ENGLAND v. SCOTLAND
— John James Bentley | 09/04/1900 —

To recall past matches between England and Scotland is very pleasant, even though it makes you feel a little ancient. Hampden Park used to be the favourite spot in Scotland, but modern football has put the home of the Queen's Park — a club with a glorious past and I hope a great future — in the shade, and now Ibrox and Celtic Park are running a neck and neck race for popularity. What will eventually happen is a mystery, but at the rate of progress during the last decade we shall have one or the other grounds completely under cover. Somehow, the Celtic enclosure has nearly always caught the eye of the Scottish Association, and on the poin of general convenience it could not be improved upon; but surely the efforts of the Rangers' Committee might have been recognised? Personally, I don't grumble, for it is always a pleasure to find myself at Celtic Park. There has been an exception, it is true, when the English team were refused admission, but apart from that unfortunate incident the Celtic officials have invariably laid themselves out to make us comfortable. But the Rangers have spent a lot of money on Ibrox up-to-date, and where two grounds are as nearly equal as possible. I think each ought to have a turn. However, that rests with the Committee of the Scottish Association, and they could not make a mistake, no matter which ground they selected for the International. Scotch people take these Internationals much more seriously than we do. For weeks, nay months, before the match is due, teams are manufactured, and some most ridiculous selections are made with a huge tinge of local partisanship predominating. Before the Scottish legislators adopted the serviceable plan of forming a selection committee the local star was very prominent, but in recent years he has been conspicuous by his absence. Although we don't talk about it quite so much on this side of the Border, I fancy we feel the importance of the International quite as keenly as do our friends the Scotsmen.

I know that is my experience, and nothing delights me more than to win against Scotland after a perfectly genuine and interesting match. The English team arrived in two detachments, the Northern and midland representatives foregathering at Preston, whilst the Southerners were in our rear, about then minutes behind. At Preston were Messrs. M'Gregor and Campbell, of Birmingham, Mr. R. P. Gregson (Lancashire Association), and Mr. C. J. Hughes (Cheshire F.A.), Tom Watson, of Liverpool, and Albert Duckworth, connected with a club known to fame as Bury. Of course, there were a lot of common journalists, but we don't count. The L. and N. W. Railway had kindly provided us with a first class dinner all to ourselves, and the journey up was one of the most pleasant I have experienced. The players looked fit and well, and accompanying the team as reserves were Spencer and Hedley — two men quite good enough for any English team. We had a few hours at the Empire, but the players were early to roost. I am afraid that some of the rest of us did not follow this noble example, but you meet with old football pals, and you are compelled to have a chat. The Central Hotel people know their business, and the midnight hour has not long passed ere the refreshment department has collapsed. Saturday morning was very busy with the annual conference of football secretaries. Mr. M'Loughlin presided, and opened the proceedings with a speech of about a dozen lines, in which he very properly intimated that it was not a question of words but deeds, or something to that effect. Mr. Sherrington represented the Football Association, who have charge of the Conference, no matter whether it be held in England or Scotland, and the F.A. always have the pleasure of defraying the necessary expenses, which include a very agreeable free lunch. I don't think the business transacted is of grave importance, but you meet people whom you only see once per annum. The courteous representative of the Clan M'Dowall had provided us with a couple of brakes, each drawn by four greys, and away we went to Parkhead. 

The ordinary folks had preceded us, for on arrival at Celtic Park we found 40,000 congregated, and the numbers were constantly increasing. I believe 54,000 paid for admission, and this is certainly a record for an International. It was a splendid spectacle, and the only portion which appeared at all slack was the new £6,000 stand, but as the proprietor fixed his charges at £1, 20s. and 5, it was not surprising. Still, the superb erection was fairly well occupied, and it is a magnificent structure. Right on the top is the Press box, and near the sky line, by the aid of a pair of glasses, borrowed from a Lord Provost who sat next to Lord Rosebery, I discovered the working members of our staff in "Tityrus" and "Nondescript" hard at it. Lord Rosebery, like the true sportsman he is, had promised to attend, and every arrangement had been made for his comfort. The indefatigable M'Dowall was on guard; there was a small battalion of police and commissionaires, and Willie Maley, the Celtic secretary, was also on duty, so that it is no wonder his Lordship got up to the gaily primrose deecrated balcony unmolested. Provosts, Bailies, and other dignified gentlemen were present, and most of them had donned the Lincoln and Bennett, but Lord Rosebery appeared in a bowler, accompanied by Sir J. Bell, alson ina bowler. 

It was a pretty little gathering, and the Celtic club had risen to the occasion, and when the Scottish team appeared in the well-known primrose colours Lord Rosebery was very pleased. By the courtesy of the Scottish Association I happened to be one of the guests invited to meet the Lord of Dalmeny, and as showing the wonderful memory he possesses on my being intriduced the immediately remarked. "Yes, we met at the Palace." Lord Rosebery, probably coached by his son, takes a most intelligent interest in the game, and grew quite enthusiastic when Scotland scored. My modest headgear was in grave danger as his lordship swung round his hat, but by an acrobatic feat it escaped. The Provosts did not seem to quite understand or appreciate matters, and in comparison were perfectly cool. As a spectacular display it was perfect, and the only wonder to me was that the immense crowd kept so orderly as it did. Three unfortunate fellows were carried into the pavilion, and one had got a distined thrust from the ironworks which barricade the ground, but, on the whole, the men who had paid their shillings behaved splendidly, and I have never been witness to a more impressive sight than when the 50,000, led by the band — very much led, as a matter of fact — uncovered their heads and sang "God Save the Queen." When Lord Rosebery appeared there was a loud cheer, and all through our Scotch friends had a rare afternoon of it.

There was some doubts as to whether the Englishmen would turn out as selected. Needham being considered the doubtful party, but he was all right, and Crabrtee was the gentleman we were most concerned about, for he had not had ball practice since his injury at the Palace a week ago, and along with Mr. Duckworth, of the aforesaid Bury village club, went up to the Celtic ground for a trial, which turned out satisfactory, and he announced himself fit and ready for the fray. The team was late in appearing, but had a hearty reception both on entering the pavilion and leaving it. When the men arryed themselves they appeared as follows:—

England.— Robinson (Southampton), goal; Crabtree (Aston Villa) and W. J. Oakley (Corinthians), backs; Jonhson (Sheffield United), Chadwick (Southampton), and Needham (Sheffield United), half-backs; Athersmith (Aston Villa), Bloomer (Derby County), G. O. Smith (Corinthians), G. P. Wilson (Corinthians), and Plant (Bury), forwards.

Scotland.— Rennie (Heart of Midlothian), goal; N. Smith (Rangers) and Drummond (Rangers), backs; Gibson (Rangers), Raisbeck (Liverpool), Robertson (Rangers), half-backs; J. Bell (Celtic), Walker (Heart of Midlothian), M'Coll (Queen's Park), Campbell (Celtic), and A. Smith (Rangers), forwards.

Referee, Mr. S. Torrens (Belfast). Linesmen, Messrs. P. J. Timbs (England) and J. H. M'Loughlin (Scotland).

The details of the game will be dealt with by "Nondescript," who from his elevated position, must have seen everything, so a few general remakrs from me will suffice. in 1892 we beat Scotland at Ibrox in the first few minutes, and it is not too much to say that M'Coll's successful shot 45 seconds from the start went a long way towards settling England's chances. It was a staggerer and no mistake, and when, five minutes later, Oakley was spread out, and Bell ran the ball through a perfectly open goal, Scotland had won. There was something very peculiar about that second goal. Someone appeared to be off-side, when Robinson rushed out to clear, and then, how ddi the ball get over the heads of Robinson and Oakley? It seemed to me to go straght from the foot of a Scotsman, and if so, Bell was undoubtedly off-side. Again, Oakley was injured, and on the ground. Play ought to have been stopped. It was a bad day for the genial Corinthian. He wanted to shine in this match, for it was his thirteenth, and only the night before he was wondering whether there was any ill-luck attached to this number. He will now be convinced that there is, for the concussion was so severe that fom that point until the end of the game he scarcely knew what he was doing and played in a mechanical sort of way. At half-time he was genuinely surprised to hear that Scotland were four goals to one, and quite thought they had only scored once. He placed his head under the cold water tap and a doctor, making a second examination, found that Oakley's nose had been knocked out of its regular course and returned it to the original spot. Okaley displayed splendid pluck in again going out. From the moment Oakley was injured England had no chance, for it cast a gloom over the proceedings, and G. O. mith in a particular was upset at the accident to his most intimate pal. After England had scored, there was just a possibility of retrieving herself, and had Plant accepted a golden opportunity, the fight would have been much keener. Wilson made a good effort which failed, and then Scotland added a fourth point and the result was settled. It speaks well for the English defence that it was not beaten during the second half, but for this chief credit must be given to Robison, who made a double save in a manner I have never seen surpassed. The Scottish forwards and half-backs were much too clever for their opponents, and the only wonder is they did not put on a few more goals in the second half. There never seemed to be much danger of our men scoring, and when they did get in close proximity to Rennie, it was by means of spasmodic bursts, and personally, I was very pleased when the whistle blew with nothing worse than the half-time result of 4—1.

In 1892 England won by a similar score, and all the nice things said about the English team on that occasion can be repeated, and applied to the Scottish eleven of Saturday last. As a rule we beat the Scots in speed and dash. On Saturday they were ahead of us in both, whilst so far as combination went they were streets in front. Whilst I don't remember a Scottish team which played so well together, it is equally true to say that an English eleven never shaped worse as a combination. The redeeming feature was Robinson, and even he ought to have stopped one of the shots which beat him, but his goalkeeping was exceptionally fine, and, after receiving a nasty knock on the shoulder, he made some rattling saves. The only others who came up to anything like International form were Needham and Bloomer. The backs cleared badly and tackled weakly, whilst at half Chadwick was of little use against M'Coll, and Johnson, although working hard, utterly failed to cope with Campbell and Smith. There is this to be said: M'Coll plaued one of the best centre-forward games you would care to see, and nothing need to be better than what Campbell and Smith gave us. The English forwards worked without the slightest system, and not once during the game did they get the upper hand of the opposing halves. They, perhaps, had not the best of luck, and two goals in six minutes and a man injured is quite enough to take the heart out of any team. Be what as it may, the forwards seldom made what may be termed as serious assault, and worked gether with less harmony than any we have seen for some time. Could they have got going at the start I have no doubt they would have given Scotland a shaking; but the Scotsmen settled down to their work at once, and didn't allow the English forwards the ghost of a chance. We have generally prided ourselves on the excellence of our half-back line, but on Saturday we were comparatively weak there, and in Gibson, Raisbeck, and Robertson Scotland had the best middle division they have placed in the field during the last dozen years. Both in attack amd defence it was splendid, and those who know Raisbeck will be surprised to hear that he not only played a brilliant defensive game, but fed his forwards with judgment. He was much too good for "G. O." and seldom left the English captain. He was the most showy of the three, but both Robertson especially, for he seemed to me to be rather apprehensive about Drummond, who was behind him. He had little cause to, as matters turned out, although with the English forwards at their best Drummond's rushing tactics would not have come off. He played a useful game, but scarcely a fair one, and got his knee up dangerously more than once. I always admired Nicol Smith, and never more so than on Saturday. He is full of pluck, and didn't resort to that little weakness he has of dribbling. Rennie did everything he could be expected to do, but is hardly so stylish as some of the goalkeepers we have seen between the Scottish posts. 

The forward play was a revelation, and it was difficult to find a better centre than M'Coll. Quick and active, he pounces on the ball like a cat, sends it out to his wings, runs along, and is always ready for the return. He often gets off-side, but can hardly be blamed for that. As an outside-left we have nothing to equal A. Smith, fir he is fast, dribbles well, is unselfish, and centres accurately on the run. John Campbell nursed him like a baby, and made some magnificent passes. Campbell has played many parts, and seems to have been wit hus quite an age, but he commenced when quite young, and is now only 23 years old. The three I have named were the shining lights, and placed Bell and Walker somewhat in the shade, but the latter did a lot of "donkey work," and Bell was quite his old self in the second half. England were beaten by a team which, on Saturday's form, would get the upper hand of any eleven we could select. It was sound in defence, and smart and clever forward. It will be a long time ere the Scottish selectors pitch upon a combination such as we saw on Saturday. Unlucky we were to have Oakley injured, but with Oakley fit and well I don't think we had a chance of winning.