A FAMOUS CUP-TIE
— John Goodall | 14/09/1907 —

Having been requested to put on to paper a few reminiscences of games in which I have had the honour and pleasure of participating, I now set out on what is to me a huge task. Needless to say, it would have been hopeless to have endeavoured to attain the requisite accuracy and detail entirely from memory. At the same time numerous incidents of games that have gone to make football history remain very vividly impressed on my mind. I can also recall with peculiar clearness, after the manner in which one remembers little incidents and scenes of childhood, many minor details and by affairs of the period within which these games took place. Still, I repeat, it would have been impossible for me to recall events with the clearness necessary for these articles, had I not received assistance in the form of newspapers containing descriptive accounts and comments. In this connection, therefore, I must first of all express my deep indebtedness to Messrs. Tillotson and Son, of Bolton, for their exceptional kindness in placing at my disposal letter and data, as contained in the files of their well-known publication, "The Football Field."

I have, on several occasions, been requested by friends to give them permission to scan some of the old newspapers dealing with the time of my connection with Preston North End or Derby County, these friends taking it for granted that I had preserved them. Well, 'tis an old axiom that the carpenter's house can be told by the broken gate; so with myself, I have failed to retain those things which would now be my tools — so far as humble attempts at journalism go. As a matter of fact, I have retained a good many Press cuttings and reports, but they are too disjointed to help me in the task. This much in explanation, but before proceeding further, I would crave the indulgence of my readers for any little errors that may possibly have crept into these articles. Every care has been taken to avoid discrepancies, but minor details may be just out of line here and there, and having regard to the keenness and wonderful memory of the average football enthusiast. I have penned these last few words as a kind of advance guard. I would also say that the mentioning of players' names is unavoidable, and I trust the gentlemen in question will exeuse the liberty I take in bringing them on the stage. I also trust my remarks anent them will be taken in the right spirit. With this somewhat lengthy introduc tion, I will proceed to set down, in my own style — which I fear is very much that of the novice — recollections the relating of which I venture to hope will be interesting and perchance instructive.

I very well remember the Monday evening in December, 1887, when as the result of the draw for the Fifth Round of the English Cup there came the news to Preston that Aston Villa — the then holders of the national trophy — had been drawn against Preston North End, the game to be played at Perry Barr. When it is remembered that the Villa were holders of the cup at that time, having beaten West Bromwich Albion 2-0 in the 1887 final, and the record of Preston to date is taken into consideration, the excitement engendered in the Proud Town will be understood. Seldom if ever have I seen the football fever at such a temperature, and it is but seldom given to the latter-day enthusiast to witness or participate in an atmosphere surcharged as was that of Preston on this particular night. Doubtless the same state of things existed in Birmingham. In fact, a "Brum" gentleman wrote to the editor of the "Football Field": "I have seen the greatest interest aroused in many a tough fight of old, but nothing in the past approaches the excitement raised by the thoughts of this tie. Old men, business men, men of all classes, many, yes, a great majority who have never seen a football match, are speaking of it with the same interest as they do of a big division in the House. The match will be one of the toughest fought for years." 

All papers contained somewhat similar reflections, interspersed plentifully with weighings up of form, and so called prophecies. But in the midst of the hullabaloo a dissentient note was struck. The date of the tie interfered very seriously with the Preston North End's holiday fixtures and the Committee applied to the Association for a postponement, pleading the manner in which their fixtures had already been upset through the action of the Association Rules. The application was refused.

Curiously enough my comrades in the North End team were the calmest individuals of any that could be found. Probably we all felt more than we gave outward appearance to, but we were quietly confident, albeit realising the stern nature of the task ahead. There was an ugly phase that did perhaps cause a little trepidation, and without stirring dirty water it may just be said that a previous "memorable scene" at Perry Barr was still very vividly impressed on the minds of Preston and Birmingham folk, and considerable care was requisite to avoid any possibility of a recurrence. This last affair was not the least powerful factor in engendering the excitement caused by the draw. Christmas Eve came, and we met and defeated the famous Queen's Park at Deepdale by seven goals to two. On the following Wednesday the refusal for postponement of the "grate fite" having been received, a meeting of the club was immediately convened. J. Concannon, the famous runner of Widnes, was engaged as special trainer to assist Tom Livesey, of the Reserves, and away we were packed to the Palace Hydro at Birkdale, Southport. There we put in a good time, and were thoroughly trained up to the proverbial pink of condition. The Villa went to Holte Fleet, near Droitwich, and at the Severn-side "Spa" also "came on," to judge by their appearance when they entered the field to try strength with the North Enders.

Great preparations were made for the anticipated record crowd at Perry Barr, additional stands were erected, big prices were offered and applications for seats received from all parts of the country; The great day of the Battle of Perry Barr dawned at last, and the dawn brought rather windy but bright weather. I should mention that we (the North End team) travelled across from Southport to Birmingham on the Friday afternoon in the best of spirits, a fact that occupiers of coaches adjacent to our saloon would be well aware of. The records of the contesting elevens on the "memorable morn" were as follows:-


Ordinary matches:

North End: 24 matches, 24 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 139 for, 27 against.
Aston Villa: 29 matches, 28 wins, 0 draws, 1 loss, 168 for, 23 against.

English Cup ties:

North End: 4 matches, 4 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 45 for, 1 against.
Aston Villa: 3 matches, 3 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses, 17 for, 0 against. 


It may be necessary to remind the younger generation that the League had not then come into existence, and that the club programmer of matches was merely an arranged one. It should also be pointed out that the above table really favoured North End, the class of teams met by them up to the date in question having been above that of the elevens matches against the Villa. The following teams took the field before over 20,000 spectators, a number that was increased every minute:—

Preston North End: Fergudon, goal; Howarth and N. J. Ross, backs; Robertson, Russel, and Graham, half-backs; Gordon, J. Ross, Goodall, Dewhurst, and Drummond, forwards;

Aston Villa: Warner, goal; Coulton and Cox, backs; Yates, Dawson, and Burton, half-backs; Brown, Allen, Hunter, Green, and Hodgetts, forwards;

Referee: Mr. J. C. Clegg.

What memories these names revive in the "old school" and what tales of derring do the "youngsters" will at once recollect and associate with them.

Both teams were well received, but the start was delayed to allow of the crowd being forced back, and the Villa having lost the toss, Hunter kicked off on a heavy-going ground some minutes late, and against wind and sun.

Of course I cannot recall anything like all the minute details of the game, but I do remember that we dashed right away for goal in a mannerthat was characteristic of the Lancashire team. We never gave a thought to any misleading nonsense such as seems to attach to some teams, judging by their play in the opening stages. What if there were 85 minutes to 90!! The object is to put the ball through the posts legitimately as soon as possible, and thereafter as often as may be. We played throughout as through there remained but a few moments in which to equalise, or score the winning goal. Not many minutes had elapsed ere we were called to attention whilst the crowd was again packed back from the touch-line. The Villa played finely, notwithstanding the adverse elements of wind and sun, and taking advantage of a trifling slip at the end of about a quarter of an hour, the Villa centre forward scored, I remember my own mortification at once failing miserably, and a moment later grasing the bar, when Warner's hopless gaze told me of his anticipations. Hereabout, our attention was ever and anon attracted to the surging scuffle round the ropes. Here was the sea of faces turned steadily to the arena and swinging slowly, pendulum like, this way, now what, in following the ball. It could be seen that hundreds were fighting for foothold. A long stoppage again ensued, and the whisper went round "The tie is off, the game will only be a friendly." All I remember is that for the rest of the first half the Villa held the whip hand, but that just before the cross-over I saw Derhurst take the ball on the run and shoot one of the finest goals that man could wish to see.

The excitement during the interval continued unabated. One continued moan and confused noise prevailed, and hundreds of pigeons flapped aloft winging the messages to all parts. The opening incident of the second half was one that would have been avoided had Mr. Brodie invented his goal nets sooner. Drummond put in one of his crashers and the ball came back from the crowd — somebody carried home visible testimony to Drummond's shooting force — and the ball apparently went under the bar. But notwithstanding the point was disallowed. Preston had all the play hereabouts, despite the fact that Ferguson for the first time had occasional work, and amidst more row and more pigeon flying Ross junior got another goal for the North End. Within a few minutes the last-named screwed me across a beautiful pass, and I was the cause of more hoarseness and pigeon flying. About this time Hodgetts from outside left again and again led his men in fruitless efforts to beat Ferguson, the latter gentlemen calmly reviewing things, as goalkeepers could do behind the Demon Nick Ross and Howarth. Then I recollect the bumps and bangs of Cox, who at back for the Villa went "all out," and played splendidly. But apparently the Severn side had not given the Villans the "staying power" that we had secured on the Lancashire coast, for the last stages saw them badly worn down. The scenes round the ground greatly interfered with all the players at this period. Policemen, afoot and mounted, were driving back the crowd with staves, the people constantly dodging them and rushing elsewhere, whilst ironical yells greeted the appearance of one or two hussars mounted on hacks obtained from a neighbouring cab-yard, a fact which caused the evening placards to appear with the startling lines "Villa v. Preston, Disorderly Scenes, Military Called Out." And all this time we knew not whether we were playing a friendly or cup-tie, but we pegged on to the end, which came about in semi-darkness. Needless to say, the dissatisfaction was general, and the game had perforce to be finished or the dissatisfaction might have found expression in a most undesirable manner.

The game, although spoilt by the uproar, ranks as one of the most memorable I have taken part in. Let it be understood, however, that the teams played their hardest, as most of us were very much aware next morning. During the first half hour the Villa combination and pace was probably equal to anything ever shown by any of the famous teams that have donned the claret and blue, but they failed to last the ninety minutes, and were deservedly beaten. The Villa appealed confidently for the game to rank as a friendly, but North End protested that the Birmingham authorities were liable for the fracas and the result therefore was declared valid, viz., Preston 3, Villa 1.

The indignation in the hardware centre was naturally very strong, but useless. What a day Mr. MacGregor had to be sure, and how the good gentleman ran hither and thither in his vain endeavours to put things right. I guess the scene at Tottenham when Villa were unable to complete the tie a year or two ago forcibly reminded him of the battle of Perry Barr on January 7th, 1888.