THE FINEST PLAYERS OF MY TIME
— Howard Spencer | 06/10/1906 —

My football career has been a long and eventful one, and during that career I have naturally been brought into contact with many great and notable exponents of the art and science of Association football. It will be a genuine pleasure to me to glance for a few moments at the various men who have won the highest honour of the game during my time. Some of the greatest players football has known have flourished and passed from view during the years that have elapsed since, as a youth, I first wore the jersey of Aston Villa — a jersey, by the way, which any footballer, however famous, may be rightly proud to wear.

CRABTREE.

One of the grandest footballers I recall was James Crabtree. I supposed it will be freely conceded that if I only spoke of Aston Villa men I should be free to call at least a dozen of my colleagues among the finest players of my time. But in the whole realm of football where you find a greater name than that of James Crabtree? He could play anywhere; and he could play anywhere well. He played in international matches in nearly every position in defence, and for his various clubs I believe he did play in every position; at any rate, there were very few that he did not eessay to fill at the request of one executive or another. He was an ideal back, a consummately skilful half-backs, and a really clever forward; indeed, he made his debut as a fotward. And he has kept goal for Aston Villa, and possibly for other clubs.

There is a striking clearness of purpose about James Crabtree at the time that he was a full-back for Burnley. He seemed to divine what the opposing forwards would be doing, and his kicking, from any position, was a daring as it was safe. Late he developed into one of the greatest halves that ever played, for in addition to being a resourceful tackler he could feed his forwards inimitably, and was a deadly shot at goal. He knew as well as any man how to keep an attack going. Some of his performances in international games will never be forgotten. How gallantly he kept the Scottish forwards, with a gale of wind helping them, at hay in that eventful international at Birmingham. England would scarcely have won that day but for his intrepid defence. But Crabtree was always at his best in a great match.

SOME GREAT HALVES.

Ernest Needham was another man who loved a great occasion. Drop him into an international eleven, and he was in his elemtn. What a daring tackler he was! He was not renowned for the way in which he kept his position, but he was so original and resourceful that he was usually able to recover in time to prevent any serious damage being done. There has scarcely been an abler tackler, and when England had Needham, Crabtree, and Frank Forman at half the opposing forwards knew not the meaning of the word rest. And Ernest was great on attack, too. He was never wanting when his side was on the aggressive. There has scarcely been a better show of half back work of an all-round character than he gave in the international at Glasgow in 1898, when he played behind Fred Wheldon and Fred Spiksley. If he had not been a great half he would have been a great forward.

Frank Forman was a magnificent centre-half. He had a pair of legs which were constantly getting into the way, and although he never seemed to be exerting himself unduly he covered a tremendouns area. He was a perfect tackler, although his style was different to that of Needham. He had consummate judgment, and could wait on men, so to speak. They seemed to deliver themselves into his hands. His captaincy had a great effect upon the fortunes of Notts Forest, and long after he had announced his retirement he was continually being badgered to turn out and give the Reds a much-needed lift.

Undoubtedly the finest centre-half of my time was James Cowan. He was a most decptive player to be pitted against. His movements seemed comparatively sluggish, and yet he had a wonderful turn of speed; indeed when he made everyone except the Villa directors smile by winning the Powderhall Handicap. Athersmith could have given him little start. It was not often that Cowan was beaten in the centre of the field, but when anyone did give him the go-by it was inspiring to watch James put in one of his best sprints. You would never believe that he could sprint unless you saw one of those occasional flashes. But he wa an astute tackler, and I have seen him play dozen of games in which he has simply toyed with the opposing centre-forward, even when the centre-forward has been a really great player. While he did not seem to cover the ground as Frank Forman did, the result was the same; he always seemed to be getting the ball. And when he had obtaine it he never failed to make good use of it. No half-back has excelled James Cowan in making those swift passes all along the sward to a waiting forward. The Scottish Association called upon James Cowan and a few other Anglo-Scots in their hour of dire misfortune, and they never did a wiser thing, for Cowan's tackling was undoubtedly one of the great causes of England's defeat in the historical game of 1896, in which players connected with English clubs were given places in the international eleven.

LUCKY AND UNLUCKY PLAYERS.

A very fine forward at the time that Aston Villa were at their best in 1897 was Fred Wheldon. He was one of the cleverest close dribblers football has ever known, and he was one of the deadliest shots at goal I have seen. He was at his best just at the time that the other Aston Villa forwards, and, indeed, all the team, were at their best, and he had a large share in scoring the goals which caused Aston Villa to rival Preston North End's great feat of carrying off the English Cup and the League championship in the same season. Wheldon's shots were as unexpected as they were accurate.

At inside right Steve Bloomer has had unique reputation during my career. I should like to say here, however, that Bloomer's brilliancy prevented due honour being given to one of the finest inside players we have had, John Devey, who captained Aston Villa during their most brilliant seasons. There wastime when Devey and Athersmith constituted the best right wing in the country, and, while paying high homage to Bloomer, I cannot help remarking that it was very hard on John Devey that he should, throughout his honourable career, have to play second fiddle to anyone.

Edgar Chadwick was also a delightful inside player. It was a revelation for a right full-back to find himself opposed to Chadwick and Milward.

"OUTSIDERS."

There has been in modern times no outsider so dangerous as Fred Spiksley. In reviewing the deeds of the various men I have had to play against, I think I can say that Fred Spiksley caused me more anxiety than any forward I have ever met. His pace was so deceptive for one thing, and his method of suddenly darting off with the ball was characteristic which was not possessed by other players. He was in his stride and off at full gallop instantly, and few men knew better when to keep the ball and when to let it go. He was the hero of many great games, and it was a giorious time for England when Basset was at outside right and Spiksley on the other wing.

I recall the two outside rights who for twelve years were respectively a constant source of danger and dread to Scotland — W. I. Bassett and Charles Athersmith. I have no desire to compare the two. Bassett was without doubt the cleverer footballer, but Athersmith's speed made him a most dangerous fellow. Bassett's ringcraft, so to speak, was perfect, and he revelled in international rivalry. There has been a great falling-off in the standard of outside wing play since Athersmith failed to command the confidence of the Selection Committee.

G. O. Smith and W. J. Oakley stand out as the great amateurs of my time. The old Carthusian was a most popular player and adapted himself to professional methods perfectly. Oakley was a great back, possessing pace and pluck, and forwards never know when they had him beaten. Tom Crawshaw, of Sheffield Wednesday, has maintained his form wonderfully well, and so has John Bell, of Preston North End. Then John Goodall was still playing finely when I came into football, and the famous Dennis Hodgetts was also power. Johnn Holt, of Everton, was one of the smartest half-backs I have seen, and for man who lacked pace John Reynolds was a remarkable footballer. As a goal-keeper, J. W. Robinson, of Derby County, stood at the top of the tree for many years, and Tom Baddeley has had some excellent season.

This is not a mere catalogue of great players that I have met. The list might be materially added to, and names will slip one's memory. I may have omitted some that I should have liked to mention, and I have dealt with men of the past and practically ignored contemporary players.