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SCOTTISH FOOTBALL REMINISCENCES

AND

SKETCHES. 

BY D. D. BONE

_GLASGOW. _

GLASGOW:JOHN MENZIES & CO. , 15 DRURY STREET. HAY NISBET & CO. , 25 JAMAICA STREET. EDINBURGH: JOHN MENZIES & CO. , HANOVER STREET. 1890. 

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Results of all important matches received by telegram. Secretaries ofClubs are invited to forward these. 

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PREFACE. 

In bringing my first edition of Football Reminiscences and Sketchesbefore the public, I do so with a sense of profound regard for the gameand its players, and heartfelt gratitude to numerous friends--some ofwhom, alas! are no more--for advice and assistance. If my readersconsider it worthy of one who has devoted a quarter of a century inattaining that experience necessary to criticise the players of the deadpast and those of the living present with fidelity, I will have gainedsomething to be remembered, and be amply repaid for what I have done toassist the spread of the Association game in Scotland. Many of mysketches, under different names, have already appeared in variousjournals, including the _Daily_ and _Weekly Mail_, _Bell's Life inLondon_, and the "Scottish Football Annual, " but I have remodelled someof them very considerably, and indulge in the hope that they may whileaway an hour or so at the fireside of the Player and Spectator after abig Cup Tie or other interesting match. 

THE AUTHOR. 

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 * * * * *

CONTENTS. 

 PAGE

 I. --FOOTBALL: ANCIENT AND MODERN, 17

 II. --THE FOOTBALL WAVE, 20

 III. --A "SWEEP FOR THE CUP;" OR, HOW PATE BROWN KEPT HIS ENGAGEMENT, 21

 IV. --FAMOUS ASSOCIATION PLAYERS--PAST AND PRESENT, 26

 V. --THE PIONEERS OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL IN SCOTLAND; OR, "THE CONQUEROR'S FOOTBALL BOOTS, " 63

 VI. --HOW CLUBS WERE STARTED LONG AGO, 71

 VII. --THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL; OR, NED DUNCAN'S DREAM, 73

VIII. --THE PATRONS, SPECTATORS, AND POPULAR PLAYERS, 79

 IX. --A DREAM OF THE PAST, 82

 X. --THE DUEL NEAR THE FOOTBALL FIELD, 86

 XI. --THE FINAL TIE FOR THE ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP--1889-90, 93

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 * * * * *

FOOTBALL REMINISCENCES. 

_I. --FOOTBALL: ANCIENT AND MODERN. _

 "Then strip, lads and to it, though cold be the weather, And if, by mischance you should happen to fall, There are worse things in life than a tumble on heather, For life is itself but a game at Football. " --_Sir Walter Scott. _

In Scotland, so closely associated with traditional lore, and theacknowledged birth-place of romance and patriotic song, it would bealmost dangerous to incur displeasure by attempting to refer to theearly history of anything associated with the amusements or recreationsof the people, without actually touching on tradition--a point held bysome in far greater regard and reverence than actual fact. Under thesecircumstances, then, I do not want to run the risk of completeannihilation by ignoring the traditional, and even territorial, aspectof Football. That the game was played as early as the tenth centurythere is any amount of authentic evidence to show, and that it continuedto be one of the chief recreations of the people there can be no doubt. Coming much further down, however, the game of Football is referred to, both by historical and romance writers. In Sir Walter Scott's "Lay ofthe Last Minstrel, " we find that the English and Scotch soldiers, in afew hours' actual cessation from skirmishing on the eve of a battle, engaged in "the merry Football play. " Our forefathers, however, musthave played the game in rather a rude and undignified fashion, if we canbelieve certain authorities--actual brute force and superiority in pointof weight being the indispensable concomitants of a successful side. Thematches, too, must have been played utterly regardless of science. Justfancy a couple of crack teams meeting on a heather-covered field, withthe "hailing spots" about a mile and a-half apart, and playing a matchlasting four or five hours! Could any of our young men nowadays standsuch rough-and-tumble work? Happily it is not required. It has beenfound that a match lasting an hour and a-half, with the ball ever andanon passing in front of one on a level field, is quite enough, even forthe strongest back, half-back, or forward. Experience has sufficientlyproved that, even in this age of scientific play. So much for the past, and I will proceed to touch briefly on the spread and popularity offootball. 

To those who only know football as promoted by the Queen's Park, andsubsequently by the Vale of Leven, Clydesdale, Granville (now defunct), 3rd L. R. V, and lastly, though not leastly, by the Scottish FootballAssociation, we are almost compelled to offer some information. Aquarter of a century ago a Union was formed in Edinburgh to draw up acode of rules to encourage the game of Football, and matches were playedbetween schools and other clubs. These rules were a combination of thepresent Association and Rugby, dribbling being largely indulged in, butthe goal-posts were similar to those now in use under the latter code ofrules, and a goal could not be scored unless the ball went over theposts. This game made considerable progress in Edinburgh, beingvigorously promoted by scholastic clubs and students attending college. Some years later, when the number of young gentlemen sent over fromEngland to be educated in Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, began toincrease, these old rules were subjected to considerable alteration, andeventually assimilated to those of the English Rugby Union, and all theknown clubs in Scotland at that time adhered tenaciously to these rules, and under them many exciting games were played between Eastern andWestern clubs, the Glasgow Academicals and Edinburgh Academicals beingthe leading ones. Eventually, however, the new clubs springing intoexistence in the Western District of the country did not care to playthese rules, and, following the example of similar clubs in England, adhered to what they considered an improvement on the old system ofFootball, and joined the English Football Association, formed in 1863. The first to do this was the Queen's Park, the mother of AssociationFootball in Scotland, in 1867, and the example was soon followed by theClydesdale, 3rd L. R. V. , Vale of Leven, Granville, and others, a fewyears afterwards. Well can I remember witnessing several excitingtussles on the Queen's Park recreation ground (then the onlymeeting-place of the Premier Association Club), between the Vale ofLeven, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Clydesdale, Granville, and 3rd L. R. V. Since then the spread and popularity of the Association style of playhas been so often written about that it is, so to speak, bound up in theactual history of the Western District of Scotland. In Edinburgh, however, the new rules have not made so much headway, the Rugby codebeing there as extensively played as of yore. Some advances, however, have taken place, and the Edinburgh University has an Association team, and that city several promising clubs, including the Hibernian, Heart ofMidlothian, and St. Bernard, and, in Leith, the Athletic, that made sucha plucky fight with the Queen's Park in a recent cup tie. 

No one, except a close observer, can believe the earnestness andenthusiasm imparted into the game by the formation of young clubs, butthere is one danger which should be avoided. There is such a thing asoverdoing; and, depend upon it, if this is continued, the game willsuffer. To those who love and appreciate everything in season, theadvice I am about to impart will be doubly significant. Football is awinter game, and while it may be all right to practice in spring andautumn, the line is bound to be drawn somewhere, and why attempt toforce it down the throats of cricketers, athletes, yachtsmen, and evenlawn-tennis players, in the heart of summer? It must not be forgottenthat some of our best and most influential football clubs have alsocricket clubs and kindred summer recreations attached, and, in theinterests of football, these should be encouraged; and to this end I amconfident my remarks will be treated with some respect. I am also surethat no one who has taken a deep interest in the game from itscomparative infancy, but can look back with extreme pleasure on itsdevelopment, and even go the length of registering a vow that he will dohis utmost to make and uphold it as an honest and manly game, despiteisolated assumptions by a few traducers who question such earnestness, and I will endeavour to point them out, and draw comparisons. 

"What came ye out to see?" might often be asked by an uninterestedspectator who had ventured forth to look at some of the matches. A crowdof young men pursuing a round object, called a ball, with greatearnestness of purpose. To the young cad, who can think of nothing butthe colour of his latest pair of kid gloves, or the check of his newestacquisition in the shape of fashionable trousers, all out-door amusementis considered an interminable bore, the game of Football has, of course, no charm. There is too much hard work for him, and the training requiredto put one in condition, fraught with all that is called self-denial, hecould never endure. The musty old duffer, too, looks upon the game inthe light of a deadly sin, which can never be associated in his mindwith anything short of idiocy and the most virulent fanaticism. To someof his young men he remarks--"And you call that a grand game, runningabout a field trying to put a ball near a pair of upright posts, andknocking the first lad down who attempts to retard your progress! Do youcall that manly, eh? Would anyone but a pure lunatic run the chance ofgetting his shins cut, or collar-bone dislocated, indulging in suchwork, and donning coloured stockings and fantastic shirt the while tomake the matter all the more absurd!" He seems to forget that "all workand no play makes Jack a dull boy, " and the real meaning of a dull boyand a dull man is irregularity and vexation in the counting-house andoffice. There are amusements and amusements, and recreations andrecreations, but I know of none adapted for the winter months which canbe so cheaply indulged in, with so much profit to health, as Football. Accidents do happen occasionally, I admit, but they are exceedingly fewwhen the number of young men engaged in the game is taken into account, combined with the fact that, last year, some of the leading Associationmatches were played much more roughly than in previous years, it is anastonishing fact that no fatal accident occurred in Scotland. There are, of course, many, if the whole truth must be written, whom the excitingand manly game has failed to touch by its magic and fascinatinginfluence, but they should not be courted, and fortunately theirpatronage is neither sought nor needed, for they are the men most to beavoided on a wintry Saturday afternoon while one is on his way to see anexciting "cup tie. " Depend upon it, they will allure you to some hauntwhere the language is not even so choice as where the "final" is beingplayed between two leading clubs. 

I am fully convinced that when the game was first improved and adaptedto stand side by side with others requiring both pluck and skill, thethought never entered the heads of its promoters that some of the lawsmight be abused, not used. Unfortunately, such is too true, and thesooner these things are discouraged the better. The old precept aboutwarriors feeling a stern joy when they knew they were opposed to foemenworthy of their steel, should never be forgotten by the biggest back, half-back, or the smallest forward. To put it in another way, gentlemanly conduct towards an opponent in the field is pleasing to see, and, indeed, civility is worth much, and costs nothing--only a smalleffort of self-denial. In this enlightened age, the nation who crows toomuch over a vanquished foe is naturally detested, and why should notthis spirit regulate the game of Football? If this were carefullyremembered during the season, there would undoubtedly be such a closebond of fellowship and good feeling amongst Football players thatnothing could disturb. 

And again, I cannot allow the present opportunity to pass withoutprotesting against a practice, now, unfortunately, too largely followedby a section of the spectators who turn out to all the big events--viz. , betting. About as long as I can remember, and it may be beforeFootball, perhaps, was played, many an honest wager was made by theleaders in all out-door sports that they would be the victors, but thepractice, I have been assured, never went further. Now it is quite acommon thing to see cash dancing about a ring of spectators at a bigmatch, and often the loss of cash to certain individuals means aproportionate loss of temper, and the practice is all the more to bedeplored. It is for this end, it is for this avowed purpose, that oneand all connected with its development and culture, will strive to theirutmost to ennoble and raise Football to a higher and purer level, andconsequently discourage, by every legitimate means, betting in all itsphases, and the slightest tendencies amongst the players who take partin the various matches towards rough play, and a disposition to indulgein unnecessary charging. 

_II. --THE FOOTBALL WAVE. _

Like Dogberry's idea of certain kinds of novel writing, both Associationand Rugby Football seem to come to the Scotchmen by nature. My readerscan, perhaps, easily remember the clever _jeu d'esprit_ on the antiquityof the Gaelic tongue which appeared several years ago advocating theclaims of that race as lisping the first "speech" heard in Eden in amanner that must have stirred the blood of Professor Blackie. As thehistory of Association Football, with which I have only to deal underthe present circumstances, is so well-known and a thing of yesterday, its origin, like that of the Gaelic language, is not shrouded inmystery, but actually known (or should be known) to all who take aninterest in the game. In my previous article, I tried to trace theorigin of football in its rudest form as played by our forefathers, whengoal-posts and bars, to say nothing of corner-flags, were unknown. Football now, however, has been reduced to something like a scientificgame, and to the credit of England be it said, the Association Rulesthere first saw the light. Scotch players in the Western District soonemulated their Southern brethren, and from the Parent Club, which had ahumble and unassuming origin on the recreation ground at Queen's Park, sprang hundreds of clubs, spreading over the length and breadth of theland with remarkable rapidity. The wave soon rolled all over Glasgow andsuburbs, submerged the whole country, and eventually invaded the Heartof Midlothian itself, where the Rugby code had hitherto reigned supreme. The schoolboys who played cricket and rounders in the summertime cameout on a wintry afternoon to see their seniors engaged in Associationfootball, and soon felt the desire creep over them to be members of aclub containing lads like themselves. The young men engaged in the cityall day thought on the health-imparting exercise it afforded, and hadthe necessary funds raised to form a club. The artisans, too, from thedusky foundry, the engineer shop, and the factory, soon began to dribbleabout. The young ones, and even the seniors themselves, had many acollision with mother earth ere they could rely on keeping their pinswith any degree of accuracy, and it was rare fun to see a bearded manturning a somersault as he missed the ball in trying to make a bigkick. Football is easily acquired in so far as the rudimentary part isconcerned, but a great deal of probation is required to convert one intoa crack player. Among those who now practice football, and their name islegion, the superior players can be numbered in (to give it a widescope) hundreds. In fact, to be able to master all the details requisiteto win a first-class match, one has to be capable of dribbling, middling, heading, and passing in a way that would do credit to solvinga complicated problem in Euclid. It is all very well to talk about bruteforce and lasting power, but unless these are accompanied by scientificapplication, they are worth little, and cost much. "The race is notalways to the swift, " says the old proverb. In at least eight cases outof ten, the match is to the scientific and careful, but of this moreanon. There is one thing that can be said about football which in thenature of things must recommend it to all lovers of out-door exercise. Of late years bicycling has obtained a great deal of popularity all overthe three kingdoms, both for its usefulness as a speedy means ofconveyance, and exercise to the limbs, but that it has its drawbacks hasjust been made apparent by undisputed medical authority. "The bicycleback, " the effect of hard work on the "iron horse, " is beginning toappear on the handsome young man who thinks nothing of doing his 50miles a day, and while walking occasionally with the young lady with the"Grecian bend, " the contrast in his case is amusing. To say that thereare no dangers of any kind attached to football would be making anassertion which I cannot substantiate, but these are comparatively few. All sports, of whatever kind, have the elements of danger attached totheir pursuit, but, with great care, these can be reduced to a minimum. Although I have certainly never observed the round-shoulders of thebicyclist in the football player, I have not unfrequently seen the"football leg. " That is a series of cuts about the shin bone, administered by a vicious opponent while (as it generally happens)playing a "cup tie, " and last season they were more plentiful than ever. In fact, I heard from the lips of a member of one of the crack clubsthat in not a few of the ties they retired from the field "greatlyimpressed with the unmistakable signs of muscular ability shown by theiropponents. " This means most undoubtedly hacking and tripping, under theguise of tackling, and if Association football is to go on and prospersuch disgraceful acts of tyranny on the football field must forevercease. These "accidents" can, of course, be avoided, and as there aredistinct rules forbidding them, clubs would do well to see that theseare rigidly enforced. 

_III. --A "SWEEP FOR THE CUP;"_

OR, _HOW PATE BROWN KEPT HIS ENGAGEMENT. _

"What do you say, old fellow, about a 'Sweep for the Cup. ' Why, a 'sov. 'is nothing to the like of you, and there will be such fun at thelifting. " This was said to me one morning about nine, just as I waspreparing to get my shaving utensils into working order before turningout to the warehouse. Pate Brown used to make fun of me about my scantyhirsute appendages, and many a time caused me to blush before sundrymembers of the Druids when he emphatically declared that I was one ofthose effeminate individuals who shaved, not because they had whiskers, but because they hadn't. This was in September, and a more open year forthe respective chances of the clubs in the Cup had, perhaps, never comeround. 

I was unattached then. I was, in fact, neither a member of the Druidsnor the Nomads, but simply a friend of both, and an enthusiastic admirerof the game. My big brother Angus, it is true, was one of the best menin the Conquerors, and he and I sometimes had animated discussions aboutthe respective merits of the clubs. "Why, Jack, this is only September, it will be more sensible for us to postpone the affair till after thepreliminary ties. A lot of chaps to whom I have spoken consider it nextto nonsense to draw the 'sweep' so soon. "

After a great deal of talking and another meeting, it was agreed to goright ahead with the "sweep, " and accordingly the necessary arrangementswere duly made, and subscribers' names taken, as well as their cash. 

The warehouse of Ball & Field was the largest in the whole city. Theirtrade connection extended to every known country on the face of theglobe. There was a decided charm about the way in which the firm didbusiness, and the kindly, not to say considerate manner, in which theytreated employés, who really deserved it. The two leading members of thefirm, in fact, were not insignificant prototypes of Dickens' CheerybleBrothers (with the exception that they were both married). I verilybelieve that in an hour's notice a couple of excellent teams could havebeen picked from the house to make a decent match of it anywhere. 

The senior himself was an enthusiastic admirer of the game, and one wayor another did much to encourage it by his presence on the field at allthe big matches, and if any of the lads, such as myself, Brown, Rose, Wilson, or M'Nab wanted away to play in a big affair, a hint reachingthe governor's ears to that effect was amply sufficient. The manager, however, was of a different sort, he hated football like poison. He evenrelegated the grand game to a pastime suitable for pure andunadulterated lunatics, those, as he put it, "who were too daft to getinto Gartnavel. " Fancy that! Woe betide the unfortunate half-back orforward, who in a weak moment relied on the magnanimity of "Sour Plums, "as he was called, to let him off to a match, without first consultingthe governor himself. Sometimes M'Nab forgot to do so, and as his clubwere frequently in great straits to get him to play, he had to steep hisbrains to think on a strategic movement to get free, and succeeded; butsometimes with the aid of a "crammer. "

Brown, for reasons best known to himself, but which will duly come outas my story advances, was very anxious to be at the "draw, " andaccordingly duly appeared at the Marie Stuart Hall, Crosshill. Therewere a lot of pale faces in the room when Pate drew the Queen's Park, Dick Wallace the "Vale, " Bill Weldon, Dumbarton, and Sandy M'Bean theRangers. A rosy-cheeked, country-looking lad belonging to the Q. P. DrewCowlairs, and a general titter ran through the august assembly when thatsame lad remarked, "he was quite satisfied with his draw, the othercrack clubs notwithstanding. " Tom Vincent got Kilmarnock Athletic, Alf. Grant the Clyde, Blower Fleming drew the Heart of Midlothian, and BillFairfield the Hibernian. I was unlucky enough to secure one of the manyinsignificant clubs who never survived the first round, and so my "sov. "was a dead letter. 

The entire "sweep" came to a fine round sum, as the subscribers includeda good many of the rank and file of football enthusiasts, and even two"football-daft" members of the upper strata of the Glasgow Police Force, and three of the Fire Brigade, went the length of taking a couple oftickets. There was also Luke Wood, the representative of the "Kick-off, "who knew a thing or two about the game. He was in for a pair of tickets, too, and drew the Invincible and Morning Star. He was thoroughlydisgusted at the prospect (more particularly as he had been one of theleading hands in getting up the "sweep"); but, as the Yankees say, hegradually "cooled himself down, " and got thoroughly reconciled to hisloss. 

The Cowlairs had to play the Queen's Park in one of the ties, and adetermined tussle it turned out to be. The "boys" bore a wild look thatafternoon as they emerged from the pavilion at Hampden Park. You couldread the anxious and determined character of their mission on everyface. They had fully made up their minds to fight hard for the Cup, andreally they did. Several of the team were big powerful fellows whom nota few cautious half-backs would think twice before "going for, " and twoof the forwards were very smart on their pins, but wanted that truemastery of the art of passing and dribbling at the proper time whichmake up the refined and superior Association player. As for endurance, they did not toil among iron wheels, steel axles, and brass fittings forlocomotives, to say nothing of generating steam on the shortest notice, without being "hardy. " No, no. They were in the best of condition forthe game. The Queen's took them too cheaply, and nearly paid a lastingpenalty for their carelessness. The game, in fact, was so closely foughtthat the teams were unable to overcome one another, and two goals eachwas the result. Meeting a second time, however, the Q. P. Made short workof them, and won by nine goals to none. 

The evening before the memorable tussle which put the half ofDumbartonshire into a state of excitement, bordering on the footballfever, "Mary, the Maid of the Football Inn, " came to the door of thelittle hotel repeatedly, and after casting sundry glances at the roadwayand scanning the passers-by, muttered something about being jilted, andhow shamefully she had been used by Bob. Her own Bob, who was always sopunctual, and occasionally treated her to a nice walk along the Leven, past Ewing's big work, and even went the length of composing verses inher honour. 

"What had become of him? Had Nancy Pringle waylaid him, as shepositively swore she would do, on the first opportunity, and start theprobationary stages of a drama in real life?" The fact was Bob nevercame, and no wonder. He was collared by the Dumbarton captain, andcarried off to the field to practice for the great fight of the nextday, under pains and penalties. He pleaded for Mary, but it was of noavail. "He had, " he went on to remonstrate, "promised on his word ofhonour to meet her that evening and take her to Luckie M'Latchie'sbooking. " Luckie and Tam M'Murtrie (an old footballer) were to bespliced a fortnight afterwards, and the "cries" were in. 

With a serious air the captain lectured Bob till he was blue in theface, and told him if he did not put himself in condition for the greatbattle of the morrow he would be stoned by the town enthusiasts. Heremembered when a boy at school scribbling as best he could on hiscopybook, "Discretion is the better part of valour, " and the sentenceflashed across his heated brain with all the force of actual conviction. "What was he to do?" "Was it to be football first, and Mary afterwards?"Something whispered "yes; Mary could afford to wait, but the 'Cup' was atransitory article, and the splendid chance his club had of winning itmight pass away like a dream. " "Why, there was Joe Laidlay, he was insomething like the same dilemma so far as his 'lass' was concerned, andif Joe, he thought, could afford to put off his sweetheart, MaggieJackson, in the same way, he (Bob) considered that he should be able toconclude the arrangement, and make the best excuse to Mary. "

Quietly speaking, Bob had an ambition in his football, and it consistedin being a member of the eleven who would at one time or another "lick"the Queen's Park, and went into the practice game with his whole heart, and played all through in good form. 

Just a year or so before this the "Vale" would have given the sameDumbarton lot short shift and no favour on any of the grounds, butmatters were altered. They wanted a lot of their old blood, which had inyears gone bye carried them through many a doubtful battle. They hadlost their grand goalkeeper, and the crack half-back had vacated hisfavourite position to keep the ball from going between the uprights in"time o' need. "

Some of the daring forwards had also bade farewell to the game, and werescattered over the length and breadth of the land. The match, however, had to be played--it would brook no delay--and the spirited captainresolved to make the best of it, although a score of misgivings passedthrough his mind as to the issue. There was one thing in favour of the"Vale, " they had their own ground to play upon, and that was reckoned asworth a goal any day. 

Before the start Johnny Freer told his old chums to keep their "weathereyes" open for sudden rushes by the Dumbarton forward division, andbefore the game was very old, they discovered that the advice did notcome a moment too soon. Keeping close on the touch lines till well downamong the half-backs, Maclure and his light companion, "the Bird, "assuredly did not allow the grass to grow under their leather bars. Theground was a little sloppy from the recent rain, but, strange to say, the Dumbarton men seemed to keep their feet in a remarkable manner. M'Luckie and big Walton tried their very best to intercept thedribblers, but at times they were completely mastered, and Dick Wallacehad to come away from his place at back and assist. 

The most of the Dumbarton lads were much faster on the ball than the"Vale, " and this, added to a slice of luck, aided them in scoring twice, and they consequently won a hard battle by two goals to none, and earnedthe proud distinction of being the champions. 

After the great crowd had dispersed, and lots of silver had changedhands, a solemn silence reigned in that part of the pavilion utilised bythe "Vale. " "There is no use denying the fact, chaps, " said the captainof the defeated team, "these fellows have beaten us on our form thisseason, and we'll have to make the best of a bad bargain. "

Not so, however, in the other end of the house. The victors were"blowing" a good deal of the bad luck they had had, and how they oughtto have scored a dozen goals if "Sandy had not repeatedly allowed theball to graze the goal-posts, instead of attempting to kick it out. Theyhad, however, beaten the 'Vale, ' and that was all they cared for, inthe said tie. The Rangers they declared they did not fear, and from allthey could hear, they were now quite able to meet the Queen's Park faceto face. "

With the Rangers, however, they had just sufficient to do on their ownground in the first match, but in the second came off victorious by fivegoals to one. 

One Saturday evening we took forcible possession of Jack Cook'slodgings, which were situated near the Marie Stuart Hall, Crosshill. Jack was very fond of billiards, and sometimes pocketed several "pools"of an evening, when a few choice spirits congregated in "The Rooms. "Jack's landlady had frequently threatened him with pains and penaltiesfor treating anything approaching "elders' hours" with contempt, andonce intensified it to instant dismissal, bag and baggage, forencouraging a lot of his chums in leading the chorus of Dickens'Bacchanalian song:

 "We won't go home till morning, Till morning, till morning, We won't go home till morning, Till daylight doth appear, "

at four o'clock A. M. , under her kitchen window after a big cup tie, which the Conquerors had won. Jack, as a matter of precaution warned usthat we were to comport ourselves with decency, and not rouse theaforesaid lady. Our friend had something in the bottle. We werecomfortably seated, and the room filled with tobacco smoke, when a dimshadow was noticed at the door, and turned out to be Willie Fairfield, of the Flying Blues, who had just called to let us know he had receiveda telegram from Edinburgh announcing the defeat of the Hibernian in theprotested match with Dumbarton, by six goals to two. 

Willie, it may be mentioned, had drawn the Hibernian in our "sweep, " andwas, I may inform all concerned, well pleased with his luck when theticket came out the bag; but now much crestfallen. Bill Weldon, however, who had secured Dumbarton in the same drawing, jumped off his chair atthe success of the club he had secured, and remarked--"Look here, boys, Dumbarton are just about good enough to win the Association Cup, andI'll take evens on't. " "Done, " said a chorus of voices, and Mrs. Blank'sparlour was for a few minutes transformed into a betting house on asmall scale. 

We had a long chat as to the respective merits of the Rangers andDumbarton, who were to play their tie over again, in consequence of someinformality, and after draining Jack's bottle, were accompanied to thedoor with solemn injunctions not to kick up a row on the stairs. 

Weeks passed after this little incident, and the clubs left in our"sweep" were getting small by degrees and beautifully less. The Rangers, Partick, South-Western, Northern, 3rd L. R. V. , Arthurlie, KilmarnockPortland, Alexandra Athletic, Thornliebank, Heart of Midlothian, andeven the plucky little Clyde were cleared off the list, and the Queen'sPark had their own ado with Kilmarnock Athletic, and only beat thatsturdy Ayrshire Club by three goals to two. All that now remained in thetie, in fact, were Q. P. And Dumbarton. 

It was Weldon and Pate Brown for it now, and both began to dream of agood pocketful of "sovs. "

Pate, who was engaged to charming little Lizzie Green, had been livingvery carefully for a time in prospect of shortly calling Lizzie his own, was only now a casual visitor to Cook's lodgings. One evening, on hisway home from Ball & Field's, Pate began to reckon up his chances ofwinning the "sweep. "

"One hundred and five subscribers at a 'sov. ' a-piece, " said he, "whythat makes £105. The odd 'fiver' will pay all the expenses, and if theQ. P. Win the Cup, why all that will be mine. Oh! glorious Q. P. , invincible Q. P. , you must and shall win the Cup, " raved excited Pate. "Lizzie, my own dear lassie, I have not told you about my speculation, nor will I till the tie is over, and we'll get married this summer yet. "

I do not intend to weary my readers with a detailed account of the finalCup ties, for everybody knows there were two played. In the first, whenthe clubs tied, and Dumbarton had the best of the game, little PateBrown nearly lost his senses with excitement, and had frequently to leanheavily on the shoulder of Lizzie Green to prevent him from fallingunder the grand stand. 

"What is it, dear, that makes you so terribly pale at a match?" she saidto him in a gentle whisper. "You must be ill, for I have never observedyou so excited before. " Little did the young lady imagine what was atissue, and the cause of Pate's nervousness; but she knew afterwards, andhad a jolly laugh over it in her own tidy little house at Govanhill. 

Who does not remember the real final tie on Cathkin Park? Such a matchwill, perhaps, never be seen in Scotland again. How both Queen's Parkand Dumbarton played with all the force and dash they could command, andhow at length the Queen's Park were the conquerors, and Pate Brown wonthe double prize. 

A few nights afterwards Pate received one hundred sovs. (there were nosecond and third prizes) in the "Marie Stuart, " and when he told theyoung fellows assembled that he was about to get wed to Lizzie Green, every soul of them (not even excepting Bill Weldon himself, who haddrawn Dumbarton in the speculation, and lost a few "sovs. " on them too), congratulated him on his choice, and called Pate a "lucky dog. "

They all knew and admired the neat little girl who, among other blitheand gentle faces, turned out to see the leading football matches, tocheer the players when they won, and chaff them when they lost. 

They were married--Pate Brown and Lizzie Green--and in presence of hisold club companions, whom he had invited to spend an evening at his newhouse, Pate told the simple story of how he had got married to hislittle darling a year sooner than he expected, all through drawing theQueen's Park in a "SWEEP FOR THE CUP. "

_IV. --FAMOUS ASSOCIATION PLAYERS--PAST AND PRESENT. _

Little did the comparatively small but orderly group of enthusiasticspectators who met around the ropes at Hamilton Crescent Ground, Partick, eighteen years ago, to witness the first InternationalAssociation match, imagine the ultimate development of the Associationstyle of play in Scotland, and in after years the triumphs which awaitedher sons in contests with England. I was present, and shall neverforget the manner in which the teams--both Scotch and English--acquittedthemselves, and made a drawn game of it. 

~The Five Dead Internationalists. ~

The ranks of the past crack players are beginning to get thinned by thecommon enemy of mankind. When I think of the busy feet, blithe and happyfaces, and merry voices that joined in the game twenty years ago, asense of sadness comes over me which it is difficult to dispel. "Thefirst International, sir;" yes. Five of the gallant eleven who foughtScotland's battle are dead. Poor Gardner, Smith, Weir, Leckie, andTaylor, football players, have cause to remember thee! It was a hardstruggle to keep up football in those days, and as there were no clubfunds all the items of expenditure had to be brought forth from thecapacious pockets of the members. They loved the game, however, thoseprimitive players, and engaged in it for its own sake, without everthinking of reward. In the words of a great poetess, "We shall singtheir praise ere long;" and while it may be thousands of dribblers ofthe present never heard their names, it is but right that the young onesshould not forget what they owe to the Association football pioneers. Yes, the boys of the old brigade are falling out of the ranks in whichthey served so well, never to muster again on this side the grave; whileothers, still toiling on, are "scattered far and wide, by mountain, stream, and sea. "

~Joseph Taylor. ~

The admitted chief of the five who have gone to their rest was JosephTaylor. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition, blended with remarkablefirmness, no man who captained the Queen's Park was so much respectedboth on the field and in private life. None hated unfair or rough playmore. He could not endure it in a club companion, and this wasparticularly so if his team were playing a comparatively juniorcombination. Taught in the early school of Association football, whenthe rules were much more exacting than they are now, he had, along withhis colleagues in the Queen's Park, to fight their preliminary battles, and overcome the prejudices consequent on introducing the "reformation, "so to speak, in football. Taylor developed into a first-class back whencomparatively young, and was chosen to play for his club against Englandin 1872, when the Queen's Park met that country single-handed, andplayed a drawn contest. Considering his light weight, he was a finetackler, returned very smartly to his forwards, and, possessingremarkable speed, completely astonished an opponent by clearing the ballaway before the forwards of the opposing club were able to obtain anyadvantage. He had always a kind and encouraging word to young players, and in 1875 and 1876 was chosen captain of the Scotchmen, and played, inall, five times against England. He died in Govanhill about three yearsago. 

~Robert Gardner. ~

As the first captain of the Queen's Park in the International of 1872, and also chosen to that post next season in London, Gardner, who hasalso joined the great majority, was the most extraordinary player of hisday. He was so versatile that I have seen him at work in all thedifferent positions of the field--goalkeeper, back, half-back, and evenforward--but it was as a goalkeeper that he excelled. A veryindifferent kicker out in front, when the ball came up, he sometimesmade mistakes with the feet; but when I remember the brilliant men whohave since stood between the posts in Internationals and final cup ties, each in their line famous, I must confess that none ever used theirhands and weight to greater advantage than Gardner. Possessing apeculiarity of temper which had much of the Scotchmen's sturdyindependence, he had a difference with some of his friends, and left theQueen's Park to join the Clydesdale, and did much to assist that club toattain at the time the second position in Scottish Association football. Members of both clubs will not easily forget the manner in which Gardnerkept goal for his new combination against the Queen's Park in a cup tie, when three matches had to be completed before the senior club won. Heretired from the game some time before his death, which took place atSouth Queensferry a year and a half ago. 

~James E. Weir. ~

Who could dribble and keep possession of the ball like Weir? In afootball sense he was in everybody's mouth sixteen years ago, when crackforwards were few, and neat dribblers fewer. In all the contests theQueen's Park engaged in for ten years, none was more popular among thespectators, and emulated by the then young generation of players, thanWeir. He always worked on the right side, and with William M'Kinnon, Angus Mackinnon, H. M'Neil, T. Lawrie, and T. C. Highet for companions, the exhibition of dribbling and passing, with the six forwards, wasfiner than is the case now with the five. The ball had then to touch theground after being thrown in straight from the line before being played. Under those circumstances, heading by the forwards was never seen in thefield, unless after a corner-flag kick. Well can I remember the match atHampden Park against the London Wanderers, whom the Queen's Parkdefeated by six goals to none, when Weir, being tackled by the Hon. A. F. Kinnaird and C. W. Alcock, put his foot on the ball, shook off thetwo powerful Englishmen, and made a goal. The sad news only arrivedlately from Australia, whither Weir had gone some years ago, of hisdemise. Deceased played in two Internationals, including that of 1872, and no finer dribbler ever toed a ball. He was, in fact, at the timedesignated the "Prince of Dribblers. "

~Joseph Leckie. ~

In every condition of life, no matter the sphere in which one is placed, he has his own peculiarities, and, in a football sense, Leckie, aboveall the gallant throng who have disappeared for ever from the field, hadhis. Comparatively short of stature and powerfully knit together, withsplendidly moulded limbs, Leckie was one of the most tenacious forwards. While dribbling past an opponent with the ball at his toe, hispeculiarity asserted itself in such a way that, once seen, could neverbe forgotten. Weir, Smith, W. M'Kinnon, H. M'Neil, and, later on, Fraser, Highet, and Richmond, among the army of forwards brought out bythe Queen's Park; to say nothing of M'Lintock, M'Intyre, and Baird (Valeof Leven), J. R. Wilson and Anderson (Clydesdale), T. Vallance and P. Campbell (Rangers), and A. Kennedy and J. Hunter (3rd L. R. V. ), of whom Iwill say something later on, had all their imitators in the youngerclubs, but Leckie had none. He was, in fine, a player by himself. Whenhe obtained possession of ball, he guarded his body with extended armsdrooping from his side, with the back of his hands in front of thethighs, and thus formed a barrier to an opponent who attempted to tackleor take the ball from him. He took part in the first International. Hedied about three years ago in South Africa. 

~James Smith. ~

The least known, perhaps, of the original International men, but onewhose name will ever be honoured by many of the older school of players, and locally Queen's Park members, is Mr. James Smith, who died someyears ago in London. Mr. Smith was, in conjunction with his brotherRobert, early associated with the game in Scotland, and was an originalmember of the Queen's Park. Mr. Archibald Rae, the first secretary ofthe Scottish Football Association, and at one time an active member ofthe Queen's Park (and a beautiful dribbler in his day), tells an amusinganecdote of Smith, while playing against the Hamilton Club, leaping onthe top of a hedge to win a touch-down, which in those days counted apoint in the game. This entirely coincided with poor Smith's play, as hewas sometimes very impetuous. He played in the International of 1872 asa forward. 

~William M'Kinnon. ~

Dealing now with the past players who are with us in the body, for along series of years, and, indeed, till within a short period ofretiring from the field, no centre forward of his day, and very fewsince, have equalled M'Kinnon in that trying position. When the 3rdLanark Rifle Volunteers started the dribbling game on the old drillground at Govanhill, or rather when that small burgh was "No Man'sLand, " M'Kinnon was one of its most active players. It is in connectionwith his membership of the Queen's Park that I wish to recall incidentsin his career. In 1874 I made my way over to the South-Side Park towitness a match between the Queen's and the Vale of Leven. Associationfootball was then a very insignificant affair--the Rugby code, with suchfine clubs as the Glasgow Academicals and West of Scotland asexponents--engaging all the public attention. The game was free to all. "Ladies and gentlemen, no charge for admission. Come and see our game. Kick-off, 3. 30. " Well, M'Kinnon, along with the rest of the team, emerged from the old toll-house, close by, to meet their gallantopponents, and Mr. Parlane, of the Vale of Leven (who kept goal so wellfor that club in many of her best matches), "chaffed" the Q. P. Man inamusing manner about his boots (See "The Conqueror's Football Boots"), which were new, and differed considerably from the style then worn byplayers. All through the contest, which, by the way, was drawn, with nogoals on either side, M'Kinnon was a little stiff, and scarcely playedso well as was his wont. He never discarded his old companions, however, and those very boots in after years kicked many a goal both inInternationals and final cup ties. As an indication, in fact, of hisgenuine ability, he was chosen to play against England oftener than anyman in Scotland, with the single exception of Mr. Charles Campbell, whowas selected no fewer than ten times as a half-back. Mr. M'Kinnon wasengaged in eight, including the first, and in these his country wasvictorious four times, and two were drawn matches. As a centre forwardhas to bear the brunt of an attack from the opposing side first, M'Kinnon was the very man to lead on the advance guard. His pluck wasimmense; and while he rather delighted to dodge an opponent and leavethe charging to his backer up, he was a close and beautiful dribbler;could play a hard match without any outward signs of fatigue, and no manbefore or since could take a corner-flag kick like him. He used topractice this kick, and could place the ball within a few inches of thespot aimed at. Mr. M'Kinnon is still in our midst hale and hearty, andwhen a good thing in football is announced he generally turns out to seehis favourite game, and is not afraid to criticise the form shown by hissuccessors. 

~David Wotherspoon. ~

Mr. Wotherspoon was early associated with the Queen's Park; indeed, oneof the original members, and did much in his day for football. When thesenior club found it a matter of difficulty to get up an eleven to playin the country, some times at East Kilbride (for you must know thatimportant agricultural centre had a club nearly twenty years ago), Alexandria, and Hamilton, Wotherspoon and Gardner were generally thefirst volunteers. There were no fares paid in those primitive days outof club funds, and each individual had to square up his own account, like the Scottish cricketer of the present. Although retired now for anumber of years, and out of the run of the game, Wotherspoon, who is inbusiness in the city, is always delighted to hear of its development, and proud of what he did in his youth for it. If ever a man had neatnessof style, combined with gentlemanly conduct to an opponent on the field, it was Wotherspoon. Considering the fact that he was a light-weight, under 10st. , he many a time astonished both opponents and spectators byhis magnificent returns at half-back, and I may mention, in passing, that in a match at Hampden Park I actually saw him kick a ball from thecentre of the field right through the goal--a feat that very few of ouryounger half-backs could accomplish now. As I saw him in twoInternationals (1872-73), however, it was not as a half-back, but as anaccomplished forward, dribbling with great judgment, and passing in amost unselfish way. Mr. Wotherspoon left the Queen's Park to join theClydesdale a short time after his old companion Gardner, and the twowere associated with that club when it numbered among its members suchfine players as Messrs. F. Anderson, G. M. Wilson, J. R. Wilson, W. Wilson, J. P. Tennent, J. M'Pherson, W. Gibb, J. T. Richmond, andDavid's brother, J. Wotherspoon. In the first of the long string ofmatches which have been played between Sheffield and Glasgow, datingback to 1874, Mr. Wotherspoon was one of the players; and it may bementioned that, in the same contest, the Glasgow representatives weremade up entirely of Queen's Park and Clydesdale men, and that each cityscored a couple of goals. 

~James J. Thomson. ~

No player among the half-backs of the old school was so much thought ofin Association football as Thomson. Once seen and met by an opponent, hecould never be forgotten. Tall and stern in appearance, he carried everypound of his heavy weight with the greatest ease, and, what was of moreconsequence to his club in a hard battle, used it well. He tackled withconsummate skill, and had remarkable confidence in himself. For thefirst three years of his membership no player ever turned out moreregularly to practice, and, for a stout man, none could show an opponenta cleaner pair of heels. All the time he was available in the Queen'sPark, an International without Thomson as one of the half-backs was outof the question, and for three seasons (1872-73-74), he was selected forthat post against England. In the last event, when Scotland won atPartick by two goals to one, the brilliant manner in which Thomsonplayed will not easily be forgotten by those who witnessed the contest. While F. Anderson (Clydesdale), and A. Mackinnon (Queen's Park), scoredthe goals for Scotland, Thomson never worked harder in his life, andwhen the English forwards got near his side, he rarely, if ever, failedto take the ball away from them. Just before leaving for Manchester, Mr. Thomson was chosen captain of the Glasgow Eleven against Sheffield. Someyears ago he went to Liverpool, and is now secretary of the extensivebutcher business of Eastmans Company (Limited). In addition to hisability as a football player, Mr. Thomson was a splendid sprinter, andcarried off a large number of prizes both in Glasgow and Edinburgh. 

~William Ker. ~

Mr. William Ker was captain of the Queen's Park when they leased theirfirst private ground, and did much by his tact and ability to bring onour senior club to seek new conquests in England. Mr. Ker--of whosebrother George I shall have occasion to refer by and by--was a mostgentlemanly young fellow, and made himself respected by club companionsand opponents alike. In the early history of the game a half-back, andeven back, did not consider it _infra dig. _ to dribble a bit and bringup the ball to goal, provided the match was against a much weaker club, and while Ker was a grand back and beautiful kicker with his left foot, he was also an accomplished dribbler. In a match he never lost sight ofthe ball for a moment, and when any of his team made a mistake infollowing up, Ker frequently stepped into the breach himself, and didhis best to get the player out of a difficulty. He was too gentlemanlyto upbraid a member of the team on the ground, like some captainsnow-a-days, but awaited an opportunity, and the advice impartedgenerally did the careless player a world of good. In the famous matchat Partick in 1872, Ker showed some very fine play, both in clevertackling and returning the ball; and, if I mistake not, he was opposedon the opposite side by the English captain (Mr. C. J. Ottaway, sincedead), and the manoeuvring between the pair was something to beremembered. Mr. Ker did not play very long after this game, as he leftGlasgow for Canada. 

~Robert Smith. ~

Unlike his brother in the manner of his style, Mr. Robert Smith was notby any means an impulsive player, but took in the situation quietly; andwhile no man ever worked harder in the field, or did more for a club, hewas not what could be called a brilliant forward. The brothers, however, did well in the International I have referred to, and considerablyhelped the eleven to make a drawn battle of it. It may be mentioned thatboth were then also members of the South Norwood Club (one of the bestin England at that time), as they had previously left Scotland forLondon. Mr. Robert Smith, so far as I am aware, is now in the UnitedStates. 

~Alexander Rhind. ~

A rare but light dribbler was Mr Rhind. One of the old members of theQueen's Park, and associated with men whose names I have alreadymentioned in its early struggles, he knew, if I may be allowed to use asimile which is likely to force a smile, what football poverty was, foris it not a fact that he was a member of the Q. P. Finance Committeewhen the annual subscription was _sixpence_, the yearly income £3 9s. 8d. , and as the expenditure amounted up to £4 2s. 4d. , the deficit of12s. 8d. Had to be made up by a levy? I never remember Mr. Rhind playingin a match after the International. He is now in Aberdeen. 

~The First Final Cup Tie. ~

The First Final Association Cup Tie, on Hampden Park, I remember well. The clubs fated to meet each other were the Queen's Park and Clydesdale, and the match, considering the fact that the players were comparativelyyoung in the practice of the dribbling game, proved a very fine oneindeed. It was on a Saturday afternoon in the middle of March, 1874, anda crowd of fully 2000 spectators attended. The Hampden Park of to-day, with its splendid pavilion and accessories, and beautifully laid-offturf, was not then conceived in the minds of the Match Committee. It wasthe Hampden Park of yore, now cut up to form a railway embankment. Mr. Hon. Secy. Rae and his companions in office never for a moment imaginedthat in sixteen years afterwards the new ground, which is crowded nearlyevery Saturday afternoon with excited spectators, would be made tosatisfy the cravings of a football public, and the exigencies ofathletic life. There was no such thing as a pavilion then, only a kindof "wee house" at the gate end of the field, for all the world like anovergrown sentry-box, did duty instead. The grass on the field was noteven cut in some places, and at the top corner-flag was long and turfy. The spectators, however, of whom a large number were ladies, enjoyed itvery much, and the enthusiasm imparted among the youths who were presenthad a wonderful effect on the spread of the game. It was thought that adraw was inevitable, so well did both sides play till within twentyminutes of the finish, when Mr. Wm. M'Kinnon scored a goal for thesenior club, and this was followed by a second from the foot of Mr. Leckie, not long before no-side was announced, leaving the Q. P. Thewinners by two goals to none. I must, however, go back a little way andsay something about the

~Association Challenge Cup, ~

which has caused a new order of things to arise in Scottish football. Well, during the previous year, and, in fact, not long after the firstInternational at Partick, new clubs were formed in many quarters, butmore particularly Glasgow and Dumbartonshire, and it was on March 13, 1873, that the Queen's Park convened a meeting of representatives ofclubs, and what is now known as the Scottish Football Association wasformed. Eight clubs responded, and created the great Association. Theeight, who deserve much honour at the hands of players, were:--Queen'sPark, Clydesdale, Vale of Leven, Dumbreck, Eastern, Rovers, 3rd L. R. V. , and Granville, and those clubs were represented on the committee by Mr. Arch. Campbell (Clydesdale), president; Mr. W. Ker (Queen's Park), hon. Treasurer; Mr. Archibald Rae (Queen's Park), hon. Secretary; with thefollowing committee:--Messrs. Ebenezer Hendry and Wm. Gibb (Clydesdale), J. Turnbull (Dumbreck), D. Macfarlane (Vale of Leven), W. E. Dick (3rdL. R. V. ), T. Mackay (Granville), J. M'Intyre (Eastern), and R. Gardner(Queen's Park). Next in order came the Challenge Cup, and thecompetition for that trophy was in full swing. The necessary funds weresoon forthcoming, and a very neat, but plain, specimen of thesilversmith's art was brought forth. The subject for ornamentation wastaken from a cut in the _Graphic_, representing a player in the act ofdribbling at the first International, and made by Messrs. George Edward& Sons. There you have it now, gentlemen, rather dry reading andtechnical, though, but nevertheless the infant life of a greatcompetition. By a strange coincidence in the respective matches, and onewhich the players of a former era will look upon with a sense ofsadness, consists in the fact that of the twenty-two who took part inthat game seven are dead. Of these the senior club has the misfortune toclaim five--Messrs. J. J. Taylor, J. B. Weir, J. Leckie, J. Dickson, andA. Mackinnon; while the Clydesdale, so far as I am aware, has only two, Mr. J. R. Wilson and Mr. Robert Gardner. As I have already given shortsketches of Messrs. Taylor, Weir, Leckie, and Gardner, under the head of"Dead Internationalists, " and J. J. Thomson and W. M'Kinnon underanother, I have only to deal with R. W. Neil, J. Dickson, T. Lawrie, C. Campbell, Angus Mackinnon, and H. M'Neil (Queen's Park), and the wholeof the Clydesdale, with the sole exception of R. Gardner. 

~Charles Campbell. ~

Mr. Campbell seems to have had no real starting point in his footballcareer. The love of the game and its early associations came to him asif by nature. I am told that when he was quite a boy he used to appearon the ground at Queen's Park to see his brother Edward playing with oldclub companions. He soon began to dribble about, and afterwards showsplendid ability in long-kicking and tackling, and in 1873-74 played forthe Queen's Park in her best matches. The final cup tie, however, washis first big event, and no doubt the lessons and confidence he obtainedin that match served him well in after years, when he was destined to bethe greatest favourite both among players and spectators that ever tookpart in any cup tie or International. Mr. Campbell has now retired fromactive duty on the field, but his love for the game, and the welfare ofthe players engaged in it, induced him to accept the presidentship ofthe Association for 1889-90, and one and all are alive to the fact thathe discharges his duties with the greatest fidelity. As a brillianttackler and neat kicker at half-back, it might honestly be said of himthat he had no equal. Men who played against him on great occasions (forMr. Campbell always rose to his best form in these) have good cause toremember how he could "head" the ball away from goal at a criticalmoment, and get it through quite a forest of legs. As he was not one ofthe cracks in the final cup tie of 1874, I must honestly confess I can'tremember how he played, but as his club scored a victory, and he was oneof the half-backs, he must have done well. Mr. Campbell rarely, if ever, spends a Saturday afternoon away from Hampden Park in the winter time;takes a lively interest in his mother club, and, what is of moreaccount, can still play in his favourite position with great dash andprecision. He has the unique distinction of playing in tenInternationals with England, and been an office-bearer of his club since1873. 

~Thomas Lawrie. ~

Mr. Lawrie has done much for football in connection with his club andthe Association, both by example and precept. In the early days of theQueen's Park he was one of their most brilliant forwards, and in severalof the cup ties, notably that between the Queen's Park and Renton, proved the best man on the field. He never shirked his work, or lefthard tackling to the half-backs, but sprang on the ball and opponent atonce, and generally had the best of it. Of all the fine forwards whoreceived their football education under Mr. J. J. Thomson's, and lateron Mr. C. Campbell's and Mr. Joseph Taylor's captaincy, none could keephis feet better on the field; and it was quite a rare thing to seeLawrie grassed by an opponent. Although not much above the middleheight, he was a perfect football Hercules, and not long before retiringfrom the field opponents in some of the matches would frequently makeearnest inquiries about whether he were to be included in the Q. P. Teamon that day. But for an accident to the knee which made him retire, after being chosen to play in the International against England in 1874, Mr. Lawrie would have then represented his club. After giving up activeduty in the field, he has rendered noble service by being president ofthe Scottish Football Association, and loves the game as dearly as ever. 

~Harry M'Neil. ~

The first final cup tie brought into prominence one of the neatestlittle dribblers and passers that ever played on the left wing of anyclub. Methinks I see him now, with his quick action, short step, andunselfish play, gliding down the side of the field, dodging an opponentclose on the touch-line, and causing the spectators to laughimmoderately. Spectators are prone to make favourites, and while Mr. Campbell was assuredly one at half-back, Mr. M'Neil was none the lessloved among the forwards. While playing in the leading games he wasalways ready with his joke, and I'll back him to be the best man in theworld to explain away a defeat and magnify a victory for the club heloved so well. Mr. M'Neil was chosen seven times to play against Englandand Wales, and I remember his efforts and their results with pleasure. The only time he was sorely beset was in the International of 1876, whenMr. Jarrett (Cambridge University, I think), one of the Englishhalf-backs--a powerful young fellow--tackled him severely. The gallantlittle Queen's Park man, however, withstood the charges well, and cameup from mother earth smiling. That match, however, ended in favour ofScotland by three goals to none. Mr. M'Neil was a member of the 3rdL. R. V. At the start of his career, and also of the Rangers, but joinedthe Queen's Park in 1872. 

~Robert W. Neill. ~

Mr. Neill kept the late Mr. J. J. Taylor company at back in many of themost trying and critical Q. P. Matches of 1876, '77, '78, and '80, and inall those years was a familiar figure in the Internationals againstEngland and Wales. As we have previously said about the deceased Mr. Leckie, players have their peculiarities, and Neill had his. He was areally brilliant back and pretty sure tackler, but relied too much onhis feet while defending goal, instead of using the breast and head. Hisindividuality consisted in meeting the charge of an opponent with bendedknees, and he had the knack of taking the ball away and making abrilliant return in a style that roused the cheers of the spectators. Hewas a very hard worker to the last, and only retired from football to goabroad some years ago. He has, however, returned to Glasgow, and mayfrequently be seen at some of the best matches of the season. His playduring 1877 and 1878 was exceptionally good, and in those years was inthe best form of any back in Scotland. 

~John Dickson. ~

Poor fellow! Mr. Dickson had but a short career, not only in football, but in everyday life. He caught a severe cold one bleak evening comingfrom Hampden Park after a practice match, and succumbed to the malady ofinflammation of the lungs at the age of 28. He started his football lifeas a back; but when the Queen's Park lost Mr. Gardner he was tried asgoalkeeper, and did very well. Tall and gentlemanly in appearance, withneatly trimmed sandy whiskers and moustache, Dickson kicked out in frontof his goal very neatly, and was not afraid to meet the charge of anopposing forward. An incident in his career caused a great deal ofamusement at the time, however, and is worth recording, just to show theimmense faith he had in the infallibility of his old club. It was in acup tie with the Vale of Leven, when that club beat the Queen's Park bytwo goals to one. Dickson appeared at goal with an umbrella, as the rainwas falling fast, but when the Vale scored their first goal he wasobliged to throw away his companion, and work harder than ever he haddone before. 

~Angus Mackinnon. ~

A powerfully-made young fellow, above the medium height, Mr. Mackinnonwas a very fair forward, and always played in the centre with Mr. William M'Kinnon, his namesake, and the pair were a "caution" to meet ina hot tussle. The six forwards took part in the play then, with two oneach wing and a couple in the centre, and it was a treat to see how wellthe Mackinnons worked in their places. Mr. Angus, however, was rathershort in the temper, and often had a "few words" with both companionsand opponents during a game. He played a very indifferent game in thefinal tie and some of the matches previously, but was really inexcellent form at that same year's International against England, andscored one of the goals. Mr. Mackinnon died about four years ago inCanada. 

~Frederick Anderson. ~

If there is one player more than another that deserves to be rememberedby his old club, the Clydesdale, for the manner in which he brought itbefore the public by scoring one of the goals in the third Internationalat Partick in 1874, it is Anderson. He was a very fine dribbler, andabout the most difficult man in the Clydesdale forwards to get the ballaway from after he had obtained possession. Although not one of theoriginal members, he was early associated with the Clydesdale, andplayed in the best games of seasons 1874, '75, and '76. He was a bit ofa sprinter, and very fast on the ball, with very fine staying power. Many of the backs who played against him during his best days wereafraid of Anderson when he got near the sticks. He is now in Manchester. 

~John M'Pherson. ~

Mr. John M'Pherson, of the Clydesdale, is a much older player than hisnamesake of the Vale of Leven. When the Clydesdale went into the gamewith a dash that astonished even the Q. P. , he was one of their finestforwards, and, possessing great speed, was not easily tackled by thebest backs of the day. He always played on the right wing, and was adangerous man at goal. Mr. M'Pherson did much both for football andcricket in Inveraray, and even now takes an interest in his favouritepastime in Rothesay, where he assists his father in the management ofthe Queen's Hotel. It may be mentioned that, in addition to his otherqualifications, for "he was so versatile, " M'Pherson has acted on morethan one occasion as outrider to Her Majesty when she visited theHighlands. In 1875 he played against England. 

~William Gibb. ~

I am sorry to say Mr. Gibb is dead, and that the sad event severs thelink that bound the whole of the Clydesdale eleven together, with theexception of the blank left by the loss of their accomplishedgoalkeeper. Mr. Gibb was a tall and powerful young fellow, and I havefrequently seen a few of his opponents feeling rather shy beforeattempting to oppose his progress towards goal. During the winters of1873, 1874, and 1875, the Clydesdale forward play was good. So brilliantwas his form in 1873 that he was taken to Landon to play againstEngland, and scored one of the goals got by Scotland, who were defeatedby four goals to two. Mr. Gibb's only fault on the field was adisposition to over-run the ball. He died about two years ago in India. 

~A. H. Raeburn. ~

In the first final cup tie Mr. Raeburn was one of the half-backs, andplayed up with great dash and pluck. If my memory serves me right, hewas one of the original members of the Granville Cricket and FootballClub when the ground was at Myrtle Park, about a couple of stone-throwsfrom Hampden Park. He was very fond of the game, and no man in theClydesdale had more enthusiasm. Mr. Raeburn was a fine tackler, and noteasily flurried when meeting an opponent, and with such men as theMackinnons to face in the centre and Weir on the right that day of thefinal, he had his own ado. He did not play very much after this game. 

~Ebenezer Hendry. ~

Mr. Hendry was more of a cricketer than a football player, and made manyfine scores for his side during the early years of his career. With theexception of Mr. Gardner and Mr. Anderson, all the members of theClydesdale could play cricket, and it was more for the purpose ofkeeping members together during the winter months that the dribblinggame was started on Kinning Park (the old home of the senior cricketclub of Glasgow). Mr. Hendry was a slow tackler, and took too long toget on the ball, but when he got a fair chance, was a very neat kicker, and showed good judgment. 

~J. R. Wilson. ~

During the past season, Mr. Wilson, who had been abroad for a number ofyears, made a visit to his native city, and was welcomed back by his oldfriends of the field with remarkable pleasure. No man in the club wasmore highly beloved and respected, and, in after years, when his brotherWalter joined the club and played in several of the leading matches, thepair rarely if ever missed a practice evening. Mr. Wilson was very faston the ball, and went right ahead when he got possession. In 1874 he waschosen to play for Glasgow against Sheffield. In the cup tie which isnow under notice he made some very fine runs, and did much to make aname for the old Clydesdale. It is with much regret I have to announcethat Mr. Wilson died in Glasgow only a month ago. 

~James M'Arly. ~

A hard worker and plucky tackler was Mr. M'Arly. For a long series ofyears he was one of the finest batsmen in cricket that Glasgow produced. Contemporary with Mr. Thos. Chalmers (Caledonian), the pair often met onthe field for their respective clubs; but so far as football isconcerned Chalmers played the Rugby game for the Glasgow Academicals, while his contemporary was half-back in the Association Clydesdale. About a dozen years ago he went to Manchester, where he is engaged aspartner in a large calico printing business; and the other day I had achat with him about old times, and he enjoyed it immensely. 

~John Kennedy. ~

Pressed into the service of his club on very short notice, Mr. Kennedyplayed in the tie as a substitute. He had only been a few weeks at thegame when the match took place, but the young and rising generation ofplayers must remember the substitutes were few in those days, and it isnot the first time I have seen a match played with one of the clubs aman short. Kennedy played as a forward, but afterwards developed into avery fair back, and showed capital judgment in that position. 

~J. J. Lang. ~

Originally a member of the 3rd L. R. V. , Lang left that club and joinedthe Clydesdale in 1874. He played in the final, I think, as centreforward, and backed up Mr. J. R. Wilson. Possessing splendid dribblingpowers, he was a very "showy" player, but his short steps did not makeanything like the progress with the ball one imagined at the time. Hewas a somewhat heavy charger when he got the chance, and frequentlypreferred to take his man before the ball. 

~A Final Charity Cup Tie Eleven Years Ago. ~

Bringing my reminiscences down to 1879, the year above all others whenAssociation football was, so to speak, in a kind of transition stage, the clubs that earned the greatest fame, and justly so, were the Queen'sPark, Rangers, and Vale of Leven. Who, among all the gallant throng thatplayed in those clubs--and, for that part of it, the spectators--canforget the exciting tussles engaged in by the trio? In this year theRangers met the Vale of Leven in the final tie for the AssociationChallenge Cup, and also in the final for the Charity. Party, or shall Isay club, feeling ran as high, if not higher, than now, the excitementwas great, and intensified by the fact that the Leven men had beeneventually awarded the Association Cup without playing off the drawnmatch, in consequence of the Rangers not turning up. Later on, too, thecrack Dumbartonshire eleven overthrew the Queen's Park in the semi-finalof the charities, on Glasgow Green, by four goals to none. Well, it wason Tuesday evening, 20th May, that the battle came off on Old HampdenPark, and both the Rangers and Vale of Leven mustered in strong force. Lovely weather helped to swell the crowd, and some 12, 000 people wereinside the ground. The Vale of Leven scored almost at once by Mr. M'Dougall, and this looked like the prelude to victory. The Rangers, however, set their teeth, and before the contest closed vanquished theirpowerful opponents by scoring a couple of goals--one by Mr. Struthers, and another out of a scrimmage. Since then eleven years have come andgone, and with them a new generation of football players. Seeing thatthe Rangers were the victors, I shall proceed to give sketches of theireleven who played on the occasion, and deal with the Vale of Levenafterwards. 

~George Gillespie. ~

In connection with the dribbling game in Glasgow, it should be generallyknown that Mr. Gillespie supplies the link which binds the players ofthe dead past to those of the living present. He is still to the fore, and does duty as well as ever. Early in his football career Mr. Gillespie was not a goalkeeper, for I am certain I saw him play at backin some of the early matches of the "Light Blues. " Nature, metaphorically speaking, never intended him to be anything in the gamebut a goalkeeper, and a brilliant one, too. How he kept goal in thisgreat match, and dozens of others, is still fresh in the memory both ofold players and spectators. He is the only man on the active list whoplayed ten years ago, and had the distinction of appearing againstEngland twice and Wales three times. From the Rangers he joined the Q. P. About six years ago. 

~Thomas Vallance. ~

The early history of the Rangers--their triumphs, misfortunes, joys, andsorrows--have all been shared in by Mr. Thomas Vallance, and he stillsticks to them like the veritable leech. Who could captain a young teamlike he? When Vallance led the Rangers to victory in this final Charitytie, I am sure he was barely out of his teens, and I don't think wouldeven yet hesitate to don the blue jersey of the club were it hard up fora back. Vallance was a back, indeed, and for several seasons, but moreparticularly that of 1879-80, none in Scotland showed better form. Hisreturns near goal were neat and clean, and without being in any wayrough with an opponent. Vallance's length of limb and good judgmentoften saved his club from losing goals. The whole of the Rangers "lo'edhim like a vera brither, " and at practice his word was law. He playedfour times against England. 

~Alexander Vallance. ~

With quite as much pluck, but awanting in finish and style, the youngerof the brothers, Mr. Alexander, was nevertheless a fine back. Lightermade and more easily tackled than Thomas, he had a way of his own inrunning out the ball before making the final shy, and when this was donewell, as it frequently happened in a first-class match, young Vallancereceived a perfect ovation from the crowd. Alexander was in fine form inthis tie, and some of his returns were splendidly made. Instead of goingat an opponent with the air of an infuriated bull, as some backs areprone to do now-a-days, he kept close to his man, and waited for anopportunity, which was at once taken advantage of. Like his brother, heis still in the city, and takes a kindly interest in his mother club. 

~Hugh M'Intyre. ~

Mr. Hugh M'Intyre and Mr. J. Drinnan were the half-backs in thiscontest. No such new-fangled device as three half-backs was ever thoughtof in Scotland at that time, and you may be sure the pair had hard work. Of all the players sent out by the Rangers, M'Intyre was in manyrespects the most powerful. He was, however, to be outspoken, thecoarsest. Woe betide the light and gentle forward who tried to pass Mr. Hugh! He pounced on his man at once, and with raised back--for he wassomewhat round-shouldered--gave the excited spectator the idea that hemeant to have the ball at any cost. His weight gave him an immenseadvantage in tackling, and I think old players will be at one with mewhen I say that he was the best at that kind of work in Scotland. He wasabout the first to leave Glasgow and accept an engagement in England. Heplayed against Wales in 1880. 

~James Drinnan. ~

In the list of the Rangers' eleven who took part in the match underreview, the name of Mr. Drinnan does not occur, and I am obliged toproffer an explanation. In the report of the contest one "R. Jackson" iscredited with keeping H. M'Intyre company on the occasion. As theincident is past, and Mr. Drinnan no longer amenable to the laws ofengineer apprenticeship, he did in this match what a great many men havedone before him--viz. , played under an assumed name. He was a very fairback, but not sufficiently brilliant to obtain notoriety, and never hadthe distinction of playing in an International. He was, nevertheless, avery useful all-round player, and could take his place as a centreforward at a moment's notice. 

~Peter Campbell. ~

The Rangers a dozen years ago without Mr. Peter Campbell would have beenlike the Queen's Park now with Mr. William Sellar left out. He was thelife and soul of the forward division, and it is not too much to say ofhim that a finer dribbler and harder worker never kicked leather. PoorCampbell, like so many more of the old lot, is gone to his account! In aterrible storm in the Bay of Biscay, which left many a home desolate, seven years ago, the steamer in which he was chief engineer foundered, and not a soul was left to tell the tale. Quiet and unassuming inmanner, Mr. Campbell was beloved by all, and his untimely death is stillmourned by the Rangers, for whom he did so much. In 1878-79 he was insuch good form that he was chosen to play against Wales, and in 1876 and1878 did duty for Glasgow against Sheffield. 

~Moses M'Neil. ~

The M'Neils are quite a football family, and, what is of more account, have gained distinction in the game. Is it not a fact that Mr. Peter wasone of the founders of the famous club nineteen years ago, and thatMessrs. Harry, William, and Moses kept the ball rolling on Kinning Parkwith credit for many a day? Moses is the youngest of the lot, andconsequently what may be termed the most modern. He was quite a boy whenthis cup tie came off, and played with a dash and finish on the leftwing that completely astonished all who were present on Old Hampden Parkthat May evening. Mr. Moses, too, was more than a mere local player, andthrough sheer force of ability was chosen to play against England in1880, and acted in the same capacity for Scotland against Wales in 1876. He is still young and active, and resides in the city. 

~William Struthers. ~

An original member of the Partick, when that club could boast of havingas good a team as now, Struthers was associated with the old pioneersin Messrs. Boag, James S. Campbell, Love, Sutar, Bell, and Smith, andjoined the Rangers the previous year before the tie. He was a beautifuldribbler, after the style of Mr. T. C. Highet; went right ahead with theball close at his toe, and was the most difficult man to tackle in theRangers. He left Scotland some years ago for England, where he playedfor the Bolton Wanderers. In brilliant form in the match, he made somefine runs in company with Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hill, and was successfulin scoring the first goal got for the Rangers. Mr. Struthers is now inEngland, where he has settled down. 

~David Hill. ~

A most unselfish player was Mr. Hill. He was slow, but sure, and if evera man showed an example in the field by at once passing on the ball whennecessary, and never opening his mouth from kick-of to time call, it washe. One of the prominent figures all through quite a decade of seasonsfor his old club, Mr. Hill rendered the Rangers valuable service, andnever failed to turn up when he was wanted. In the final AssociationChallenge Cup match with the Vale of Leven, played shortly before theone I am touching upon, and which ended in a tie, some splendid passingwas witnessed between him and Mr. Wm. Dunlop, who, by the way, could notplay in the Charity event in consequence of an injury sustained a weekbefore. 

~Alex. Steel. ~

Like the other members of the Rangers, Mr. Steel was very young when hejoined that club. His enthusiasm for the game, however, was unbounded, and I have been told by an old Rangers' man that he was one of theoriginal "moonlighters" of the club. This phrase gentlemen, requiressome explanation. It does not refer to Ireland and its agrariangrievances. No, no. It was only a few choice spirits of the Rangers who, determined to win all matches, used to practice at full moon, andfrequently frightened some of the belated lieges in the vicinity ofKinning Park, who swore the place was haunted. 

~Charles M'Quarrie. ~

Although retired from active duty on the field, Mr. M'Quarrie is evennow in football harness as the treasurer of the Partick Thistle. He didnot play in many of the first eleven matches of the club, but being apromising lad was always available as first reserve forward. He wasrather a neat dribbler and good backer-up, but a little slow intackling. He was always a steady player, and did very well in this game. He did not play very much after this tie, but gave up footballaltogether, till his old love for the game returned some years ago, whenhe joined the Thistle, and is one of their most earnest committeeworkers. 

~Robert Parlane. ~

I now proceed to the Vale of Leven men who played in this tie, andgoalkeepers, beware! and, let me tell you, don't think too much ofyourselves nowadays! We had a great man who stood between the posts adozen years ago, quite equal at all points to you, and his name wasParlane. Who did not know Mr. Robert Parlane a decade ago? In the earlyhistory of Association football some of the best players ever Scotlandproduced were also good cricketers, and Parlane was one of these, and agrand wicketkeeper. Without saying too much of the men who have over andover again distinguished themselves, I cannot help saying that a bettergoalkeeper never chucked out a ball. Mr. Parlane did very well in thismatch, his only fault being a disposition to go away too far from hischarge. He kept goal for Scotland against England in 1879, and is now inBelfast. 

~H. M'Lintock. ~

For six years no man ever did better work for his club than Mr. M'Lintock. In fact, the Vale of Leven would as soon have scratchedaltogether in a cup tie as entered into a doubtful contest without himand their other great back, Mr. Andrew M'Intyre. M'Lintock did more thanany of the old school now living to popularise a style of back playwhich ten years ago was emulated to a large extent all over the country. He had a most graceful way of turning the ball when it came dangerouslynear the goal, and running it out by dodging an opponent. He used bothfeet with equal freedom, and was decidedly the cleanest kicker that everplayed in the Vale of Leven. It is a curious fact, and one worth noting, that Mr. Forbes adopted much the same style. M'Lintock played againstEngland in 1875 and 1876. 

~Andrew M'Intyre. ~

Mr. Andrew M'Intyre was a terrible fellow to meet in a hot scrimmage, and no matter the forwards who opposed--and I have seen three at him ina close tussle in front--M'Intyre generally had the best of it and gotthe ball clear. His powerfully-knit frame served him in good stead inall the great matches in which he took a prominent part. In the oneunder review M'Intyre was sorely beset by the pick of the Rangers'forwards, but was always in the right place. No player of his day couldwork as well in so little space, and get the leather away safely. Hisonly fault was to be a little demonstrative in the field with opponents, and tell them a bit of his mind during the game. In 1878 he was chosento play against England. 

~J. Macintyre. ~

The play of the two namesakes was as different as the poles asunder. Ofa fair height and good appearance, Mr. J. Macintyre was one of the mostexcitable men that ever stood in front of a goal. He generally warmed upat bit, however, and even showed more daring when his old club wereplaying an uphill game, and I know for certain that in the great drawnmatches for the Association Challenge Cup, between the Vale of Leven andRangers, no man ever did harder work. He was slow to get on the ball, and at times very erratic, but rarely if ever lost an opportunity. Veryrough in tackling, he, above all others in the club, was severe on theopposing forwards. 

~J. M'Pherson. ~

Among the Vale of Leven back division, which was so powerful long ago, none was more devoted to the game than Mr. M'Pherson, who held his placefor several years as one of the backs of whom Caledonia felt proud. Without the least show or fussiness, M'Pherson did his work quietly, andhad the credit (and a good one, too) of being next to Mr. John Ferguson, the best-natured footballer in Dumbartonshire. He could play amagnificent game when he liked, and one season particularly--that of1883--when he was one of the Scottish Eleven against England atSheffield, ably assisted his team to win a hard match by three goals totwo. 

~J. Macfarlane. ~

The Vale of Leven at the time this tie was played had a rare forwardcombination, and in some of their best matches the dribbling and passingamong them were something to be remembered. Macfarlane, however, wascertainly not the best of the lot, but a very safe man, and could playequally well on the left wing or the centre, and, if I mistake not, workexcellently as a backer-up to J. M'Gregor. Now, when I think of it, hewas severely tackled in this match by H. M'Intyre, and was not in suchgood form as some of the other forwards. 

~R. Paton. ~

There are few, if any, old players in Dumbartonshire, and, I should say, spectators as well, who cannot remember the familiar figure of Mr. Robert Paton. A nicely-featured little fellow, with a joke for everyacquaintance, he was full of vivacity, and an intense love for his oldclub, the Vale. Yes, "The Vale. " Nobody ever called it anything else. Paton, above all the other forwards who did so much to make the Levenmen beloved at home and feared "abroad, " even to the next parishes andthe big city of Glasgow, was a fine player, and never kept the balllonger than was necessary if he saw a chance. He played against Englandin 1879. 

~J. Baird. ~

Mr. James Baird was a fair average player, without anything veryremarkable about him. The combination, as I have already said, was sogood among the Vale of Leven at the time when this great contest tookplace that an inferior or selfish player would soon have found hislevel. The forwards, in fact, were all pretty much alike, but withclearly defined degrees of brilliancy, and Mr. James Baird was one ofthe lesser lights. He was a good runner and smart at following up, buthis dribbling was sometimes too wide for the others when following up onthe enemy's lines. When hard pressed he often lost the ball, but in ascrimmage in front of the posts he was a rare shot at goal, and scored agood many for his club. 

~J. C. Baird. ~

Of all the forwards who learned the game at Alexandria, on the oldground belonging to the Vale, perhaps, in many respects, Mr. J. C. Bairdwas the most distinguished, and, at the same time, the most gentlemanly. When the Vale of Leven beat the Queen's Park for the first time in oneof the ties for the Association Challenge Cup, on Hampden Park, Mr. J. C. Baird played a perfect "demon. " On the slippery ground he kept hisfeet against all comers, dribbled and passed on splendidly, and fairlytook the breath away from John Dickson when scoring the goal which gavehis club the victory. Mr. Baird was chosen to face England in 1876, andagain in 1880. 

~J. M'Gregor. ~

If one had met Mr. M'Gregor off the football stage, so to speak, theywould never for a moment have taken him for a brilliant and accomplishedplayer at all points. He was all nerve and sinew, and always in grandform. His disadvantages in appearance and weight, however, were kind ofblessings in disguise to his club, for the opposing backs sometimestreated him with indifference, and even contempt. This was M'Gregor'sopportunity, and never man used it better. If ever he made his way pastthe backs, and was alone with the goalkeeper, ten to one but his teamwas a goal to the good in a few minutes. He played against England in1877, 1878, and 1880. 

~J. M'Dougall. ~

Two years previous to this final tie, Mr. M'Dougall was the mostbrilliant forward in Scotland, and he and Mr. J. T. Richmond (Queen'sPark) were the first two forwards selected to play against England. Afine figure on the field, and a capital dribbler, without being showy, M'Dougall was always near the ball when wanted, and it sometimes took acouple of opponents to get the leather away from him. For three years insuccession he was selected to appear against England. In the tie withthe Rangers, Mr. M'Dougall was captain of the team, and scored the onlygoal made for the defeated club. 

~The Great International of 1882. ~

The eleven who were chosen to do battle for Scotland in this contest, close upon nine years ago, were considered in many respects the bestthat had ever donned International caps in any tussle before or since, and a better illustration of the wisdom of the Association Committee intheir selection could not have been given than the result itself--viz. , Scotland, five goals; England, one. Hampden Park was the meeting-place, and as one of the football giants of the day (E. Fraser) is, like someof my dear old friends, now lying in the grave, and others who took partin the memorable event divided by thousands of miles from those withwhom they fought and won for Scotland, I should like to pay a tribute ofrespect to their football ability, and let the young and risinggeneration of players know that such men appeared in the arena, andplayed the game as well as it is done now. The match took place on the11th March, 1882, and as England mustered a very powerful eleven, theissue was doubtful. About a quarter of an hour, however, after thestart, Mr. Ker and Mr. Harrower had a fine run, and Harrower made thefirst point for Scotland but at half-time the score stood--Scotland, twogoals; England, one--Ker having added the second, and Vaughton the onefor England. In the last round, the Scotchmen, although playing againsta good breeze, had it all to themselves, and scored other three pointsby Messrs. M'Pherson, Ker, and Kaye. In giving short sketches of theInternational eleven, I have only to deal with eight of the players, asMessrs. Charles Campbell, A. M'Intyre, and G. Gillespie have alreadybeen noticed in previous articles while engaged in other matches. Ishall accordingly begin with

~Andrew Watson (Queen's Park). ~

Mr. Watson did a great deal for football in the Glasgow district a dozenyears ago, both with his ready purse and personal ability in the game. It was in a great measure owing to his interest and energy that theyoung Parkgrove Club obtained proper ground, and was fairly put on itsway rejoicing. The Parkgrove had a lot of very fine young fellows in itsranks, and for several years made a capital record in numerous matchesunder the captaincy of Mr. Watson. In this International he played asright-side back in company with Mr. Andrew M'Intyre, and, as anindication of how he and his companion behaved, it is necessary to saythat only one goal was got against them. Mr. Watson was a rare"header-out, " and was famed for his fine tackling and neat kicking. Hehad one fault, however, and this consisted in kicking over his own linesoccasionally when hard pressed by a dashing forward. In the previousyear he was the Scottish captain against England, in London, and led histeam to victory by 6 goals to 1. 

~Peter Miller (Dumbarton). ~

When Mr. Miller played in this match, the Dumbarton Club was a power inthe land, and not easily beaten. He was left half-back, and had as hiscompanion Mr. Charles Campbell, who captained the victorious eleven. Mr. Miller was remarkable for his magnificent tackling at close quarters, and possessed weight, which told against England in the contest. Againand again I saw him shake off both Mr. Cursham and Mr. Parry, two of theSouthrons' ablest forwards, and once Mr. Mosforth and he had an amusingbit of play near the Scotch goal, in which the Sheffielder came offbest. Mr. Miller was, altogether, a very fine back, and when he retireda few years ago the Dumbarton Club had considerable difficulty ingetting a good man properly trained to supply his place. Next season(1883) he was also chosen to play against England and Wales. 

~E. Fraser (Queen's Park). ~

Lost to his club and the thousands of delighted spectators who witnessedhis brilliant ability as a right-wing forward, but not forgotten by themembers of the old Q. P. , Fraser, "though dead, yet speaketh. " I questionvery much if any forward of that time among the mediæval class ofplayers, so to speak, exercised such a potent influence over thespectators, and no style of play was more followed by the youngerdribblers than that of Fraser. A son of the manse, he was a highlycultured young fellow, and loved football so devotedly that no amount ofhard training was ever shirked by him when under probation for the firsteleven. Dribbling beautifully up the side of the field, he had the knackof "middling" the ball at the proper time, and for six years no man everassisted at the scoring of more goals. He was also included in thefollowing season's eleven against England, and in 1880 did duty forScotland in the Welsh match. Poor Fraser died in Australia, a few yearsago, shortly after arriving there. 

~William Anderson (Queen's Park). ~

In the International of 1882 Mr. Anderson and Mr. Fraser played on thesame side, and made a very good pair. The former, although not above themedium height, was powerfully built, and few, if any, of his formidableopponents were able to bring him down to mother earth. When he did fall, however, he was never in a hurry to rise, and took matters easy. If onecould imagine such a thing as an easy-going football player, it wasAnderson, but his failing sometimes came in handy, for he wouldoccasionally make a gallant spurt, and pilot his way through theopposing backs in a way that completely astonished his team and theirfriends. He showed very well in this match, and the manner in which heand his companion dodged the Englishmen, not even excepting Mr. Bailey, the crack Clapham Rover half-back, will be easily remembered by thosewho were present. Mr. Anderson is now abroad, and it is something to hiscredit to say that he played four times against England. 

~J. L. Kaye (Queen's Park). ~

Like a good many fine players of the glorious past, Mr. Kaye receivedthe best of his football training in the ranks of the 3rd L. R. V. , and acouple of years, I think, before this big event, joined the forwarddivision of the black and white stripes. Of a good-natured disposition, and a genial fellow to meet both on the field and at the social board, Mr. Kaye was a great favourite all round, and much sought after outsidethe pale of his own club. He was a very fine forward; a good dribbler, but was much more easily tackled than Anderson, and occasionally feltshy at meeting an opponent who had frightened him in a previous match. He must have done well in this contest, as he is highly spoken about inthe newspaper reports, and scored the fifth and last goal got forScotland. He was also an old and tried hand at Internationals, as hefaced the English division three times, and Wales also in the samenumber of matches. 

~R. M'Pherson (Arthurlie). ~

What might be honestly termed the illustration of a fair field and nofavour, Mr. M'Pherson's name was added to the International players ofthat season through sheer force of ability. I saw him play in severalmatches that year, and his style and smart passing up from the left wingwas justly admired. He was Mr. Kaye's companion in this contest, andably assisted that player to bring up the ball in several splendid runs. Since M'Pherson's retiral from active duty, and also the fact of Mr. Turner, their famous goalkeeper, giving up the game, the Arthurlie havegone back a bit in football ability, but during two seasons they wereable to have two nominations for International honours, as Mr. Turnerkept goal against Wales in 1882. Possessing great speed and judgment, M'Pherson was a very neat and steady player, and for two seasons atanyrate, a star among all the Renfrewshire forwards. 

~George Ker (Queen's Park). ~

A sketch of an International, cup tie, or, in fact, a first-classcontest of any kind ten years ago, would be altogether incompletewithout some reference to Mr. George Ker, now abroad. From 1880 to 1883he was Scotland's best centre forward, and the originator of what is nowknown in football parlance as the "cannon shot" at goal. Many playershave since tried it, and made fairly good attempts, but Ker alone coulddo it to perfection. In this International he gave the Englishmen ataste of his ability in this line. He passed Mr. Greenwood, the Englishextreme back, and when fairly in front watched how the goalkeeper (Mr. Swepstone) would take in the situation. Ker spun the ball hard from histoe at the proper moment, and sent in a "flyer, " which took effect. I amall but certain that if a vote were taken among players and spectatorsabout the place to be assigned to centre forwards, Ker would come outthe admitted chief. International honours were his thrice againstEngland. 

~W. Harrower (Queen's Park). ~

The Queen's Park had no fewer than five forwards in this season'sInternational, and Mr. Harrower was one. He played in the company of Mr. Ker, and the central division of the Scottish team was unusuallystrong. In fact, I distinctly remember some remarks made at the meetingof the Association, at which I was present, about the combination atthat point being the most powerful ever sent out by Scotland. Mr. Harrower was really a beautiful dribbler, not easily knocked off hispins, and the most unselfish player I ever saw. He has the credit ofearning the first goal got for Scotland in the match under notice, andwas in the best of form the whole of that season. He took a leading partin the hard work of the Queen's Park for five years. 

~A Narrow Shave in the 1885 International. ~

There are yet other two Internationals, which introduce new faces intothe field of play, and the first is that of 1885 at Kennington Oval, London, and ended in a tie, each side scoring one goal. KenningtonOval--in the winter time, at anyrate--is to football in London whatHampden Park is to Scotland in general and Glasgow in particular. Theweather was delightful on that afternoon (Saturday, 21st March), and thespectators mustered in considerable force. Not, of course, so largely aswe can show in Glasgow, for it takes an enormous amount of attraction togather a big crowd in London. There was little or no wind to interferewith the play, and as both teams were in the pink of condition, it wasan illustration of Greek meeting Greek in the open. The Scotchmen, however, were the first to make matters exciting by scoring a smart goalfrom the foot of Mr. Lindsay, and this was all the effective work donein the first round. The second forty-five minutes of the play was alsoof a very give-and-take order, and once Mr. Allan hit the English goalbar with a hard shot, but the ball rebounded into play, and waseventually sent behind. Towards the close, however, the Englishmen, ledby Messrs. Bambridge, Cobbald, and Brown made a fine run, and the formerput the game square for England. The contest, therefore, as I havealready indicated, ended in a tie. As in all the other events that Ihave already touched upon, many of the players are now scattered far andwide. Some have given the game up altogether, while others are stillplaying on, and doing football duty as well, if not better, than everthey did before. Taking the eleven in the order of positions, I shallbegin with

~J. Macaulay (Dumbarton). ~

Among the brilliant array of goalkeepers who have sprung up todistinguish themselves during the past ten years, none deserves a morekindly notice in any football reminiscences than Mr. Macaulay. Thepresent match was the third he stood sentinel before Scotland'sstronghold, and he also played in '86 and '87. His first was atSheffield in 1883, when I saw him save several splendid shies from thefeet of the English forwards, and it is something to add of him that hewas included in the Scotch teams who never lost a match with England. Inthe 1885 contest he kept goal in his best form, and was frequentlycheered for the manner in which he got out the ball and dodged theEnglish forwards. Mr. Macaulay was very quiet and unostentatious in hismanner, and did his work brilliantly. He returned to Scotland the otherday from abroad, and may yet play for some of our leading clubs. 

~Walter Arnott (Queen's Park). ~

Second in the order of teams, but premier in all that pertains to backplay, comes the name of Mr. Arnott. Out of all the fine players whoacted as extreme backs, none has done better work for his club and, letme say, International matches. It is all very well to say that therewere giants in those days, but you all know what befell Goliath, and Icannot help saying that if you were to ask me candidly (taking thequestion in an all-round way) who was the best back you ever saw, Ishould have no hesitation in answering that it was Walter Arnott. In thewords of the old English ballad, "he feared no foe, " and never in thehistory of football of the present time has such a brilliant man arisen. He has so many remarkable points that I cannot tell them in a briefnotice, but as he is still playing well, spectators are at one inadmitting his grand ability. 

~M. Paton (Dumbarton). ~

The match under review was Mr. Paton's second appearance againstEngland, and he acquitted himself very well. Somehow or other thecommittee of selection in International matches, while they honestly dotheir duty, sometimes move in a mysterious way, and the selection of Mr. Paton to stand alongside Mr. Arnott in this contest was, at the time, considered somewhat risky. Not by any means because Mr. Paton was not agood back, but in consequence of the diversity of play shown by thepair. Mr. Paton was nothing if he was not allowed a little latitude, andin some of the matches he came off with flying colours. Arnott and he, however, acted well together. To give Mr. Paton his due, he was a mostgentlemanly young fellow, and did his very best for the game. 

~J. J. Gow (Queen's Park). ~

It has just occurred to me, and I can't see how the illustration mightnot with equal force be applied to football as in the honest range ofevery-day life, that if a "round-robin" were sent about the clubs thattackled the Q. P. In their best matches in the past decade, I am certainthat the verdict about the man who was most feared in all the elevens, the name of Mr. J. J. Gow would come out first. He was, in fine, ahalf-back that the Q. P. Had reason to feel proud. Half-backs might comeand go--as they undoubtedly did--but Gow seemed in his football careerto go on for ever. The most mysterious thing about him was that he wasalways in the same form, and never had any practice. Football athalf-back seemed to come to him by nature, and cost him no effort. Hecould return splendidly, but at close tackling, and in clearing the ballaway, he was sometimes a little slack, and had to make it up by sheerforce of hard work. 

~Alexander Hamilton (Queen's Park). ~

Not long ago, while "doing" a match at Hampden Park (I think it was Q. P. V. Battlefield, in the Glasgow Cup), I met my old friend in the pavilionlooking on and enjoying the sport. Like the M'Neils, the Hamiltons are afootball family, and while Mr. James, who is now an active member of thepresent Q. P. , will come under my pen later on, I have only at present todeal with Mr. Alexander. Well, he was something in his day, and by nomeans to be despised as a forward. He was not a fast dribbler, but whenhard work was required, and wasn't it just in the great match againstthe professional Preston North End, when the Q. P. Were able to holdtheir own, Mr. Hamilton never played better in his life. 

~William Sellar (Queen's Park). ~

I have for the most part been dealing with the past, and it is no forceof imagination to come straight to the living present, and add that abetter left-wing player never appeared in any club or combination ofplayers than Mr. William Sellar. He has a style of his own which is, togive the Battlefield its due, peculiar to that club's ability in thedribbling game. Mr. Sellar did not learn all his football in the Queen'sPark, but really perfected his style on Hampden Park, and he isundoubtedly, at the present time, the most brilliant forward inScotland. Gentlemanly in every sense of the word, Sellar is the fairestplayer that ever faced an opponent, and no man is more respected on thefield. In addition to this contest, he played against England in 1886, 1887, and 1888. It may be mentioned that in 1890, in playing against the3rd L. R. V. , he played from the left in a style never excelled by anyforward. 

~Joseph Lindsay (Dumbarton). ~

Before this date, Mr. Joseph Lindsay was what might be called an oldhand at Internationals, as he had appeared before England in 1881 and1884, and Wales in 1880, 1881, 1884, and 1885. It is not too much to sayof him that he was the most dangerous forward (to an opponent, I mean)of his day, and if the backs were in any way slack, Lindsay "spreaddismay around, " as he was a dead shot at goal, and rarely, if ever, missed a chance if he got within a dozen yards of the sticks. Lindsaywas the best forward in many respects that ever toed a ball forDumbarton. He was, however, sorely tried in the finishing year of hisfootball life, and in many of the leading matches so closely watched bythe opposing backs that he was sometimes fairly done for, and could notget the ball away. 

~David S. Allan (Queen's Park). ~

Like Sir Roger de Coverley's definition of a great ethical question toone of his numerous friends, "that much might be said of one point, " theillustration holds good when applied to Mr. David Allan. Popularity hasits duties as well as its privileges, and there is not a single forwardin broad Scotland who is so popular and so much beloved by clubcompanions and opponents alike as Mr. Allan. He is, in fine, the mostuseful man in the Queen's Park, and while all of us seem to grow olderas each season comes round, Allan has always that juvenile look whichundoubtedly betokens an easy and contented mind. He is not what might becalled a brilliant and showy forward, but I'll back him to do the besthour and a half of heavy work in the world without any outward sign offatigue. I verily believe if Allan were forced to do it, he could playin any part of the field with a few minutes' notice. 

~R. Calderwood (Cartvale). ~

In consequence of Mr. R. M. Christie, who had played in theInternational, of the previous year, meeting with an accident in one ofthe trial matches, Mr. Calderwood did duty as left-wing forward in thismatch, and played very creditably. He was by far the best man in theyoung Cartvale, and a finer country player never came under the eye ofan International referee. He was a veritable dodger among the opposingbacks, and in this contest gave the Englishmen, but more particularlythe Walters and Amos, a lot of trouble. He played a fine game incombination with the rest of the Scottish forwards. In the same seasonMr. Calderwood played against Wales in the Principality. 

~The Final Association Cup Tie of 1886. ~

The clubs left in the final tie for possession of the Blue Ribbon ofAssociation football glory in this season were the Queen's Park andRenton. Queen's Park led off by scoring from the foot of Mr. Lambie, andthis was all the effective work till ends were changed, when the Rentonteam made a brilliant charge on the Queen's Park goal, and forced theball through in a scrimmage. The play immediately after this was so eventhat a draw looked certain, but the Queen's Park eventually assumedcommand, and scored other two goals (one by Mr. Hamilton and another byMr. Allan), and won a hard contest by three goals to one. As most of theRenton players who took part in the match were considered famous intheir day, and have not been already introduced to you, I shall giveshort sketches of their style of play. So far as the Queen's Park teamare concerned, however, I have only to deal with new faces in Messrs. R. M. Christie, G. Somerville, and J. A. Lambie, as all the other eight(Messrs. Campbell, Watson, Gow, Harrower, Hamilton, Arnott, Allan, andGillespie) have already been disposed of in the present volume. 

~J. A. Lindsay. ~

Somehow or other the Renton Club were never very strong in goalkeepingwhen the perfect form of their forward division was taken into account, but Mr. J. A. Lindsay was decidedly their best. He had what might becalled his good and bad days, however, and while he was always cleverwith his feet, he sometimes misjudged the ball and allowed a "softthing" to take effect. In the present contest he had hot work in keepingthe Q. P. Forwards clear. Mr. Lindsay showed such brilliant form in thetrial matches of 1888 that he was chosen to represent Scotland onHampden Park. He was somewhat unfortunate there, however, as Englandrevenged Bannockburn to the extent of five goals to none. 

~A. Hannah. ~

Who does not remember Mr. Hannah's fine fly-kick and powerful tackling?In meeting and judging the ball in the air he rivalled the great Q. P. Back himself, but wanted the ability to follow up an advantage. Innearly all the matches in which he took part that season, Hannah workedhard and earnest. He had a peculiar way of turning round to an opponentand taking the ball away from him with the side of the foot, and no manin the Renton team was more feared by an opponent than Hannah. He neverplayed against England, but in 1888 was picked out to represent Scotlandagainst Wales. 

~A. M'Call. ~

In this tie Mr. Hannah had as his companion at extreme back Mr. A. M'Call. In some of the earlier matches in which the latter appeared hewas a wild tackler and erratic in charging--rather going for the man, and never minding the ball--but by and by he mellowed down, andreturned the leather beautifully from a besieged goal. I remember seeinghim in several of the leading games that same year, and he showed aneatness of style which won for him golden opinions. He played againstIreland in 1888. 

~R. Kelso. ~

Mr. Kelso was a tower of strength to the Renton team at half-back, anddid his duty in this contest. Rather a shade rough on an opponent attimes, Mr. Kelso could also be generous to the foe when he liked, andsometimes made a brilliant hit at half-back by clearing away the ballfrom the feet of an opponent, just when the latter was poising for ashot at goal. Like Mr. Leitch Keir, of Dumbarton, he was, and is, amagnificent half-back, and had International honours against England in1887 and 1888. 

~D. M'Kechnie. ~

In connection with Mr. M'Kechnie's name in juxtaposition with Renton'scrack half-back, I must honestly confess I am like CuddieHeadrigg--"Between the deil and the deep sea. " I can only rememberseeing him twice. I come to the conclusion, then, that he must have beena substitute, and if I am wrong in my supposition I shall be glad tostand corrected. He was at any rate not sufficiently brilliant to gethis name handed down to posterity, although it must be said of him thathe was a fair average player, and did very well in this game. 

~J. Thomson. ~

Although he had a disposition to "poach" a little now and again, as someforwards are apt to do, for you all know it is human to err, Thomson wasa grand player, and made the most of his speed. He never kept the balllonger than was necessary, and if he thought his club would benefit byit, shied quickly in from the touch-line no matter where his companionsor opponents alike were stationed on the field. He was really a fineshier, and his dribbling powers beyond dispute. 

~J. M'Call. ~

The Renton team had now risen to the acme of their fame, and no playerhelped them more to attain that position than Mr. J. M'Call. Some clubscarry their position through sheer force of medium ability all round;some have rare luck with their goalkeeping and backs; but, there is nodoubt about it, Renton was strong in front, and I question if any manduring that season played a better game than the younger M'Call. Herepresented Scotland in the contests with England in 1887 and 1888 asleft-wing forward, and played a fine game. 

~A. Grant. ~

When the Renton men carried off the Glasgow Charity Cup that sameseason, the forwards showed great ability. Mr. Grant was a very neatplayer. If my memory serves me right, he backed up Mr. Barbour in thisgame, and did it very well. He was, however, rather slow on the ball, and was often sent to the right-about by Messrs. Gow and Watson. LikeMr. M'Kechnie, he does not seem to have played in many of the Renton'sfirst-class matches, and his name is not found among Internationalists. 

~A. M'Intyre. ~

Mr. M'Intyre was one of the best forwards in the county which hasproduced so many fine Association football exponents, and acted ascentre forward. Like Mr. D. Gow, of the Rangers, when he got fairly onthe ball there was no getting it from him and he excelled in hardtackling. Possessing considerable speed, M'Intyre used it to the bestadvantage, and he had such a liking for dodging round the backs that hesometimes fairly carried away the spectators, and was loudly cheered forhis manoeuvring. 

~A. Barbour. ~

In this event Mr. Barbour was the best man on the Renton side, and kepthis feet on the slippery ground in a manner that completely astonishedall who saw the contest. He was sometimes fairly puzzled by the cleverheading of Mr. Campbell and the terrible tackling of Mr. Arnott, butfought gamely to the last. In close dribbling he was the nearestapproach to Mr. William M'Kinnon (Q. P. ) I have ever seen, and while hewas quite as tricky, wanted the tact to lead an opponent astray. Heplayed against Ireland in 1885. 

~J. Kelly. ~

What Mr. Marshall is to the 3rd L. R. V. , Mr. Berry to the Queen's Park, and Mr. Groves to the Celtic, Mr. Kelly was to his old club, theRenton--viz. , a grand man. Kelly, I think, first came out as a forward, and played as such for his county against Renfrewshire in 1885, and alsoin this tussle on Cathkin Park, but he eventually developed into a veryfine half-back, and played against England as such twice--in 1888 forhis mother club, and last season for his new love, the Celtic. Hisproper place, however, is undoubtedly at half-back. 

~R. M. Christie. ~

Slowly but surely Mr. Christie passed all the probationary stages in theQueen's Park on the way to develop a brilliant player, and in 1884appeared in the International with England. He was in the best of form, and caused the strangers a deal of trouble. He was very strong on hislegs, and about the most powerful opponent of his day to meet in a closematch. The passing between Christie and Harrower that day was splendid, and fairly astonished the Renton backs and goalkeeper. 

~G. Somerville. ~

Mr. Somerville was a very fine all round forward, with a good deal ofability in backing up and middling the ball in front of goal. Mr. Hamilton and he used to make the spectators laugh at the way in whichthey annoyed the opposing backs by passing the leather to one another ina tantalising way, right in front of the uprights. He was a sturdyplayer, something of the same make as Mr. David Davidson, of 3rd L. R. V. And latterly Queen's Park fame, with a nerve of iron and, shall I say, aframe of steel. He played against England in 1886. 

~J. A. Lambie. ~

A comparatively short career had Mr. Lambie on Hampden Park, but it wasfraught with much distinction. He was a grand forward among a finedivision, and scored a lot of goals for the Queen's Park. He was, indeed, at it again in this match, and, as I have already said in theintroduction, took one more for the black and white stripes. Whennearing the keeper, if he were fortunate enough to pass the backs, hegenerally looked about for one of his companions to follow up, and wasquite an adept at the "screw-kick. " Lambie appeared against England in1888, and is now an active member of the Corinthians. 

~The Association International of 1887. ~

As the International of 1887 is, so to speak, a thing of yesterday, Ihave only introduced it here for two reasons. The first of these is togive me an opportunity of bringing new faces into my reminiscences, andshortly criticising their styles of play, and the second to show you howthe admittedly best eleven sent out by England in all her matches withScotland were vanquished on their own soil by three goals to two. Theevent came off at Blackburn in presence of some 10, 000 spectators--amuch larger crowd than ever appeared in London to see the International. The weather was dry overhead during the early stages of the tussle, buta heavy shower of hail fell later on, and this, added to a mud-coveredground, made matters anything but pleasant. The Scotchmen were the firstto score, which they did through Mr. M'Call against the wind, half-an-hour from the start; but the Englishmen soon bore down on theScottish lines, and Mr. Lindley equalised, so that at half-time bothnationalities were on terms of equality. Not long after ends werechanged, the Scotchmen made one of those determined charges for whichthey have been famed in many of the International games, and shoved bothgoalkeeper and ball through between the posts. No sooner, however, hadthe leather again been started than Mr. Dewhurst, the crack Englishforward, sent in a shooter, and once more squared the game. It was now"night or Blucher" for Scotland, and after a grand run between Messrs. Marshall and Allan, which was loudly cheered, even though an enemy didit, the young Queen's Park forward made Scotland one goal up. Till theclose the Englishmen had several brilliant sallies on the strangers'goal, but the backs--Messrs. Arnott and Forbes--held their own, andScotland won by three goals to two. Mr. Macaulay kept goal in finestyle, and was the captain of the victorious team. The Englishmen chosento meet the Scotchmen on the occasion were--Messrs. Roberts, A. M. Walters, P. M. Walters, N. C. Bailey, G. Howarth, J. Forrest, E. C. Bambridge, W. N. Cobbald, J. Lofthouse, F. Dewhurst, and T. Lindley. Besides the six who are mentioned below, Messrs. Arnott, Macaulay, Kelso, J. M'Call, and W. Sellar (who have already been noticed) alsoappeared against England in the same contest. 

~J. Forbes (Vale of Leven). ~

Like certain cricketers who can only cut, and are weak on the leg-side, there are several backs playing for fair medium clubs just now who canonly return the ball properly if they have plenty of room to work, butMr. Forbes, who played in this match along with Mr. Arnott, was none ofthese. You were, in fact, not five minutes in his company as a spectatorat a match before you were captivated with the style and finish of hisplay. In the excitement of the game you imagined it was "all up with theVale, " when a crowd of opposing forwards were observed getting the ballnearer goal. All the time, however, Forbes was maturing his mode ofattack, and like the unsuspecting animal that darts upon its prey, thecrack Vale of Leven back dashed in, and you were sure to see the ballflying away down the field, with a magnificent return. While kicking healways got his toes well under the ball, and it was quite a rare thingto see Forbes kicking high into the air. A great favourite with his cluband opponents as well, Mr. Forbes first appeared against England in1884, when Scotland won by one to none, so that in both Internationalsin which he took part his team were on the winning side. He is now inbusiness in England. 

~L. Keir (Dumbarton). ~

When in the spring of 1887 Mr. Leitch Keir was chosen as companion toMr. Kelso (Renton), and Mr. Auld (3rd L. R. V. ), in this great event atBlackburn, almost everybody had confidence in them as half-backs, and Iam happy to say that this confidence was not misplaced, for no bettertrio ever did duty in an International at that important position in thefield. For good, even-down tackling, and hard work, both in heading andclean kicking, Keir was one of the very best men who ever playedfootball. So proficient was he at a "free kick, " that when a "hand" wasgiven against the opposing team, in most of the Dumbarton matches, Keirwas invariably intrusted with the ball; and when the infringement tookplace near the goal, the opposing team always dreaded his shot. He wasalso a very fine dribbler for a half-back, and could run out the ball infine style from a hotly-pressed goal, and send it spinning down thefield. In the succeeding year he was chosen to appear against England onHampden Park, but, like the rest of the Scottish representatives in thatfatal contest, he did not show to the best advantage. 

~J. Auld (3rd L. R. V. ). ~

During the past four or five years, Mr. Auld has been one of the besthalf-backs in Scotland, and was a decided success in this contest. Noclub in Britain has produced a string of better backs and half-backsthan the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteer Athletic and Football Club. Longago, many of their most brilliant victories were won by back play alone, and this means preventing their opponents from scoring, and keeping whatthey had got in the earlier stages of a contest. Among these old andtried hands I must remember poor John Hunter (who is dead), Mr. Alexander Kennedy, who still goes out to see his old club, and delightsto give the young ones an advice; Mr. William Somers, the gigantichigh-kicker, now in America, and many more, whose names shall long beremembered in football history: but to Mr. Auld. He is yet a brillianthalf-back, and while by no means a heavy kicker, one of the mostjudicious men in front of a hard-pressed goal I have ever seen. He is aterrible tackler, and sometimes hugs an opponent so tenaciously that heforces the ball away and saves his side. The 1887 match was the only onein which he played for Scotland against England, but he appeared thatsame season against Wales. 

~J. Marshall (3rd L. R. V. ). ~

For two seasons, at any rate, and, I think, I might almost say three, Mr. Marshall has maintained the honoured position of being about thebest right wing forward on any field. Gifted with an amount of speed, which he uses to the best advantage, combined with rare dribblingpowers, he is the pride of the 3rd L. R. V. Forward division, and no manis more missed from a match. In connection with the last observation, the Volunteers had to play the Rangers in the third round of the GlasgowCup without Mr. Marshall, and at the committee meeting before thecontest, when this became known, it was like a funeral lodge ofFreemasons--nobody cared to speak except the R. W. M. And M. C. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Robertson (Dumbarton) were the right wing forwards onthe occasion, and several brilliant runs were made from their side. Atthe present time he is about the best at middling the ball in front ofgoal of any player going, and is one of those forwards who never seem toget into a fagged state near the close of a match. 

~W. Robertson (Dumbarton). ~

Some players are fortunate in easily securing their positions amongcrack teams, while others have to struggle on before their genuineability is properly recognised. Long ago, ability in selecting a teamwent for very little, and positions, like kissing, by favour. Mr. Robertson, however, received no favour from any combination, and wasselected on his merits. In that same season, I am almost positive, I sawhim play in brilliant form in the Final cup tie, when the Hibernianovercame the Dumbarton on Hampden Park by two goals to one, and severalof the other matches about the same time. He was a very fine backer up, possessing first-rate dribbling powers, and although a little shy inmeeting his opponent when he saw a charge inevitable, rather preferringto use stratagem, was by no means afraid to go into the heart of ascrimmage and face up to much heavier men than himself. This was Mr. Robertson's first game against England, and he has no reason to beashamed of the way in which he helped Scotland to obtain victory. On theMonday following this match he played against Wales at Wrexham. 

~J. Allan (Queen's Park). ~

When Mr. Allan made his appearance in the first match of any consequencefor the Queen's Park, he did so well that both club companions, opponents, and spectators were completely astonished at his beautifuldribbling and speed. In Ayrshire, when he played for the MonkcastleClub, he was looked upon as a very fair young forward, but a fewpractice games on Hampden Park seems to have had a remarkable effect onhim, and in one short season he was such a good man that Internationalhonours were given him at once. In this tussle, which was one of themost trying of the meetings between Scotland and England, Allan played agrand game, and scored the third and winning goal for his country. Therun that resulted in the score was started by Mr. Marshall, and was oneof the finest ever seen in any contest. In a football sense, however, touse a simile, Mr. Allan was like Octavian's prosperous star, but withthis difference, he vanished from the scene as quickly as he came, sofar as first-class matches were concerned, and only re-appeared on IbroxPark recently against the 3rd L. R. V. And his old club, Queen's Park. 

~Glasgow Charity Cup Final Tie of 1888. ~

The Renton Eleven are to-day in the proud position of winning theGlasgow Charity Cup four times in succession--from 1886 down to season1888-89, and even now the holders of that handsome trophy. In thesefinals they polished off the Vale of Leven in 1886 by three to one; nextseason the same club by one to none; in 1888 (the year which I havesingled out for review) vanquished the Cambuslang by four to none: andlast spring overcame the Queen's Park by three goals to one. In 1888 theRenton men held both cups, and what was of more account, won them bylong odds against precisely the same opponents, viz. , Cambuslang. In thefinal for the Association Challenge Cup the victory was one of six goalsto one, and in the Glasgow Charity Cup four to none. This was, indeed, the largest score made in the former, and was equal in the latter tothat made in 1877 (the first year of the competition) by the Queen'sPark, when they defeated the Rangers. Cambuslang, however, were at thistime a power in the land, and had previously carried off the GlasgowChallenge trophy in its first season. In addition to this, they are alsocredited with the record of fast scoring--having taken four goals fromthe Queen's Park in the last ten minutes of the fifth round of theScottish Challenge Cup in 1886, but as the Queen's Park had five pointson previously, they saved the game by one goal. The event of which Ihave presently to deal came off on Hampden Park on the 12th May, 1888, and ended in favour of the Renton, as has already been indicated, byfour to none. The Cambuslang men played well at the start, and a closematch was expected. Through some cause or other, however, they fell awayconsiderably as the game advanced, and J. Campbell scored the first goalfor Renton, and this was soon followed by a second from the foot of J. M'Call, the record at half-time being two goals to none in favour of thecrack Dumbartonshire club. The second round, strange to say, was alsowell contested at the outset, but the grand forward combination of theRenton told the tale of defeat to the Cambuslang men, and other twogoals were added. As none of the Cambuslang team have previously comeunder my pen, I give them first, and will include three of Renton whohave not been noticed. 

~Mr. Dunn. ~

More genuine progress has been made in goalkeeping among the ScottishAssociation clubs during the last decade than the average spectatorcares to admit, but it is nevertheless a fact. Mr. Dunn played in mostof the best matches of that year, and while he did very creditably insome of the ties, had the misfortune to lose four goals in this contest. The Renton forwards, however, were too smart for the bulk of theCambuslang backs, and woe betide a goalkeeper when he is not properlysupported there! Mr. Dunn had a lively time of it in the contest, andsaved some splendid shies from taking effect. 

~J. Smith. ~

The Cambuslang team were never famed for the brilliancy of their backplay. It was what the forward division had done for that club in some ofthe most severe and uncertain of their matches that forced them to belooked upon in Scotland as one of the crack elevens. Mr. Smith wasrather of the quiet and unassuming order of players, who thought muchbut said little, and did his work well. He was a fine kicker with eitherfoot, and his tackling was severe, but honest and clean. With a goodwind in his favour, few backs could equal him in a long kick, but hesometimes made mistakes near goal when he was hard pressed. 

~Mr. M'Farlane. ~

The best back in the Cambuslang eleven that season was undoubtedly Mr. M'Farlane. He reminded me very much of the style of Mr. A. H. Holm(Queen's Park), who captained the Scottish team against England atSheffield in 1883. He had rare ability in close tackling; used to getthe ball away by clever heading, and was the most plucky young fellow togo to the assistance of a half-back one could see anywhere. His onlydefect--and it was a very bad one--consisted in getting up to anopponent and trying to take the ball away from him in the rear. Sometimes it came off well, but at others his club had to pay thepenalty with a free kick. 

~Mr. Russell. ~

In the present contest Mr. Russell was one of the three half-backs, andin no match during that season had a trio such terrible opponents toencounter as the two Campbells, M'Call, and M'Callum, who were perfectdemons among the Renton forwards. Russell held out bravely for a time, but was eventually cornered, and, in the second half particularly, "losthis head, " and allowed the Renton men to get up to Dunn too often. Insome of the smaller matches of the club he played brilliantly, but didnot really rise to the occasion in this memorable cup tie, and in mostof the tackling came off second best. 

~John Gourlay. ~

It has often been said about Cambuslang that it was a club of threenames! Those names, however, both individually and collectively, werefearless opponents to meet in any tussle, let alone a cup tie, and tothe credit of Cambuslang be it said, no combination of players everserved a club so well, and had such pleasure in their hard work, as theBuchanans, Gourlays, and Smiths. They were more feared than admired bythe members of the clubs twenty miles around, than the Elliots, andArmstrongs, or, shall I say, the Græmes, of the "debatable land" longago. Both Mr. James and Mr. John Buchanan were famous players in theirway, but the back was decidedly the best man, and was selected to playagainst Wales the same season. 

~A. Jackson. ~

Cambuslang's style of play, with their fast following up and jerkykicking, suited, or, I might say, favoured the old style of six forwardsand only two half-backs, but they insisted on being in the fashion. Thethree half-backs, however, were only names to conjure with, but nothingin real practice, for Mr. Jackson was always made the kind of "flyingman" of the team, and was nothing more or less than a forward. He alwaysjoined the latter division when they were attacking an opponent's goal, and retired well up among the backs when his club were pressed at thelines. In 1886 Mr. Jackson played against Wales, and was also includedin the team against Ireland in 1888. 

~John Buchanan. ~

Although Mr. John Buchanan developed into a very fair half-back, and wasselected to appear against Ireland last spring, he was included in thepresent match under notice as a forward, and I think he then played onthe right. He was the fastest dribbler in the team, and a capitaltackler. The combination among the Cambuslang forward division, however, on the occasion was completely spoiled by the superior tactics of theRenton eleven, and that fine passing for which the village team were sojustly famed was awanting that afternoon on Hampden Park. 

~James Buchanan. ~

Although similar in name, the play of the other Buchanan was quitedifferent from that of Mr. John. He was always cool and collected, andhad a fine style of dribbling and passing which sometimes rose toperfection itself, but in his runs he was fond of showing off, and waseasily tackled in consequence. But for this fault he would have beenchosen to play in one of the Internationals the previous year. Noplayer, however, loved the game and his old club so much, and practisedmore self-denial to attend the field on the eve of a big match, and dohis best for victory. 

~J. Plenderleith. ~

Every club undoubtedly has its own ideal type of player, and I am almostsure that Plenderleith was the favourite among the Cambuslang forwards. He had speed--and rare speed, too--and with a kind of long kick that hefollowed up in a style of his own, made great progress down the field. He kept too close on the touch-line, however, and his great fault waskicking out--a dangerous thing when too near goal in this age of smartthrowing in--for I notice a great improvement in this art during thepast few years. We are, however, still behind the Englishmen in thisrespect, as most of them play cricket in the summer, and areconsequently good shiers. 

~G. Smith. ~

Mr. George Smith was what I might honestly term a fair forward, notbrilliant, but steady, and a good backer up. He was, however, alwaysgetting too near the line, and often had to submit to the indignity ofbeing pressed into touch, and thereby losing the leather. The fact washe took too much room to work in, and was slow in following up anadvantage. To give him his due, however, he was a very earnest worker, could stand a deal of tear and wear during a season, and was alwaysavailable when wanted in a hurry by his club. 

~James Gourlay. ~

There is not a more steady player going at the present day than Mr. Gourlay. He showed remarkable ability in passing and middling, and hisfast shies at goal were really splendid. In this event he was at hisvery best. Once or twice he started well with the ball at his toe, andmade tracks for the Renton goal, but was badly supported in thefollowing up, and often got collared by the opposing half-backs. Hepossessed great speed, like most of the other Cambuslang forwards, andscored a lot of the goals for his club that season in their bestmatches. 

~H. Campbell (Renton). ~

The two Campbells were young players in the Renton team three years ago, and in this match were considered sufficiently good to be included inthe forward division that did so well against Cambuslang. Mr H. Campbellwas a very fine dribbler and passer, and good at close tackling. Thepassing in this tie between Mr. J. M'Call and he was splendid, and wenta long way in winning the match. He was also a veritable dodger when hegot up to the opposing half-backs, and the partisans of the clubs whoplayed Renton in 1888 used to hold their breath when they saw Campbellin front. 

~J. Harvey (Renton). ~

Unknown to fame as a regular player in the Renton eleven until theseason when this event took place, or it may be the preceding one, Mr. Harvey was one of the victorious forwards. He showed fair judgment, andmiddled the ball very neatly to the Campbells and M'Call. His dribbling, however, was a shade too wide, and as he had excellent speed, sometimeshe over-ran the ball at a time when the other forwards were followingclose up, and lost chances to score. 

~J. Campbell (Renton). ~

Of all the young forwards who graduated in the dribbling game at thevillage of Renton, there never was a better shot at goal than Mr. J. Campbell. Smart on his legs, with a good appearance, he dribbledsplendidly, and half-backs caught a perfect Tartar when they came closeup and attempted to take the leather away from him. His style near goalreminded me very much of Dr. John Smith, who scored so many goals in thehalf-a-dozen Internationals in which he took part against England. Campbell never waited a second before making his parting shot, andsometimes the goalkeeper failed to get the ball before it went spinningthrough. 

~The Final Association Cup Tie of 1889. ~

This tie was decided at Hampden Park on the 9th February, 1889, betweenthe 3rd L. R. V. And Celtic, and ended in favour of the 3rd L. R. V. By twogoals to one. The same clubs, however, had previously met to decide thecontest, but both played under protest in consequence of the weather. This naturally caused that additional excitement, which culminated atthe final meeting on Hampden Park that Saturday afternoon. The 3rdL. R. V. Had long worked for possession of the coveted prize, and twice itwas within their grasp, for they played and were defeated in the finalties on two previous occasions--viz. , in 1876 by the Queen's Park, whoscored two goals to none, and again in 1878 by the Vale of Leven, whoovercame the warriors by one to none. If ever a team deserved victory inthis event it was the 3rd Lanark Rifle Volunteers. The Celtic were morethan foemen worthy of their steel, and considering the fact that the 3rdL. R. V. Had come through the ties so creditably, and had that seasonvanquished the crack English professional combination, the victory was amost popular one all round. As for the Celtic, they are a young andpowerful club, and can afford to wait a season or so for victory, foryou know "everything comes to those who wait. " The crowd was large, theweather fair, and the enthusiasm great. The Volunteers played with thewind, and made their first point out of a scrimmage about twenty minutesfrom the start, and this was all the scoring in the first round. Theplay after this was very even, and the Celts were showing off some grandcombined efforts, but were unfortunate at goal. At length, however, theIrishmen made a brilliant sally on the Volunteers' stronghold, and Mr. M'Callum put the ball between the posts. After this the play was so eventhat a draw seemed inevitable, and it was only by the determined play ofthe Cathkin Park team that at length the Celtic goal was taken for thesecond time by Mr. Oswald, junior, who was ably assisted in thesuccessful run by Messrs. Marshall and Hannah. The Cup--that trophywhich had cost some kind hearts (now silent for ever), an unsatisfiedlonging, and a constant anguish of patience--was safe to the old club atlast! I accordingly give the players who took part in the tie, and startwith the 3rd L. R. V. 

~Downie (3rd L. R. V. ). ~

Mr. Downie deserves credit for the manner in which he has kept goal forthe "warriors" during the past two seasons, when his club played anddefeated some of the best in Scotland and England. In this event he hadterrible work to perform, and got through it with much credit. So far asI can remember--and it is, indeed, no stretch of imagination--the goalgot by Mr. M'Callum could not have been saved by any keeper, as it cameout of a scrimmage from the Celtic man's foot like a rocket. Mr. Downieis a very neat kicker-out in front, and shows fine judgment with hishands in clearing the ball away from a crowd of opposing forwards. 

~A. Thompson. ~

Mr. Thompson is one of the best backs that last season produced, and hadit not been that the two Queen's Park men--Messrs. Arnott andSmellie--had played together so well, and pleased the Committee ofSelection in most of the best matches, Mr. Thompson would have been inthe great International. As it was, he got the next best position, beingchosen to play against Wales. He is a rare tackler, sometimes a littlerough, but the finest kicker in front of a besieged goal I have everseen. Sometimes in the heat of a scrimmage he loses the ball, but hasthe knack of recovering himself in an instant. 

~J. Rae. ~

The Volunteers were remarkably well served with their backs in this tie, and Mr. Rae made a capital companion to Mr. Thompson. He is scarcelysuch an accomplished tackler, but for neat kicking and feeding theforwards when they are playing an open game, I know none better. He is asplendid man for judging distances, and if he is certain the ball isnearer one of his companions than himself, gets close behind and backsup at once. To see Mr. Rae placing the leather in front of his forwardsin a good match is a treat of no ordinary kind, and it may be mentionedthat he played against Wales last season. 

~A. Lochhead. ~

The three half-backs in the present tie with which I have to deal wereMessrs, Auld, Lochhead, and M'Farlane. Mr. Lochhead has been long one ofthe "shining lights" of the 3rd L. R. V. , and while in some respectsinferior to Mr. Auld, has one grand virtue to recommend in a footballplayer--viz. , patience. His perception is keen and decisive, and if heimagines a daring forward on the other side can be successfully metwithout close tackling, he never fails to out-manoeuvre him, and letthe spectators see some rare half-back play. Mr. Lochhead took part inthe Welsh International in the spring. 

~Mr. M'Farlane. ~

The 3rd L. R. V. Were in perfect training condition in the tie, and wellcan I remember both Auld and M'Farlane coming in for a large share ofhugging by excited partisans as they made their way up the steps towardsthe pavilion of the Queen's Park Club that memorable Saturday afternoon. Mr. M'Farlane is really a fine all-round player, and this season iskeeping up his form in a way that both astonishes and delights his oldfriends. His "heading" in front of goal is very fine, and has saved manya shot from taking effect. 

~J. Oswald, Junior. ~

No better pair of dribblers ever served a club than the twoOswalds--senior and junior--last season, and had more genuine success inthe games in which they played. The forward combination, with these twomen at their best, was decidedly the most powerful in Scotland, andundoubtedly won the match for the Volunteers against the Celtic. Mr. Oswald, junior, however, was the better of the two, and the manner inwhich he scored the second goal, which gave the Third the victory, wasquite a treat to all who saw the tie that day on Hampden Park. 

~J. Oswald, Senior. ~

The senior Oswald, as he was called, to distinguish him from hiscompanion of the same name, played against England in the spring, andwas as good a dribbler, but not so fine a judge of a goalkeeper'sability to get at the ball when the forwards were crowding round, andsending in shots thick and fast. The passing among the forwards of the3rd L. R. V. That day was so good as to defy criticism, if that werepossible, and Oswald, senior, was no exception to the others. The pair, however, loved the loaves and fishes of England better than the 3rdL. R. V. , and are now "o'er the Border and awa'. "

~J. Hannah. ~

In some of the best games of the 3rd L. R. V. Last season the passing andfollowing up between Mr. Hannah and Mr. Johnstone were not to be beatenanywhere for splendid judgment and properly matured forward play. Thereare what is known to the player as certain degrees of pluck andendurance, and while I have in my mind's eye some forwards in otherclubs, including Mr. William Berry, the Queen's Park light-weight, whomust of necessity come under the first, I am inclined to rank Mr. Hannahamong the second. He is, however, a first-rate man. 

~W. Johnstone. ~

Last in order of forwards, but by no means lacking in genuine ability, with rare dribbling powers, comes the name of Mr. W. Johnstone. Heplayed a very steady game all through this tie, and was as fresh aspaint after the whistle sounded the finish. Although not such adetermined tackler as some of the other forwards not only in his ownteam, but in the Celtic as well, he is the most earnest worker in thewhole club, and in his probationary days would practice unceasingly toattain perfection in certain points of the game in which he wasdeficient. He played against Wales in 1889, and in 1887 against Ireland. 

~J. Kelly (Celtic). ~

Although Mr. Kelly is, so to speak, unknown to the game as a goalkeeper, he promises to become a good man below the bar. The ability of theCeltic goalkeeper, however, is certainly not equal to the back andhalf-back play; and, while Kelly did very well in this match, his dutieswere rendered less difficult by the splendid defence shown at back byMr. M'Keown, and the grand half-back efforts of Mr. M'Laren. He hasseveral good points, including the clever fisting-out of the ball, butis not a strong kicker, and sometimes goes too far away from hischarge. 

~P. Gallacher. ~

When the Celtic were hard pressed on several occasions, Mr. Gallacheralways fell back on his goal, like the prudent general who covers hisretreat, and no man did more heading and breasting in running the ballout that day. He wants the judgment of his companion in the sameposition, but makes up for it by fearless and unceasing work. He washard pressed several times by Marshall and Oswald, sen. , and had theworst of the tackling, but he generally came up smiling, and renewedhostilities with Spartan bravery. 

~M. M'Keown. ~

Mr. M'Keown was decidedly the best back on the losing side that day, andhis defence near goal splendid. He is not, however, particularly carefulin his returns, and sometimes kicks over his own lines when hardpressed, but there can be only one opinion as to his genuine ability inclose tackling--he can do it to perfection. During the game, evenMarshall, who is not afraid of anybody, sometimes steered clear ofM'Keown by passing up the ball to Johnstone instead of keepingpossession to the last. He played against Ireland the same year. 

~W. Maley. ~

The Celtic had as their three half-backs in the contest under reviewMessrs. W. Maley, J. M'Laren, and J. Kelly (the latter of whom hasalready been mentioned in a previous article). Mr. W. Maley, if I am notmistaken, is a young member of a very young club that has made a namefor itself in a couple of seasons. He has, however, a deal to learnbefore he can be classed alongside Kelly and M'Laren. He is kind ofslipshod in his mode of tackling, wanting finish, but nevertheless adangerous man to meet in a charge. 

~J. M'Laren. ~

The finest half-back of the Irish combination is undoubtedly Mr. J. M'Laren, and in this tie his play was really magnificent. When theVolunteers' forwards again and again got near the Celtic goal, he wasthe first to checkmate them, and, not contented to work his own placesuccessfully, frequently went to the assistance of some of the forwardswhen he thought they had more than enough to do. He played for his oldclub, the Hibernian, against Wales in 1888, and in 1889 against Englandfor the Celtic. 

~M. Dunbar. ~

Mr. Dunbar was one of the most active men in the Celtic forward divisionin this match, and showed very good dribbling, but was easily tackledwhen getting near goal, and more than once "removed" off the ball byAuld and Lochhead. He is, however, a steady worker, and most reliablewhen backing up. Mr. Dunbar, if I am not mistaken, was at one time amember of the Cartvale, and played for Scotland against Ireland for thatclub in 1886. 

~R. M'Callum. ~

In his general style of play Mr. M'Callum was not unlike Mr. WilliamM'Kinnon (Dumbarton), who flourished from 1881 to 1885, and was one ofthe best forwards in that county. He was not such a tricky and cunningtackler, however, but faced up to his man with a confidence thatbetokened superiority. He was, like the rest of the Celtic forwards, agood dribbler, and possessed considerable speed. For a young player hewas also very judicious in passing the ball, and during this contest hehelped to start some of the best runs of the day. He played againstIreland, at Belfast, in 1888, and is now located in Blackburn, where hepartners Harry Campbell on the right wing of the Rovers. 

~W. Groves. ~

It was in the final tie for the Scottish Challenge Cup between theHibernian and Dumbarton in 1887, which the crack Edinburgh team won bytwo goals to one, that brought Mr. Groves into special notice, and itmay be, for aught I know, caused him to be carried off by the Celticlater on. Like a good many other players, he varies a bit in his style. Some days he is easily tackled; while at others not a single back orhalf-back on the field has a chance with him, and it must be said of himthat he is one of the neatest dribblers of the day. He played againstWales in 1888. 

~J. Coleman. ~

Among the forward division of the Celtic, Mr. Coleman was a decidedacquisition, and during that same season scored a lot of goals for thenew Irish combination, which came to the front with something like therapidity of "Jonah's gourd. " A beautiful dribbler and runner, he madeseveral grand spurts towards the 3rd L. R. V. Goal, but had a weakness forkeeping the ball too long, and was often tackled by the sure feet of Raeand Thomson. In speed and general play he reminded me very much of Mr. William Miller (3rd L. R. V. ), an International against England as farback as 1876. 

~T. Maley. ~

When the whole of the Celts were at their best, and this happened prettyoften last season in their Challenge Cup ties, Mr. T. Maley generallyrose to the occasion, and led his team brilliantly. His steady-goingstyle is much liked, not only by his colleagues, but spectators, and itis quite a rare thing to see him grassed by an opponent. Whenapproaching the goal with the ball, he is like the priest who had a"wonderful way wid him"--slipping through the backs in a manner that issure to make the goalkeeper gnash his teeth, and wish Maley was farenough away. 

_V. --THE PIONEERS OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL IN SCOTLAND;_

OR, _"THE CONQUEROR'S FOOTBALL BOOTS. "_

My football boots are getting what might be called shabby genteel now, and no wonder. If they could speak they would tell you many a strangeepisode in the life of an Association football player, and how he kepthis place in a leading club for nearly a dozen years. They have been oldand dear friends, those well-worn boots, and although now somewhatcurled up at the toes, have kicked many a good goal out of a hot andexciting scrummage in front of an opponent's upright posts, and even inan International tussle; but now that they, like myself, have retiredfrom active duty, and may reasonably be supposed not to be encumberedwith existing prejudices, which in the nature of things might more orless interfere with expressing an honest opinion about the Associationfootball player of the past or his colleagues and successors, I willintroduce them to you, and in figurative language allow them to telltheir own unvarnished tale. My last advice, however, to you, my oldfriends, before leaving you to the tender mercies of a scribbler, is notto answer all the questions he thinks proper to put. Please don't tellhim what you heard or saw after leaving the football field clinging tomy sole and instep, of my love intrigues, my stolen interviews withblue-eyed Annie, and when she jilted me and got married to CharlieQuilter, who played "left wing" in the Flying Blues. Charlie must haveregretted what he did more than once. 

The Blues used to play us a couple of games in the year, and not longbefore Charlie got married he was, as a matter of course, one of theireleven. On that occasion I felt nettled to think that a big, broosy-faced, lisping fellow like Charlie should have "put my eye out, "and could not resist the temptation of frequently crossing to his sideduring the game, and "going" for him. Oh! how my old companions, myboots, behaved on the occasion--the very laces almost burst withindignation; but Quilter, poor soul, never gave a winch, and bore itwith becoming fortitude. He has now, like myself, got settled in life (Iam a confirmed bachelor), and we are still the best of friends, for that"blue-eyed Annie loved him, too, " was one of those things I could neverforget. It is too bad, however, in me to block the way with thisdissertation, and not allow Mr. Boots to begin. I shall leave the restto him with confidence. 

Well, once upon a time (began Mr. Boots), I was a combination ofcircumstances. That is to say, I went through many processes even beforeI became mature leather, and one afternoon I was brought to a smallshoemaker's shop in Crosshill tied up in a bundle. There were lots ofcuttings in that bundle--butt, ben, wrapper, cordivan, kid, calf-skin, and even sheep-skin--but I was then a shapeless piece of wrapper, kipp, and calf-skin. When I was trysted there were few, if any, football bootsmade, and the old man who was entrusted with my construction was astrange old "cove. " He could make a pair of ordinary boots with any one, but was not so sure about me. I was ordered by a genteel, nice-lookinglad, with red cheeks and clear black eyes. He addressed therepresentative of St. Crispin in a musical voice, but I then formed anopinion of my future master, that he would be a little conceited andarrogant at times, and this has proved correct. The instructions aboutcovering my soles with bars was specially impressed on the old man'smemory, and every detail was carried out to the letter. When we werecompleted, my brother and I, you would have admired us. If it werepossible to have anything handsome in the boot line, except, perhaps, atiny, fur-lined lady's slipper, it was us. We were sewed withsubstantial rosen-end, the division between the inseam and soles wasfilled up with real leather skivings, and not the trashy "jump" whichmakes up the bulk of the soles of football boots nowadays. The more, infact, I think of it, the more I am convinced that the present make offootball boots is a new-fangled device in the shoemaking trade, for arethey not now got up of American leather, brass nails, and otherabominations, free of import duty! My master, I remember, came for me(please consider that I am also representing my brother, for, like theSiamese twins, the one can do nothing without the other) on a Saturday. He told the old man that he was going to play a match with the LevenCrowers that very afternoon, and must have me. I was barely finished, but Tate's son got the bars put on all right, and I was handed over tothe tender mercies of my new master. He was quite delighted with myappearance, and looked with pride, and even satisfaction, on mywell-polished uppers and wrapper soles. There was even a half-'un goingat the paying. 

The Leven Crowers were a young and powerful club, possessing more speedin running than any real football ability at the time. The club to whichmy master belonged was the first to introduce the new ideas in the game, as they were then called, in Scottish soil, and as there were only threeclubs in existence at the time of which I am referring, the contests, asa matter of course, were few and far between, and, consequently, lookedforward to with more than ordinary pleasure. The other two clubs werethe Greenvale and the Kilback, but they were not of much account (so mymaster had often said, and he was supposed to be a good judge). I heardhim say the Conquerors had "licked" these clubs over and over again, andthat they weren't in the same street. When I was being laced up, however, for the fray that afternoon in the old toll-house on the roadto Battlefield (the Conquerors had no such modern requisite as apavilion then), I heard Bob Gardens express quite a different opinionabout the Greenvale, and even go the length of saying that they had adraw with them on the previous evening after a hard fight. Thisdemonstrated a fact that was useful to me in my subsequent career, viz. , never to credit what other folks (especially football players) saidabout the ability of opponents in the heat of a tussle. Talking aboutthe Leven Crowers, they were not to be despised. Although the haughtyConquerors had given them their first lesson in Association football, they were fast coming up on them in some of the points of the game. Iheard my owner say that the first lesson was given at Alexandria, and onthat occasion the Crowers, who were then crack shinty players, arrangedthemselves in the field as if for a match at that ancient Scottish game. That they had not forgotten their first game with the Conquerors wasamply illustrated in the present, which, I might again repeat, was myfirst outset in public life. I was stiff at first, and pressed mymaster's instep rather hard shortly after the kick-off. The contest wasplayed on the Recreation Ground, and was witnessed by very fewspectators. True, there were certainly many choice spirits residing nearthe spot, who came out to see us and enjoy a quiet outing, and have afriendly crack. 

Little did these club companions imagine that that small butenthusiastic gathering of spectators was the harbinger of crowdscomposed of thousands of excited spectators who now assemble to witnessbig Association matches every Saturday, not only to see the Conquerors, but other clubs, very slightly removed from them in ability, playing"Cup ties. " The Crowers' forwards showed great pace, and one of them, Will Cumming, repeatedly got past me, despite the smart manoeuvring ofmy master. Will, however, was somewhat wild in his dribbling, and couldnot keep the ball close enough to his toes. Jim Wild was my master'sbacker up on the occasion, and as Jim was decidedly the finest dribblerthat ever toed a ball, and kept his place for ten years against allcomers, afterwards the pair managed to intercept Cumming before he gotclose enough on goal to make a shot. The Crowers' goalkeeper was a goodone, and could clear his place of defence with great ability, but thebacks were not of much account. Pate M'Wherry and Luke M'Tavish did thework at half-back, but their kicking was somewhat feeble when comparedwith those of the Conquerors, Tom James and Willie Keith. The Conquerorswere far too anxious to score, and for some time kept up a closecannonade at their opponents' goal without effect. Bob Prentice used hishands cleverly, and, though the goal was again and again endangered, notone of the forwards on my master's side could get the ball under thetape. A fine run was made by Wild, Lucky, Grind, Short, and my master, and the ball brought up to within a few feet of the Crowers' goal, butat the last second, Johnny Forrester, one of their centre forwards, kicked it behind. This gave the Conquerors the corner flag-kick. Mymaster, who was quite an adept at corner flag-kicks, was sent to thespot, and placed the ball in a good position, but Bob Prentice got it upin his hands at a critical moment, and threw it clear. Good runs wereeventually made on both sides, and once the Crowers nearly lowered ourcolours, but nothing was got by either, and the game was drawn. In thosedays the rules observed were somewhat different from those in vogue now. The game was far prettier. There was none of that heading which formssuch important factors in the style of modern playing. When the ball wasthrown in from the touch-line the rule insisted that it had first toland on the ground before being touched, and consequently head play wasunnecessary, and dribbling was, as a matter of course, considered themost important point, combined with taking smart possession of the ballas soon as it touched the ground after being thrown in. My master wassmart at getting on the leather, and, next to Jim Wild, he was the mostaccomplished dribbler in the Conquerors. If there is anyone capable oftelling what he could do, 'tis I. How he used to keep my toes in acircle as he left the grass behind his heels, piloting the ball past theopposing backs, I know to my loss, and a very great depreciation in tearand wear. He was a veritable "dodger, " this owner of mine. Never afraidof a charge, he would, in order either to secure the ball or keep it, attack the biggest man in an opposing team, aye, and knock him over, too. Sometimes he lost his temper when things went against him, and, while his remarks to an adversary were somewhat cutting and at timesverging on impertinence, they were always within the scope of"Parliamentary. " In after life, however, my master found several foemenworthy of his steel amongst backs and half-backs in the Flying Blues, the Crowers, the Cedargrove, Red Cross, and North Western, and hesometimes came off second best. 

It is all very well to say that there were "great men in those days. " Sothere were, but the same remark can be made equally applicable now, forthey are even more common, and you find them scattered over the lengthand breadth of the land. It would decidedly weary you, my friend andreader, were I to detail all the games in which I have taken an activepart, and you will at once admit that I may succeed in pleasing youbetter if I give a short sketch of the leading clubs and players whohave wrought so hard and done so much to make the Association game sopopular. Jim Wild has been mentioned in connection with his club (theConquerors), but it is necessary to give him a line or two more. Therewas no other Association club in Scotland when the Conquerors were putinto ship-shape order, and consequently no opponents to play. They couldnot challenge themselves to mortal combat, and there were none but Rugbyclubs, whose members treated the new order of things in football aschildish amusement, and unworthy of free-born Britons. "Give us, " theysaid, "the exciting runs, the glorious tackling, the manly maul, and thebeautiful dropped goal, and we will meet you a bit of the way, but nototherwise. We don't believe in loafing about the field at times, whenonly one or two of the side are engaged; we want to be active. " "Well, "said the Conquerors (one of whom had been offered a place in the Twentyin the Rugby match between Glasgow and Edinburgh), "you don't knowAssociation rules, or you would never make such absurd assertions aboutthe new game. If there is really any inactivity in football while beingplayed, that inaction is clearly shown in a Rugby maul, where the onehalf of the side are merely spectators. Besides, your game is only halffootball; in fact, a combination of football and handball knocked intoone. Your run with the ball under the arm is only a display of speed; ithas nothing whatever to do with football. We want the grand dribblingrun with the ball at the toe, the smart passing and middling of theAssociation, and we will enjoy it. " Such good-natured banter went on atfirst between two opposing interests, but by and by the differenceculminated into something more. 

As a sort of _quid pro quo_ for the courtesy extended to an Associationplayer by the Rugby contingent in the Inter-city match, Tom Chaloner, the very _beau ideal_ of a Rugby player, was asked, and promised to playin the first International Association match at Partick in 1872. Tomeven came out to the Recreation Ground at Crosshill, and practised withthe Conquerors as goalkeeper, and promised well in that position, butthrough some cause or other he did not play when the eventful day came. If ever a man could handle a ball and kick a goal as a quarter-back in aRugby game, it was Chaloner. He was the pride of all the Rugby clubs inthe country side, and was as well, indeed, if not better known in hisbrilliant career as a cricketer. Who in Scotland could bat like Tom? Hewas not a hitter to a particular side of the wickets; all was alike tohim. He could cut, drive, hit to long and square-leg, and oh! how far!He would have made a grand Association football player, but he preferredto stick to the Rugby style, and was equally successful, at least to hisclub's satisfaction. The first match between England and Scotland atPartick, nineteen years ago (which, by the way, is worthy of note, wasplayed by members of the Queen's Park exclusively), did a great deal tospread Association rules in Glasgow and district, and, in fact, eventually all over Scotland. Hitherto there used to be a couple ofmonths of interval between the end of the Rugby football season and thestarting of athletics and cricket, lasting from March till May, and asthe football players of the old dispensation were still in trim, butwith exhausted fixtures, not a few of them, belonging to two of theleading clubs, did not consider it _infra dig. _ to have a "go" at the newrules, "just to see how they could stand it. "

The outcome of this hastily-formed notion was that a sort of Nomadicteam, calling themselves the Western Pilgrims, was formed, and three orfour matches, and good ones, too, were played between them and theConquerors and also the Cedargrove. The Pilgrims showed themselves nomean opponents in the new game, and, after holding their own with theCedargrove in a drawn game, had a good tussle with the Conquerors on therecreation ground at the Park, and were only beaten by a goal to none, the goal, I remember, being made in the last five minutes by Bob Gardens(who could dribble and play forward as well as keep goal). A few of thePilgrims took kindly to the Association rules, and while that seasonlasted two of the leading forwards joined the Cedargrove, and turned outcapital players. Another joined the Druids, and became a famousgoalkeeper, even going as far as playing for his country in theInternational match, and the fourth turned out a leading man in theHolyrood Crescent. Talking about the above goalkeeper, Aleck M'Gregorwas one of the finest fellows that ever stood with his back to a goal. There was the cheerful disposition, the gentlemanly demeanour toopponents or associates whenever he appeared on the field. His knowledgeof the Rugby game made him a most useful man at goal, where the keeperof that charge is the only man under Association rules who is allowed totouch the ball with his hands. With the ordinary goalkeeper the punt-outkick, when dexterously executed, was considered the most effective modeof saving the ball from going under the tape, when the use of the handsto knock it out was not deemed necessary, but Aleck preferred thedrop-kick, which is one of the redeeming features in the Rugby style ofplay, and this he could do almost to perfection. I have seen him (for Ihave, by-the-bye, taken part against him in several matches) lift a ballafter it had come pretty smartly from my right toe, and dropping it onthe ground before him, kick it as it rose, bounding away over the headsof the Conquerors' forwards as they besieged the goal like a hive ofbees on a June morning. He had decidedly the advantage over the modern"punter, " inasmuch that the leather was always sure to go higher out ofreach when the place of defence was besieged, and farther out of the wayof lurking backs and half-backs, who, as a matter of course, crowd downbehind the forwards when an attack is made on an opponent's stronghold. 

There were other instances which came to my knowledge (that is, if myreader can imagine anything so queer as a pair of boots possessing suchan immensely human gift) of converts from Rugby to Association style ofplay, or rather perverts, as they were designated, but enough has beensaid to show how Association football gained a hold on the young andrising generation, and how it spread all over the western andnorth-western portion of the country, and, like the proverbial Easternmagician's wand, caused goal-posts and corner-flags to spring up inevery village and hamlet with remarkable rapidity. Close to the shoresof several Highland lochs, where a big kick by a stalwart half-backendangers the ball being swept away by the tide, one can see the gameplayed of an evening by the village youth with great earnestness ofpurpose. By and by the new rules made remarkable progress, and as thepublic liked the game, and deserted the Rugby matches to see what theyconsidered the most easily understood rules, the breach between therival contingents widened, and eventually the Jews had no dealings withthe Gentiles, and so they both continue playing the games they considerthe best. 

What changes have taken place in clubs and players during the last fewyears! Faces, blithe, happy faces, now gone forever, can be rememberedby the old spectators, although the present scarcely ever heard theirnames; but I will not go very far back. Poor Dixy (for he is deadnow)--well can I remember his first introduction to the Conquerors. Mymaster had been indulging, in company with Bob Gardens, Jim Wild, WillieKeith, and others, in a punt about on the evening preceding a match withthe Red Cross, and, after shaking hands and passing the usualcompliments, the practice game was started, and in it the newcomershowed well, and kicked cleverly with both feet. He was, however, just ashade too slow, and I frequently tackled him, and secured the leather, giving it a deal of "toe" after passing close in on goal. The club werebadly off for a goal-keeper after Willie Keith left for America, and, asJohn was not backward in making a display of his ability, he offered toact as goal-keeper. It would take too long to recount the games in whichhe and I were engaged in the subsequent career of the Conquerors, but anincident or two will not be considered out of place. If Dixy had oneweakness more than another it consisted in a lively sense of his ownimportance as a crack goalkeeper, and the supposed invincible qualitiesof his club, which he often declared could not be beaten. He improvedwonderfully in his new position, and, while playing some of the juniorclubs, which were by this time beginning to spring up, it was positivelyamusing to see how John would advance quietly from his goal when it wasbesieged, and punt the ball contemptuously away with quite a crowd ofyoung ones close up, awe-stricken at the agility shown by such a bulkyform. 

A few of the Red Cross and Cedargrove forwards sometimes gave him afright, and in one match with the Leven Crowers he was fairly outwittedby Boyd and Ned M'Donald in a cup tie. I fought hard in that memorablebattle myself, and never got such a saturation with water and mud in mycareer; but we were beaten. I will not easily forget Dixy as he came tothe field on that occasion, carrying his umbrella to the goal-posts, andlaying it against the left one. He, poor fellow, expected his club wouldhave an easy victory, and this belief was shared in by not a few of theeleven besides, including my master, who had, by the way, emerged into acentre forward since the last match with the Kilmarackers, and as aconsequence he gave me a deal of extra work as a backer-up to Mat. Angus. In fact, not long after I was carefully laced and ready for thefray that wet afternoon, the Conqueror's eleven had a confab about thetactics they should pursue, and Joe Sayler, our captain (who is now nomore, and lost to his club for ever), remarked it would take them alltheir time to beat the Crowers. He had, I could see by his anxiouslooks, grave doubts on the issue. At the outset of the game the rainpoured down in torrents, and as most of the play was on the Crowers'portion of the field, the umbrella was put up, amid the laughter of thepartisans of John's contingent and the pent-up indignation of thefollowers of the Crowers, who mustered strong on the occasion, anddemonstrated a strength of lungs truly astonishing. John, by and by, when the battle became hot, had to discard his old friend and comforter, and work in front of his fortress in a way that he had never donebefore, and when the terrible tussle ended, the Conquerors were beatenby two goals to one. When chaffed on the "umbrella incident" everafterwards Dixy was silent, and declared that in using it he did nothold his opponents too cheaply, but simply with a desire to save himselffrom a ducking. John was also a capital oarsman, and when he wassuddenly cut away in the pride of his manhood, he was barely 30 years ofage. He was greatly lamented, and his handsome figure is missed from thefootball field. 

John's death reminds me of a young and promising forward named Smith, who used to play on the left wing of the Cedargrove in company with asmart companion named Seward. Young Smith was a very enthusiasticfootball player, and missed few, if any, practice games. Poor lad, I methim twice in one season in matches with the Cedargrove, and it took allmy master knew to prevent him from getting clean past the Conquerors'backs and scoring. He was a nice dribbler, and like Fred Adamson (an oldmember of the same club), went straight ahead with a splendid hold ofthe leather. Talking about Fred, I remember that player, in company withJohnny M'Phedran and James Wilton, going for big Thomas, who was thenthe Conquerors' captain, and played at half-back. Thomas was an awfulfellow to meet in a charge, and a hundred to one was sure to send hisopponent to grass. Johnny, however, who was a little bandy-legged, heldtenaciously to the ball, and while Thomas was eagerly watching hisopportunity, Fred sent him flat on his back, and the ball was close ongoal in an instant. There was a hard scrummage, and in the nick of time, Joe Sayler (who was then the crack sprinter of the Conquerors), dashedup and got the ball clear before it reached the keeper. Poor Smith, hecaught a severe cold one evening, and eventually succumbed to a painfulmalady. The Cedargrove were at one time hard to beat. In fact, in theearly history of the Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, theypressed my master's club hard for the trophy, and were onlyvanquished--after three games--by one goal to none. 

The Red Cross were also dangerous opponents, and possessed not a fewcapital players. There were John Huxter, Sandy Kenneth, Jack Williams, Joe Drummond, and Bill Millins. They were not easily beaten. SandyKenneth, though rather a quiet-looking customer to meet in the street, developed into one of the finest half-backs that Scotland ever produced. He was always cool and collected, and, although by no means a very hardkicker, could judge the ball to a hair-breadth. Sandy was especiallyclever in tackling, which he could manage without deliberate charging. If the ball got up close on the goal which he defended, he would followthe dribblers, and with a clever manoeuvre on the left foot, obtainpossession, and after nursing the ball for a few minutes, would, amidthe applause of the spectators, send it spinning down the field. Thenthere was Bill Summons. He was rather a volatile customer, and a perfectfootball coquette. There was scarcely a club of any pretensions inGlasgow but what Bill had wooed. He, however, stuck well to the RedCross, and did some splendid service in their best matches, buteventually left them and joined the Conquerors, who, by the way, werejust a shade too ready to take over the best men of other clubs byholding out tempting baits in the shape of big matches. Bill, with allhis faults, was a grand back, and I question if anybody in Glasgow couldmake a finer kick when he set his mind to it. He had his failing, to besure, and who hasn't? He was sometimes most erratic while playingimportant matches, and, especially on a windy day, would make gravemistakes with too heavy kicking. 

Jack Huxter, too, of the Red Cross, was a very fine player, and a"caution" to get past at back (poor fellow, he, too, like Dixy, has goneto his account). He was a dangerous man to meet in the heat of a tusslenear the goal-line, and woe betide the daring forward who would attemptto take the ball from Jack there. His only weakness was a frequentdesire to "go" for the man instead of the ball, and charging ratherheavily. Although a back, he was by no means an inferior dribbler, andpossessing good speed, sometimes astonished the members of his own clubby the smart runs he would now and again make in company with theforwards when the leather was in an opponents' territory. He stuck likea veritable leech to the Red Cross, and turned out most faithfully toall their important matches. I must not forget Willie Millins, who wasone of the neatest dribblers of his day. He has given up football now. Getting a clear start, many an exciting and clever run he made for theRed Cross. I heard my master say that in a match for the Association Cupbetween his club and the Cedargrove, he once made a goal after dribblingthe ball almost the entire length of the field. 

Then there was a lot of smaller fry, including good players belonging tothe Dumbrook, North-Eastern, Gallowgate Rovers, the Locomotive Slashers, Thornians, Northern Jumpers, Edinburgh Irishmen, Partick Unfortunates, and last, though by no means least, the Flying Blues. There was no clubin Scotland, except, perhaps, the Vale Crowers, that had made so muchprogress in the game as those Flying Blues, and few, if any, were giftedwith the same amount of self-confidence. The Blues, nevertheless, hadgood reason to feel proud of some of their members, for they were youngand active, and the very ideal of smart football players. It was a luckything for them when they migrated from the north and establishedthemselves in the old ground vacated by the Cedargrove. Had it not beenfor that lucky arrangement, they might have wasted their football livesin obscurity, and gone down to Association posterity "unhonoured andunsung. " Their success was as remarkable as it was swift and decisive. Possessing any amount of pluck, they tackled all and sundry in thedistrict, and the second year, after gaining something like afirst-class reputation, won nearly every game they played. Theircaptain, Tom Vincent, was a grand back, and, indeed, one of the crackmen in that position, of whom Scotland has now so many to select from;and then there was Bentback, Bill Donoup, Jack Drummer, and Mat Neil, all fine players at their respective positions. Never shall I forget thematch between the Blues and the Conquerors for the Association Cup adozen years ago, about the last big match in which I took an activepart. My master's team had had bad luck though, for after pressing theFlying Blues till within a few minutes of the game, the Blues beat theConquerors by one goal to none, Bill Donoup sending the ball under goalat the last minute, although the story goes that he had a bet of a"sov. " that the Conquerors would win, and it was even admitted that hewas heard to say, when kicking the goal, "Here goes my bloomingsovereign!"

Although now stowed away in the corner of a large chest, side by sidewith jerseys, caps, knickerbockers, and other football requisites, as aremnant of the glorious game, my master sometimes visits me to thinkover the past, and I often hear him say that, although he does not playnow, he still goes to see some of the leading contests, and at thempicks up many queer stories of the modern players. Last year's crackmen, as he sees them crowding in his "mind's eye, " are not, he says, unworthy representatives of those of the past. 

_VI. --HOW CLUBS WERE STARTED LONG AGO. _

When the summer game of cricket was far more extensively played inGlasgow and District than it is now, those who understood the feelingsand aspirations of young men engaged in it repeatedly considered thequestion in all its aspects, and a combination of circumstances haveoccurred within the last decade which had seriously affected that game. The City of Glasgow could not, of course, afford to remain in astationary condition to suit the convenience of a few thousands ofcricketers. New streets had to be formed, new houses built all round, and with this advance upon civilisation came the deadly blow tocricket--at least juvenile cricket--and those clubs soon disappearedfrom the field. Ground after ground was swallowed up, and on the sceneof many a hot and exciting match blocks of houses, railway stations, churches, and public works may now be seen. The Scotch youth, and forthat part of it (just to give the sentence greater weight), the Britishyouth, loves some kind of manly sport. Cricket he could no longer playfor want of good and level ground, but then there was another gamewhich, at least, could be played or learned under easy circumstances, even on a quiet street or big "free coup, " and that was Associationfootball. They soon took to it kindly, and many of them struggled hardand procured a ground. Not one, of course, like that on which they usedto have their cricket matches long ago, but one on which Farmer Lyongrazed his cows and sheep, and they had it for a trifle. What did theycare about ridges and furrows, or that it was a difficult matter to seethe lower goal-posts when you were at the east end? Not a straw. Theonly matter which annoyed them (and this only happened occasionally) wasLyon's bull. Their club colours were red jerseys, with a small whitestripe, and "Jock" (that was the animal's name), used to scatter thelads about on the Friday evenings when they were engaged in a big side. The players generally managed to clear out in time, but the infuriatedanimal once goared the best ball the club had, and next morning, as theyhad to play the "Invincible" of Glasgow Green, a subscription had to beraised for a new one. Football can thus be played under much morefavourable conditions than cricket, or almost any other out-door game, at less expense, and this, in a great measure at least, is the secret ofits popularity amongst the masses. It can also be played under nearlyevery condition of the atmosphere. Nothing seems to frighten the ScotchAssociation football player. Rain, hail, snow, and even frost, istreated with cool indifference. In England the ball is quietly laidaside with the advent of April and forgotten till the Autumn leaves areyellow and sear, but in Scotland Association football seems to have norecognised season at all, so far as the younger clubs and even a few ofthe seniors are concerned. With the sun making one's hair stick to hishead with perspiration, and the thermometer at 90 degrees in the shade, they play away in the summer-time, and at Christmas attempt to dribblein half-a-foot of snow. Meantime the question about football beingblotted out can, I think, be easily answered in the negative, and uponthese will depend the future prospect of Association Football inScotland. There are, in fact, "breakers ahead, " and a strong anddetermined hand will have to take the wheel. The greatest of these isthe "professional" football player, and the next the "greed ofgate-money. " "O! we never heard of a professional football player inScotland, " exclaims a chorus of voices; "there is no such thing. It'sonly in England. " My remark, of course, is only beginning to berealised. The definition of professional in athletics "is one who runs(plays) for gain. " Everybody knows what that means. If you receive anymoney whatever, directly or indirectly, from your club (except out ofthe private purses of the members), you are a professional. Are therenot clubs, with great reputations, who have such members? If these areallowed to continue on the club books simply because they are goodplayers, the committee are doing a great injustice to the other members, it may be under a mistaken notion. Now, as football has always beenlooked upon as a purely amateur game, and played by young men for theirown amusement, it is to be hoped that the day is far distant when theprofessional football player, or even worse, the professional football"loafer, " who does not work, but preys upon his fellow-members, willappear in a general form. In all conscience, if the public wish to seeprofessional football (and I know from experience they don't), whatwould they think of the All-Scotland Eleven against the Champion Elevenof England? That might sound all right, but with the recollection of howprofessional athletics of all kinds (with the remarkable exception ofcricket) are now conducted, and their low associations, woe betidefootball when the professional element is introduced. It will assuredlybe the signal for its decline and fall. As for the greed of gate-money, of which some clubs are so fond, much might be said. When I refer to theclubs who try to gather as much cash as they can during the season inorder to pay their legitimate obligations and meet the heavy item ofground rent, I show up an honourable example, and one worthy ofimitation; but when I hear of clubs who have gathered ten, yea twentytimes more than is required for such purposes, and even get handsomedonations besides from their patrons, deep in debt at the end of theseason, I begin to wonder where all the money has gone. I ask a younggentleman who has only lately become a member, and he tells me he knowsnothing about the finance committee, but throws out grave hints aboutsordid motives and bare-faced applications for pecuniary assistance. Inthis respect clubs must be above suspicion, if they want the delightfulgame to hold its own and prosper. As a _quid pro quo_ for this viciouspractice, however, there is no game whose players are so charitable asthose connected with Association Football. There is not a club in theAssociation that is not ready to play a "Charity Match, " and far morehas been given to the funds of charitable institutions by the actions ofAssociation football clubs than all the other games in Scotland puttogether. 

_VII. --THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL;_

OR, _NED DUNCAN'S DREAM. _

~Scotland v. America, 1901. ~

While on holidays, enjoying myself at a quiet and beautiful sea-sidevillage on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, I received a note from afriend reminding me that an old football chum was still on the sicklist, and making little or no progress towards recovery. In fact, hislife, which had recently been enfeebled by an incurable malady, wasslowly but surely drawing to a close. Last time I saw him he referred tothe fact that he had some MS. Which he wished Mr. John M'Dowall, hissuccessor in the secretaryship of the S. F. A. , and myself, to read over, and when this came into my mind I resolved to repair to Glasgow at once, ere it might be too late. 

It was just as well that I did, for poor Ned Duncan was fast sinkingwhen I got permission from his widowed mother to visit the bedside. Ned, I may mention, was one of the most enthusiastic players of his day thatever kicked a ball, but was obliged to give up practice in consequenceof the unfortunate circumstances I have just mentioned, and of late hadonly been a spectator at the leading games. He received me that eveningwith a kind smile of recognition, and his pale face beckoned me to comenear. I was certainly much touched with my old friend's appearance, andtried as much as possible to cheer him, but it was of no use. 

He said he knew he was going to the silent land. The doctor, in fact, had told him he had only a few days to live, and he was glad I had cometo bid him farewell, and take over some straggling notes he had compiledlast summer about the football of the future. "Going home one evening, "he continued, "after an International match, I fell into a deep sleep, and had a remarkable dream. I thought I saw a great match betweenScotland and America. Real genuine players glided past, scrimmaging witheach other for the ball; thousands of spectators, new and beautifulyouthful faces, graced the area allotted to spectators; the hum ofthousands of excited voices greeted my ears, and"----Here poor Ned'svoice failed. 

After a few minutes repose, the old player gasped, "But what need I tellyou more. Here is the MS. , and make what use of it you like. "

My dear old friend is now under the turf he loved so well to play onwhen in the zenith of his fame. 

Having eventually opened the packet, the first sentence which met myeyes was "Ned Duncan's Dream; or, The Great International of 1901. "

I will, therefore, leave poor Ned to tell his own tale, and what he sawin his vision, which at any rate has the merit of originality about it. As more extraordinary dreams have come to pass, there is no saying whatthe beginning of the twentieth century may bring forth, forInternational football matches with Australia, America, and Canada havebeen talked of, and some of them even played, during the past year ortwo, and may become accomplished facts. 

I must, however, return to the MS. , which reads after the followingstyle:--

"It was in April, 1901, on a Saturday afternoon, that the Yankees cameto Scotland to play a match with our crack Eleven. The Universal PostalService, which scattered letters all over the world at the rate of onehalf-penny per ounce, conveyed a formal challenge from the Americans toScotland that the Yankees would be delighted to meet an eleven of thatcountry in an even game of football. The New World men of course meantbusiness, and our secretary, who was a capital fellow, much liked by theScottish Football Association for his kind and obliging disposition, wasinstructed to accept the challenge and welcome the strangers to Glasgow. 

"Previous to the time I speak of, the Americans had beaten theAustralians and Canadians, and were considered by their own friendsinvincible even to the extent of a couple of goals. The Canadians, bythe aid of the Electric Express Line's fast steamers, had been able toleave Montreal in the morning and return in the evening from New York, defeated but not disgraced. The Australians were a little longer on theway, as the improved appliances for driving ships had not yet attainedthat perfection there which had been shown in most of the ports andrivers of the British Isles. They were experimenting, however, and somegood in that direction was looked for daily, and a new Express Companyfloated. The Americans had also beaten the Englishmen the previous yearat New York, and, as their own newspapers had it, 'came over to crow inthe Land o' Cakes. ' The great shipping trade of the Clyde ere this was, so to speak, causing a new order of things to arise all over the world. Large and beautifully-built steel and bronze vessels left the Clydeevery day for all parts of the earth. 

"They had annihilated space and bridged the Atlantic in earnest, and the'electrics' (once called steamers) could go from Glasgow to New York inlittle over twenty-four hours. Yes. 'Daily to New York, Montreal, California, and New Mexico. Splendid accommodation for first-classpassengers: 120 knots per hour, and no vibration. ' So read theadvertisement in the leading Glasgow newspapers. Why! what did it allmean? One hundred knots per hour--3000 in twenty-four hours! To New Yorkin a day! I had certainly heard of the swallow taking an early breakfastat the uttermost part of England and picking up a late dinner on theshores of Africa, all in one day; but 120 knots an hour with an'electric, '--it was just enough for flesh and blood to comprehend atonce. 

"'Well, ' said a friend of mine with some experience in the marineengineering line, 'I have long thought on electricity as the greatmotive power of the future, provided it could be properly stored, andnow you see what it has come to. '

"In fact, our coal supply--one of the sources of Britain'sgreatness--was getting exhausted, and electrical appliances had becomean absolute necessity. The strain could no longer be borne of one hugevessel consuming 500 tons of coal in twenty-four hours, and thoseblessed electrics were not introduced a moment too soon. 

"The learned men of France, who had long been working earnestly to solvethe problem of electric economy, were beaten in the race, and a perfectsystem of stored electricity introduced and successfully applied to thepropulsion of ships, patented by Professor Scotland Thomson, nephew ofthe late Sir William Thomson, of blessed memory. 

"Lots of other remarkable events had been occurring in our history, butnone so marked as the introduction of the 'electrics. ' The people ofScotland had very nearly lost their individuality. Old Caledonia was tobe simply a name. Englishmen invaded Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, andeven _Ultima Thule_, and overran the country with their ideas of sociallife. They made slow progress at first, but came in hordes, and theinvasion was irresistible. They, of course, introduced all theirnewfangled ideas about games and pastimes, and compelled us to submit. 

"Parliament had got so mixed up and thoroughly disgusted with thequestion of Irish Home Rule, which cropped up every session, that in anevil mood it had threatened puir all Scotland with assimilation of theLaw of Jurisprudence, but failed. King Albert the First, however, had, out of respect to the great city of Glasgow--the Second City in theEmpire--created his third son Duke of Glasgow, for you must know theHouse of Peers was still extant, but greatly reformed and limited inpower. It could only veto a law passed by the Commons once, and therewas no more about the matter. 

"The match, you may be sure, was the general topic of conversation allover Scotland several weeks before it came off, and on the Fridayevening, when the Americans arrived and put up at the Express Hotel, Glasgow, the excitement was great. The preparations and arrangements forthe struggle were on a grand scale, and good weather alone was wantingto make it a success. That evening several of the Scotch team strolledinto the billiard-room of the Express Hotel to welcome the youngAmericans, and had a chat with them about football in general, and thespread of the rules all over the world. 

"The eventful day at last dawned, and a finer April morning could nothave been desired. Play was announced to begin at 3. 30 p. M. , and longbefore that time Bruce Park, Cathcart Road, was half-filled withspectators, and presented a fine sight. 

"The crowd around the field was certainly the most remarkable that hadever gathered together in Glasgow. As the game was no ordinary one, theyflocked from all quarters. Most of the towns in Scotland supplied theirquota to swell the multitude, and as railway travelling was cheap andconvenient now compared to the original football days of the Queen'sPark, Clydesdale, Vale of Leven, Rangers, Dumbarton, Granville, 3rdLanark Volunteers, Partick, Clyde, Alexandra Athletic (of which poorDuncan was hon. Secy. ), and a host of other clubs, a two-hundred-milejourney, which was easily accomplished in an hour, was considered nextto nothing. They were there--young men and maidens from London, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Blackburn, Darwen, Bolton, andSheffield--all bent on making a day of it. The road to Bruce Park, indeed, was a sight to see, despite the fact that the Cathcart Railwaycarried its thousands that afternoon to the south-side. There were not afew buxom country girls in the crowd, enticed thither by no great loveof the game--which, of course, they did not understand--but by theirsweethearts, just to let the young persons of the place see that theyhad lads as well as their neighbours. There was one winsome lassie amongthem, however, who would have done credit to Burns' incomparable 'Queeno' the Glen. '

"Emma was the only sister of a young farmer in the district. It is amistaken notion to suppose that farmers in Scotland are by far tooplodding a class to indulge themselves in anything savouring of Englishgames and pastimes, particularly football, but this is a mistake. I knowseveral farmers in the country who love the dribbling game dearly, anddo their best to promote its interests in the way of supplying ground tonot a few young clubs dotted over the country. In fact, Emma was thebeauty of the whole parish, and all the young men for miles around werewell aware of it. No one could deny it, and even the most unreasonableof fellows, Charley M'Gowan, the schoolmaster, and Alfred Walker, thelawyer's clerk, were forced to acknowledge it. 

"'Talk about Sydney's heavenly Geraldine, ' said young M'Gowan to me oneafternoon on the road to practice, 'she beats her hollow. ' M'Gowan, however, was a bit of a cynic, and Emma soon cast him off for Walker. Hewas a fine singer, and in after years, when he became a confirmedbachelor, delighted to sing songs about the inconstancy of the fair sex. He used to hum out Goethe's 'Vanatos, ' and more particularly thatverse with reference to the fickle fair ones, which ran

 "'I set my heart upon woman next-- Hurrah! For her sweet sake was oft perplexed; But ah! The false one looked for a daintier lot-- The constant one wearied me out and out-- The best was not easily got. '

The Yankees, however, had a high opinion of our feminine beauty, and theimpressions made on the gallant youths that Saturday afternoon were ofthe most favourable order. The Romans, in fact, were not more captivatedwith the beauty of the Sabean maidens than were the young Americans withthe lovely Scottish girls who gave them such a hearty reception at BrucePark in April, 1901. 

"Walt Vanderbilt, their captain, was a fine-looking young fellow, about25 years of age. Ere this the young Americans had completely discardedwhiskers, and Walt formed no exception to the rule, with hisclosely-shaven cheeks and well-formed moustache. Good work in the fieldin the way of practice had made Walt's form show complete development, and I am inclined to think that a finer specimen of a football playernever toed a ball. The goalkeeper of the team, too, young Lincoln, wasrather a nice-looking fellow, nearly six feet high, andwell-proportioned, with eyes sparkling with humour, but he lacked thefine open countenance of his captain. 

"The other members of the team were much of the ordinary type ofhumanity, just like our average football club men, with any amount ofnerve and energy. If they felt excited at the magnitude of the work theyhad in hand they concealed it well, and looked as if they were merelyentering the field to do a little practice. They wore the sign of theAmerican eagle, dotted over with the emblematical stars and stripes. Ourfellows had also an imposing appearance, with the lion-rampant on theirjerseys, and, although looking rather douce and uncertain about thegame, determination was depicted on every face. 

"The names of the gentlemen who entered the field were as under:--

"_Scotland. _--F. Wallace (South-Side Swifts), goalkeeper; T. Glen(Queen's Park), D. Smollet (Vale of Leven), backs; W. M'Millan(Dumbarton), F. M'Neil (Rangers), half-backs; K. M'Geake (PollokshieldsAthletic), P. Livingstone (Kilmarnock), K. Watt (Edinburgh Rovers), T. Stewart (Volunteer A. C. ), T. D. Coats (Paisley Combination), and G. F. Turnbull (Clyde), forwards. 

"_America. _--W. R. C. Lincoln (New York Caledonian), goalkeeper; V. H. Grant (Texas Rovers), W. C. Vanderbilt (Hamilton State Swifts), backs;J. H. Armstrong (Chicago Association), D. Steel (Nebraska Electric), half-backs; D. C. Bramey (Victoria Boys), R. S. Chandler (UtahGentiles), P. Whitehouse (Newhaven), J. S. Bryan (Alaska Pilgrims), W. D. Bangle (San Francisco Racers), and T. Lawrence (Washington House), forwards. 

"_Umpires. _--J. W. Marindin (South Australia), and D. Y. Jones (CanadianAssociation). _Referee. _--W. H. Littleton (English Association). 

"Before the game began, the Yankees offered to bet level money, and someof their red-hot plungers even went the length of two to one on theirchances; but they were promptly told that the days of betting andwagering at football matches, cricket, horse-racing, and all genuinesport, were now numbered with the past in the United Kingdom. 

"Gentlemen, in fact, who loved and enjoyed sport for its own sake, andfor that part of it, ladies too, had voted betting 'low and unmanly, 'and even degrading, and as Parliament had been repeatedly petitioned onthe subject, a bill was almost unanimously passed in the dying year ofthe nineteenth century abolishing betting. 

"The Loyal Irish Party (late Home Rulers), and the Rado-Toro DemocraticParty (led by Lord Randy Chapel-Mountain), whose hair was beginning toget silvery-grey, and his long moustache to match, did not even opposethe bill, and it passed. Never did a legislative enactment work suchimprovement among the masses as this bill. It completely banished allneedy souls and black-legs from the arena of honest sport, and left thefield to those who came out of an afternoon and evening to enjoythemselves in an honest way. 

"The coarse language, too, of which our forefathers justly complainedtwenty years ago, had almost disappeared, whether through the effects ofthe School Board, I would not like to say, but one could now takesweetheart or wife to enjoy themselves, provided always, of course, theweather was at all suitable. 

"As for professional football players, no such thing had been heard offor years. They certainly died hard, but eventually no club would haveanything to do with them. 

"'What is that?' 'Oh, it's the bell to begin. '

"Well, the game did begin in earnest, immediately after a fair lady hadthrown out the leather ball from the Grand Stand at the right-hand sideof the field. There was no tossing for choice of ends, for a new rulehad been just added to the revised code enacting in a most chivalrousway that strangers or visitors be allowed to select the side of theground they preferred to play on for the first half-hour--for you mustknow, my readers, the term now allowed for the game was one hour, andthat when the ball was kicked into touch, there was no throwing backinto play with the hands, but it was kicked from the touch-line straightout before play was again resumed. 

"For some time the forwards kept the leather close to themselves, andthe Yankees on the left wing, by a fine piece of manoeuvring, weresuccessful in getting it away, amid tremendous cheering. Chandler, whowas one of the fastest sprinters in the world, and had beaten the recordin San Francisco in the fall of last year, got through his men inbrilliant form, and came down on the goalkeeper like 'winkum. ' Just ashe was poising himself, however, for a final shot, M'Neil deliberatelycrossed the field from the opposite side, and after dodging about theyoung American, rushed in and took the leather away, and keeping itbetween his feet for a couple of seconds, kicked it clear of the Scotchgoal. A good deal of heading afterwards occurred near the home goal--theball getting close on the lines several times, and even passing them. Many considered before the game began that the Americans would neverhave a 'look in' at all, and great was their dismay when they actuallybeheld their champions hotly pressed on their own ground, and look likelosing the day. With a brilliant charge the Yankee forwards crowdedround the Scotch sticks like a hive of bees on a June morning, and astraight shot from the foot of D. Steel, who rushed in from his place athalf-back, caused the ball to glide past the Scotch goalkeeper like arocket. 

"This was the signal for tremendous excitement. Crowds of partisans andfriends who had come over with the strangers, and many enthusiasticlovers of the game and fair play, raised a loud cheer, again and againrenewed, at this piece of grand play on the part of the Yankees. Theintensely interested Scotchmen, however, while they certainly admiredthe pluck and fine play of the visitors, and cheered in a mild kind of away, even though an enemy wrung it from them, kept very quiet, and not afew white faces might have been seen about the wire fence which keptspectators and players apart on Bruce Park on that memorable day. They, however, kept their own counsel, and quaintly said to the Yankees whochaffed them on the point, that howling was a very good thing in a way, but it should not be indulged in till people were out of the wood. 

"The teams then faced each other in midfield, and the ball had no soonerleft the Scotch captain's foot than it was taken away, and dribbled downthe centre by Bryan, Whitehouse, and Lawrence, and when half-time wascalled the latter was just finishing a good shy, which sent the ballover the bar. According to the new rules a quarter of an hour wasallowed as an interval, and during that time speculation ran high as towhat was destined to be the final issue. 

"To indulge for a moment at the idea of the Americans beating the Scotchon their own ground in the great International was a sore point for thebulk of the spectators with Scotch faces, but they said very little. They had a secret hope that their champions would eventually pull offthe game, even though they had a goal to make up, and only half-an-hourto do it. They had, it was remembered with pride and satisfaction, pulled through many a doubtful match before, and Scotchmen, it was wellknown, were not easily beaten. 

"The young lady again threw up the ball, and Tam Glen, getting a goodhold of it at his left foot, made one of the finest fly-kicks ever seenin a match, and the forwards on the Scotch side following well up, completely puzzled the Yankee backs and half-backs by their brilliantpassing. Before you could say Jack Robinson, M'Geake shied for theAmerican goal, and the ball knocked off the cap of the goalkeeper, and, hitting the bar, bounded back into the field of play. A hard andexciting scrimmage followed, and amid breathless excitement the Yankeescleared their goal. Five minutes of very even play followed, and thenthe Scotchmen set their teeth and made a desperate effort for victory. 

"Only ten minutes of the game now remained to the good, and there was, you may be sure, no time to lose. One goal behind, and at the greatInternational, too! It would never do to allow America to whip creation, even at football! One final effort; no, two final efforts, and it wasdone. 

"The Scotch captain was seen to whisper something to his team, and in afew minutes the grandest run which was probably ever witnessed sincefootball became a scientific sport in the world, was started, and, before the American backs, half-backs, and goalkeeper could realisetheir position, the Scotchmen bore down on the visitors' goal, andliterally dribbled the ball clean through. This was, you may be sure, the signal for an outburst of cheering, which must have been heard overthe half of the big city of Glasgow, which now contained over a millionof inhabitants. 

"The game, however, was not yet won--it was only a tie--and when therepresentatives of Brother Jonathan again started the ball only fourminutes remained, but it proved a bad four minutes for therepresentatives of the stars and stripes. Another run, backed up by ashooter from the left foot of Turnbull, settled the great Internationalfor that year at anyrate. Those who had hitherto viewed the game inmoody silence began to come out of their shells (talking piscatorially)and join in the universal huzzah. 

"The Yanks were now fairly cowed, and when another grand piece of playby Stewart, backed up at the proper moment by Watt, put a third goal tothe credit of the Scotchmen, the visitors, in the most gentlemanly way, heartily joined in the cheering for the victors. When the referee'swhistle was sounded, the Scotchmen were declared the winners of ahard-fought field by 3 goals to 1. The crowd completely besieged thepavilion at Bruce Park at the close, and cheered lustily as the Scotchchampions made their way up the steps. Nor were the vanquished Americansforgotten. They came in for a round of hearty cheers for their pluck. 

"There was a dinner given to the distinguished strangers in the evening, and the usual complimentary toasts proposed and duly acknowledged; but, as I was not present, I am unable to say who spoke best and gave themost enjoyable song. 

"At anyrate, a happy evening was passed, and, after spending a day inGlasgow, the Yankees sailed on the following Monday morning for NewYork, where they duly arrived without any mishap, after the fastestpassage on record, having covered the distance from Greenock to SandyHook in twenty-three hours fifty-nine and three-quarter minutes. "

Such is "NED DUNCAN'S DREAM; OR, THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL. "

_VIII. --THE PATRONS, SPECTATORS, AND POPULAR PLAYERS. _

They are to be found in all ranks and conditions of life, from the lordof the manor down to the apprentice-artizan and newly-fledged young manfrom shop and warehouse. Like love, football, for the time, at least, levels all distinction; and albeit I know, for that of it, many awell-matched pair, who have met for the first time on the grand stand atHampden Park, looking back with feelings of intense pleasure to the timewhen their "infant love began. " Were it not, in fact, that Caledonia isat times so "stern and wild, " and that football and frost can neverflourish together, the game would be far more extensively patronised bythe fair sex. At a cup tie or an International match, it is quite acommon thing to see the Convener of an adjacent county, [A] the citymagnate, the suburban magistrate, the Free Kirk minister, and thehandsome matronly lady, standing side by side with the horny-handedmechanic, the office-boy, the overgrown schoolboy, and the BuchananStreet "swell. " They all watch the game and surroundings in their ownparticular way. I once heard a quaint, but nevertheless true, idea ofhow some of the more familiar visitors give way to a certain failing, which in itself can scarcely be called such, but is not unfrequentlylooked upon with amazement by the stranger. The Scotchman, it is saidsomewhere, is not so much respected for the manner in which he goesabout a thing as the way in which he does it, and the remark, whenapplied to this particular case, will be all the more potent. Here itis:--"Where are you going to howl to-morrow (the query is put onFriday), Jack?" "Oh! the Queen's and Vale, of course; they will have aclose thing of it, and there will be rare fun, " says Jack. "Old Andersonwas very indignant last Saturday, and declares that he will never standnear me again at any such matches. He was quite ashamed of my howling, and positively charges me with digging my thumbs into his ribs, andnearly strangling his youngest son at every scrimmage near each goal. ""It serves you right, Tom. I was always afraid something of that kindwould happen; you shouldn't be so demonstrative. " Tom was silent. He wasas jealous of his own propriety and good behaviour as anybody could be, but being of a most excitable nature, he did things in the heat of atussle for which he was afterwards very sorry, and many ignored the factthat he was an old Rangers man, who scored the first goal for that thenyoung club in a close and exciting game with the once powerfulClydesdale. As the Association rules are very easily learned in theory, the great bulk of the spectators show an acquaintance with them which ispleasing to see, and when an assumed infringement takes place, it isgenerally heralded from some part of the field by a partisan of thecontending elevens. The only apparently unintelligible point to them isthe "off-side" rule, and I have seen a goal kicked in this way hailedwith deafening cheers and waving of hats and handkerchiefs. Thesemanifestations, however, were turned into low growling when the leatherwas sent away by a free kick. The ladies, too, talk about "free kicks, ""corner-kicks, " "heading, " "hands, " "beautiful passing and dribbling, "as if to the manner born. I cannot, however, dismiss the subject ofspectators without referring to the use and abuse of a free andunrestrained vent to pent-up feelings. There is the low, vulgar fellow, whose collarless neck and general coarseness of exterior and languageindicates that he possesses all the vices but none of the virtues of the"honest working man. " Work he will not, except he is compelled, andalthough to "beg he is ashamed, " he would be the first to do a meanaction if he had the opportunity. It is he who, by his foul tongue andvery breath, contaminates the atmosphere he breathes, and brings some ofthe matches into disrepute. Unfortunately he has paid his money at thegate (sometimes he gets over the fence), and you can't turn him out; buthe makes hundreds miserable. He is, in fact, one of the "unimproving andirresponsible, " and moral suasion has no power over his hard and stonyheart. Sometimes in an evil moment his vulgar remark is challenged byone of the players on the contending sides, and this gives him an air ofimportance. There is nothing, however, which shows a want of gentlemanlybearing in a team more clearly than paying the least attention toexclamations from excited spectators. They should treat them with silentindifference, and if needs be, contempt, and play away as if there werenobody present at all. It is sometimes, nevertheless, very hard forcountry clubs to come to Glasgow and play for the city charities, andget howled at by this class of spectators at certain stages of the game. The great bulk of those around, however, are indignant at such conduct, and regret it all the more on account of being utterly unable to preventit. There is another spectator, too, who not unfrequently forgetshimself, and he is to be found on what might be termed the "touch-line"of society. He is the fast young man, who considers you a perfectnonentity if you don't bet. I don't mean betting on football pure andsimple, for he only lays a few "bobs" on it, but on the latestquotations for the Derby, the St. Leger, the Waterloo Cup, or theUniversity boat race. His "screw" is not very big at the best, but hecan always lay "half a sov. " on the event, whether his landlady's billis paid or not, and touching that little account of Mr. Strides, thetailor, why, he'll pay it when he "makes a pile. " He thinks too much ofhimself ever to get married, and the young ladies of his acquaintancemay indulge in a sigh of relief at escaping from the toils of such aconsummate fool. When he has something "on" a match, and sees that it islost, he not unfrequently opens out, and is not over choice in hislanguage. The game, however, goes on, and is greatly enjoyed by thegeneral spectator, despite such drawbacks, and if you happen to go tothe same locality on a similar occasion, you are all but sure to see oldand familiar faces crowding round the stand and area. 

 [A] The late lamented Mr. A. B. Stewart, Convener of the County of Bute, was an enthusiastic admirer of the game, and many will miss his handsome firm and kindly remark when future matches are played on the leading grounds in Scotland. 

The modern Association football player is a man of some ability. As arule he is temperate in his habits, with a good appetite, and sound inlimb. Long before he knew what football was, he was blessed with a largeshare of health. When a boy at school he used to be remarkable forpunctuality, but occasionally got into trouble from neglected lessons, in consequence of a weakness for indulging in out-door sports. He lovedthe rude style of football, then played, dearly (he knew of nothingbetter), although goal-posts, touch-lines, corner-flags, and othermodern appliances were totally unknown. As for "hacking, " it was enduredby all and sundry with the air of martyrs. Why, if you had not nerveenough to "give and take" in that line, your chance of getting near the"goal score" was remote indeed, and you were looked upon as a coward andthe verriest noodle. He, of course, grows older, and by and by joins anaverage club, and gets on very well. The crack football players, however, have many maturities. They generally come slowly, but surely, and leave behind them powerful impressions. They are like the occasionalplanets, not the stars which are seen every evening if you care to looktowards the "milky way. " They are mostly fine-looking fellows, withpleasant countenances and grandly-moulded limbs. They have just passed asevere course of probation in the football field, without even anoutward trace of anxiety. The vagaries of the game admit of nodistinction of class. The crack player is, in fine, found among allclasses--in the gentleman's son, in the clerk at the desk, and the ladin the workshop. There may be different ways of working out the latentability, but sooner or later it begins to show itself. Some thought itwas scarcely fair in the Duke of Wellington to say that "Waterloo waswon at Eton. " There is not the least possibility of doubt such a remarkmight be misunderstood, and many feel inclined to charge the "Iron Duke"with ignoring the services rendered by the non-commissioned officers andmen of the British army, for everybody knows that none but the sons ofthe opulent class can ever gain admittance to Eton. It looked, in fact, very like the credit being given to the officers for winning that greatbattle. Wellington, however, had his eye on the football and cricketgrounds when he spoke these words, and no doubt intended to convey theidea that these games went a long way in bracing up the nerve whichserved so well on the battle-field. Close adhesion to the practice ofany game really and sincerely creates fresh possibilities of thatperfection and discipline. And why should this not be so in football, particularly as it is a game regulated by sharply-defined maxims?Everyone can't be the captain of an eleven; and as for Wellington'sremarks, the most humble member of the team may show the greatestability. You may belong to the most "swellish" of clubs, and have a fairreputation, but you are not chosen to play in the International. Yourfather may be the "Great Mogul" himself, but that has no effect. Thecoveted place can only be attained by merit, and this is one of the mostsuccessful and meritorious traits in Scotch Association Football. Youdon't, as a rule, even get a place now by reputation, and so much thebetter. When clubs were few and good players fewer, you were notunfrequently favoured with one, whether you deserved it or not, but nowthe matter is different, and justly so, since we cannot go into a singletown or village in Scotland without seeing the practice ground andgoal-posts of the now omnipresent football club. 

_IX. --A DREAM OF THE PAST. _

I am getting old and stiff now, at least in a football sense, but haveseen and played in, perhaps, more big matches in my time than many willbe inclined to give me credit for now. Somehow or other the modernplayer does not seem to go into the game for the pleasure it affordsnearly so heartily as his representative of yore, but it may be that theCompulsory Clause in the Education Act has made him more refined, or, ifyou like it, a good deal more cunning in hiding his animal spirits andexuberance of innocent fun. Be that as it may, the Association Footballof to-day does not really possess the same charm to me as it did tenyears ago. 

I was once a very fair player, but never considered sufficientlybrilliant to get my name handed down to posterity as the crack half-backof the "Invincible Club" of bygone days, or proclaimed aloud in thesecret recesses of the great "houf" where football players now retire tospend a social hour after finding themselves the victors of ahard-fought field. I must admit, however, that I did some clever thingswhich the newspapers of that era ought to have at least given me a"puff" for, but they didn't; in fact, I never, like Byron (Lord Byron, Imean), awoke one morning to find myself famous, because my football wasthat of days long ago, in an obscure (to football, at least) countrytown; and, besides, the game then was conducted in rather a rude andundignified fashion. Talk about rules, we had those which might, for allI know, have been framed by the "Chief Souter of Selkirk" himself tosuit the peculiar mode of playing on the streets at Shrovetide (apractice still in vogue near that Border land). Our captain knew nothingof such new-fangled devices as the Rugby code, and far less of theFootball Association. Ours, in brief, was a sort of combination of bothstyles of play. To win a "hail, " as it was termed, the opposing side, with shoving, hacking, and other descriptions of horse-play, had only topass the ball over the line, and it was won. Touch-lines, corner-flags, twenty-five flags, and even upright posts, and the usual concomitants ofthe scientific game of to-day, were unknown. This leads me, then, to thepoint of tracing the rise and progress of the game in Scotland duringthe past dozen years, leaving its antiquity and origin, about whichthere are mere surmises, an "open question. " That it was played, however, in Edinburgh and Glasgow at least twenty years ago, under rulessomewhat similar to those now adhered to by the followers of the RugbyUnion I can well remember, and this was the only kind of football knownby the young athletes of that time. Over a dozen years ago many were theexciting contests engaged in by not a few of the clubs still inexistence. 

The oval ball, with its historical associations, has a charm for them. They then talked about the Association style of play with something akinto contempt. "What, " they might have been heard to say, "is the fun oflooking at people 'bobbing' a ball about with their heads, and the halfof a team doing nothing, while a couple or so of the players are engagedat a time? Give us the closely-packed maul, the exciting individual run, with the ball under the arm, the gallant struggle to ground it over theopposing line, and, above all, the beautifully dropped goal. " "Butnobody goes to see your matches now, " remarks a newly-fledged convert tothe Association style of play, who has come to see the "Inter-City, ""they got disgusted with your never-ending mauls and shoving matches, preferring to witness scientific manipulation of the ball in dribbling, and passing with the feet. " "Pshaw! do you imagine we care a straw forgate-money? We play the game for the love of it, and the genuineexercise it affords, " retorts the old Rugby adherent, "and respect itall the more on that account. " "Oh! it is all very well to tell onethat, but don't your leading clubs still charge for admission to theirmatches?" "Yes; but this is more in the way of keeping out the roughsfrom the field than for gain. " Such conversation I have overheardmyself, and none of the sides made much by it. 

Well can I remember the birth of Association Football in Scotland, andlook back to the time when there was not as many clubs as I could counton the fingers of one hand. In 1870, a semi-International contest, underAssociation rules, was played in London between Scotch men living inEngland and an English Eleven, and continued till 1872, when, onNovember 30th, the first real International match between England andScotland took place in Glasgow. In that same year, early in the season, the celebrated Queen's Park Club (to whom Scotland owes the introductionof the game), entered the lists for the English Challenge Cup, and weredrawn against the London Wanderers. It was at that point that thematches which had hitherto been played in London between LondonScotchmen and Englishmen were given up in favour of an annual matchbetween Scotland and England, to be played alternately in London andGlasgow, and, if possible, so to arrange the contest that theAssociation match might be played in England the same season that theRugby match would be played in Scotland, and _vice versa_. It might beas well here to say that the celebrated Scotch club and the Wanderers, then in the zenith of their fame, played a drawn game with no goals oneither side, but finding it too difficult a job to meet the Englishmenagain, they scratched. Since then, however, the Rugby and AssociationInternationals take place regularly as each season comes round, inScotland and England alternately. It is a curious fact, and one worthyof record, that the Scottish Rugby Football Union and the ScottishFootball Association were both constituted in the same year--viz. , 1873. The Union was formed after the International Rugby match at Glasgow, Dr. J. Chiene, of Edinburgh, being in the chair on the occasion. TheScottish Football Association was formed under the presidency of Mr. Robert Gardner, the once famous goalkeeper. 

The annual competition for the Association Cup, when the clubs whoentered for it the first year only numbered 16, were proceeded with in amuch more gentlemanly way than is the case now, but the reason isobvious. Hitherto young and inexperienced clubs never dreamt of enteringagainst opponents with whom they knew they had no chance, and, consequently, the competitions were left to be fought out among thecream of exponents of the dribbling game. As each year came round, however, and young clubs began to multiply exceedingly, many of themconsidered they should have a shy at the "Cup, " and as the entry-moneyfor membership to the Association was only a nominal sum, they competed, and were never heard of after the first tie. No one who has watched theprogress of Association Football in Scotland can for a moment deny thefact that the Challenge Cup has been the chief factor in assuring itspopularity and rapid development all over the Western District ofScotland, and when its original promoters inaugurated the competition, it was done with the honest conviction of spreading a knowledge of theAssociation rules, together with generating a spirit of friendly rivalryamongst clubs. 

That it has been eminently successful in the former respect is admitted, but I can't say the same thing so far as "friendly rivalry" isconcerned, and one has only to remember the manner in which some of theties are conducted to point out that the term "questionable conduct"would be more appropriate. When I hear of men and lads deliberatelykicking one another, and charging wildly when the ball is about tenyards away in front, I begin to consider that the time has positivelyarrived when the Scottish Football Association, if it wishes to retainits hold, should interfere, and make a selection of clubs to compete forthe "blue ribbon" of Association glory. Quadruple the subscriptions tothe Association if necessary, and, above all, revise the bye-laws insuch a way that what is known as a "rough game" would be impossible. Itis but fair, however, to the Scottish Football Association to state thatthey have long been alive to the fact, and have since taken the matterup while deciding protests. 

The Association Rules, however, are immensely popular with the people, and in some of the big matches it is quite a common thing to see 10, 000or 15, 000 spectators. I have heard of such people as those who actuallyhate cricket and football, and make it a constant aim to prevent thoseover whom they have some influence from engaging in the manly sport. They occasionally flit across one's path like an evil spirit, anddisappear as rapidly, but leave behind a chilling effect on theimagination, far more intense than the terrible nightmare after adisastrous defeat. They cannot see the fun of spending valuable time insuch a way. If you follow one of those gentle "cads, " however, at theclose of an evening, he may be seen, cue in hand, earnestly engaged atthe billiard table. He is not in a happy mood, for he is one of thelosing side, and there is a wild look about his eyes. He sometimes getshome rather early in the morning, and is not particularly careful of hischoice of companions at times. They are childish amusements, these gamesat cricket and football, "and none but silly people, " he continues, "would ever think of engaging in, or even encouraging, them any way. "

And another thing. There is a sort of prejudice to football, and, infact, to a lot of healthful out-door exercises, in Scotland, among theolder people, who can scarcely endure the thought of spending time underany circumstances; and parents are often the cause of degenerating akind of deception more common than one would believe--viz. , playingunder assumed names. Surely it is much better for the young men to spenda spare afternoon on the football field, enjoying the fresh air, thanbeing, perhaps, engaged in questionable "time-smashing, " in the way ofplaying cards, draughts, or drinking. On asking a well-known dribblerthe other day how it came about that he played under a _nomme deguerre_, "Was he afraid to let his real name be known?" The answer wasconclusive. The governor was sometimes inexorable, and treated him to alecture on filial obedience and the inevitable consequences ofneglecting business. He positively debarred him from playing again, butTom was not to be done. Taking advantage of the old fellow's absencefrom home, he yielded to the solicitations of his captain, and playedunder an assumed name, dribbling and passing in such beautiful form thatthousands of spectators applauded his efforts, and his side won in acanter. As the non-indulgent parent did not observe Tom's name in thepapers, his little deception was never found out, and he continued doingduty for his club in this way for a couple of seasons. And of the yetfine player who thinks he will retire as each season comes round, something must also be said. His eye has not yet lost the gleam ofhonest rivalry, and he snorts like the war-horse as each season comesround to be in the thick of the fight. He retired, it may be, lastseason, for good, as he thought, but the fascinations of the goal-postsand flying corner-flags was too much for him as a spectator at the firstbig game, and he yielded for another year, but it will be his last, forMaud, his beloved and beautiful Maud, will claim him as her own beforeJune. "We have been long engaged, " he is heard to say to an old clubcompanion, "but this blessed football, of which I am very fond, has beenthe cause of putting off the marriage. "

I once knew a fine young fellow, a crack half-back, who was so anxiousto play in an "International, " that he positively swore he would neverget married till he was one of the chosen team. He kept his word. Heplayed twice for his country, got married, and, as the "unexpected doesnot always happen, " is now the father of what may some day prove a raceof stalwart football players. His handsome, though now slightly-bentform, is still often seen when a great event is being decided, accompanied by his wife and children, and woe betide the captain of hisformer club if he allows it to be beaten. "Well played; keep him off theball, can't you!" he is heard to exclaim, till he is red in the face, and he goes home to dinner with something like an appetite. 

None but those who have positively come through all the grades offootball probation really know what amount of labour, to say nothing ofself-denial, is needed to make a crack back, half-back, or skilfulforward. Sometimes one has to be contented with a place in the SecondEleven for years, before some incident, it may be, brings him to thefront, and reveals true merit. In football, of course, as in otherthings, I have found that the best men were not always in their bestplaces, and when this was the case, what is known as favouritism came inbold relief, but in the end the club in which such stupidity was rampantsuffered very severely. It did all very well when the club were engagedin ordinary contests with weaker opponents, but it came out in some ofthe big events, in which the guilty club predominated in the selectionof men to represent a city, a university, and even a country. Fortunately, however, I can honestly say that during the last few yearsthere has been little of this practised, and Scotch football under bothrules is all the better in consequence. 

While every enlightened mind is willing to go a long way in advocatingequality, the line must be drawn somewhere, and I am inclined to thinkat that stage where gentlemanly feeling and courtesy are absent. A veryobscure individual may, by his conduct on the field, show that he atleast can be a gentleman. In all such manly sports social distinctionought to be sunk, and that great and noble equality--that equality andlove of honest worth which is so dear to the Scotch (and let me also sayEnglish heart) be ever remembered, when team meets team on the footballfield. We are shown noble examples of how in days gone by, peer mingledwith peasant on the cricket field, strove with each other on the curlingpond, and why should not such things exist in football? Let me hope thatas each succeeding season comes round the noble winter game will inproportion show greater improvement, both in club and individualintegrity, as well as higher scale of moral worth. 

_X. --THE DUEL NEAR THE FOOTBALL FIELD, AND THE CAUSE OF IT. _

"And you tell me, Frank, that the old ground is at last cut up to form arailway embankment?" said Bob Smith to Frank Green (whose sister, by theway, had got married to Pate Brown last season), as they met one eveningat Crosshill. 

"They will be long in finding a ground like Hampden Park, I'm thinking, "replied Green, with the recollections of pleasant games and gloriousvictories for the Black-and-Whites, to say nothing of numerous gains toScotland in matches with England and Wales. 

Since this meeting of Bob and Frank, however, the said Black-and-Whiteshave got pretty far forward with a new ground quite close to HampdenPark, and it is now being levelled up and put into condition. Therailway embankment referred to is part of the Cathcart Railway, whichwill assist very considerably in opening up rapid communication betweenGlasgow and the whole of the suburban burghs lying south. 

While referring to the Southern Suburbs, which, it may be mentioned, areclosely associated with the rise and progress of Association Football, I cannot refrain from alluding to several genial souls who have helpedto make them what they are. None, however, is entitled to claim moreconsideration and credit than Provost Goodfellow, of Suburbopolis, whoseofficial life, so to speak, has been spent in the cause of suburbanorganisation, accompanied, of course, with a due regard for AssociationFootball. 

You must know, my brave Scotch readers, and those hailing from South ofthe Tweed, that the Provost of a Scotch burgh or town occupies the exactposition of the English Mayor. He is the head of the municipality, andis, in fact, a kind of ruler of all he surveys, but about his "right todispute, " particularly when the November election comes on, why that ispurely a matter of opinion. 

Well, the ruler of Suburbopolis was not a despotic man. He was certainlya little pedantic, and who, I should like to know, would not be inclinedto lean that way if they had taken part in a great annexation fight withthe chiefs of the big bouncing city of Glasgow, and beaten them too?

Some years ago, it may be briefly explained, the Glasgow authoritiesdevised a scheme, whereby all the suburban burghs were to be taken underthe wing of Glasgow and lose their entire independence, andSuburbopolis, being close on the touch-line, was to be attacked first. Glasgow, in fact, was to act as the veritable annaconda, and swallow itup, but she didn't. 

Scotch Radicals, talking politically, had not hitherto much faith inwhat they considered an effete hereditary legislature, such as the Houseof Lords, but if there was one thing more than another calculated tobring about a Conservative reaction among the Glasgow suburbanauthorities, it was the attention paid to their vested interests by thePeers. 

The Commons had spurned their entreaties to maintain independence withscorn, and even relegated them to Bumbledom, but their lordships, towhom the case was appealed, literally strangled the said annacondabefore she began to devour, and Suburbopolis, along with other fivethriving burghs, were saved from municipal death, and still retain theirProvosts. Provost Goodfellow was a most genial soul, and particularlyfond of Association Football. 

He could talk about dribbling, passing, and backing-up, as if to themanner born. The only thing, in fact, which he did not fully understandwas the "off-side rule, " and many of greater pretentions were as far atsea regarding that said rule as the worthy Provost. He was the life andsoul of Charity Cup Ties, and never failed to turn out to patronisethem. Even the charming young ladies of the family (for you must knowhis honour had three handsome daughters) knew a good deal about therules, and had several excited discussions with their brother Archie(who was a member of the Camphill), and Bob Lambert (of theBlack-and-Whites), as to the respective merits of sundry clubs. 

These young ladies, too, had a long string of admirers, and no familyacquaintance was more eagerly sought after than that of the Goodfellows. Suburbopolis, however, was by no means devoid of a galaxy of femininebeauty and well-developed male forms, who might have been seen of anevening leaving the handsome villas and terraces around the Park (forwhich the inhabitants were not taxed). 

There were, of course, the families of Colonel Black (an old warrior, who had been through the Crimea and Indian Mutiny), the Redpath girls, whose mother was a widow, the Snodgrass young ladies (three in number), the Misses Bland, residing at Jessimine Lodge, and, of course, many morelesser luminaries. The Colonel's daughters, or "Golden Slippers, " asone of them was called by several members of the Camphill, who hadcaught her in the act of watching a practice game on the eve of a bigCup Tie, wearing a pair of fur-lined slippers, and had her heart set onthe Camphill beating the Black-and-Whites, was, indeed, the mosthandsome girl in the burgh. 

I would not dare to attempt a pen-and-ink sketch. It would fail in itseffect. It's all very good for you fellows who have no soul for feminineloveliness to talk about girls, like babies, being all pretty muchalike, but you are wrong--entirely wrong. Jenny was, in fine, a "bonnie, bonnie lass, " and scores of young fellows, I know, would have goneconsiderably out of their way to have received "ae blink o' her bonnieblack e'e. " Emma, although scarcely so tall, was very like her sister, only shorter in the temper. 

After sundry matches at the field, Jack Black used to take a few of hiscompanions up to the Hillhouse, and the young ladies received themgraciously--congratulating them when they won their matches, and"chaffing" them unmercifully when they lost. 

There were at least three suitors for the hand of Jenny, but one of themresided in London, and the other at Skyview Villa, a couple of hundredyards from Hillhouse. It can be easily imagined that the local man hadthe advantage in the courtship, being, as the special correspondentalways prides himself in adding to his communications, "on the spot. "

Bob Lambert was, to be sure, a welcome visitor at Jenny's residence, anda fast companion of her brother Jack, and what was more, Bob was quite afavourite with the old Colonel, who admired his fine appearance in thefootball field, and the brilliant manner in which he could "back-up"when that was needed to win a game. Bob, I must confess, was really anice-looking fellow, with black curly hair, and a good broad chest. Hisfeatures were well formed, and he possessed penetrating dark grey eyes. There was one thing, however, which told against Bob in many ways, andthat was his hasty temper. He could brook no rival in his position asthe best forward in the Black-and-Whites, and a word or two from thecaptain at a practice game was sure to upset him. He sometimes, in fact, took the pet altogether. 

Once, when playing a Cup Tie with the Athletic Park, he met his match inCharlie Walker (another of Jenny's sweethearts), who played athalf-back, and the work done all through that eventful match was seenbetween the pair. Talk about coming in contact with "mother earth, " whythat was positively child's play when the two met. 

Walker was also a powerful fellow, and it was a case of Greek meetingGreek. "Bumping at Oxford, " to use an aquatic term, why it was nothing!At one time Bob was seen tossed up in the air as if from the horns of aninfuriated bull, and at another Charlie was observed lying on the fieldat Bob's feet. What did they care about the ball being fifty yards off?Not a straw, so long as they tackled and kept each other away from it. "That's not football, " says one, "it is horse play. " "Never mind aboutfootball in a Cup Tie, " says another, "let the heaviest team win; gointo the fellow. " "Oh! gentlemen, gentlemen, fie, fie, AssociationFootball is an amateur game, and as long as I play it, " said thecaptain, "there shall be no cruelty done on either side. "

Little did the spectators know the real cause of the inordinate tacklingdone by Bob and Charlie, but the secret soon came out. The pair hadpreviously been rivals for the hand of Jenny Black, and Bob was lookedupon as the winner. At least Charlie had not been seen at the Black'sVilla for two or three months, and before this he always made it hishouse of call. But what about Harry Carts, Jenny's English sweetheart?Why, I had almost forgotten him. 

A team of Cantabs had played the Black-and-Whites just a yearpreviously, and Harry was one of them. He had been invited to spend anevening at the Colonel's house, and had fallen desperately in love withthe bonnie Scotch lassie. Bob was also specially invited and was presentthat evening, and although trying to be as affable as possible to thefriendly stranger and opponent, could barely hide his jealousy when thegallant English forward kissed the lovely girl's ruby lips in a game atforfeits. 

Bob said nothing about it to Jenny, but Emma, the youngest sister, whispered to her brother Jack that Bob's eyes had a wild look thatevening. The matter, however, was soon forgotten, as Harry Carts leftGlasgow the next evening for London, after his gallant team had played adrawn game with the Scotch Black-and-Whites--the first one ending inthat way, be it observed, that had ever been played between them and anEnglish team on Scottish ground in the memory of the proverbial "oldestinhabitant. "

Harry Carts, to give him his due, was one of the best Associationfootball players ever England produced. When Mr. C. W. Alcock and a fewchoice spirits in London, it is true, first opened the eyes of manyfootball players to the value of the Association rules, and inauguratedthe Football Association in 1863, Harry was a mere child. Appearing atcollege, however, he soon showed a liking for the dribbling game, andnever lost a moment in doing his best to acquire everything he waslikely to know about it. 

Just the season before our story opens, he had been chosen from animposing array of names sent in by his club, and also the branchAssociations, for an honourable place in the "Great International. " Hissuperiority, in fact, put his place beyond doubt, and he stood torepresent his country first, and club afterwards, in a tussle whichproved disastrous to England; but it was admitted by all who witnessedthe match that Harry was one of the best men on the Field, and, incompany with his half-back, showed the best form and pluck--thevictorious Scotchmen notwithstanding. How the pair above mentionedtackled and passed up, to say nothing of backing and nursing the ball, Iknow full well, for I saw the game. Harry and his companion, in fact, were again and again cheered for their magnificent dribbling, and whenthe eventful game was over Harry was carried shoulder-high, in realScotch form, to the Black-and-White's pavilion. 

The incident did not escape Jenny and her sister, who were standing onthe gravelled walk in front of the pavilion. Jenny was sympathetic whenshe saw the handsome young Englishman cheered by the excited crowd, andwhen the excitement culminated into carrying him shoulder-high to thepavilion, a brilliant flash from her eye told the tale of regard. Theyoung lady, despite assertions to the contrary, must have at leastadmired the young Englishman; and among the blithe and gentle faces whoswept their cambric handkerchiefs over their heads, none were moredemonstrative than the Black girls. They saw, with something akin topride, Harry let gently down at the pavilion door, followed by theirbrother Jack, Jim Wallace, and Bill M'Clelland, all of whom had donegreat work in the big match. 

Harry did not lose sight of the handsome face which had haunted him allthe previous summer, notwithstanding his flirtation with the Italiangirls in Venice. Venice, beautiful Venice! It was in thy classic city, close to the scene of the great Italian poet's labours and triumphs, that poor Jack Vincent (who used to play left wing in the Swifts) wasfound drowned, after attending a ball. Poor Jack, I think even now I cansee his handsome, but withal, comical face, when he used to dodge sundryhalf-backs while playing for his club. Poor fellow! grave hints wereheld out at the time that he had met with foul play, but nothing morewas ever heard about the matter, and Jack's friends never got anysatisfaction. 

I am, however, going off the line with my brief story. Carts, in fact, felt Jenny's face haunting him wherever he went, and on the earliestopportunity came back to Scotland, asked the dear little girl to be hiswife, got the crusty old Colonel's consent, and the pair were all butapparently engaged to be married at an early date. Harry was splendidcompany either on the field, at the Black-and-White's room inBattlefield Hotel, or at the villa. He could sing a good song, tell agood story, and crack a wild joke. Harry used to sing a new song aboutfootball, the chorus of which jingled out:

 "In measured blow, the dancing feet, Now moving slow, now galloping fleet; With a leap and a curl, With a sweep and a twirl. "

He declared that the song was original, but Archie, who was a bit of abook-worm, and never neglected taking in the "Monthlies, " expressedgrave misgivings about having seen something like it applied to a skaterin "Scribner's Magazine. "

Bob Lambert and Charlie Walker, the other two young fellows who werelooked upon as Jenny's admirers, were terribly shaken in heart andspirit when they heard of her flirtation with the handsome youngEnglishman; but such a thing as an engagement between them was never fora moment entertained. Bob was too much a man of the world to supposethat Jenny would ever give him up for another; and poor, soft-headedCharlie, why, he was sure the Colonel's favourite daughter loved himstill. 

Matters went on in this way for some time. The football season was nowabout closed, as the month of May was at hand, and all the big matcheshad been lost and won, including the Challenge Cup Tie, which Dumbartonhad carried off. For several evenings Bob and Charlie had not comeacross one another (although Charlie was also a member of theBlack-and-Whites, as well as the Athletic Park). Bob had blamed Charliefor telling some stories about a fine young girl whom the former hadpromised to make his wife a year previously. The poor girl, it washinted, had been jilted to such an extent by Bob, that she had brokenher heart, and pined away and died. 

One evening the pair met at the entrance to the pavilion on HampdenPark, where a lot of the players were lounging about smoking, afterhaving done with their sides. Most of the club fellows knew that Lambertand Walker had not spoken to each other for a long time, even to theextent of exchanging the usual salutations about the weather. They were, therefore, much astonished to see them in earnest conversation. Menacinglooks were exchanged, and something like curses--not deep, perhaps, butloud--were heard from the rivals' lips. 

The fact was, the men had arranged to settle their "little difference"with swords. What do you think of that, my nineteenth centuryintelligent reader, with all your boasted approach to civilisation andsacred respect for life? Why, a cold-blooded duel with swords, and inthe French fashion, too! Both hot-headed youths knew comparativelylittle about the handling of the chosen weapons, nothing more, indeed, than what they received while training in the Volunteers; but it was a"point of honour, " and they would do their best. 

Several of the Black-and-Whites, who had heard about the proposed"meeting, " had a secret consultation with Ned M'Gill and Davie Merricks, who, it was whispered, had taken the friendly job of "seconds, " and thewhole affair was "adjusted. " With swords this was impossible, and theyresolved to resort to the respectable and honourable weapon, therevolver. 

The two men who were to face each other in terrible earnest, you may besure, slept little or none during the preceding night. "Four o'clocksharp, mind, at the grass field, near Hagg's Castle, " said the braveseconds, "and it will be all over in a few minutes. " Charlie shudderedwhen he heard the last words (which, by the way, were deliberatelyintended for him). 

"_A few minutes, and all will be over_, " Charlie muttered; "what if Ishould be killed?" His very teeth (which he used to whiten with cigarashes, and was so proud about), were chattering. Thousands of ideasfloated across his heated imagination. He saw his past life before him, and the only consolation, if it could be called one, lay in the thoughtthat, should it come to the worst, Jenny Black's eyes would be dimmedwith tears at his misfortune. He felt sure the dear lassie loved him, and he would brave death a thousand times rather than endure the anguishof seeing her married to a useless fellow like Bob Lambert. 

Bob, on the other hand, was really a cool and determined fellow; andwhile Charlie was in the throes speculating about probable dissolutionbefore the morrow's sun should rise, Bob was actually priding himself onsuperior ability in handling a revolver. He was, in fact, far tooarrogant a man to imagine that _he_ could be shot by a silly boy likeWalker. He had made up his mind to shoot straight when the signal fell, and indulged in the devilish pleasure it would afford him to read a"true and particular account" of the duel in the Glasgow evening papers, if good luck would favour him in escaping to the Continent. 

"These fellows are not going to come up to the scratch, " said Ned M'Gillto the other honourable gent--as they passed the Clydesdale CricketGround a few minutes to four o'clock on that memorable morning. Ned, however, was wrong. Through the grey dawn a muffled figure was observedcrossing the Pollokshields Athletic Club's Park, and making direct forthe old castle. Almost simultaneously came a second individual from thevicinity of Crossmyloof, smoking a cigar. There was no doubt about it, for on closer inspection the figure was that of Lambert, who generallyindulged in a good cigar, as he had a friend in the Anchor Line who wasalways supplying him with "weeds. "

A very short time sufficed to measure the distance, but the would-be_murderers_, no doubt, considered it an age. When the seconds advancedalong with their men to the fatal spot, and placed them twenty pacesapart, Charlie put one in mind of the poor misguided boy in "TheRivals. " His hand shook, and his knees almost touched one another. 

_The signal was given_, and bang went the revolvers from both sides. None of the young men, however, seemed to have been hit; and whileCharlie was almost sinking on the ground from excitement, Bob might havebeen seen examining his weapon with suspicion, at the same time castinga glance at his rival and wondering why he did not fall. A second or twomore, and the latter fired another shot, and this time poor Charliedropped his pistol and fell back on the grass. 

Bob was satisfied he had done the business now, and taking the advice ofDavie Merricks, he fled for his life; getting the early train forGreenock and thence per steamer "Golden Eagle, " to the Isle of Man. 

The "seconds" (and a few strange figures that were seen lurking about)of course, lifted the supposed dying man from the grass, and as his"life's blood ebbed away, " they whispered about being willing to fill alast request. Poor Charlie's brow was covered with blood, and as hehimself expressed the terrible sensation of "feeling a pistol ballbobbing about in his brain, " arrangements were hastily made for havinghim consigned to relatives. Accordingly his lodgings were sought afterand easily found by the excited hansom driver who had taken them nearthe fatal spot. 

All the time the affair was going on the driver threw out grave hintsabout reporting the whole matter to the police. When they reachedGreenfield Avenue, however, there was still some life in Charlie, but hesaid he "knew he was dying, " and forgave everybody who had taken part inthe rascally business. 

Higgins, the hansom driver, was as good as his word, and after leavingthe place, went direct to the Suburbopolis Police Office, and got thewhole matter reported. Not very long after the police surrounded thehouse in Greenfield Avenue, and Provost Goodfellow (who, it may beremarked, was the only magistrate at home when the affair took place, and had to be aroused for the purpose), came in all haste to take the"dying deposition. " Meanwhile Dr. Barrister, one of the best of thelocal surgeons, was in attendance. 

The doctor, however, suspecting something soon after feeling thesupposed wounded man's pulse, and judge of the surprise, to say nothingof indignation, when the doctor, and then the Provost, began to indulgein a hearty fit of unrestrained laughter. The "seconds" knew theirbusiness well, for they had _loaded the weapons with blank cartridgesand a few drops of bullock's blood_, and some of the contents of Bob'spistol had hit Charlie on the brow. 

Poor Charlie, he was so terribly shaken and nervous after being hit thathe was long in getting the better of the fright. Like the Frenchprisoner whom the cruel authorities of the "Inquisition" determinedshould be experimented upon as a victim of imagination in the way ofsupposed bleeding to death, Charlie, although he had not received ascratch, thought he was dying fast, till the doctor informed him of theimaginary wound. 

A few days afterwards the affair was "hushed up, " and nobody was betterpleased when he heard the true state of matters than Bob Lamberthimself. His friend Jim Campbell had sent a letter to Douglas PostOffice, to be called for, under a fictitious name, and Bob soon returnedto Glasgow. 

When little Jenny Black was told the same morning of the duel, thatCharlie Walker had been shot by Bob Lambert, she fainted clean away, andafterwards refused to be comforted. "To think that she, a poor weakgirl, should have been the cause of such a terrible tragedy, " she washeard to say to her sister, "I'm afraid I'll never get over it. " Whenthe true state of matters, however, was revealed, and the whole affairbrought up in its real light, it afforded immense merriment all overSuburbopolis, and when football players met to spend a social hour, theduel between Bob Lambert and Charlie Walker is, of course, alluded to asa standard joke. 

A few months afterwards there was a nice wedding at Colonel Black'svilla, and strange as it may seem, both Lambert and Walker were there, together with quite a crowd of football players and their sweethearts. 

The reader will, of course, easily make out who wore the bridal dress, and looked lovely in it, too. Surprise, however, not, it is to be hoped, altogether unmixed with satisfaction, will be expressed, when thebride-groom appears in the person of Charlie Walker, Jenny's own love. Harry Carts, the handsome Englishman, she certainly admired, but did notactually love sufficiently to make a husband of. He, in fact, seemed tohave been too fond of company, and in correspondence a coldness hadsprung up between them, and ended in two parting letters. 

Jenny loved Charlie Walker best, and accordingly gave him her heart andhand. "What he had suffered for her sake, " the young lady was heard toexpress to a confidant, "no one but himself knew. " They are, however, now a happy pair, and when Cup Ties and big matches are being playednear Suburbopolis, you will be sure to see Charlie and his handsome wifeon the field. 

As for Bob Lambert, who was forgiven, he became more of a man insubduing his temper and general disposition, and one evening told hisold rival that he would never forget till his dying day--"THE DUEL NEARTHE FOOTBALL FIELD. "

_XI. --THE FINAL TIE FOR THE ASSOCIATION CHALLENGE CUP--1889-90. _

_TWO MEMORABLE MATCHES. _

A couple of matches had to played before the final tie for theAssociation Challenge Cup was decided, and at the earnest request ofnumerous friends I have reproduced my articles on both games, whichappeared in the Daily Mail, and trust they will be considered worthy aplace in the volume. The following is the

~First Match. ~

This important contest, which had to be postponed the previous Saturdayin consequence of the dense fog which enveloped the city and suburbs insemi-darkness, came off at Ibrox Park, and resulted in a draw--each sidescoring a goal. Early in the forenoon the weather in every particularlooked like a counterpart of the previous Saturday, and it was not tillwell on in the day that the Association Committee finally decided to goon with the match. Even with this short notice, combined with the factthat heavy rain came on and continued till well on in the second half, the attendance of spectators was large, about 11, 000, and this is borneout by the cash lifted at the gate, some £500. Of this the Associationgets a third, and the other two-thirds are equally divided between thecontending teams. The proceeds of the stand, however, went to theRangers' funds, as that club gave their ground free of charge to theAssociation to play off the tie. Paisley Road and Govan Road presented ascene to be remembered from two o'clock till well on for 3. 30 P. M. , being thronged with vehicles of every kind, from the carriage and pair, the hansom and cab, down to the modest van. Pedestrians, too, werenumerous, and on the Govan Road the Vale of Clyde Tramway Company, withextra cars, reaped a good harvest. On the way down, and in the fielditself, the usual good-natured banter was largely indulged in, and asfootball enthusiasts, like the rest of impatient spectators, are onlyhuman, they were in better temper at the start of the contest than wasthe case at the finish. The meeting of the Queen's Park and Vale ofLeven, in fact, revived old times among the once brilliant players ofboth clubs, many of whom were present on Saturday to "fight theirbattles o'er again. " "Dae ye ken, " said an old man as the gameproceeded, "I wis present at old Hampden Park on the wet Hogmanayafternoon long ago, when the Vale licked the Queen's by two to one in aCup tie, and I wish'd ye'd a' seen the Queen's Park committee men andtheir supporters that day when the bare fac' wis kent. I'm thinkin' theydidna craw sae crouse, and maybe they'll get a fricht the noo. " When theVale scored their goal a wag, primed with a fair-sized pocket pistol, nodoubt containing the best--well, every public-house salesman will tellyou at anyrate, it is the "best, " and charge for it, too, as"special"--began to lilt a verse of the popular pantomime song, "Theirfuneral's to-morrow, " hinting heavily about the decline and fall of theQueen's Park. Many saw the point, and laughed; while others gave thejolly fellow a look that betokened contempt and dismay. "Wait till thesecond half, " said a quiet supporter of the senior club, "and ye'll seewhat they can dae; they're only making some fun. " In pressing forward, leaning against the pailings, were not a few critical rivet boys andiron-workers, whose running comments were amusing in the extreme. Ofsome young fellows who came down from the city dressed up in style, oneof the "black squad" was heard to say, "Don't they look blooming'swells, ' with their gloves and G. O. M. Collars, and you wid think thatthe whole landed property about is theirs, even to Ibrox Park itself. Crush up, Bob. We've paid our money as well as the lot, and must getshare of the view. Crush up. " "Man, jock, they've got a new ile fortraining and rubbin' up the fitballers noo. It's whit they ca'herbuline, and it keeps out the cauld and warms ye unca' much; but thesmell's sae strong that it nearly blin's ye. " No doubt some kind ofspecific was required on such a trying day as Saturday, for it wasindeed a clear case of illustrating the old adage, when exclusivelyapplied to man, about the survival of the fittest. There is this aboutIbrox Park, however, which certainly recommends it to the impartialspectator--fine even turf, without a flaw, and no advantage even to thehome club itself when playing matches. It is well sheltered, and thearrangements for the big crowd were ample, and well carried out by theRangers' committee and the Scottish Football Association, for whom MrJohn M'Dowall, the secretary, acted with much credit. The Govanpolicemen (at least most of them) love a good game at football as dearlyas the old Highland landlady lo'ed a lord, and what is more, theirrespected chief shows them a good example, as he is generally to befound at Ibrox Park, in company with other burgh officials, when thereis a good thing on. The early editions of the evening papers werelargely in request, not by any means for the purpose of reading, as allattention was directed to the game, and in the anxiety to see theplayers before the contest began, but for the sole purpose of being "saton. " The supply was soon exhausted, and one speculative newsboy, takingin the situation at a glance, disappeared for a short time, but came upsmiling towards the grand stand ten minutes afterwards with a bundle ofbrown paper wrappers, which he disposed of like penny pies at twopenceper sheet. The judges of the game had very difficult duties to perform, and to their credit be it said they did the work without fear or favour, and we are quite certain gave general satisfaction to the players. Thespectators, however, treated the unfavourable conditions of theatmosphere with indifference, and even contempt, and long before thetime announced for the kick-off they crowded around the pailing andsurroundings to get a good view of the game. In consequence of the wetweather very few ladies were present compared with what has turned outat previous finals. The Vale of Leven emerged from the pavilion first, and were well received. A few minutes afterwards came the Queen's Park, who were also loudly cheered with cries of "Good old Q. P. " The tossbetween the two captains was watched with much earnestness, and when theLeven team ranged themselves in front of the ball from the gate end, itbecame apparent that they had won. The Queen's Park, by Hamilton, kickedoff against the wind, and a short run by Berry was successful in sendingthe ball so near the Vale of Leven goal that one of the strangers put itbehind, and gave the Queen's Park a corner-flag kick. This was followedby a close scrimmage, in which the ball came near Whitelaw, who sent itdown the field. A "foul, " however, by Paton gave the Queen's Park alift, and in a second scrimmage the ball was again put behind the lines. Another corner-flag kick was the consequence, and it took the Queen'sPark well in on goal, where the tackling was very severe. The ball againbobbed about the posts, but the Vale men showed splendid back play onthe slippery ground, and sent it clear. After this Bruce and M'Millanhad a good run on the left for the Vale of Leven, and the former had ashy that went past the left post. The kick out by Gillespie was followedup by a steady run on the part of Allan, Berry, and Gulliland, and theformer shied wide past the right post. After the kick out, the Queen'sPark kept up the pressure, and it was some time before the ball emergedfrom Vale of Leven territory, which it did from the foot of Rankin. Someeven play ensued, and then the Vale had a run by the right forwards, and, in kicking clear, Arnott slipped a bit, and the ball, getting theupper of his boot, rolled over the lines and gave the Vale of Leven acorner-flag kick. It was taken by M'Lachlan, but he cut the distance toofine, and the ball rolled harmlessly over the bar. In turn, Gillespie'skick-out was followed by a run on the part of Sellar and Hamilton, and a"hand" by one of the Vale of Leven backs gave Smellie a chance of doingsomething with a free kick. It was very hard work, however, for both, and the opinion began to gain ground that the team who could keep uptheir stamina longest would be the winners. The ground, in fact, was abit treacherous, and in some cases when the ball landed, after a longkick, it bounded clean over the heads of the backs, and some mis-kicksnow and again occurred. Seven minutes from half-time, the Vale men madea smart spurt, and, after some clever passing, the ball was takenpossession of by M'Lachlan, who jumped in and headed it between theposts--just a few inches from the right side--amid cheers and countercheers. The teams then faced up in the centre, and, from a good start, the Queen's Park got up to their opponents' lines, and Berry just missedthe goal by a foot. After this the Vale of Leven had a good run down onthe Queen's Park lines, and a fast shy by Osborne was caught up andpunted out by Gillespie, and another immediately afterwards, from thefoot of Bruce, was cleared by Smellie. The half-time signal, however, was given, leaving the Vale of Leven one goal ahead. The strangers hadnow the kick-off, and made considerable use of it, for the forwardsbacked up well, and a slip by one of the half-backs of the Queen's Parkgave the Vale of Leven a corner-flag kick. The ball was fairly managed, but Bruce, who had it at his toe, was tackled by Smellie, and sent downthe field. The Queen's Park had now a brilliant turn at the Leven goal, and several hard shies at the posts were cleverly returned by the backs. The Queen's men, however, kept pressing on, and had a corner-flag kick, which was taken by Sellar, and splendidly sent out by Wilson. The playafter this was straggling a bit, and falls were frequent in Vale ofLeven territory, but the Queen's men were very unlucky at goal, andcould not get the ball through--Gulliland, with a hard shy, only missingby a shave. The ball eventually passed the Leven lines in a scrimmagenot long afterwards, and as it was put over by one of the defenders, another corner-flag kick was the consequence. Time was now wearing on, and do all they could, with hemming in their opponents and makinginnumerable shies at goal, the Queen's Park could not score, and acorner-flag kick did not mend matters. After this the Vale team improvedvery much in their forward play, and M'Lachlan and Bruce again had afine run up the field, and as Arnott, in tackling, let the ball go overthe lines, the Leven team had a corner-flag kick. The shot from thepavilion end was very well taken by one of the half-backs (M'Nicol), andthe Queen's Park goal had a narrow shave, as the ball was caught byRobertson in the nick of time and cleared. The Queen's Park were soon atit again, however, and not only drove their powerful opponents off, butcompletely invaded their stronghold. Crowding round Allan, Berry, Gulliland, Sellar, Hamilton, and even the Queen's half-backs had shiesat the Leven goal, but Wilson saved brilliantly. When time was drawingto a close the excitement became very intense, and while the friends ofthe Vale of Leven were jubilant and hopeful about the issue, thepartisans of the senior club, who came to see their favourites conquer, were proportionately sad and crest-fallen. "They cannot do it now, " saida chorus of voices well up on the stand, "but see this, boys, " remarkedan old football follower, as Arnott rolled up the sleeves of his jerseywith a determination which gave new life to the game; and as it has beensaid frequently before that the Queen's Park can rise to a greatoccasion, assuredly they did on Ibrox Park on Saturday. One minute or somore and all would be over. Pressing their opponents very hard withshots at goal, corner-flag kicks, scrimmages almost under thegoalkeeper's feet, they were again and again repulsed by grand work onthe part of Wilson, and as the ball emerged out of the pack after a freekick it was sent a bit down the field towards the Queen's Parkhalf-backs. Here Bruce, the most prominent forward of the country club, got possession, and was about to beat Stewart, when Arnott and Smelliecame to the rescue, and the ball was immediately sent back to the Valegoal, where, after a terrible scrimmage, from a "free kick, " it was putbetween the posts by Smellie. The vision of a glorious victory for theQ. P. Had by that time faded away like a dream, and a crowd of the seniorclub's followers had actually left Ibrox Park in disgust, when atremendous cheer burst forth from the ground signalling a point for theQueen's Park, who had "turned" the doubtful day again. The scene whichfollowed was truly exciting. The Q. P. Followers gave vent to theirstrained feelings with an outburst of cheering which must have beenheard in some of the neighbouring police burghs, including Partick onthe other side of the river, while those of the Vale kept quiet indisappointment. The teams then began the struggle anew, and from thekick off the Vale of Leven men made a grand run up on the Queen's Parkgoal, and had a couple of corner-flag kicks in succession, but theQueen's Park backs sent the ball clear, and a few seconds afterwards thewhistle sounded, leaving one of the most remarkable games ever played inthe final tie for the Association Challenge Cup drawn, with one goalall. The following are the teams that played in both games:--Queen'sPark--Goal, Gillespie; backs, Arnott and Smellie; half-backs, M'Ara, Stewart, and Robertson; forwards, Gulliland, Berry, J. Hamilton, Allan, and Sellar. Vale of Leven--Goal, Wilson; backs, Whitelaw and Murray;half-backs, Osborne, M'Nicol, and Sharp; forwards, M'Lachlan, Rankin, James Patton, Bruce, and M'Millan. 

~Second Match. ~

The destiny of the Challenge Cup has at length been decided for theseason, and the Queen's Park are the conquerors after one of the finestgames ever seen on Ibrox Park--the victory being the narrow one of twogoals to one. The game, it may be remembered, was drawn on the previousSaturday, when each side had scored a goal, and, strange as it may seem, the Queen's Park only saved themselves then, as they have done now, towards the close of the contest, and converted what looked like adefeat into a victory. Between 12, 000 and 13, 000 spectators werepresent, and as the weather was fine the match was a most enjoyable one. The cash drawn at the gate amounted to fully £600, and, as on theprevious meeting, will be equally apportioned among the two clubs andthe Association. The city cabbies made a day of it, and pocketed a goodround sum. They handled the ribbons with a dexterity which in some caseswas really alarming, and threatened the lieges with accident. "Drive usto Ibrox Park, mind, in ten minutes, or we'll be late for the kick-off, "and the promise of an extra sixpence did the business, although Jehu'sold friend and brother must be passed on the road. In some cases thiswas overdone, and a horseless machine with only one wheel might havebeen seen near Bellahouston Academy, awaiting "alterations and repairs, "and on the same road some "spills" also occurred. The remarks round thepavilion, stand, and approaches were, as usual, both instructive andamusing, and let the impartial spectator know how the land lay, and thekind of company he was for the moment keeping. All sorts and conditionsof men and boys were there to see the match. A hasty glance, in fact, revealed the astonishing fact that nearly all classes in the countrywere represented--city magnates, iron-masters, shipbuilders, ministersof religion, doctors, schoolmasters, clerks, mechanics of all kinds, anda much larger contingent of ladies than we have seen on any previousoccasion. From the cheers and counter cheers which greeted thegoal-scoring by the senior club it was apparent that their followerswere in the majority, but when the young Vale of Leven got the firstpoint, the cheers which followed showed that they had also a largenumber of partisans, who honestly believed in the club's ability to winthe cup. In the first round, indeed, the Vale players showed much bettercombination all over than the Q. P. , and reminded many of the Vale ofyore. The second half, however, revealed the senior club at their best, and from the manner in which they acted together and kept up theirstaying powers, they really deserved to win. As we have already said, the gossip among the spectators was both bright and original. Ademonstrative supporter of the senior club was rather personal with hisremarks, and was asked by a lover of the game, but not a partisan ofeither club, to keep quiet "and not let everybody know he was a bornfool. " "Oh! yes; it's all very fine, but the band at Alexandria 'ill noplay at the station yet: the Vale canna' win noo, " said he, as theQueen's team put the ball through a second time. A well dressed youngfellow on the stand near the press table was very funny, and if ever aman enjoyed the game it was he. In the exuberance of his joy at the Q. P. Scoring, he danced on the little spot allotted to him on the stand, andin doing so nearly overbalanced himself. "Ye'll be the better o' a halfyin after that narrow escape, " said one of his friends, handing him abottle. After he had swallowed a fair amount of the liquor he stole ahasty glance at the bottle, and found to his disgust he had beendrinking "The Vale of Leven blend. " "It's a' richt, " said his countryfriend, "ye'll maybe need it a' yet; the Vale are not beaten the noo;the Queen's man tak' anither goal before that occurs, " and so they did. "Oh! a' say, " remarked a born East-Ender, for whom we are perfectlycertain the Clyde and Thistle, according to his self-importance at anyrate, had played their best on Barrowfield and Beechwood, "look at that;it's no' fair to gie the Vale a free kick for that; it's the auld way;gie't ta the yin that mak's the maist noise. " "Yes, " said another, wholooked every inch a dyer from the celebrated football county ofDumbarton, and maybe the Vale of Leven district itself, "did ever ye seethe likes o' that, and frae sic a swell club, tae?" as Robertson bowledover Bruce on the grass, and cleared the ball away. Wilson, the Vale ofLeven goalkeeper, came in for a fair share of praise; and so did Arnott, Smellie, Sellar, Gulliland, and Gillespie for their brilliant play, butmany were in ecstacy about young Wilson. "His mither 'ill be a proudwoman the day when she kens how well he kept goal for the Vale; there'snae doubt about it, Wilson's the coming man between the sticks for theInternational on Hampden Park on 5th April next, " said a red-faced man, wearing a glengarry. Old and respected members of both clubs were againpresent to cheer on their successors to victory, and we observed severaloriginal members of the once-famous Clydesdale, including two who tookpart in the first final tie for the cup on old Hampden Park. Several oldRangers were present, too, who remembered well the series of excitingmatches played by them against the Vale of Leven, when no fewer thanthree hard battles had to be fought before the destiny of the cup wassettled for the year. The sad news, too, was announced in the papers ofthe sudden death of another famous forward (Mr. J. R. Wilson), who tookpart in the first final tie between the Queen's Park and Clydesdale onbehalf of the latter club. Many of the "Old Brigade" viewed the contestwith mixed feelings. "You seem excited, Bob, " said a friend to an oldQ. P. , and no wonder; time is fleeting fast; the game will be done in aquarter of an hour, and, dear me, the Queen's have not even scored. "Notat all, not at all, " said the Q. P. Old player, tearing at his moustachein a manner that threatened that hirsute appendage with instantannihilation, "I think they will, at anyrate, make it a draw, for seehow they press the Vale now. Oh! they've done it; see that, " as Hamiltonsent the ball between the posts. "The extra half-hour is sure to beplayed now, " said another, as the Vale of Leven men brought down theball to mid-field, and kicked off. There was, indeed, great excitement, and as the Queen's Park again and again pressed their opponents, andfinally scored a second goal, it was a dozen times intensified, and thesubsequent play made the Q. P. Men more bold and determined. The Vale ofLeven, as on the previous occasion, appeared in the field of play first, and had a punt about with the ball for a few minutes, when theiropponents emerged from the pavilion and had some practice round theupper goal, while the umpires and the referee were arranging thepreliminaries. The visitors won the toss, and played with what littlewind there was in their favour. Hamilton kicked off, and Berry followedhis forward companion, but Murray turned the ball, and M'Millan andBruce had a nice run, and caused the ball to get near the Queen's Parkgoal, but Smellie caught it on the rise and sent it down the field. Itwas taken up on the left side, and Sellar ended a brilliant run bypassing the leather fairly across the goal to Gulliland, and that playermade a rare shot at goal, but Wilson was on the alert, and caught theball very smartly, and sent it out. Here a close scrimmage was followedby another shot on the part of Allan, but the ball went over the lines. After the kick-out, the Vale of Leven men made a fine run up on theQueen's Park goal, and M'Lachlan had a long shy that caused Gillespie tothrow away the ball in a hurry. The strangers played well together, andhad by far the best of it, and made the Q. P. Backs work about as theyhad never done before. Paton had another shy, and then the left outsideforward had one that came so close on the bar that Gillespie had againto chuck out in double quick time. After this, Gulliland had a fast rundown the field, and ended the run with a parting shot that went past onthe right post. Some even play then occurred, but the Leven forwardsmanoeuvred together better than those of the Queen's Park, and a finepiece of passing by Sharp, Osborne, and Bruce ended by the latter makinga shy that touched the tips of Gillespie's fingers and went through thegoal, close to the post. The point was so smartly made that it fairlytook away the breath from the Queen's Park friends, and caused the facesof the supporters of the country club to beam with delight, while thecheering for the then successful team was long and loud. The playersthen faced up in mid-field and renewed the battle, and not very longthereafter the Queen's Park gained their first corner-flag kick, but itwas a poor one for Sellar, and the ball was soon cleared away by theVale of Leven backs. The Queen's team, however, kept well in front oftheir opponents' goal, and another corner-flag kick was succeeded by anexciting scrimmage, and then a shy by Gulliland was cleverly clearedaway by Wilson. When half-time came, however, the Leven men wereswarming round the Q. P. Posts. The contest was then renewed in terribleearnest, and the Queen's Park, with one goal against them, had the windin their favour now. The Vale of Leven, however, had the kick-off, butthe ball was at once returned by M'Ara, and the Queen's Park foundthemselves right in front of the Leven goal, where one of the backsfouled the ball close on the right post. The shy was taken by Allan, and the ball hit the bar, but after an exciting scrimmage it was clearedby the Vale backs. The Queen's Park, however, were soon on it again, andthe next five minutes' play was nearly disastrous to the Leven team, asno fewer than five corner-flag kicks were given to the Queen's Park, inconsequence of kicking behind on the part of Leven men. The defence, however, was excellent, and by slow degrees the ball was worked clear, and M'Lachlan had a run down on the Glasgow club's goal, where thewhistle of the referee told the spectators that the dashing forward wasoff-side. He did not seem to hear the whistle a bit, but coolly went upto the Queen's Park posts and kicked the ball through without the leastopposition. The kick-out in front was followed by a fine run on the partof Gulliland and Berry, but Whitelaw managed to tackle the Q. P. Youngforward, and the ball was soon sent back. It did not go far, however, for the Q. P. Forwards kept it among them for a time. The Leven men hadnow a good run on the left by Sharp, and Stewart sent the ball behindhis own goal. Rankin took the corner-flag kick, but Arnott got on theleather in an instant, and sent it spinning up the field by one of hisfamous returns. From this point till the call of time the Queen's Parkwere fairly in it, and played, perhaps, as they had never done before. Defeat stared them in the face, and the game was fast drawing to aclose. Barely a quarter of an hour and the destiny of the cup would besettled. As on the previous Saturday, however, the Queen's men playedworthy of a great occasion, and won the trophy. Pressing their opponentsup on the goal, they kept them there for a time, and although the ballwas seen to go out and in among the shoal of busy feet a few yards fromthe posts, Wilson and the backs cleared brilliantly. At length, however, Allan had a corner-flag kick, which was managed so neatly that Hamiltongot the ball in a good position and headed it through. This gave newlife to the senior club and their supporters, and the cheering was againrenewed when a few minutes after the next kick-off the Queen's Parkdrove the Vale team before them, and again had hot work near Wilson. TheQueen's half-backs, who had hitherto not acted so well together in theearlier stages of the game, metaphorically speaking, "came out of theirshells, " and, along with the forwards, took an active part in the siege. Shots were aimed thick and fast at the goalkeeper, and at lengthStewart, with a shooter, sent the ball spinning through, making thesecond goal for the Queen's Park. The teams then faced up in the centre, and the tremendous cheering which greeted the scoring of the second goalhad scarcely died away when the Vale team made one last but brillianteffort to equalise, but they were driven on by Smellie and Arnott, andat length the whistle sounded, leaving the Queen's Park the winners of amatch in every way worthy of the final tie for the Challenge Cup by twogoals to one. Although the strain now and again was pretty heavy on theplayers when at close quarters, the contest all through was conducted inthe most friendly way, and showed a marked contrast to some final tiesplayed a few years ago. It may also be mentioned that the premier clubhave not held the trophy since 1885-86, when they defeated Renton bythree goals to one; but of the seventeen matches played in the final theQueen's Park have carried off no fewer than nine, while the Vale comenext with three. 

 * * * * *

_H. Nisbet & Co. , Printers, 25 Jamaica Street, Glasgow. _

 * * * * *

[Illustration:

Forsyth's "Acmé" Shirt. 

Glasgow

"The Acmé"]

THOMAS NAISMITH

(Formerly of Thomas Naismith & Co. )

Respectfully intimates that he has Opened those Central Premises, NO. 2 DUNLOP ST. 

With a Fresh Stock of

Glass, China, Earthenware, and Ornamental Goods. 

Direct from the Factories. 

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Established 50 Years. 

JOHN KINNAIRD. 

DYER, 94 Canning St. , 285 Garscube Road, 176 Main St. , Anderston, 71 PaisleyRoad, West, and 808 Govan Road, Govan. 

Works: Springfield Road. 

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 See Scott's Free Insurance

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The Conqueror's Football Boots. 

Spectators who value their health while attending Football Matches inall kinds of weather should get

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BEST, CHEAPEST, AND NEATEST. 

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_SCOTTISH SPORT_

Published every Tuesday and Friday--ONE PENNY. 

THE AUTHORITY in all matters Athletic--Football (Association and Rugby), Cricket, Running, Swimming, etc. , etc. 

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_THE SCOTTISH CYCLIST. _

Published every Wednesday--ONE PENNY. 

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The brightest, the spiciest, the neatest, the cleverest and mostoriginal of modern cycling publications. 

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BONNIE SCOTLAND

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THE LEADING HOUSE for GOLD and SILVER BADGES. 

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MR. DOW, having removed to more central premises, has much pleasure inagain thanking his numerous patrons in all parts of Scotland for thelarge measure of support accorded him during past seasons, and wouldagain call the attention of Committees and others to his large andchoice selection of Gold and Silver Badges, Medals, and Athletic Prizes. Committees are cordially invited to inspect his Stock and compare withany others before placing their orders. The style, finish, and generalexcellency of his designs are unsurpassed, and taking quality, etc. , into consideration, the prices will be found the cheapest in the Trade. 

New Designs always being added. 

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Estimates and Designs furnished for Silver and Electro-Plated ChallengeCups. 

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Club Secretaries or unattached riders respectfully requested to writefor samples, and compare prices. 

Forms of Self-Measurement Sent, or Clubs waited on by one of our representatives if an Order for threeor more Suits, fifty miles from Glasgow. 

NOTE. --Gentlemen should be very careful in ordering a Cycling or anyother suit to know that they are not made under the sweating System (wehave reason to believe many of them are), the dangers of which arewell-known. 

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