Friendly match: 30/01/1886, Saturday, 15:00. 
Nottingham Forest F.C. — Preston North End F.C. 1:4 (1:0)
Place: Gregory Ground, Nottingham.
Referee: W. H. Stacey (Sheffield).
Umpires: A. J. Bates and J. Nuttall.
Estimated attendance: 2.000.

Nottingham Forest F.C.: Beardsley — Caborn(c), Hancock — Ward, Billyeald, Norman — Carter, Danks, Tutin, Unwin, Jefferies.

Preston North End F.C.: Joy — Holmes, N. Ross(c) — Robertson, Russell, Graham — Gordon, J. Goodall, Thomson, J. Ross, Drummond.

Goals: Jeffrey(5min) — ?, Gordon(2), J. Goodall.


This match has, to say the least, one very interesting moment. North End's first goal is scored directly from a corner — an Olympic goal. It is not known for sure who took the corner, but there were a number of complaints about it. In the past, it was necessary for a player from the same team to touch the ball after the corner was taken, as a direct shot from the corner would not be valid.


MATCH REPORT: Drummond placed the leather beautifully, and it curled underneath the bar. The visitors claimed a goal, but the Forest objected, asserting that the ball had never thouched one of the players.


Although the source above mentions Geordie Drummond, others have given other names.

Nick Ross protested that the goal had been touched by someone from his team. However, what appears to be the case is that the ball went directly into the opponent's goal, without any deflection by another player. Consequently, it was classified, even though it was irregular, as an Olympic goal.

At half-time the score was a goal to none against the North End, who had been playing one of their careless games in the first half. However, in the second portion they pulled themselves together, and made matters pretty warm for the home custodian. Joy kept the goal for the first time since January, 1884, and acquitted himself very creditably. Holmes also did well at back, along with his capital partner, Ross. Russell was not seen to as great advantage as usual, but Graham and Robertson played a first-class game. Gordon, who had hardly recovered from his recent illness, was easily knocked off the ball, but for all that he scored three out of the four goals. Goodall was considered the best of the forwards, he and Gordon being the most effective.