1:1

Of the great clashes between the Hungarians and the English, having one of the best English teams on Hungarian soil was an exceptional attraction for the Hungarian calendar. Visitors, however much they were facing the pride of the Hungarian class, were treated like true celebrities and with the vast respect they deserved. Bolton Wanderers followed their tour of the continent. Before, they had faced Hakoah Wien in an acclaimed match won by the English by 2:1. Afterwards, they traveled directly to the beautiful city of Budapest, to face MTK, whose football is so refined; as flashy as Budapest class. There, they stayed at the Hungarian Hotel with all the perks.

Jimmy Hogan, the famous English coach, had just become MTK coach for the second time. Master Hogan was back, to the delight of the entire Hungarian school. MTK, on that occasion, had already been champions of Bajnokság I. 1924/25, so they started to focus on the clash against the English team.

On the side of the Bolton Wanderers team, there was a lot of confidence, in a way superb, regarding what the outcome of the match would be. As much as they didn't know the MTK team, the main figures of Bolton Wanderers believed that the match would be calm, easy for the English team. The idea was to show the former sovereignty of English football, through a spectacle applied against the Hungarians.

For example, Charles Foweraker, the general secretary of Bolton Wanderers, and Eccless, the team trainer, respectively commented before the match:


— We want to show our best. If our opponents do not rough it, I expect a very fine game and I think the crowd will be satisfied with the real English football we showed, We will win, but I cannot say a positive result in terms of numbers.

— I cannot predict a result. All I can say is that I expect a good game from our team and that we will win.


Some other players said that they would rest at half-time. Pym, for instance, commented that he was sure that Bolton would win. Seddon, the centre-half, said he was sorry that he would not be able to play against Orth. However, he was sure that they would win against MTK.

Shortly before the start of the game, Jimmy Hogan, translated by György Orth, makes a speech to his players. Hogan raises Hungarian spirits and says that if the English start with a tougher game, it was not for the Hungarians to follow that line, but to remain calm.

Bolton Wanderers took to the pitch at around 5pm to applause from the local crowd.


Friendly match: 10/05/1925, Sunday, 17:00.
MTK — Bolton Wanderers 1:1 (1:0)
Place: Hungária-út, Budapest, Hungary — László Nagy(Budapest)
Attedance: about 25.000.

MTK
Coach: Jimmy Hogan.
XI: Remete — Mandl, Kocsis, Kléber, Rebró, Nádler — Senkey II., Rakitovszky, Orth, Opata, Jeny.

Bolton Wanderers
Coach: Charles Foweraker & Eccles.
XI: Pym — Greenhalgh, Finney — Howarth, Nuttall, Jennings — Buttler, Jack, J. R. Smith, J. Smith, Vizard.

Goals: Orth(23min) — Jack(82min).

23rd minute: Orth shot the ball into the far corner from close range. Pym was helpless against it. 1:0.
82nd minute: Joe Smith passes the ball to David Jack, and the right inside forward scores the equaliser from close range. 1:1.


This match was expected to be more than what it really was. It was widely commented that it was expected more from English football, therefore the third place in 1924/25.

After the match, a journalist wrote:


Bolton Wanderers didn't show what we expected from the third place team in the English professional league, but this is partly due to the fact that we always expect something wonderful, something superhuman from English players. 

Seen in this light, Bolton were undoubtedly a disappointing team, for however great the fitness, technique, physical agility, speed and purposeful tactics of these eleven English boys, the way they gamboled after the break is the perfection of football science. Witnesses at the Vienna game said, "that with Orth's play we would have won in Vienna without fail."


Before the first goal scored by György Orth, there was an impressive dominance by the English. However, the masterful Hungarian goal made the pace and weight of the match change in favor of MTK. With a few minutes left to end the match, Bolton Wanderers tied the match, with many difficulties on the field.

As much as — physically speaking — the English team was far superior to the Hungarians, the technical and tactical knowledge was comparable to a good extent with the knowledge of almost all Hungarians; not with Orth's, for that matter. In front of goalkeeper Remete, Bolto Wanderers' forwards often overplayed their passes, therefore missing chances to add numbers to the scoreboard.

On the side of MTK, Rebró and, mainly, Orth were considered the best players. Rebró, in turn, was more energetic, with superior technical and tactical knowledge. The centre-half played an exceptional match against Bolton Wanderers' strong forward line. He, moreover, was one of the main reasons why MTK's forward line didn't lose so much performance with the withdrawal of Orth to the full-back line.

Before mentioning Orth's performance, Gyula Mándi was very good for MTK until his injury forced him off the field, therefore weakening both the defensive and offensive systems, as Orth became the full-back.

Left half-back Nádler played very accurately and was very useful offensively and defensively.

As a whole, MTK's forward line cannot be highlighted very well in the second half.

THE GLORY OF ORTH.

Orth has added yet another splendid chapter to the history of his brilliant football. If Bolton Wanderers were a big attraction in Budapest, Orth, once again, stole the shine and eradicated any comparison with the English. Without any exaggeration, Orth was considered the best player on the field. After all, through his scientific football, he led the team's offensive actions and performed impressively in place of Gyula Mándi.

It should be noted that after the match between MTK and Bolton Wanderers, the English announced that Orth's place in terms of the perfection of his playing abilities would be the best in English football.


COMMENTS

Richard Pym: I am surprised by the play of Orth, Mandl and Rebró. Orth is outstanding, first English class.

Charles Foweraker: The match ended according to the balance of power. However, we must take into account that this is our third strong match in a week. And we were up against our strongest opponent. MTK are very good. Orth is the first English class. Rebró and Mandl are very strong defenders. Remete is a lucky goalkeeper, but Molnár is a great player. I hope we can rest and show the real, good Bolton game.