A GREAT INTERNATIONAL AND A FAMOUS CUP FINAL
— John Goodall | 21/09/1907 —

In common with other mortals who have managed to get within the beams of the public searchlight, I have frequently been assailed by the gentleman with the bland smile and big notebook who "wants a few particulars of your career for publication in the so and so." On more than one occasion this interviewing business has been carried on surreptitiously. People have, apparently unconcernedly and casually, questioned me, and the questions and my replies have duly appeared as an "interview" with the usual "padding" — to my surprise, of course. This game of the artful interviewer is not a famous one, however. What I wish to say is that in reply to all these interviewers who have put the question as to what game or games i particularly remember, I have invariably imprinted on my mind took place at Kennington Oval on Saturday, March 24th, 1888, between Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion, and was the final tie for the English Cup.

In the previous Saturday I had taken part in the now historical International match at Hampden Park, Glasgow, which resulted in Scotland being soundly trounced by five clear goals. To play in the premeir International and the final for the national trophy within eight days was something of an ordeal, but such was the honourable lot that fell to three of the Preston North-enders, namely, Dewhurst, Howarth, and myself. The Preston North End team were in training for the apporaching final when the trio named left them for Glasgow, and for the purposes of this article, perhaps, it will be as well to include both the games. As regards the Anglo-Scottish International them. The teams were:—

Scotland: Linday (Dumbarton); Arnott (Queen's Park), D. Gow (Glasgow Rangers), captain; Keir (Dumbarton), Kelly (Renton), Kelso (Renton); Hamilton (Glasgow Rangers), Berry (Queen's Park), McColl (Dumbarton), Sellars (Queen's Park), Lambie (Queen's Park).

England: Moon (Old Westminsters); R. Howarth (Preston N.E.), P. M. Walters (Old Carthusian); G. Howarth (Accrington), Allen (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Holden-White (Old Carthusians); Woodhall (West Bromwich Albion), J. Goodall (Preston N.E.), Tinsley Lindley (Old Carthusians), Dewhurst (Preston N.E.), Hodgetts (Villa).

The only member of the original selected English team who failed to put in an appearance at Glasgow on the momentous play was Forrest, of Blackburn Rovers, whose place was taken by Holden-White (Old Carthusians).

There was the usual intense excitement notice able on every side. The hotel was besieged with the interviewing fraternity, and whole pages of the papers were devoted to the careers of players. It always seemed to me that the very zenith of football excitement was reached in Scotland in connection with these International games. The people regard defeat of their countrymen as Something akin to national disgrace and disaster. On this particular occasion the Scotsmen were fairly confident of victory. A small army of men worked from early morn clearing away snow from the pitch, which was extremely hard and dangerous. The wind, however, was practically nil.

Scotland lost the toss and following the kick-off were immediately driven back. Early on, I found myself with the ball and a clear course for goal. This was the first of my seven games against Scotland, and I suppose I temporarily lost my head; anyhow, I most certainly lost the sphere and a glorious opportunity of chalking up that most important first point. However, the utmost confidence very rapidly permeated every man on the English side. They found themselves playing together with a smoothness, and machine-like regularity that could not very well be surpassed. A few weeks previously the North End team had won the hearts of every person of a big crowd at the Oval when against the Corinthians they played such football as I am afraid is unknown to-day. But the North Enders were used to each other's play, whereas here were eleven men, nearly all strangers, so far as combination one with the other was concerned, and yet working together simply beautifully and withal a grim determination not often seen. Following a miraculous save, Lindsay, the Scotch goalie, received such a butt in the stomach as quite convinced him of the nature of the material against him. Arnott played well, but had not the support in front that was necessary. The English combination would have upset any defence, although I say it who shouldn't. Thirty minutes elapsed, when, from a well placed corner for England, the ball went through off Arnott. The silence that ensued could be felt!

To be brief, Dewhurst scored No. 2 within a few minutes of the first goal and followed it with another, whilst of the many centres which were constantly circling towards goal from the brilliant wingers, I presently converted one into the fourth goal. The Scots played somewhat better in the opening stages of the second half, but after Dewhurst had scored again, they deteriorated, whilst the Englishmen raced around and left many of the Thistles mere spectators. Thousands had left the field ere the close of the game, which indeed was a consummate triumph for the marvellously well-balanced and fast team representing the Rose. No further space can here be spared for the "Scottish debacle," so let us proceed to pass in review the game at the Kennington Oval on the following Saturday. Preston and the Throstles were old antagonists. In the previous spring the Albion met Preston in the semi-final at Nottingham and the Midlanders won 3-1, succumbing to the Villa in the final.

Up to the date of the final under notice the season's Cup records of the teams read as follows:- Preston had met and defeated Hyde 26—0, Everton 6—0, Halliwell 4—0, Wanderers 9—1, Aston Villa 3—1, Sheffield Wednesday 3—1, and Crewe Alexandra 5—0. Albion: Wednesday Old Athletic 7—1, Mitchell's St. George 1—0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2—0, Stoke 4—1, Old Carthusians 4—2, and Derby Junction 3—0. The teams were:—

Preston North End: R. H. Mille-Roberts; R. H. Howarth and N. J. Ross; R. Holmes, D. Russell, and J. Graham; J. Gordon, James Ross, J. Goodall, F. Dewhurst, and G. Drummond.

West Bromwich Albion: R. Roberts; A. Aldridge and H. Green; E. Horton, C. Perry, and G. Timmins; G. Woodhall, W. Bassett, J. M. Baylies, T. Pearson, and J. J. Wilson.

Umpires: M. P. Betts (Old Harrovians) and J. C. Clegg (Sheffield). Referee: Major Marindin, R.E., C.M.G. (president F.A.).

The Preston team and officials travelled to London on the Friday afternoon — after a fortnight's sojourn at Southport — and quartered at Euston Hotel. A concert at Cannon-st. Hotel was attended in the evening, an early return being made to the hotel. Breakfast was taken fairly early next morning, after which we were driven to witness the boat-race, returning to the hotel for lunch and subsequently proceeding to the Oval.

The Albion, who had trained at home, came up on the eventful morning, reaching Euston, with crowds of supporters, at 12-40, our goalkeeper, Mills-Roberts, as it happened, travelling by the same train. They also lunched at the North-Western Hotel, and duly appeared on the vast arena at Kennington a few moments after the North Enders. The weather was mild, and little wind prevailed.

Before a crowd of about 20,000 (a big football gathering in those days) the Albion soon gave us a taste of their quality, Mills-Roberts early on making a grand save from Wilson. Then North End awoke and forced corner after corner, and I see from the papers at hand that I again and again tested Roberts' skill in goal. Little more than a quarter of an hour had passed when Bassett flew down the field in characteristic style, and patting across to Bayliss, the centre shot a grand goal for Albion. From now to the interval the Bromwich men kept strictly on the defensive. Indeed, they had no option. The struggle was very warm indeed, and the Lancashire team gave no rope. Nothing but sheer bad luck — an elastic term, but true in this case — found West Bromwich with a goal lead at the end of one of the most gruelling "first halfs" I ever knew. The Albion goalkeeper received a big ovation on crossing over, and well he deserved it, his "keeping" having been wonderful A few minutes from the restart Dewhurst equalised with one of his "unstoppables," and the excitement became intense. A few minutes' pressure by North End and Albion alternately, and James Ross, jun., hit the upright when Roberts was a beaten man.

Then I remember nothing but a succession of hot-pots at goal, and further miraculous stops by Roberts, until a few minutes before the close the Albion left wing receded rapidly from my point of view, and Bayliss again dashed the ball against the post, and past our goaler. The Albion repeated their previous tactics when possessed of the lead, and promptly fell back, to defend. And they defied also Preston's hot attack until the end, running out winners of a most sensational "final," by two goals to one. I shall never forget the feeling that overcame me when I heard the final prolonged whistle and mechanically joined my comrades in the dressing rooms. One of the pleasing features connected with the Throstles on the occasion of this victory was that the whole eleven were "locals."

But at this point I absolutely part company with the one or two Press opinions of the game that lie before me. Says one: "The Albion deserved to win, though they had great luck." But there, 'twere useless to revive old disputes. The object here is to revive old memories amongst the old school and give the "youngsters" a few thoughts and records that shall spur them to emulate and even improve upon, the stirring scenes of the football struggles under notice. To urge them to deeds that will bear retailing and detailing, like these, 15 years and more distant. To revert to the game, however, I must say that in my opinion no score ever more grossly misrepresented the run of the play, and that 2—1 "sticks" to this minute. Granted the Albion, with their "defence and not defiance, once we get the lead," showed strategy, and that they did the all-important trick of scoring twice to our once, yet I repeat, the result to me was a revelation, crueller than I could have thought possible, that the favourable final goal score is not always against the name of the club whose members have displayed the greater skill or monopolised the attack and general run of play.

Without question this final tie is to me the most memorable of any game I have played in or witnessed.