GEORGE KER
— Bauldie | 29/08/1902 —

The frequency of this criticism on the forward play of modern teams has induced me to sketch the career of the greatest pot shot of Scottish Association football to date. George Ker (one "r" please, Mr. Lino Type) was the creator or inventor of what is euphoniously termed now-a-days the "daisy cutter" shot, the beauty of which consists in ripping off as with a lance the tips of the spiral-bladed turf and the lobs of the daisies with the ball as it skims like lightning into the net.

It is the greatest compliment I can pay the inventor, in spite of the fact that he did not take out letters-patent and reserve all rights to himself, to state that he has no one qual to the task of robbing him of the honour. I think It will benefit his successors at centre-forward, and in all positions in the front rank, if I tell them how George Ker discovered and improved the art of shooting. He was, then, first of all, naturally gifted, physically and by heredity, as to the first he was lithely and beautifully dramed, with a tapering waist set on rather lengtly lims, and endowed with a pair of broad, firm shoulders, surmounted with a rather leonine head that betokened great determination and pluck. As to the second, I am one who believes in hereditary ability, after what I have seen of the M'Neils, the Vallances, the Hunters, the Neills, the M'Phersons, the Lambies, the Berrys, and the Kers. The elder brother of the present sketch was a great left-back for Queen's Park in the early years of its history, and George, when he made his debut, at the early age of seventeen, followed in his steps.

It was as a back he acquired his marvellous kicking power, being able afterwards as forward instantly to impart to the ball before goal, on the run, as much force and far greater precision as any full back in his ordinary position. In addition to the qualities, and peculiarities, and advantages I have noted, there is one other I wish all forwards to study and practice. It is that of shooting from the instep, slightly bending the knee, and drawing back his boot to a half-slant. George Ker secured thus a full command of the ball, which went straight, strong, and low into the goal. Shots that "skim the bar," or "miss the posts by inches" were not in his line, for by adopting the method I have told you of the ball seldom, if ever, rose, and as seldom did it miss the desired haven between the posts.

Against, he was a great snap-shottist — i.e., he kept his eye on the goalkeeper far out. He was not one of your fancy dribblers or walk-it-through-the-goal forwards. The moment he cleared the half-backs (there were but two in his balcyon day) he let fly at goal, and that with such unerring aim that the goalkeepers were invariably taken off their guard; and as for the backs, why! they stood like "knotless threads," wondering how it was done.

In addition to his marvellous shooting power, George Ker was a master dribbler and placer. Gifted with that unreadable eye, which the close critic ofform saw working in a Goodall, M'Call, or in a M'Coll, the moment he cleared the road for himself he would pause a moment, take in the position and the field at a glance, and whip the ball to the best man placed to stilise it with the accuracy of a machine. It was his judgment in this line that made the Queen's combine of Ker, Anderson, Fraser, Richmond, and Kay one of the finest that has ever worn the black and white colours. Now that I have told you of his special features as a player, and how he acquired these, you will pardon me touching his personal career. In summers prime, then imagine a band of merry school boys after school hours disporting themselves on part of the present Queen's Park recreation ground. I shall name three of the cheery group, viz., George Ker, Eadie Fraser, and Ninian M'Whannell. This noble trio, with their playmates, formed a young football combine, and one of the conditions they made was that there was to be no charging. The youth who could dribble, dodge, command the ball, without resorting to force, he was to be acclaimed "King among them a'." The contest for this honour was, I may tell you as an eye-witness of the artistic contests, very keen and very close, and it was indeed hard to say which of the trio I have named was the superior. George Ker, however, was the bolder and most versatile, and in his honour the club was ultimately formed and baptised with the significant and complimentary title of the "Kerland."

This junior club was second to none in its day, but it ceased to exist when its founders — Ker, Fraser, and M'Whannell — joined the Queen's Park, and entered the Hampden arena, there to win their spurs as seniors. The Queen's at that time (1880) were just in need of young bloods, and the success of the team afterwards proved the value of the infusion. Thus in the three years — 1880, 1881, and 1882 — the Queen's held the Scottich Cup, and in the last of these seasons they also held the Glasgow Charity trophy, the team of that year being, in my opinion, the finest that has ever worn the colours of the club. In these brilliant years George Ker was a shining light, and round him there radiated quite a school, of which he was the master, whilst his elder brother William was Scotland's left back in the first International with England in 1872 at Queen's Park.

George Ker's debut in the 'Nationals was as a centre-forward, and he played in that position three years in succession — namely, 1880, 1881, and '82. All three matches were won by Scotland, the first by 5 goals to 4, and the second and third by 6 goals to 1. These two fat years are Scottish record results, and to them Ker with his "thunderbolts" comntributed largely. In 1881 and '82 he played v. Wales, and here again the goal totals for Scotland fell of the famed "daisy cutters" presence, for Scotland won the first by 5 to 1, and the second by 5 to 0. Let centre and all other forwards, then, their eyes rest upon the "nationals" in which the Queen's Parker took part. Against England, Scotland won 17 and lost 5, and against Wales, Scotland won 10 and lost 1. He did not play v. Ireland simply because that match was not instituted until 1884. That is a sunopsis of his short and phenomenal career, which was brought to a premature finish by an accident. It was this that led to his emigration to the States, where he joined his brother in Texas as a cattle rancher, and where he still is. I have said enough, I think, to induce all forwards to follow in George Ker's steps, and practice, so that they may acquire, if prossible, his wonderful powers as a shot. Although far away from the scene of his many triumphs, he still takes an enthusiastic interest in Scottish sports, and oft at eventide, as the setting sun illumines the limitless prairie, he, under the shadow of his sombrero, thinks of "Auld Langsyne" and of all who figured with him in the good old days.