SCOTLAND v. ENGLAND
HAMPDEN PARK, APRIL 5, 1890.
— "Bauldie" | 02/06/1902 —

I have selected this famous match because it bears a remarkable similarity to that of the ever-memorable and disastrous one played at Ibrox exactly the same date twelve years ago. Fortunately, although the crowd broke into the playing arena as at Ibrox, the invasion was not attended with any injury to the invaders. The touch lines consisted of a solid phalanx of spectators, and the spectacle of the police making lanes through the serried lines at the taking of corner kicks was not, from a football point of view, an inspiring one. Then, too, it was no treat to see darling Willie Groves threading his way through the crowd as best he could, playing at "jinkers" with the stalwart Walters, who on occasion gave the spectators the benefit of their powerful "nudges," which rather roused their ire. This was the last 'National in which Les Freres Walters played, and I fancy Scottish forwards are not sorry at the fact. The two were the most powerful backs that have ever sported the colours of the Rose, their off-side tactics repeatedly thwarting the eager Scottish forwards of the goals they were desirous of securing for their country. With the stalwart Moon behind them, they made up a hill of difficulty which our forwards found almost unsurmountable. The English half-backs in this '90 'National were also a strong trio — G. Howarth, of Accrington (the first professional, by the way, who played for England in 1888 on the same field, when England won by 5 goals to 0); H. Allan, of Wolverhampton; and A. Shelton, of Notts, made up a very forceful line, which, had it secured greater freedom to play, would have dealt more effectively with one of the most experimental Scottish forward lines our country has so far played. Thus we had James M'Coll, of Renton, playing outside left, whereas he was an inside; John M'Pherson, then of Cowlairs, inside left; W. Johnstone, of Third Lanark, centre, whereas he was an inside left; W. Berry, inside right; and W. Groves, outside right, whereas he was a centre. During the game M'Coll exchanged places with M'Pherson, but the change brought in its train little success, the crack Rentonian being one of those players whose International form was far beneath his club. I am no be- liever in experiments, for they seldom if ever come off, and they did not by any means do so in 1890. As in 1892 at Ibrox, so in this match at Hampden, Robert Smellie, owing to illness, could not take his place, and the cap went to Michael M'Keown, who gave as pretty and as powerful an exhibition of punting as it has been my lot to witness in any match. Arnott and he made a splendid pair, their kicking being grand. 

This 1890 match was, curious to say, Tom Robertson's one and only English cap, his partner at half being James Kelly and James M'Laren, the last-named being captain of the Scottish team. The Scottish team was far slower and less combined than the English, and had Bassett, Curry, Lindley, Wood, and Daft been less impeded by the crowd, I fear the result would not have been a draw of one goal each. Daft, a forward of Dennis Hodgett's, W. N. Cobbold, and Cox, of Liverpool, build, made a way for himself through the living touch lines, and made the Scots stirabout as he ploughed his way through them. Wood it was who got England's one and only goal after twenty-five minutes' play, and it was not till well on in the first half that Johnstone Equalised with an overhead kick, something like that with which W. M'Kinnon, of Queen's Park, beat A. H. Savage, of Crystal Palace, the English keeper in the 1876 match, played at Hamilton Crescent, Partick. Although both teams put forth their utmost efforts to secure the winning goal, neither succeeded, although Bassett for England and Groves for Scotland almost had one each. As at Ibrox recently, I think, considering the conditions, the result — a draw of one each — was a very satisfactory one, although I endorse what captain A. M. Walters said at the dinner (the teams and officials dined then, be it noted) after the match that the Scots were due to win. As at Ibrox the poor pressmen had a hard time of it, their table in the field being smashed to match-wood, and their copy strewn to the winds. Reporting was a prime difficulty, and nobody was moro pleased when time was called than the knights of the ponoil. 

I finish by giving the 1890 teams:—

Scotland: J. Wilson (Vale of Leven) goal; W. Arnott (Queen's Park) and M. M'Keown (Celtic), backs; T. Robertson (Queen's Park), J. Kelly (Celtic), and J. M'Laren (Celtio), half-backs; W. Groves (Celtic), W. Berry (Queen's Park), W. Johnston (Third Lanark, J. M'Pherson (Cowlairs), and J. M'Coll (Renton), forwards.

England: W. R. Moon (Old Westminsters), goal; A. M. Walters (Old Carthusians) and P. M. Walters (Old Carthusians), backs; G. Howarth (Accrington), H. Allen (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and A. Shelton (Notts County), half-backs: W. J. Bassett (West Bromwich Albion), E. S. Currey (Old Carthusians), T. Lindley (Swifts), H. Wood (Wolverhampton Wanderers), and H. B. Daft (Notts County), forwards.

Referee: Mr Taylor. Wales F.A.