HOW PRESTON NORTH END WON THE F.A. CUP
— John Goodall | 28/09/1907 —

Readers of my article concerning Preston North End's final tie at Kennington Oval in March, 1888, and the victory therein of West Bromwich Albion by the odd goal in three would probably wonder whether the North End achieved anything of revenge thereafter. Yes, gentlemen, they did, and in the very next season, when Preston again fell up against the Throetles in the semi-final at Bramall-lane, Sheffield, and after a most exciting game, we (ie., Preston) secured the victory by the only goal of the match scored by Russell, following a free-kick and thus avenged the little affair referred to. Two other clube having interest in the semi-final stage on the season under notice were Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and the venue for the settlement of their matter was the spacious arena of the Crewe Alexandra Club at the railway town. In the County Palatine it was fervently hoped that the finalists would be the then giants of foot. balldom, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers. The struggle would have been tremendous, no doubt, but Fate decreed otherwise, and after a draw of one all, the re-play, also at Crowe, witnessed a most remarkable collapse of the Rovers and their defeat by three goals to one.

Thus we Preston men settled down to meet the Wolves at the Oval on Saturday, March 30th, 1889. It might here be noted that in the two League games of the season North End had triumphed by 4—0 at Wolverhampton and 5—2 at Deepdale. This did not spoil interest in the game, for the glorious uncertainty of football and the utter futility of setting any store upon "form" were as well recognised then as now. In Cup-ties especially the best-laid schemes "gang aft agley," as Preston only too vividly remembered when the game under notice was referred to. They thought of the previous Spring's unequal final tie contest and altogether non-representative result at Kennington, and they held their "brefs" and "said nuffin."

The Cup achievements (of the season in question) by the respective teams are appended:—

Preston had met and vanquished: Bootle (3—0), Grimsby (2—0), Birmingham St. George's (2—0), and West Bromwich Albion (1-0). I might just here mention that the North Enders' League career for the season had concluded, and found them easy champions with an unbeaten certificate for 22 matches, 74 goals on the credit side and 15 opposite — a very decent performance, eh?

The Wolves victorious Cup progress up to the final stage was: Old Carthusians (4—3), Walsall Town Swifts (6—1), Sheffield Wednesday (3—0), Blackburn Rovers (3—1). Until the semi-final they had luckily been drawn at home on each occasion. They stood third in the League with 28 points for 22 games, scoring 51 goals to 37, so that the Midlanders were indeed foemen worthy of our steel.

And now, reader, try and follow with me the recollections and doings of those days if my humble attempts at description grove sufficiently interesting.

Here we are in the Proud Town on a brilliant Spring morning, the last day but two of the month of March, 1889. It is Friday, and the employers throughout the borough are readily granting the numerous applications for leave which are pouring in. Everyone is proud of the Champions and the one thing requisite to fill the cup of contentment to overflowing is, strangely, the possession of a cup. This much coveted bit of plate had never found a resting place in Preston, and now was the chance.

In the brightness of a Spring noonday the great railway station is besieged and excursion trains leave in quick succession. We players, accompanied by the one and only Mr. W. Sudell, our chairman, with the other officials, enter our saloon attached to the London express leaving something after one o'clock, and we are in Euston by 6-30, having passed and been vigoraly hailed from sundry excursion trains en route. Arrived in London, an excellent repast at the Covent Garden Hotel and an evening's laughter at the Gaiety Theatre, when the burlesque of Goethes immortal tragedy holds the boards. I bad omitted to mention that "special training" had been eschewed by the Prestoners this season as being more harmful than otherwise, and we had followed our usual moderate training at home with the addition of a daily drive to the seaboard at Lytham some twelve miles distant.

On the morning of the game London was in gala attire, visitors from the provinces being numerous, both on account of the Varsity Boat Race and the Cup Final. The Wolves did not reach London until some time after noon. and had a large following. Special arrangements had been made for accommodating a big crowd at the Oval and by shortly after two o'clock over 25,000 spectators lined the arena. The referee was Major Marindin: umpires, Lord Kinnaird and Mr. J. C. Clegg. Teams, Preston North End: Mills-Roberts, goal; Holmes and Howarth, backs; Drummond, Russell nd Graham, halves; Gordon, Ross, Goodall, Dewhurst and Thomson, forwards. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Bayaton, goal; Baugh and Mason, backs; Fletcher, Allen and Lowder, halves; Hunter, Wykes, Brodie, Wood and Knight. forwards. North End were thus as in the previous Final, but for Holmes at back in place of Nick Ross, who left Preston for Everton. North End were the heavier team averaging 11st. 11lb, against 11st. 5lb., but were shorter averaging 5ft. 7in. to 5ft 9in., whilst the ages averaged Preston 26, Wolves 24. Preston played in white shirts, Wolves in red and white.

I think the general associations of this game and the doings that led up to it were probably more noteworthy than the game itself, but it deserves to rank as a famous game in as much as it was the completing touch to the season in which the Preston Invincibles won the League Championship and the English Cup without experiencing defeat, the cup without having a single goal scored against them, the latter record having only been equalled once before or since, and that by Bury when they won the Cup a season or two since.

To briefly review the game, then, the opening exchanges were even, but at the end of a quarter of an hour, or thereabouts, I very distinctly remember Gordon cleverly drawing the defence, passing to Ross at the precise moment, the latter hitting the bar with one of his characteristic hard shots, the ball rebounding away to the left out of my reach but to the waiting Dewhurst, who promptly (I was going to say netted, but there were no goal-nets in those days) did the needful by just slipping the ball past Baynton.

The game differed greatly from that of the previous year against the Albion. The latter was all rush and tumble and nervous excitement, whereas in this case both sides played with commendable coolness and cleverness the skilful leading and generalship of Harry Wood — now of Southampton — at inside left, and the fine back play of Mason and Lowder for the Wolves being features of the game. At the conclusion of half an hour North End contracted one of their "brilliant fevers," and with the rush and combination well known of opponents at that time the forwards swept down the field and Ross scored with a shot which Baynton made a poor attempt to save. Even this second reverse had no spoiling effect on the game which continued to produce fine football. Following the interval the Wolves seemed to take a fresh lease of life, and warmed mightily to the attack amidst great excitement, but the Preston defence withstood the siege and at the end of 22 minutes Gordon got away and centred the ball only to have it returned practically to his toes, a few steps and over went the ball again, but amidst a tremendous tumult back it was sent to Preston's extreme right winger. What time we other North End forwards waited almost neath the Wolves' goal crossbar, putting up with a good deal of buffeting from the excited Midland defenders. For the third time Gordon pounced upon the sphere and cleverly gave to his partner Ross, who waltzed round Mason, glanced at Baynton, feinted as though about to shoot, and with lightning rapidity smacked the leather to our outside left, Thomson, who scored Preston's third goal. I remember the incidents of the goal here recorded as though they took place yesterday.

Hereabouts the Cup was brought from the Pavilion and conspicuously placed on a table near the line, admidst frantic cheers from assembled Lancastrians, and the game — the concluding portion of which I have very little recollection of — fizzled to a close, Preston running out winners of the Cup by what was at that time the record final tie score of 3—0. The game was afterwards described as a "rather tame affair," but to those actively concerned it was quite the reverse, for while playing the game, speaking broadly, both sides took and gave very hard knocks.

Major Marindin presented the trophy, and the usual jollifications followed. The Wolverhampton team and followers took the defeat in true sportsmanlike fashion, and here let it be said that the Staffordshire team was composed of amateurs, Wolverhampton bred and born every one. Our subsequent reception at Preston baffles my poor pen.

Proud Preston, by the game I have attempted to describe, won the cup for the first time in the club's history, and they have not succeeded in winning it since. The Deepdale organisation has had its vicissitudes, but can rightly lay claim to being the most famous that has so far figured in the resims of first-class Association football.