IV. BACK AND HALF-BACK PLAY
— Ernest Needham | 05/10/1899 —

The selection of players for the full-back position indicates a variety of opinions as to the qualifications needed at this very responsible point in the field. We see both the heavy and the light types, but my verdict is in favour of the heavy man, so much so that I would say the heavier the better, if only the man be nimble. The full-backs are the mainstay of the defence, and need a little extra weight to successfully repel a combined forward attack, especially at the present time, for there are many forwards playing who take a great deal of stopping. If these meet a lightweight defence they are certain to score goals.

As a player the back must in the first place get accustomed to the style of his partner, and to that of the half-back in front of him, for these are the ones he will have to watch and help in the course of the game. He must know instinctively what each will do in every possible circumstance, and be ready to support and relieve in- stantly. For instance, each back should cover his goal whenever the other tackles advancing opponents. Again, he must keenly watch his half-back especially when the latter challenges the rival outside for- ward. Then his play should be to look for the pass to the inside, and be ready to stop such passes, and hand over the ball to his own forwards. Thus the full-back player is called on to use sharp judgment.

At times, and I would emphasise this, combination between the back and half-back pays well. When the rear man can give the ball to his half in a good position to take it up the field, he should pass it by all means, and not clear with a great kick. Such passing play will be far more successful than the usual style. Too many backs, whenever an opportunity occurs, deliver a huge kick, thinking it quite a feat, and forgetting that nine times out of ten the ball will go over his forwards' heads to the opposing full-back, who will have no difficulty in returning it. The chief aims of the player in this position must be first to clear, and second to feed his own side, thus giving his forwards a chance to get away. Of course, when a back is hard pressed, and in difficulties, a strong, clean kick is useful in clearing his goal line.

As the ball does not always happen to come along the ground the player must be ever ready to use his head in stopping a dropping shot, and getting the ball away from dangerous proximity to the net. Some of the best full-back players in the country are the men who can use either foot or head against the ball, as need be. None are more brilliant in this respect than Crabtree, Williams, Oakley, and Thickett. I cannot do better than point aspirants to them, for their display merits study and imitation.

WORTHY OF IMITATION.

Crabtree is called the "Utility Man" of the Villa team. He has played in almost every position in the field with excellence, but I should say he shines most when playing back, whether on the right or left. His speed, judgment, and tackling are superb. On his form last season he was quite the best back in England.

Although a little out of colour when the. International matches of last season were being played, W. J. Oakley, of the Corinthians, is usually one of the best of backs. As swift as the fastest forward, tall enough to receive high balls, he shows cool and correct decision, always trying to feed his forwards. He uses the passing game I have recommended with striking success.

Mr. C. B. Fry, who has played on many occasions for the Corinthians as partner to Oakley, plays a fine dashing game, his speed being of great service to him.

A player of quite a different style to Oakley is H. Thickett, of Sheffield United. He has more dash and energy than any back I have ever had the pleasure of seeing, and he is one of the speediest. He always is a pillar of strength to his side, while some of the games he has played have been marvellous performances. Perhaps not one of the safest of kicks, he, however, soon recovers after a mistake, and no one shows to better advantage when in a difficult corner.

The Throstles have a great player in Williams: great in weight — about 14 1/2 stones — and great in kick — strong and clean. As a tackler he is unequalled, for, like Thickett, he knows not fear. His great points are in a measure his weak ones: he is too heavy to be very fast,and sometimes his magnificent clearing kicks are overdone, but it is there alone that we can question him, for otherwise he always does the right thing at the right time. Bob Holmes, of Preston North End, has always received admiration, and like everyone else I shall regret when his long service comes to an end. Fourteen or fifteen years on the grass, some of them during Preston's palmiest days, have given him fine experience and ripe judgment. I always enjoy his gentlemanly and stylish game.

Howard Spencer, of the Villa, a gentlemanly player in all respects, and a fine player too, did very little last year owing to an injury the season before. His quiet and stylish way of tackling an opponent always found him plenty of friends; he was a safe back at all times and could always be depended upon. Evans, who partners Spencer when Crabtree goes into the middle division, is also one to be relied upon. He is powerful in his kick and a splendid tackler; he lacks a little experience.

There are other good backs now playing who always show how the rear line of defence ought to be filled, but space forbids more than a mention of even such fine players as Earp and Langley of Sheffield Wednesday, Staley of Derby County, Bach of Sunderland, Blackett of Wolverhampton, and Eccles of Stoke, all fine players when in form.

THE HALF-BACK.

Personally, I believe the half-back position is the hardest in the field. Let it not be thought that I seek to magnify my office in saying this, for though I now usually play on the three-man-line, yet I have occupied every position in the field, and I can say confidently that if a player will do his duty as a half-back he has the hardest task before him. To be a success the half-back must be sound and strong, as he will be on the go from start to finish of a game. He must be prepared to defend and attack, as both duties will fall to his share. When his side is being pressed he must fight like a "back," and when his forwards are advancing he must feed and help them. Often he will have as much chance of scoring as a forward, and then he must seize the opportunity. In one of the League matches of the United, a few seasons since, each of our half-backs scored, and we won by three goals to none. In another I especially remember we were a goal behind, when a half, whose name modesty forbids me to mention, scored twice and won the match. But do not infer from this that a half-back should always be shooting at goal; on the contrary, it is rather his duty to give the opportunities to his forwards, who are the proper men to get goals. When you see a man who always tries to feed his forwards along the ground, and does not kick wildly at the ball, you may depend upon it he is in the right way to play the half-back game, and will certainly be successful.

One thing a wing half-back should never do is to leave his position and cross over to the other wing. Should he do so the ball would almost inevitably be sent to the side he has left, and the full-back would be at a disadvantage, having two men probably to tackle, whereas he should not have had more than one had the halfway player remained in his own position. Always let the centre half-back do the roving. Some of our finest half-backs are small men, and a man who stands a fair height has a better chance of getting the ball than a little man. With a height of five feet eight inches, and a weight of about twelve stone, you have the man most suitable for his work. A few comments on the style of some famous halves will bring out the qualities of mind and body needed here, and serve as a guide to rising players.

SOME LEADING "HALVES."

Frank Forman, of Notts Forest (5ft. 10in., 12 1/2 stone) is equally good at centre or right wing, his usual position. He uses splendid judgment in feeding his forwards, he is almost impassable, and fairly speedy. He showed well for England against Scotland in last season's International. Crawshaw, centre half for Sheffield Wednesday, is similarly built to Forman. I consider him about the finest centre half and one of the swiftest men playing football. The form of the club last season was not the form of this player, and he will be of the greatest service in helping to get the Wednesday team into the First Division of the League again. He uses his head with better effect than most players, and in this his height is an advantage. He practices the "feeding" play I have commended, is magnificent when meeting an opponent, and a clever long distance shot along the ground, and has scored goals innumerable. There are some very clever players on the small side, but none finer than Holt, formerly of Everton, who, like Goodall and Holmes, has seen his best days. Five seasons ago he was a terror to all centre-forwards, and considering his height, 5ft. 5in., it was marvellous how he got the ball with his head from amongst tall and short alike.

T. Morren, Sheffield United, is a second Holt for build and weight, and plays a similar game. It was a pity that an injury kept him out of the last English team against Scotland, but he pluckily played a splendid game in the following week against Derby in the English Cup final. Though not so fast as Crawshaw he is equally clever in stopping the attack of forwards, and what he may lack in feeding his own men is made up for by his grand and safe defence. 

Rab Howell, of Liverpool, a gipsy by birth, perhaps owes some of his inexhaustible vitality to his lucky parentage. Certain it is that no man is more untiring. In his right hand position this light weight player (9st. 12lbs.) always excels. He rejoices at meeting the best of forward wings, and should the outside man indulge in dribbling he sticks to him like a leech. Many duels have I seen between him and Spiksley, and generally Howell has come off best. Unfortunately he is a little too fond of keeping the ball too long, and loses many opportunities.

One of the most hardworking players I ever saw was that esteemed half, Mr. C. Wreford-Brown, who won the highest football honour (his International cap) and then gave up the proud position.