THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL
— Bauldie | 02/12/1901 —

To make the dead past a living present — to be interesting, educative, and informing — are the objects this serios of articles is meant to serve the intelligent readers of the enlarged "Referee." As I shall have to draw upon and utilise what my Lord Rosebery call the "luxurious acretions of memory," I trust that when I do so this valuable aid will not prove treacherous, but at all times reliable. Dealing with famous matches, it is natura, right, and proper that I should begin with the first of these, that being the first International played between England and Scotland. This event, apart from its unique and historical value, has other inherent values. I claim, for example, that we owe the extraordinary present-day growth and popularity of football in a large measure to this match. It was through it being played that Glasgow (i.e., Queen's Park) arranged matches with London, with Sheffield, and with Notts County. 

The gentlemen and players responsible for these arrangements were, on the English side, C. W. Alcock, J. C. Clegg, and E. H. Greenhalgh; and on the Scottish, R. W. Gardner, then secretary of the Queen's Park, and J. J. THomson. It was at the fratersination of the two teams, after this match, in the then George Hotel (the site of which in the Square is now occupied by the palatial Municipal Chambers), that these interesting fixtures were arranged, but I am sorry to say that, with the exception of "The International" and the Sheffield match, all the other Inter-City interchanges are off. Harking back to the match, it was played on the ground of the West of Scotland C.C. at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, on the 30th of November, 1872, so that we have just passed its twenty-ninth anniversary. The reason for it being played at Partick was due to the fact that the "West's" ground was the only enclosed athletic field in or around Glasgow. This fact may interest our enterprising junior clubs, who can now boast of fields almost equal as such to the "West's." 

How different the scene of the first battle between the "Saxon and the Gael" was from that witnessed at Parkhead when in 1896 — in the twenty-fourth engagement between the nations — no less than 67,000 people witnessed that thrilling battle. The date of the first International was against the attendance. Who, I ask, would think now of playing an International in November's dark and early kick-off days. For business reasons (many of the visiting teams being students), however, the date was fixed upon by Messrs Alcok (late secretary of the English Association and of the Surrey C.C.), and Gardner, who conducted the negotiations. It may also interest students of St. Margaret's College that in the crowd of three thousand ladies were numerous, no doubt attracted by the fashionable names of the "young gentlemen of England," as well as by the nolvety of the occasion. The arena is pracically the same to-day as it was then, save that a handsomer pavilion and a permament grandstand now adorn the playing pitch, stretching from the pavilion to the stand-end, being thus the reverse of the present Rugby pitch, which runs east and west. On this, which runs east and west. On this (to Association footballers) virgin turf, the following teams took the field, and I give (what, o far as I can recollect, has not been done) their positions on the field:—

ENGLAND.

Goal: R. C. Welch (London Wanderers).
Back: R. Barker (Hertfordshire Rangers).
Half-backs: W. J. Maynard (1st Surrey Rifles) and F. M. Chappell (Oxford University).
Forwards: A. Kirke Smith (Oxford University), C. J. Morris (Barnes), J. Brockbank (Cambridge University), C. J. Ottaway (captain) (Oxford University), C. J. Chenery (Crystal Palace), E. H. Greenhalgh (Notts), J. C. Clegg (Sheffield).

SCOTLAND.

Goal: Robert W. Gardner (captain).
Back: Joseph Tayllor, William Ker.
Half-backs: J. J. Thomson, R. Smith.
Forwards: R. Leckie, James B. Weir, Wm. M'Kinnon, J. Smith, D. Wotherspoon, A. Rhind.

Referee: Mr. H. N. Smith, Glasgow.

It will be noted that England played with one full back, two half-backs, and seven forwards, three of the last being centres. Scotland played practically the same team as she does to-day, save that she had two half-backs and six forwards, two of the last being centres. In physique the English had it, being all gentlemen of the Corinthian type, of whom I cite those names familiar to moderns, viz. — The brothers Walters, Cotterill, Cobbold, Oakley. As to style, the Englishmen played the individualistic game, the forwards, like "Hal o' the Wind," all playing for their own hand, and rushing, as a rule, aimlessly from goal to goal. The Scots, seeing they were practically a Queen's Park eleven, showed greater combination, yet I venture the opinion that in James B. Weir they had the most powerful and single-handed forward who has over played the game in these isles. On the English side the fascinating personality was undoubtedly C. J. Ottaway, whose runs thrilled the throng and aroused great enthusiasm and admiration. The stroke oar of the victorious Oxford crew of the year, the champion billiard player of his college, Ottaway was one of the most brilliant athletes who has ever footed it on Scottish soil. In personal appearance he was not unlike William Sellar, of Queen's Park, and bore himself upon the field with the same gentlemanly modesty.

Regarding the personnel of these teams, I notice one who has gained the important distinction of being elected Lord Mayor of Sheffield. I refer to J. C. Clegg, who has honoured football and all other sports by his advancement. It is curious that his brother, W. E., should play for England the following year, a parallel being found to this in the fact that George Ker, the famous and never-to-be-forgotten Scottish centre-forward, and brother to the Scottish back, succeeded his brother and played v. England in 1880, 1881, and 1882.

The Saxons, in white jerseys, with roses on their left breasts, looked burlier and brawer; the Gaels, in dark blue, with the Lion Rampant on their left nipples, looking lither and lighter, yet duskier. I have often wondered how the Scottish Association stack so religiously and stupidly to dark blue for our national teams, when, as a matter of fact, dark blue was originally chosen because of the marked contrast it offered to the pure white of their opponents. I am happy to say that our modern International selectors have destroyed this conservative regard for the Oxonians' colours, to whom the wearing of them at Partick was an unthought of compliment. No prettier teams have appeared for Scotland than those who played in the Glasgow Academical colours in 1882, and in Lord Rosebery's in 1883, 1898, and 1900. Notwithstanding the superior numbers of the English forwards, the Scottish defence proved more than able to cope with the attack, Gardner. Taylor, Thomson, and Ker — Ker's great single-handed run near the close of the match, in which he dribbled the ball from goal to goal, was the most sensational event of the afternoon — all shining in the game. Of the Scottish forwards, M'Kinnon, Weir, and Leckie all distinguished themselves, the two first-named giving early promise of their future greatness in the game. Stubbornly contested throughout, the match resulted in a draw, no goals being scored on either side — a fact that speaks volumes for the defenders of both countries. This result is unique, for it is the only goalless one in the history of the match from, 1872 up.