A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST
— J. A. Brierley | 28/12/1901 —

In a talk with Mr. Tinsley Lindley, the famous amateur International centre-forward, who played against Scotland five years in succession, it was my fortune to pick up a few points which perchance may appeal to readers even as they did to myself. Perhaps I should preface them, however, with a brief reference to Mr. Lindley himself. The old school know him well, but the younger generation do not go back to the winter, say, 1887-8, when our skilful subject led the forces of England to a record victory over the Scots — 5-0 it was, and at Glasgow, too. So the older followers of the fame must pardon the remark that in his day Lindley was one of the country's greatest centre-forwards and a leading light for Cambridge, the Corinthians, Notts Forest, and for England. When you meet him nowadays there is nothing to suggest his former skill as a footballer unless it be the graceful elasticity of his step. He is tall, exceedingly thin, and does not suggest the sort of player to stand a great deal of pace and vigour. In his maturer days he leaves the sphere severely alone, and contents himself with soberer delights of cricket, punting, etc. The law is his profession, and you will find his chambers graced with "Vanity Fair" cartoons of ornaments of Bench and Bar; as a barrister he practises in London and on the Midland Circuit. A splendid man personally, he received shoals of congratulations when he took unto himself as wife the accomplished daughter of Mr. F. C. Burnand, the editor of "Punch." The lady had athletic tastes in keeping with her husband; and whatever be her qualifications in other pastimes she is certainly an expert tennis player, as personal observation proves.

Briefs are not the only occupants of the pigeonholes in Mr. Lindley's chambers; there are hidden treasures of football history, and if you can persuade the barrister to become the footballer again — in spirit — he may discover his secrets to you.

Lindley: Here is a book containing cuttings of matches in which I played something like twenty years since.

Turning over the leaves he showed me the record of a match played between Notts Forest and Stafford Road — once a famous club at Wolverhampton — in which the former finally adopted the present system of two backs, three halves, and five forwards. They were the first club in England, he claimed, to adopt this arrangement. Before then all sorts of combinations were seen such as the back, two three-quarters, two halves, five forwards. Or go back further to England's first international, and you will find the following curious arrangement: R. Barker; E. H. Greenhalgh, three-quarter back; R. C. Welch, half-back; F. C. Maddison, fly kick; C. J. Ottaway, A. S. Kirke-Smith, C. J. Chenery, and J. C. Clegg, middles; J. Brockbank, right side; W. J. Maynard and J. F. Morice, left side. The team in the match mentioned as the beginning of the present arrangement was — Sands, goal; Luntley and Hancock, backs; Barlow, Billyeald and Norman, half-backs; S. Danks, Fletcher, Lindley, Widdowson and Parr, forwards.

Lindley: Danks never quarrelled with anybody. He was deaf and dumb.

Mr. Lindley also had a direct share in the introduction of the new arrangement to Cambridge a few years later. His first season at the 'Varsity was '84-5, when the Canbbe like many others, were sticking to the two halves and six forwards. Having a strong opinion that six forwards only resulted in overlapping and hampering, he modesty suggested, though a young Fresher, that the Light Blues, of whom Cobbold, the great dribbler, was captain, should give the five a trial. This they did on February 7th, 1885, and a fortnight later they played the same arrangement in the inter-'Vasity game, beating by one to nothing Oxford, who had six forwards. The Dark Blues learnt the lesson, and that was the last occasion on which more than five forwards took part in the classic encounter, then played at the Oval, but in later years at Queen's Club.

Another claim which the famous amateur makes on behalf of his old Nottingham club — the "Reds" — is that they were pioneers in England in the passing game. 

Lindley: Queen's Park were ahead beyond the Border. The team that really revolutionised English football by their example was a picked Scottish team with Dr. Smith in the centre; that would be towards the close of the seventies.

Questioning Mr. Lindley about his contemporaries at Cambridge, he spoke with special pride of the 86' team which claimed no less than eight internationals, viz., A. M. Walters, R. T. Squire, A. Amos, F. E. Sanders, B. W. Spilsbury, T. M. Pike, W. N. Cobbold, and himself. These giants thrashed the Oxinians by five to nil, so that Lindley had a share in record victories both for his 'Varsity and his country. He played four years in succession for the Cantabs, and succeeded Spilsbury as captain. During these four seasons and subsequently he played a tremendous amount of football.

— Can you tell me the clubs you have played for?

Then he fired off those he could remember at the moment — Cambridge, Corinthians, Notts Forest, Crusaders, Casuals, London, Nottingham, Sheffield, Preston North End, Swifts, Notts County, and others. Mr. Lindley had some strange experiences. Though a Cantag, he once played for Oxford — they were a man short; both North and South have claimed his services; and at the Ley's School he tried the handling code. The match in which he appeared for North End was against Sunderland; he thought the Preston Club badly treated in some way, and readily acceded to Mr. Sudell's request to take a hand. By the by, I should have given the team which achieved the record victory over Scotland. There was W. R. Moon, of the Old Westminsters, in goal, P. M. ("afternoon") Walters and Bob Howarth, the Prestonian, at back; the halves were Holden White, of the Swifts, Harry Allen, the Wolf, and G. Howarth, Accrington's brilliant players; then in front were "Spry" Woodhall, the Bromwich fluer, Johnny Goodall, Lindley, and on the left Fred Dewhurst partnered bu burly Dennis Hodgetts. In that season England scored five goals in each match, and in the aggregate 15-2.

Let me pass to some appreciative remarks on the Corinthians. Naturally, the amateurs have a warm corner in Mr. Lindley's heart; next to them he has a high regard for old North End, and if truth be told Preston was the password to this present interview. He spoke enthusiastically of his visits to the proud town, yet in comparing the play of the Corinthians and North End, he expressed the opinion that the former set the true standard.

Lindley: I always bow to Preston as the cleverer side with the ball — they could make it talk — but the Corinthians made ground faster; in fact, they went up the field twice to anyone else once. Their forwards were scarcely known to pass back, except to a half, so well abreast of the play were they. Then again we always went on the principle that the man with the ball had the fastest speed. In this way: He might not be faster while actually running with the ball, but he had the pace of the ball, and as he tapped it to a partner to pass a player he was away at top speed; if possible the ball was always returned to him in preference to anyone else.

Proceeding in North End had a great advantage over the Corinthians in playing together so regularly. Preston's only drawback lay in not making ground sufficiently fast.

Lindley: For pure combination, for placing the ball one to another North End will never be equalled. Gordon and Ross made rings round nearly everybody. Forward play has changed since those times. Dribbling seems to a great extent a lost art. The Corinthians were expert dribblers — but dribblers who knew the precise point at which to pass — and this dual qualification, with the added virtue of unusual speed, was the secret of their forward success.

It was interesting to have the further opinion that while forwards are not so good as formerly, backs are equally capable. The former, Mr. Lindley thinks, would be more effective were they to shoot afterner.

Lindley: We always considered ourselves entitled to shoot at 20 or 25 yards, sometimes at 30. Pepper your opponents, and they become uncomfortable. As to charging, I remember being congratulated on knocking one player in three or four years. Perhaps that was going too far, but I never did any charging when the ball could be obtained as surely, or more so, by other means. Before leaving the question of forwards, let me say that the two Goslings — R. C. and W. S. — were the most perfect passers to a partner I have ever seen; their understanding, particularly with each other, was without flaw.

Canvassed for his views on training, the Corinthian did not think there was any occasion for half the preparation of which they heard so much nowadays.

There was a light side to the life of these Corinthians, and Mr. Lindley tells of an encounter they had with the famous Barbarians — in Rugby what the former were in Association. It was agreed that these distinguished organisations should meet in Association, Rugby, cricket, and athletics.

Lindley: First of all we played the Association match for the London Charities and won. In athletics we had the same events as at the 'Varsity sports — eleven in all. The balance of honours depended on the last race — a three-mile course between Ingram (Corinthians) and Elkins (Barbarians). However, we won, and, strange to say, we beat our opponents at their own game — Rugby. As consolation prize they defeated us at cricket. This led to a challenge in Preston. We used to stay at the Bull and Royal, but one night when some of us were at the Park Hotel, Mr. Suddell and others came in. Challenges were flying around; amongst other things we were to play North End at football, cricket, whist; there was to be a shooting match, and both bicycle and foot races. It was suggested that the bicycle event should come off first, but we were without any machines of our own; so the 100 yards was fixed up first. Nominations were to be made that night, the race to be run in the morning. To our surprise the Preston nomince was not a playing member of the club, but Holden White was a very fast man and beat this local champion easily enough, the latter, despite high pretensions, cutting an inglorious figure. It was the only one of the events decided. But we had some good times in Preston; there was a capital feeling. Davie Russell, somewhat of an artist, was a leading light of some little hostelry; when we went to Preston he would arrange a benefit, and we were obliged to support him, treating every clog-shod auditor who came in. I well remember taking the chair on one of these occasions, and being supported amongst others by B. W. Spilsbury, the Cambridge captain, and the brothers Walters. On another occasion we accepted an invitation to patronise a performance at the theatre. North End were also there seated opposite and occasionally leading cheers for us until P. M. Walters, ever ready for a lark, was persuaded to get up and harangue the house with profuse expressions of thanks. It was a pity this good feeling should ever have been interfered with, for as an old Corinthian I never think of my Preston visits with anything but the greatest pleasure.

I am tempted, in closing, to call a few points from an article written by Mr. Lindley himself, especially on the important question of how to kick the ball. Scientific in all his play, he is well worthy of attention and, iff possible, of imitation. The kick with the toe he only advocates when the ball is stationary, and when it is essential to drive the sphere far up the field. Prominence is given to the kick with the instep, and he remarks that in volleying this is the only certain and effective way, while for short, sharp kicks where the greatest precision is required, the instep or the side of the foot should be used. His advice to forwards to cultivate the art of passing on the volley is needed, for few excel in this direction, and, of course, here, too, the instep comes in. Regarding shooting he says:

Lindley: In the first place, direction and accuracy are required. Therefore, the instep must be used. Now it is advisable to keep the ball low, and in order to succeed in this the ball must not be kicked much below the centre, so that the knee should be over the ball when the kick is applied — in reality, the kick is from the knee, and even from there a certain amount of force can be applied. This force will be increased by that which is derived from the swing form the thigh, which again is added to by the pace of the player as he is running. To practice this, take a ball, and stand close to it, with the knee over the ball, and thigh rigid, then kick with the instep, as explained; next add the swing from the thigh, and last of all do the same, but run up to the ball.

I remember that years ago Mr. Lindley, when spoken to about the force of his shooting, laid stress on that same swing from the thigh. Such opinions coming from a famous player, whom Dennis Hodgetts classes with John Goodall as the finest centre forward he has ever known, are certainly worthy of note.