PARKHEAD'S PARADISE
— Bauldie | 09/04/1900 —

Whilst on Frisay last I had a somewhat sad task reading the lessons of Crystal Palace, today I feel so glad that there is no task at all in writing with a pen that flows like a fountain. I have witnessed many 'Nationals from 1872 up, but I take leave to say that I never saw a grander, or shared in a greater, show of joy than that of the Rosebery International of 1900. I have seen as fine a dressed team as that of Saturday because I saw that of 1881, which wore them, and which did even more honour to the primrose and pink hoops than that of Saturday. As it may interest many readers if I give side by side the two teams of 1881 and 1900, I do so here:—

1881 (result — Scotland, 6; England, 1) — G. Gillespie, T. Vallance, A. Watson, C. Campbell, D. Davidson, H. M'Neil, W. M'Guire, Geo. Kerr, J. Lindsay, Dr. Smith, D. Hill. Four centre-forwards in this team.

1900 (result — Scotland 4; England, 1) — Rennie, N. Smith, Drummond, Gibson, Raisbeck, Robertson (captain), Bell, Walker, M'Coll, Campbell, A. Smith.

Viewing the beauteous display of this year's Scottish eleven, and considering the success that attended their grand work, one is apt to become positively ecstatic, and throw praise about as indiscriminately as the crowd of Saturday threw bonnets, hats, and sticks. I shall endeavour in my criticism to be judicious in my compliments, lest the heads of the happy Scots, already on the turn, be fairly turned. I begin with this all-round compliment, that no past Scottish team worked with such will, purpose, or harmony. That no past team has excelled this year's in all-round excellence, not a faiure and hardly a flaw being seen in the eleven from goal to centre-forward. I regret that I cannot say the same of England's team, who were sadly lacking in these sterling qualities that make our team of the year immortalised in the history of these Grand Nationals.

It was in a way pity that England was so weak, for the merit of our glorious victory would have been greater if she had been stronger. It was more our strength than her inherent weakness, however, that reduced the hitherto "predominant" partner to a second and third rate power, and be little her in the eyes of the nations. But for Robinson and his magnificent salvation of his country, there would have been a "shuddering of humanity" by the record score Sootland must have put on. I have seen goalkeepers from Savage of 1876 to Rennie of 1900, but I am bound to say I never witnessed a more finished display of keeping than that given by the old Derby County man. Robinson deserves well of his country, and was due at the finish that warm shake of Lord Rosebery's in the pavilion. Robinson redeemed the Saxons from absolute mediocrity. Only two others aided him in this herculean task, and these were Messrs Needham and Wilson. The Sheffield Blade. however, has lost much of his keen cutting power, yet in judgment he is still par excellence. Wilson worked with a will, and to some purpose, and that is more than can be said of his partners.

Taking the teams in parts, there was no comparison between them at half-back and forward, and at back, whilst Scotland had it still, Crabtree and Oakley were good, and Robinson so brilliant as to outshine Rennie and every other man afield in the second half.

It was most unfortunate that Oakley should have been injured by Robinson's head, the two coming in contact, with the result that the Oxonian had a slight concussion of the brain, and was for a time unconscious. He was not himself afterwards, and he had many sympa thisers. More unfortunate for England than Oakley's accident was the sensational, and to the 60,000 Scots present M'Coll's delightful, opening goal. 

I have never seen an International team gallop off so confidently or so ably, and seldom have I seen one so fastly rewarded. They went away as freely as Ladas did, when he won the Derby for the noble patron of Saturday's match. I am a little afraid to deal with M'Coll, least I use up all the adjectives applicable to his masterly exhibition. In previous Internationals he has been nervous and failed to do himself justice. On Saturday he was a mater in all he did, his passing, his posing (not too much of this, happily), and his shooting, all made him a model centre, and raised him to-day to a pinnacle of fame higher far than that achieved by any past Scottish centre. His three goals in such a match is, I think, a record, yet possibly William M'Kinnon, of Queen's Park, may have equalled it from 1872 to 1879. If so I shall be glad to hear of the fact. M'Coll's combination with A. Smith was grand, the Ranger being, as a worker, unbeaten on the field, and only paling before M'Coll, because his shooting was not so successful. The Ranger should have scored more than once, and had not Robinson been the man he was, Smith would have beaten him. Campbell and Walker were both slightly under form in the first half, but in the second they came away grandly, the one working to M'Coll and Smith splendidly, and the other ringing the Bell repeatedly, and keeping on the swing. And what a swing was that of the old Son of the Rock? Ask Needham and Oakley what they think of him. Who says now Bell is done? Who says now he should not have been in the team? His shooting at goal was a little faulty, but look at the pass he gave to M'Coll in his second goal! John Bell, your health, sir! I claim a share in the honour both of his and Drummond's display, for I stood both for their English cans two months ago.

I ventured the opinion on Friday that Scotland would win or lose on her half-back line, and whilst that, in view of our forward work, is hardly correct, still Gibson, Raisbeck, and Robertson had a big, big share in this most famous victory. I give Captain Robertson the palm, as being the finest half on the field. Gibson was also class; of Raisbeck I expeted more, yet he was by no means disappointing, and I do not wonder at Liverpool's secretary, Tom Watson, being now engaged shadowing the lad with the lintwhite locks. Can we not keep Raisbeck at home? Try, somebody! We are now as strong and speedy at half-back as England was when Holt, Needham, and Crabtree were afield. Long may we retain our power here, and our men show such capacity for work. The passing of our half-backs on to M'Coll was perfection, and to this fact Mr. Chadwick had many a goose chase after our centre. M'Coll was understood and played to as he never has been in these matches, and his play is largely due to this fact. At back Smith and Drummond were strong, very strong, as Athersmith and Bloomer and all know too well. But for a little slip of Smith's, when he let in Bloomer to score, there was no fault in the two clubmen's play, and I hope they will live to fight together many another such a day. Rennie was a distinct success. Two saves of his — one when he heaped out and tipped the ball away over the heads of a bevy of Englishmen near his goal, and another in which he caught one right under the goal bar, disclosed the Greenockian to be cool, clever, and capable, and one of the best home club keepers we have had since Macaulay or Gillespie. In tendering my heartiest congratulations to the victorious team, I trust they will trasure of heirlooms the colours they wore, so that generations yet unborn may do obeisance to the popular primrose and pink. 

Finally the lesson most of all to be derived from Parkhead are the improvements in our men and in our methods as seen in the play. Let us not, however, consider ourselves perfect by no means, but, nerved and encouraged by this triumph, continue to practise, so that England, humiliated now, may always be so, and Scotland, as she is now, be cocks o' the walk and champions of Britain. Gentlemen and players, your health; like my Lord Rosebery, you are all jolly good fellows.