NORTH END REACHES THE FINAL
NORTH END—CREWE, 5:0 (5:0)
J. Ross, Goodall(3) and Russell — A football match played under completely precarious ground — Proud Preston confirms its favouritism.

In the Semi-Final of the 1887/88 FA Cup, the formidable Preston North End F.C. team met, in Liverpool, the Crewe Alexandra team, which, despite being a modest side, had had a good campaign in the National Cup. This match, however, was considered almost a gift for the North Enders. After all, there was too much disparity in power between the teams.

Still, the match was a focal point for the public; not because of a possible dispute itself, but due to the wonderful combinations, the exceptional and elegant style of play of the Preston North End team.


"GRUMBLER": It may be said without exaggeration that the eyes of all football England were focussed on Liverpool.


William Henry Jope was eventually selected to command the match on 18/02/1888, Sunday.

The North Enders entered the field with chocolate and blue shirts. Crewe — Two-Footed Rulers —, on the other hand, were wearing white shirts. Before the match even started, there was a protest by the Crewe Alexandra players, who claimed that the pitch was not in ideal conditions for a Cup tie. However, Preston North End players did not join in the protest. Consequently, the match started.


FA Cup, Semi-Final: 18/02/1888, Sunday, at 15:00.
Preston North End F.C. — Crewe Alexandra F.C. 5:0 (5:0)
Place: Goodison Park, Liverpool.
Referee: William Henry Jope (Wednesbury).
Umpires: R. J Smith and W. H. Stacey.
Estimated attendance: 10.000.

Preston North End F.C.: Mills-Roberts — Howarth, N. Ross(c) — Holmes, Russell, J. Graham — Gordon, J. Ross, J. Goodall, Dewhurst, Drummond.

Crewe Alexandra F.C.: Hickton — Conde, Bayman — Cope, Halfpenny, Bell — Paine, Pearson, Price, Ellis, Tinsley.

Goals: J. Ross(8min), J. Goodall(19min, 25min, 28min) and Russell(35min).


With the start of the match being signaled, Crewe Alexandra's vanguard acts, but is intercepted by Preston North End's defensive system.

The weaker team only managed to hold off Proud Preston for something close to ten minutes. Through a beautiful goal scored by Jimmy Ross, Preston opened the scoring in the semi-final. After the opening of the scoring, North End's game became calmer, more sovereign in front of its opponent.

In just a few minutes, centre-forward John Goodall scored a hat-trick for his team. The fifth goal was scored by Davie Russel, with a long shot.

In the second half of the match, the show's decline was noticeable. Preston North End no longer had the same desire that was inherent in the first 45 minutes. On the other hand, the Crewe Alexandra team reinforced the defensive system, placing the half-backs even further back than usual. They often seemed to play with a line of five full-backs. This strategy, in a way, helped to stop North End's offensive power, although it caused a nullification of performance on the part of Crewe's forward line.

This was a mere demonstration match for North End, as the opponent did not have much defense to repel the actions of the Proud Preston vanguard.

PRESTON NORTH END F.C.

Ocassionally the Prestonians gave an axhibition of their cleverness by completely outwitting an opponent who tried ot disposses them of the ball, but when the whistle sounded everyone seemed relieved. North End played a listless game in the second half, or they must have increased their score, which, however, as it stands, is conclusive evidence of their superiority. 

Mills-Roberts, the North End goalkeeper, only touched the ball once throughout the game, and it is not derogatory to Crewe, considering the calibre of their opponents, to say that they were simply outclassed from first to last. Nick Ross was precise with his actions. The forward line was unable to play its combinatorial style of play. After all, the ground conditions did not allow for the ascendancy of the short passing.

CREWE ALEXANDRA F.C.

For the defeated team the best individual forwards were Payne and Ellis, while Bell was the most promnent of the half-backs. Conde and Payman were capable full-backs, and Hickton kept goal well. However, they could not do much against the strong advances.