken over Newcastle Road. Sunderland delayed moving to their new ground for this very reason.

In December 1888 the teams were drawn to face each other in both the FA Cup (4th Qualifying Round) and the Durham County Cup.
Sunderland withdrew from both competitions, claiming that they couldn't field a strong team, their Scottish professionals still being ineligible on residency grounds.
It is possible, however, that the refusal to play Albion was motivated by a reluctance to give them a good payday.
In fact, when public pressure led to the arrangement of 2 'friendlies' Sunderland would only play on the condition that the gate receipts went to charity.
The eagerly awaited matches took place in December 1888 and January 1889:

01.12.88
Sunderland	2	0	Sunderland Albion
Davison, A.Peacock
		Newcastle Road, attendance: c 15,000
W. Kirtley	GK		Angus
J. Oliver	RB		McFarlane
R. McDermid	LB		Munro
McKechnie	RH		Richardson
J. McLauchlan	CH		Moore
Gibson	LH		J. Stewart
J. Smith	OR		Kilpatrick
A. Davison	IR		S. Stewart
Breckonridge	CF		McClellan
W. Peacock	IL		Gloag
A. Peacock	OL		Hastings

This was Albion's first defeat in 14 games.
The second match was reportedly played for a trophy:

12.01.89
Sunderland	3	2		Sunderland Albion
uk, uk, Breckonridge		uk, uk,
		Newcastle Road, attendance: c 10,000
Team unchanged.			Line up unknown but featured 2 loanees from Accrington- Barbour and Brand.

It was a controversial match that did nothing to reduce the ill feeling between the 2 parties.
Albion were 2-0 up at half time, but Sunderland rallied and drew level. With 2 minutes remaining Albion goalkeeper Angus made a clearance that cannoned off Breckonridge and, according to many witnesses, flew over the crossbar. Referee Mr Stacey of Sheffield awarded a goal (this was in the pre-net era of course). Albion's players left the field in protest. Mr Stacey waited until the 90 minutes was up and blew for time.
Supporters expressed their disapproval of Albion's conduct by attacking them with a barrage of stones both at the pavillion and as they left the ground in their transport. James Allan ( now secretary of Albion) was one of 2 people to sustain serious injuries, a stone striking him in the eyeball.

The Newcastle Courant 19.01.89

In the 1889-90 season Albion were disqualified from the FA Cup. Having beaten Bootle 3-1 away, they faced a protest, which was upheld, that they had fielded ineligible players. Unsurprisingly the 2 players involved were Scottish.

Sawers was not registered with the club and McKechnie was also deemed ineligible. I don't understand the rationale given by contemporary press reports that he was ineligible having 'played against Port Glasgow Athletic'.

Albion made unsuccessful attempts to join the Football League in 1889, 1890 and 1891. They withdrew their application in 1892. Their repeated failure to be elevated to a more lucrative level ultimately led to their demise in August 1892.

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1892.

In the weeks leading up to the 1892 meetings there was something of a thaw in relations between the clubs. The chairman of Sunderland had attended an Albion match at Hendon, and Albion officials had travelled to watch Sunderland play Villa in the Cup semi final at Bramall Lane.

18.04.92
Sunderland	6	1	Sunderland Albion
Campbell, J. Hannah (3) , Miller,Smith		Gillespie
		Newcastle Road , attendance 10,000
E. Doig	GK		W. Kirtley
T. Porteous	RB		J. Dewar
D. Gow	LB		J. Rae
H. Wilson	RH		G. King
W.Gibson	CH		W. Crozier
J. Murray	LH		P. McCracken
J. Hannah	OR		J. Mackie
J. Smith	IR		J. Gillespie
J.M Campbell	CF		R. Buchanan
J. Miller	IL		J. Strachan
D. Hannah	OL		J. Burns

The press noted that former favorite 'Stonewall' Kirtley was given a particularly warm reception by the Sunderland supporters. He was, according to the Sunderland Echo, the only Sunderland man in either team.

The second match was affected by bad weather, which kept the attendance down and also led to the game being played as 2 halves of 40 minutes each.

27.04.92
Sunderland Albion	0	8	Sunderland
		Scott (2), Campbell (3), J.Hannah, D. Hannah,?
Blue House Field Hendon, attendance 3,000
W. Kirtley	GK		E. Doig
J. Dewar	RB		T. Porteous
J. Rae	LB		J. Murray
G. King	RH		H. Wilson
W. Crozier	CH		J.R Auld
P. McCracken	LH		W.Gibson
J. Mackie	OR		J. Hannah
J. Gillespie	IR		D. Hannah
R. Buchanan	CF		J.M Campbell
J. Strachan	IL		J. Miller
J. Burns	OL		J. Scott

Sunderland Albion were financially dependent on their main backers, The Wear Glass Company. The Company itself was under pressure as a result of a workers' strike. In August 1892, having withdrawn their application to join the Football League, Albion's AGM decided to wind up the club. Their demise came in the summer that separated 2 League Championship winning seasons for Sunderland.

↧

Ferencváros Xmas and New Year tour, 1911-12

January 1, 2015, 9:23 am

≫ Next: William Ralf Dean - 60 goals

≪ Previous: Sunderland & Sunderland Albion

In 1911 December Ferencváros embarked on a tour that took them to Germany and England. The Budapest press was cynical about the tour, fearing that Ferencváros' reputation (and therefore the reputation of Hungarian football as a whole) would not be enhanced.
5 of the party, including Imre Schlosser, joined in Munich, where they had been representing Hungary in a 4-1 win over Germany.
After 4 high scoring victories in Germany the Hungarians sailed to England where they were greeted by representatives of the FA and Vivian Woodward. the high point was considered a win over Woking in England.
Woking had joined the Isthmian League that season (placing them among leading southern Amateurs such as West Norwood, Nunhead, Dulwich Hamlet and London Caledonians). Ferencváros took a 2-0 lead in heavy conditions, which were remarked to hamper the visitors' passing style. The game was ended prematurely due to theses adverse conditions.

Ferencváros lost their final match 4-1 against English Wanderers (a strong amateur selection featuring Olympians such as Berry, Hoare and Woodard) . The tourists were also guests at an amateur international in which England beat Wales 10-0.

Incidentally, the attendances for the 2 fixtures in England were not great- 800 at Woking and only 1000 at Stamford Bridge.

Ferencváros at Woking

News of Ferencváros' successes had been warmly received in Budapest, and the team returned home to a triumphal reception.

24.12.11	Viktoria Hamburg	3	5	Ferencváros	Hamburg
25.12.11	Bremen	0	5	Ferencváros	Bremen
30.12.11	Hertha BSC	2	4	Ferencváros	Berlin
01.01.12	BFC Preussen	2	7	Ferencváros	Berlin
08.01.12	Woking	2	3	Ferencváros	Woking
10.01.12	English Wanderers	4	1	Ferencváros	Stamford Bridge

P	W	D	L	F	A
6	5	0	1	25	13

Scorers:

Schlosser 9

Pataki 5

Weisz 2

Koródy 6

Borbás 2

1 own goal

↧

William Ralf Dean - 60 goals

January 3, 2015, 9:05 am

≫ Next: Old Trafford 1910

≪ Previous: Ferencváros Xmas and New Year tour, 1911-12

A record that will never be broken.
During the course of the 1927-28 domestic season Bill Dean of Everton, known (to his displeasure) as Dixie, scored 60 League goals for Everton. He also scored 3 FA Cup goals and 4 goals in international friendlies.
During the record breaking season he scored 7 hattricks and was responsible for 58.8% of Everton's League goals (102).
Everton had sealed the championship before the final game , and 48,715 fans were at Goodison to watch the Arsenal match. Dean was on 57 goals. Arsenal went ahead after 2 minutes - Dean equalised a minute later, and in the 6th minute scored from the spot after he was fouled. The record-breaking goal came in the 82nd minute, Dean heading in from a corner (a third of his 431 career goals were headed).

	Football League Division One					Goal
27.08.27	Everton	4	0	The Wednesday	Goodison	1
	Dean scored Everton’s 3^rd.
03.09.27	Middlesbrough	4	2	Everton	Ayresome Park	2
	1926-27 59 goal sensation George Camsell bagged all 4 of Boro’s goals.
05.09.27	Bolton Wanderers	1	1	Everton	Burnden Park	3

10.09.27	Everton	5	2	Birmingham	Goodison	5

14.09.27	Everton	2	2	Bolton Wanderers	Goodison	6

17.09.27	Newcastle United	2	2	Everton	St James’	8

24.09.27	Everton	2	2	Huddersfield Town	Goodison	10

01.10.27	Tottenham Hotspur	1	3	Everton	White Hart Lane	12

08.10.27	Everton	5	2	Manchester United	Goodison	17

15.10.27	Everton	1	1	Liverpool	Goodison
	Dean’s first blank of the season, game 10.
29.10.27	Portsmouth	1	3	Everton	Fratton Park	20

05.11.27	Everton	7	1	Leicester City	Goodison	23

12.11.27	Derby County	0	3	Everton	Baseball Ground	25

19.11.27	Everton	0	1	Sunderland	Goodison

26.11.27	Bury	2	3	Everton	Gigg Lane	27

03.12.27	Everton	0	0	Sheffield United	Goodison

10.12.27	Aston Villa	2	3	Everton	Villa Park	30

17.12.27	Everton	4	1	Burnley	Goodison

24.12.27	Arsenal	3	2	Everton	Highbury	31

26.12.27	Everton	2	0	Cardiff City	Goodison	33
	Dean’s previous best season tally was 32 (1925-26).
27.12.27	Cardiff City	2	0	Everton	Ninian Park

31.12.27	The Wednesday	1	2	Everton	Hillsborough	35

02.01.28	Blackburn Rovers	4	2	Everton	Ewood Park	37

07.01.28	Everton	3	1	Middlesbrough	Goodison	39
	Dean passed Bert Freeman’s club record of 38 goals, set in the 1908-09 season.
21.01.28	Birmingham	2	2	Everton	St Andrew’s

04.02.28	Huddersfield Town	4	1	Everton	Leeds Road	40

11.02.28	Everton	2	5	Tottenham Hotspur	Goodison

25.02.28	Liverpool	3	3	Everton	Anfield	43

03.03.28	West Ham United	0	0	Everton	Boleyn Ground

14.03.28	Manchester United	1	0	Everton	Old Trafford

17.03.28	Leicester City	1	0	Everton	Filbert Street

24.03.28	Everton	2	2	Derby County	Goodison	45
	The previous record for most goals in a First Division season was 43, scored by Ted Harper of Blackburn Rovers in 1925-26.
06.04.28	Everton	4	1	Blackburn Rovers	Goodison	47

07.04.28	Everton	1	1	Bury	Goodison	48

14.04.28	Sheffield United	1	3	Everton	Bramall Lane	50

18.04.28	Everton	3	0	Newcastle United	Goodison	51

21.04.28	Everton	3	2	Aston Villa	Goodison	53

24.04.28	Burnley	3	5	Everton	Turf Moor	57

05.05.28	Everton	3	3	Arsenal	Goodison	60
	George Camsell scored 59 goals for Middlesbrough in Division 2 in 1926-27.
	FA Cup
14.01.28	Preston North End	0	3	Everton	Deepdale	1

28.01.28	Arsenal	4	3	Everton	Highbury	3


	Internationals
22.10.27	Ireland	2	0	England	Windsor Park

28.11.27	England	1	2	Wales	Turf Moor

31.03.28	England	1	5	Scotland	Wembley

17.05.28	France	1	5	England	Colombes	2

19.05.28	Belgium	1	3	England	Antwerp	4

↧

Old Trafford 1910

January 4, 2015, 12:00 pm

≫ Next: Shorts

≪ Previous: William Ralf Dean - 60 goals

The Manchester Courier, 21.02.10

Its not just teams and individual players that make up the rich fabric of football history, but places too, iconic venues.

Manchester United's Old Trafford ground is one of the great venues in World Football.

Opened in 1910, Old Trafford was Manchester United / Newton Heath's 3rd home.

From 1878 to 1893 Newton Heath played at North Road. The highest attendance recorded at this ground was approximately 15,000 for a Division 1 game against Sunderland (04.03.93).

The second ground was Bank Street. The capacity was 50,000. In the last match United played there, however, the attendance was just 5,000 (22.01.10).

The opening match at Old Trafford (19.02.10) drew a crowd in excess of 50,000.

In 1911 58,000 watched the replayed FA Cup Final between Bradford City and Newcastle United. Old Trafford's 2nd FA Cup Final, the Khaki Final of 1915 (Sheffield United v Chelsea) had an attendance of 49,557.

70,504 saw United lose 3-1 to Aston Villa (27.12.20) and the ground's first international (England 0 Scotland 1, 17.04.26) was attended by a crowd of

49,429.

Sandy Turnbull scored the first ever goal at Old Trafford, for United in a 4-3 loss to Liverpool.

↧

Shorts

January 6, 2015, 1:29 pm

≫ Next: Racing Club de Tunis

≪ Previous: Old Trafford 1910

The male stars of the 1920s certainly didn't wear shorts that brief, even in progressive Argentina. There was always an element of titillation and novelty around the coverage of the womens' game.

↧

Racing Club de Tunis

January 7, 2015, 12:14 pm

≫ Next: Coppa Italia 1922

≪ Previous: Shorts

Initially founded as Football Club de Tunis in 1904, Racing is Tunisia's oldest club.
The first league in Tunisia was inaugurated in 1907.
Initially 5 clubs participated: Racing Club de Tunis, Football Club de Tunis (not connected with the club of 1904), Sporting Club de Tunis, Lycée Carnot and Collège Sadiki (the last 2 were school sides).
During the following 2 years membership of the league changed, and no champion was decided until 1909. By this time the league had grown to 7 members , Sporting, Racing and Football being joined by Emile Loubet Club, S.C. Bizerte, Alliance Sportive and British Football Club.
Racing eventually emerged as champions, defeating Sporting in a play off.
Tunisian football lapses into obscurity then until 1920, when Racing won a precursor of the Coupe d'Afrique du Nord (contested by teams from Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco). No Tunisian side succeeded in official Coupe d'Afrique du Nord tournaments.
Racing won their domestic league in 1921-22, and were runners up to the splendidly named Avant Garde in the first edition of the Tunisian Cup in 1922-23.

↧

Coppa Italia 1922

January 10, 2015, 11:42 am

≫ Next: Sunderland & Sunderland Albion

≪ Previous: Racing Club de Tunis

The Coppa Italia is a relatively new competition that just about comes into our pre 1937 view of World Football. Regular stagings date from 1935-36 (Torino were the winners, followed in 1936-37 by Genoa).
Earlier editions of the Coppa had been held in 1926-27 and 1922.
In 1926-27 the competition had been abandoned due to fixture congestion. 111 entrants had been reduced to 34 with only Baracca Lugo, Pro Vercelli and Carpi through to the next round when the tournament was closed in June.
The first Coppa had been played in 1922.
Italian domestic football at the time was a sprawling regionalised affair. 2 rival editions of the Prima Categoria featured no less than 105 clubs! The Coppa attracted 37 entrants, 23 from the Prima Categoria, 12 from Promozione (the 2nd tier) and 2 from Terza Categoria (3rd tier).
The winners of the inaugural Coppa Italia were Vado. Founded in 1913 and based in the industrial port of Vado Ligure, 60 km from Genoa the club have spent the majority of their history in the 4th tier. In 1921-22 they were enjoying success in the Ligurian regional league.

The cup run was as follows:

02 .04.22	R1	Vado	4	3	Fiorente Genova	aet
09 .04.22	R2	Vado	5	1	Molassana
23.04.22	R3	Vado	2	0	Juventus Italia
18.06.22	QF	Pro Livorno	0	1	Vado
25.06.22	SF	Vado	1	0	Libertas Firenze	aet
15.07.22	Final	Vado	1	0	Udinese	aet

Levratto (center)

The final was 0-0 at 90 minutes and the extra time was played on a 'golden goal ' basis. The light was failing and referee, Sgr. Pasquinelli was on the verge of calling a halt to proceedings when 17 year old Virgilio Levratto cut inside from the left, beat 2 men and sent a 20 yard rocket into the top left corner of the net. It was the 127th minute of the game.
Levratto went on to play for a number of top flight sides (Hellas Verona , Genoa , Ambrosiana and Lazio ).
He represented Italy 28 times scoring 11 goals and appeared at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.
Levratto was known as Sfondareti (“net breaker”) due to the venom of his shooting. He once knocked the Luxembourg goalkeeper out cold with a shot.

↧

Sunderland & Sunderland Albion

December 30, 2014, 10:32 am

≫ Next: Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça

≪ Previous: Coppa Italia 1922

Albion

Sunderland Daily Echo 28.12.87

James Allan

Season	FA Cup	Football Alliance	Northern League
1888-89	R1
1889-90	R1 disq.	3rd
1890-91	R2	2nd	3rd
1891-92	R2		6th

Acknowledgements to F.C.H.D

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1888-89.

It could be argued that during this stage of Albion's existence the conduct of Sunderland was entirely designed to deprive their new neighbours of funds. At this point Albion were still playing on an unenclosed ground ( at Blue House Field, one of Sunderland's former homes) and not charging admission. They needed funds to establish themselves commercially, and there was also a possibility that Albion could have taken over Newcastle Road. Sunderland delayed moving to their new ground for this very reason.

01.12.88
Sunderland	2	0	Sunderland Albion
Davison, A.Peacock
		Newcastle Road, attendance: c 15,000
W. Kirtley	GK		Angus
J. Oliver	RB		McFarlane
R. McDermid	LB		Munro
McKechnie	RH		Richardson
J. McLauchlan	CH		Moore
Gibson	LH		J. Stewart
J. Smith	OR		Kilpatrick
A. Davison	IR		S. Stewart
Breckonridge	CF		McClellan
W. Peacock	IL		Gloag
A. Peacock	OL		Hastings

This was Albion's first defeat in 14 games.
The second match was reportedly played for a trophy:

12.01.89
Sunderland	3	2		Sunderland Albion
uk, uk, Breckonridge		uk, uk,
		Newcastle Road, attendance: c 10,000
Team unchanged.			Line up unknown but featured 2 loanees from Accrington- Barbour and Brand.

The Newcastle Courant 19.01.89

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1892.

18.04.92
Sunderland	6	1	Sunderland Albion
Campbell, J. Hannah (3) , Miller,Smith		Gillespie
		Newcastle Road , attendance 10,000
E. Doig	GK		W. Kirtley
T. Porteous	RB		J. Dewar
D. Gow	LB		J. Rae
H. Wilson	RH		G. King
W.Gibson	CH		W. Crozier
J. Murray	LH		P. McCracken
J. Hannah	OR		J. Mackie
J. Smith	IR		J. Gillespie
J.M Campbell	CF		R. Buchanan
J. Miller	IL		J. Strachan
D. Hannah	OL		J. Burns

The second match was affected by bad weather, which kept the attendance down and also led to the game being played as 2 halves of 40 minutes each.

27.04.92
Sunderland Albion	0	8	Sunderland
		Scott (2), Campbell (3), J.Hannah, D. Hannah,?
Blue House Field Hendon, attendance 3,000
W. Kirtley	GK		E. Doig
J. Dewar	RB		T. Porteous
J. Rae	LB		J. Murray
G. King	RH		H. Wilson
W. Crozier	CH		J.R Auld
P. McCracken	LH		W.Gibson
J. Mackie	OR		J. Hannah
J. Gillespie	IR		D. Hannah
R. Buchanan	CF		J.M Campbell
J. Strachan	IL		J. Miller
J. Burns	OL		J. Scott

↧

Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça

January 12, 2015, 2:25 pm

≫ Next: The Welsh Football Academy: T.E.Thomas and Chirk AAA

≪ Previous: Sunderland & Sunderland Albion

Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça was Brazil's first goalkeeper.
Marcos had featured in 3 games during the pre Seleção era, playing against Argentina (1912), Portugal (1913) and Corinthians (England) 1913. He also appeared in the match with Exeter City in 1914. At the time he was playing for América, winning the Campeonato Carioca in 1913. His first club had been the splendidly named Haddock Lobo.

When Brazil played their first official international (versus Argentina, 20.09.14) the elegant Marcos was again the goalkeeper of choice. By this time he had joined Fluminense. He played in 10 of Brazil's first 24 official matches (and another 5 unofficial games) retiring at the conclusion of the 1922 South American Championship.

Marcos was a 4 time Campeonato Carioca winner and won the South American Championship with Brazil in 1919 and 1922.
Outside football he was an eminent historian specialising in Brazil in the 18th century, publishing works right up until his death, aged 93, in 1988.

↧

The Welsh Football Academy: T.E.Thomas and Chirk AAA

January 13, 2015, 10:51 am

≫ Next: Finland 1912

≪ Previous: Marcos Carneiro de Mendonça

Chirk is a village between Wrexham and Oswestry close to the England Wales border. In 1891 the population was 2,272.
Between 1884 and 1907 the village club, Chirk Amateur Athletic Association Football Club, provided 20 Welsh internationals , whilst another 4 natives of Chirk were capped whilst playing for other clubs.
The club also won the Welsh Cup 5 times between 1887 and 1894.
The success of the small mining community as a breeding ground for top class footballers is largely due to the efforts of one man, T.E. Thomas.

T.E. Thomas

Thomas was born in Ystalafera, South Wales in 1853. He was a schoolmaster at Chirk National School.

In 1876 when the locals decided to form a club, Thomas was appointed secretary (he also played for the club, alongside employees of the local coal mines).

Thomas indoctrinated his pupils in the importance of accurate passing, ball control and keeping the ball on the ground. These were very progressive ideas at the time.

In 1890 Thomas became became president of the Football Association of Wales.

Chirk AAA's Cup Winning teams:

1886-87	1887-88	1889-90	1891-92	1893-94
E Povey				J Morgan
T Wynne		E Roberts	G O Postle	E Powell
'Di' Jones		J Mates
H Owen	J Jones	J Rogers	W P Jones	J Williams
J Owen	Wise	J Davies	R C Jones	G Williams
J Jones			E Morris	H Morgan
Billy Owen
P Griffiths			E James
T Williams		J Butler		W H Meredith
G Owen		H Morris	G Owen	H Roberts
G Griffiths			W Egan	A Lockley

Chirk AAA players in the Welsh International XI:

17.03.84	Wales 0 England 4 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Charles Conde (1) Peter Griffiths (2) Billy Owen (3)
29.03.84	Scotland 4 Wales 1 (Cathkin Park, Glasgow)	Charles Conde

11.03.85	Ireland 2 Wales 8 (Ballynafeigh, Belfast)	Billy Owen

26.02.87	England 4 Wales 0 (The Oval)	Billy Owen

12.03.87	Ireland 4 Wales 1 (Oldpark Avenue, Belfast)	George Griffiths (4)

04.02.88	England 5 Wales 1 (Nantwich Road, Crewe)	Peter Griffiths Billy Owen
03.03.88	Wales 11 Ireland 0 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Di Jones (5)

10.03.88	Scotland 5 Wales 1 (Easter Road, Edinburgh)	Di Jones George Owen (6)
23.02.89	England 4 Wales 1 (Victoria Ground, Stoke)	Billy Owen

15.04.89	Wales 0 Scotland 0 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Billy Owen

27. 04.89	Ireland 1 Wales 3 ( Ballynafeigh, Belfast)	Billy Owen

08.02.90	Wales 5 Ireland 2 (Old Racecourse, Shrewsbury)	Peter Griffiths Billy Owen
22.03.90	Scotland 5 Wales 0 (Underwood Park, Paisley)	Peter Griffiths Billy Owen
07.02.91	Ireland 7 Wales 2 (Ulsterville, Belfast)	Peter Griffiths Jack Mates (7) Joe Davies (8) Billy Owen
07.03.91	England 4 Wales 1 (Newcastle Road, Sunderland)	Billy Owen

21.03.91	Wales 3 Scotland 4 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Billy Owen

05.03.92	Wales 0 England 2 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Billy Owen

26.03.92	Scotland 6 Wales 1 (Tynecastle, Edinburgh)	Billy Owen William Egan (9)
13.03.93	England 6 Wales 0 (Victoria Ground, Stoke)	Edward Morris (10) Edwin James (11) Jack Butler (12)
18.03.93	Wales 0 Scotland 8 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	George Williams (13) Edward Morris Billy Owen Jack Butler
08.04.93	Ireland 4 Wales 3 (Cliftonville Ground, Belfast)	Edward Morris Billy Owen Jack Butler George Owen Edwin James
24.02.94	Wales 4 Ireland 1 (St Helen’s Swansea)	Edwin James

12.03.94	Wales 1 England 5 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Edwin James

24.03.94	Scotland 5 Wales 2 (Rugby Park, Kilmarnock)	George Williams Edwin James
	Scotland 5 Wales 2 (Rugby Park, Kilmarnock)	George Williams Edwin James
16.03.95	Ireland 2 Wales 2 (Solitude, Belfast)	George Williams

18.03.95	England 1 Wales 1 (Queen’s Club, London)	George Williams

23. 03.95	Wales 2 Scotland 2 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	George Williams

20.03.97	Wales 2 Scotland 2 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Jack Mates

29.03.97	England 4 Wales 0 (Bramall Lane, Sheffield)	Jack Mates

19.02.98	Wales 0 Ireland 1 (The Oval, Llandudno)	John Morris (14)
		George Williams
		Albert Lockley (15)
19.03.98	Scotland 5 Wales 2 (Fir Park, Motherwell)	Edwin James
28.03.98	Wales 0 England 3 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Edwin James

04. 03.99	Ireland 1 Wales 0 (Grosvenor Park, Belfast)	Edwin James

03.02.1900	Scotland 5 Wales 2 (Pittodrie, Aberdeen)	Charlie Morris (16) Sam Meredith (17)
24.02.1900	Wales 2 Ireland 0 (The Oval, Llandudno)	Charlie Morris Robert Morris (18)

02.03.01	Wales 1 Scotland 1 (Racecourse, Wrexham)	Sam Meredith

18.03.01	England 6 Wales 0 (St James's Park, Newcastle)	Sam Meredith

23.03.01	Ireland 0 Wales 1 (Solitude, Belfast)	Sam Meredith Robert Morris
15.03.02	Scotland 5 Wales 1 (Cappielow Park, Greenock)	Robert Morris

28. 03.03	Ireland 2 Wales 0 (Solitude, Belfast)	William Wynn (19)

23.02.07	Ireland 2 Wales 3 (Solitude, Belfast)	Arthur H Hughes (20)

The rise of professionalism in the 1880's saw an increased movement of players away from the villages of North East Wales into the North West of England and the Midlands. Examples among the players listed are Joe Davies, who moved on to Everton, and Di Jones, later of Bolton Wanderers and Manchester City.

In addition to the 20 players above, the following Chirk players gained international honours whilst playing for other clubs:

Jack Owen (Newton Heath) brother of Billy Owen, 1 cap (1892).

Hugh Morris (Chirk, Ardwick, Sheff Utd, Manchester City, Grimsby Town) 3 appearances for Wales (1894–97).

Billy Meredith (Chirk, Northwich Victoria, Manchester City, Manchester United) 48 Wales caps (1895–1920).

Lot Jones (Chirk, Druids, Manchester City) 20 Wales caps (1905–20).

↧

Finland 1912

January 14, 2015, 12:49 pm

≫ Next: Football Post

≪ Previous: The Welsh Football Academy: T.E.Thomas and Chirk AAA

Up until 1917 the Grand Duchy of Finland (Великое княжество Финляндское) was a part of the Russian Empire. The Head of State was the Emperor of Russia (Nikolai II), under the title Grand Duke of Finland. Finland did, however, enjoy a certain amount of autonomy.
In the sporting domain Finland joined FIFA in 1908 (though they didn't play an international until 1911) and Russia joined in 1912.
Finland had played 2 friendlies prior to the 1912 Olympics, both heavy defeats (5-2 and 7-1) to Sweden in October 1911 and June 1912.
2 days after the defeat to Sweden in Stockholm Finland played their first competitive international. Their opponents were Italy (7 previous internationals and 1 victory).
Watched by a modest crowd of 600, the match was refereed by Herr Hugo Meisl.
20 year old Jarl Öhman put the Finns ahead in the 2nd minute. By the 25th minute Italy had taken a 2-1 lead. Eino Soinio, Finland's 17 year old captain, equalized in the 40th minute.There were no goals in the 2nd half. Extra time saw a Bror Wiberg goal (105') secure the win for Finland.
Next up was a 2nd round match with Russia, played the following day (30.06.12) at 10:00 am! Finland made only one change, and even Wickström, who had missed the 2nd half of the Italy game with an injury, played less than 24 hrs later.A crowd of 2-300 saw goals from Wiberg and Öhman give Finland a 2-1 win.
This set up a semi final against Great Britain (England Amateurs)- an unenviable prospect as England Amateurs had only lost 1 game in the previous 6 years and routinely posted double figure scores.
Finland fell behind to a 2nd minute own goal. Bradford City's Harold Walden added a 2nd goal in the 7th minute. Finland then put in a respectable appearance and it wasn't until the 77th minute that Walden scored a 3rd. Inevitably Vivian Woodward got a goal as Great Britain won 4-0.

Jarl 'Lali'Öhman

Eino Soinio

This left the Finns with one more game to contest- a play off for the bronze medal against The Netherlands.
Netherlands were coached by England veteran Edgar Chadwick, There was no scoring in the first quarter, but then Netherlands, and Jan Vos in particular, ran riot. It was 4-0 at the break and Netherlands ran out 9-0 winners, with Vos getting 5.

Finland only played one more international before the outbreak of the war in 1914, losing 4-3 to Sweden in Stockholm (24.05.14).

↧

Football Post

January 15, 2015, 12:02 pm

≫ Next: Ray Braine

≪ Previous: Finland 1912

Nottingham Evening Post, 1905

↧

Ray Braine

January 17, 2015, 1:01 am

≫ Next: Associação de Futebol de Lisboa - Brazil 1913

≪ Previous: Football Post

Up until 1930 the way in which Belgian clubs got around the strict amatuer rules was to set their players up as cafe owners. Ray Braine, who had won 4 championships with Beerschot (Antwerp), scoring 141 goals in 142 games in his 8 year spell at the club, followed this route. The Belgian Federation then introduced a rule that banned players from being cafe proprietors unless their parents had been in the business for 5 years.
In 1930 Braine decided to try his hand abroad in order to earn money from football without resorting to subterfuge, He was set to join London club Clapton Orient, but the British government operated a very strict control on foreign labour, and would not consider allowing a foreign national to enter the country to work as a professional footballer.
Braine turned instead to Czechoslovakia, joining Sparta Prague. He was very successful in Prague, winning 2 league championships and a Mitropa Cup. The Czechs offered him a small fortune to adopt Czech citizenship, but he declined, returning to Belgium in 1936.
He made 54 appearances for the national team, scoring 26 goals.

↧

Associação de Futebol de Lisboa - Brazil 1913

January 18, 2015, 9:37 am

≫ Next: A humiliation that staggered the football world: Swansea Town v Blackburn Rovers- 1915

≪ Previous: Ray Braine

Some team photographs of the Portuguese XI taken during their visit to Brazil.

In 1913 Botafogo moved into their new ground, Estádio General Severiano. The first game at the stadium was played on 13.05.13, a 1-0 win over Flamengo with a goal from Mimi Sodre.
Botafogo were keen to celebrate the acquisition of their new home with a special eve. This is what prompted them (in 1912) to invite the Football Association of Lisbon to send a touring party to Rio. The arrangements were handled by journalist Duarte Rodrigues of Lisbon's Tiro e Sport magazine.
Football in Portugal was amatuer and the trip required a large commitment in terms of time and expense.
Several players who would have featured on merit were unavailable. The Football Association of Lisbon assembled the following squad for the tour:

GK	Eduardo Luís Pinto Basto (secretary)	Internacional
HB	Boaventura Belo	Internacional
F	João Bentes	Sporting
D	Henrique Costa	Benfica
D	Amadeu Cruz	Sporting
HB	Cosme Damião (captain)	Benfica
F	José Domingos Fernandes	Benfica
D/HB	Carlos Figueiredo	Benfica
F/ HB	Álvaro Gaspar	Benfica
F	Artur José Pereira	Benfica
F	Cândido Rosa Rodrigues	Sporting
GK	Augusto Paiva Simões	Benfica
F	Carlos Sobral	Internacional
F	António Stromp	Sporting
F	Francisco Stromp	Sporting
F	Luís Vieira	Benfica

Cosme Damião

Liga Metropolitana XI ('Brazil') 17.07.13

Botafogo 1913

13.07.13	British XI (Rio Cricket/ Paysandu)	3	1	Portugal XI	Estádio General Severiano, Rio de Janeiro
14.07.13	Combinado Carioca	1	0	Portugal XI
17.07.13	Brazil XI (Liga Metropolitana de Sports Atléticos)	0	0	Portugal XI
20.07.13	Botafogo	0	1	Portugal XI
24.07.13	Palmeiras	2	2	Portugal XI	Velódromo de São Paulo
25.07.13	Mackenzie	5	1	Portugal XI
27.07.13	Paulistano	0	1	Portugal XI

P	W	D	L	F	A
7	2	2	3	6	11

Goals: Artur José Pereira (3), Carlos Sobral (2) , António Stromp (1)

Botafogo vs Portuguese XI

Paulistano 27.07.13

Vieira

Benfica's Luis Vieira stayed on in Rio and played for Botafogo, their first overseas player.

He remained in Brazil until 1916.

↧

A humiliation that staggered the football world: Swansea Town v Blackburn Rovers- 1915

January 19, 2015, 12:49 pm

≫ Next: Alcántara for Spain

≪ Previous: Associação de Futebol de Lisboa - Brazil 1913

On Saturday Swansea City travel to Blackburn Rovers in the 4th round of The FA Cup.
When the 2 met in January 1915 for a first round FA Cup tie, the outcome was one of the biggest upsets in the history of British football.
Blackburn Rovers were a big, big club. Established 40 years previously they were founding members of The Football League. The previous season Rovers had won the Championship (their 2nd title). They had won the FA Cup 5 times. At the time of this match (09.01.15) they were 5th in Division 1.
Their line up featured 4 England internationals ( Crompton, Bradshaw, Latheron and Hodkinson) and 1 Scottish international ( Aitkenhead).
Crompton had played for England a remarkable 41 times ( a record which stood for 38 years), captaining on 21 occasions.
Rovers offered Swansea a large sum to switch the match to Ewood Park but the offer was declined and 16,000 people were at the Vetch to see the League champions.
Swansea Town were in the second division of the Southern League. They had only come into existence in 1912. Their line up that day was light on stars. Club captain Thomas Hewitt had played for Wales 8 times (1911-14). Captain for cup matches that season was Joe Bulcock The man who became a hero that day was a 16 year old Rugby player. Benny Benyon was only playing 'soccer' because Rugby was suspended during the war.
Blackburn attacked relentlessly from the outset, but in the 20th minute Swansea broke out of defence in a move, started and finished by Beynon, that covered the length of the pitch and gave the Swans an unlikely lead.
At half time Swansea were reduced to 10 men when Lock was injured.
Rovers bombarded the Swans goal in the 2nd half. They were awarded a penalty but remarkably Billy Bradshaw, who had scored with 36 consecutive spot kicks, shot wide. Harry Read went off injured and Swansea had to hold out for the last quarter of an hour with just 9 men.
It was, according to contemporary newspaper reports: A humiliation that staggered the football world.
As the photograph shows, Swansea Town were unique in having a strip in which jersey and knickers were of the same colour.
Benny Beynon returned to Rugby after the war and played for Wales, but in a ruling that highlights the stupidity of the way in which that game was administered, he was banned for professionalism on account of his Association football exploits. He went to Oldham as a Northern Union player.
Joe Bulcock (Town) and Eddie Latheron (Rovers) were both killed in the war.

Swansea Town		Blackburn Rovers
Hurst	GK	Alf Robinson
Tom Hewitt	RB	Bob Crompton
Joe Bulcock	LB	Tommy Suttie
John Duffy	RH	Bert Walmsley
Lock	CH	Percy Smith
Anderson	LH	Billy Bradshaw
Harry Read	OR	Alex McGhie
Brown	IR	Wattie Aitkenhead
Benny Beynon	CF	Johnny Orr
Gilboy	IL	Eddie Latherton
Amos Lloyd	OL	Joe Hodkinson

↧

Alcántara for Spain

January 20, 2015, 11:46 am

≫ Next: Sport-Magazin - August 1935

≪ Previous: A humiliation that staggered the football world: Swansea Town v Blackburn Rovers- 1915

Paulino Alcántara first represented Catalunya as an 18 year old in 1915. He also represented the Philippines in the 1917 Far Eastern Games. It is likely that he played in all 3 of the Philippines' games, the last of which was abandoned due to fighting.
On returning to Europe he continued to represent Catalunya.
He would have been expected to represent Spain when they made their entry into international football at the 1920 Olympics, but he was unavailable due to his medical studies.
Alcántara made his Spain debut in 1921. He played 5 internationals, scoring 6 goals:


09.10.21	Spain	2	0	Belgium	Bilbao
Alcántara captained Spain on his debut and scored both goals (55 & 80 min)
18.12.21	Spain	3	1	Portugal	Madrid
Alcántara scored Spain’s 2^nd and 3^rd (23 & 50 min)
20.04.22	France	0	4	Spain	Bordeaux
Captain for the 2^nd time, Alcántara scored the 2 opening goals (20 & 27 min)
04.02.23	Belgium	1	0	Spain	Antwerp

16.12.23	Spain	3	0	Portugal	Seville
Alcántara was captain, Español’s Zabala scored all 3 goals.

↧

Sport-Magazin - August 1935

January 22, 2015, 11:26 am

≫ Next: Fixtures 1869-70

≪ Previous: Alcántara for Spain

Ferencváros lost to Sparta in the Mitropa Cup final the month after this magazine appeared. They were runners up in the Hungarian league in the 1934-35 season, and won the Magyar Kupa.
This was the team, consisting of 11 Hungary internationals, that lined up in the semi final of the Mitropa Cup against Austria Vienna.
Kronenberger was also known as Lajos Korányi.
I really like József Háda's goalkeeper's jersey.

↧

Fixtures 1869-70

January 24, 2015, 1:52 am

≫ Next: Copa Julio Roca

≪ Previous: Sport-Magazin - August 1935

A fixture list of metropolitan matches from Bell’s Life in London and Sporting Chronicle (27.11. 1869). No distinction is made between the codes. In an exoticism sadly lost from the Association game, Wasps, Owls and Flamingoes feature alongside Pirates, Gipsies and Gitanoes.
Several of these clubs featured in the early years of the FA Cup. The legendary Wanderers were playing their home fixtures at The Oval cricket ground ( courtesy of Mr Alcock). CCC (Civil Service), Barnes and Royal Engineers still play. The Crystal Palace name survives, but it is an entirely different club.

↧

Copa Julio Roca

January 25, 2015, 12:07 pm

≫ Next: Smart Arridge

≪ Previous: Fixtures 1869-70

A very dapper Brazil -winners in 1914. Goalkeepers are different- Marcos sports a bow tie.

Copa Julio Roca was a very irregular competition in which Brazil played Argentina for a succession of different trophies.
During 'our' era (pre Northern Hemisphere summer 1937) it was contested 3 times.

1914
Argentina 0 Brazil 1
27.09.14 at Club Gimnasia y Esgrima, Buenos Aires. Attendance 17,000.
The Argentina side represented a dissident association, but FIFA recognizes the match as an official international (as does Brazil).
Rubens Salles scored the winner in the 13th minute.

Argentina		Brazil
Juan José Rithner	Porteño	Marcos	Fluminense
Diómedes Bernasconi	Estudiantes de La Plata	Píndaro	Flamengo
Carlos Galup Lanús	Estudiantes de La Plata	Nery	Flamengo
Ricardo Naón	Estudiantes de La Plata	Lagreca	AA São Bento
Ernesto Sande	Independiente	Rubens Salles	Paulistano
Santiago Sayanes	Gimnasia y Esgrima	Pernambuco	Fluminense
Juan José Lamas	Estudiantes de La Plata	Millon	Paulistano
Roberto Leonardi	Estudiantes de La Plata	Oswaldo Gomes	Fluminense
Antonio Piaggio	Club Atlético Atlanta	Barthô	Fluminense
Carlos Izaguirre	Colombia	Friedenreich	Ypiranga
Francisco Crespo	Tigre	Arnaldo	Paulistano

1922

Brazil 2-1 Argentina
22.10.22 at Parque Antarctica, São Paulo. Attendance 15.000
Francia put Argentina ahead after 17 minutes.
Two second half strikes from Gambarotta (aka Gamba) won it for the hosts.

Brazil		Argentina
Mesquita	Mack--Portuguesa	Américo Tesoriere	Boca Juniors
Grané	Corinthians de Jundiai	Adolfo Celli	Newell's Old Boys
Clodô	Paulistano	Pedro Castoldi	Sportivo Barracas
Abatte	Paulistano	Alfredo Chabrolín	Newell's Old Boys
Faragassi	Ypiranga	Ángel Médici	Boca Juniors
Nesi	São Cristóvão	Emilio Solari	Nueva Chicago
Leite de Castro	Botafogo	Julio Rivet	Club Del Plata
sub Brasileiro	Minas Gerais	Ángel Chiessa	Huracán
Zezé	Fluminense	José Gaslini	Alvear
Gambarotta	Corinthians	Juan Francia	Rosario Central
Tepet	Ypiranga	Marcelo de Césari	Boca Juniors
Osses	Ypiranga

The crowd at Parque Antarctica- a well turned out bunch.

1923
Argentina 2-0 Brazil
09.12.23 at Campo do Barracas Buenos Aires.
Dino scored an own goal, Cesareo Onzari got the second.

Argentina		Brazil
Américo Tesoriere	Boca Juniors	Nélson	Vasco da Gama
Ludovico Bidoglio	Boca Juniors	Pennaforte	Flamengo
Juan Carlos Iribarren	Argentinos Jrs	Alemão	Botafogo
Ángel Médici	Boca Juniors	Mica	Botafogo Bahia
Roberto Seregni	Racing Club de Avellaneda	sub Soda	Americano Campos
Emilio Solari	Nueva Chicago	Nesi	São Cristóvão
Adán Loizo	Huracán	Dino	Flamengo
Antonio Cerrotti	Boca Juniors	Paschoal	Vasco da Gama
Domingo Tarasconi	Boca Juniors	Zezé	Fluminense
Ángel Chiessa	Huracán	Nilo	Brasil
Cesareo Onzari	Huracán	Coelho	Fluminense
		Amaro	Goytacaz

Onzari

↧

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1888-89.

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1892.

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1888-89.

Sunderland v Sunderland Albion, 1892.

Latest Images