THE SHORTAGE OF MASTER PLAYERS
— Herbert Chapman | 27/10/1929 —

I have seen great changes in football during the past thirty years. At least three generations of players are within my memory, starting with the 'nineties when Ernest Needham and R. S. McColl were princes of the game, and the amateurs were far more famous than they are to-day, passing on through that era when Nescastle United were almost supreme, until today.

Perhaps the greatest change of all has been the passing of the amateur from first-class football. This is a phase which is much to be regretted, and I would have you believe that this has not been due to any antipathy on the part of the professional. Let another Vivian Woodward arise, and the whole of the professional clubs of the country will offer him a most cordial welcome to their fold. Never was there more room for the first-class player in football than to-day. I mest last week the older shareholder of Preston North End, and he talked of the days of the old "Invincibles" and their matches with the Corinthians. They were real "blood" matches, he said, and Preston were never sure of winning.

FEWER GREAT PLAYERS.

Another change which I think all who have had as long an experience as I must feel is that there has been a slow but very definite reduction in the number of really great players. To-day you may pick out, say, thirty men of jigh level worthy to represent England, but I fear they are not outstanding to the same extent as were the giants of the game of even twenty years ago.

I agree that conditions have altered and that it is difficult, it may even be unfair, to make a comparison, but when I recall teams like Newcastle United and Aston Villa, who could be trusted to win or avoid defeat in three games out of four. I confess that I can find no sides to-day of equal calibre.

THE MASTER MIND.

During my time probably the best team were Newcastle United. Every member was an expert in his position, and though they did not always get the results expected, there was seldom much wrong with their football.

Within recent times, when I have talked with members of the old Newcastle side, I have tried to find out whether there was any one player who deserved more credit than another for the wonderful record of success. The opinion was unanimous that the master mind of Newcastle United was Colin Veitch. Where is there a Colin Veitch to-day, or a Jimmy Crabtree, or a Needham?

ONE CERTAINTY.

I am sorry to say it, but football of the present time has not players of their oustanding distinction. Before then England team was chosen for the match with Ireland last week I do not suppose there was more than one player who was certain of his place.

That man would be Willis Edwards, for whom I have a high appreciation, but even the most biased enthusiast in Leeds, or Yorkshire, with a knowsledge of Veitch's play would not put him in quite the latter's class.

GALAXY OF STARS.

It may be thought that I am praising Veitch extravagantly, considering he had as his colleagues men like McCracken, Carr, McWilliam, Howie, Shepherd, McColl, and Templeton. It was his good fortune to join the side before McColl and Templeton left Newcastle, and through these master players he saw the infinite possibilities of the game.

Besides, he was much better educated than most professionals of his time and, moreover, he was blessed with an arresting personality. During one period the famous "Magpies" struck a very bad patch, and the directors were at their wits' end to know how to pull the team together. Veitch was one of the three players invited by the board to select the side.

A WONDERFUL GOALKEEPER.

Twenty years ago we had star players for every position. That is the great difference between now and then. There has been no better goalkeeper than Sam Hardy. Indeed, I should say that he has been unapproached since J. W. Robinson was at his best. Hardy had the amazing capacity for being in the right place at the right time. His power of anticipation was wonderful. He was not a tall man, but he had long arms, and out they owuld go to deflect a shot that had looked a winner all the way. The way he saved their best shots was heartbreaking to forwards.

CROMPTON AND PENNINGTON.

Of the backs, I do not think that England had a better pair in my time than Bob Crompton and Jesse Pennington, though Herbert Burgess, of Manchester United, was a defender of the highest class. Indeed, in his control of the ball and in his positional play it is possible that Burgess has not been surpassed. But his football has not that character which Crompton and Pennington gave to theirs.

Before Latheron, Simpson, Shea, and Co. arrived at Blackburn to make up a championship side we used to speak of the Rovers as "Crompton and ten others." He was a player of truly enormous strength. Pennington was the same wholehearted players for West Bromwich Albion, a man who could rise to wonderful heights and inspire and carry younger men than himself through the thickest fray. We have no backs like these two to-day.

PREJUDICE.

Among the most famous halves one who stands out in my memory is Charlie Roberts, as near the ideal of a centre-half as I can conceive. I played against him when he was entering on his first-class career at Grimsby, and it was always a mystery to me that he was not a unanimous choice for the England team. I fear only prejudice lost him several caps.

PRINCE OF HALF-BACKS.

Wedlock was, of course, the player who kept Roberts out of the England team, and it was said of him that he never let the side down. McCall was another superb centre-half, wonderfully precise in his placing of the ball. Another notable for his magnificent leadership was Boyle, the old Banrsley man who afterwards went to Burnley and lifted them to a pinnacle that few teams have attained since the war.

But of all the half-backs I have seen none has equalled Needham. He was a left-half because he filled this position, but actually he was the complete footballer, versatile and capable enough to play anywhere. Since the war I would put Arthur Grimsdell, first of the left halves. In addition to his talents he had the priceless gift of leadership.

CHOOSING A CENTRE.

If we could recall the players of the last generation and I were given the choice of centre forwards, I think I should pick Vivian Woodward, but I agree that it would be necessary to provide him with suitable partners. A players the other day told me that it was useless to put any man with brains in the middle, because he had too much sense to allow himself to be knocked about. But if you have the brains of a Woodward you do not get knocked about, and for sheer craftt I do not think we have had his equal for many years.

Of the modern centre forwards I would put Dean first without hesitation. I refuse to be influenced by recent criticism of his play. When he was getting all the goals for Everton his name was shouted from the housetops, and in my opinion he is still a footballer as distinct from merely a goal-getter.

TOUCH OF GENIUS.

In regard to the inside forwards, I am afraid I must also take my champions from the past, Bloomer with his quick, deceptive stride was a match winner, and Fleming and Buchan with that touch of genius which makes it essential that they should be given a good deal of licence. I would also add to this trio Bob Kelly. Significantly enough he is the only one who remais. On the left there was Joe Bache of the Villa. In his time I do not think he was surpassed. Of the modern inside lefts I would place Clem Stephenson first.

ON THE WINGS.

The position is much the same in respect to wing forwards. We must go back some years for the masters. On the right we have Simpson, Meredith, and Rutherford. To distinguish between them is not easy, but I would say Simpson for the results, Meredith for all-round brilliance, and Rutherford as a marvel on a winning side. On the left wing we had a genius in Spiksley, and another great player in Spiksley, and another great player in George Wall, of Manchester United. More recently W. H. Smith and Dimmock have stood out conspicuously.

There are, of course, many other great players I have not mentioned, but I am sorry to say they are not among the players of to-day. Perhaps we might take a different view if the men at present were not spread over such a wide area. It may be that we have too many clubs competing for their services, and that under the conditions we do not see the best of them.