SOCCER'S WIZARD BACKS
— Sir. Frederick Wall | 21/10/1934 —

Reparing to leave the offices of the Football Association on the day that I handed the reins to my successor, I took a last look round, and paused at the large photographs of Vivian Woodward and Robert Crompton, and wondered if the old country would ever have their equal in the future.

There are no other portraits of a single player on the walls at headquarters than those of Woodward, representing the South and the amateurs, Crompton the hardy North and the professionals, and Bloomer the man of the Midlands.

These three great representative footballers have always intrigued me. No one who saw them play can ever forget their chivalry and high skill. Perhaps it is not too much to say that Robert Crompton was always "Bob" alike to his friends, his foes and those who neither knew him nor even watched him on the field of action. He was a remarkable man; more noted for deeds than words. His deeds were testimonials to his temperament.

INFLUENCE ON BOYS.

The young enthusiasts of these days may think that I am putting praise on Crompton with a trowel, but let me assure them that the honour of being the only professional full-back in the portrait gallery at the headquarters of the game gives him a pre-eminence that is thoroughly deserved.

There is one point that I must emphasise. Do any of us ever think of the influence that good professional examples can have upon the boys who go to big matches?

Crompton, a native of Blackburn, was born during September, 1879, and as a boy attended a Board school before going to the higher grade school. At each of these institutions he played football, and was a back for the higher grade eleven.

As he had the gift of using either foot he appeared on either wing, although he preferred the right. He helped a team in which his father was interested, and a Church club in the Sunday league.

I am reminded of these details of boyhood because it was at this impressionable age that he saw such renowned backs as Johnny Forbes and Tom Brandon.

They were both Scotsmen of skill and style. And remember that he was at an impressionable age, and living in the midst of a countryside from east to west aflame with football.

Blackburn Rovers — with Accrington and Burnley to the east and Preston North End to the west — were midway in the sweep of the field, but with Preston a great rival, the matches between them were events that excited the local rhymester:—


When Rovers played North End,
Tom Brandon did defend;
He stopped Jack Ross
From being a boss
When Rovers played North End.


The laureate of football has not yet arrived. But these rhymes, and such as these, were a vogue, and they show how popular the game was.

The boy Crompton was an admirer of Forbes, and old Vale of Leven player, who relied on his position play, his volleying and his pure football. No doubt he was a perfervia admirer of both these backs.

Little did the boy dream that he would play in a match with Tom Brandon on his left. The Rovers have, so far, as I remember, always had clever backs, and Crompton, with his natural gifts, imbibed their spirit and in some ways reproduced their touches. Boys are great imitators.

He was asked to join the Rovers while an his teens, and consented. There was an idea of making him a centre half-back, as an understudy to Tom Booth, who played for England, and when he was chosen to play in the first eleven against Stoke and Aston Villa, during April, 1897, he appeared in that position, but he wished to be a right back.

And a full back on the right he became, for with the usual man hurt he played in his position with Brandon on the left against Nottingham Forest. Success coming instantaneously, he was appointed captain the following season.

A man of one club, this great player between Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year and February, 1920, took part in over 500 League matches. His total number of appearances must be considerably more.

As the Rovers never reached the Final tie for thirty-seven years, from 1891 to 1928, he nver had the opportunity of trying to earn the gold medal award to the Cup winners. His career appeals to me more in the capacity of an international player than as an ardent club man.

PRESENTED TO THE KING.

Against Scotland, Wales and Ireland he had the unique distinction of playing thirty-four times — the record for his country. The Football Association presented him with his portrait — a perfect replica of that hanging at headquarters.

His record would have been increased but for an accident that placed him beyond consideration for the season 1904-5.

Of course, he captained England, and after the match against Scotland at the Crystal Palace in 1909, when he divided the honours with George Wall, who scored two such brilliant goals by his individualism. Crompton was presented to the Prince of Wales, now King George V.

In my opinion Crompton was the finest right back in his era, no matter what country is considered. His selection for international matches was automatic so long as he was in health and uninjured.

A heavy man — I should say he was 18st. 7lb. in his last match against Scotland in April, 1914 — he was never speedy. His judgment, the position he took and his patience and perseverance under all circumstances made him difficult to beat and pass.

No matter how the ball reached him, he could take it and spurn it away with either foot.

He placed his returns and made every effort by imparting screw to keep the ball in play. His idea was to serve his forwards and to keep the game going with a leg stroke that rmeinded one of a pull-drive at cricket.

He had to be in a very awkward position before he would put the ball over the touch-line. This was his last resource. He has even been accused of seriously endangering his goal by not taking the easier course.

Big and heavy as he was, he could "work" in little room. An dept at covering the wing forward so that to centre was seldom easy, he would wait and watch, run and watch, hamper and watch, for the forward to make the least mistake. If he did, Crompton had the ball.

His intuition was uncanny and his tackle was timed to a nicety; to a split second.

With all his weight, he was never man to rely on charging. He did not wish to charge light-weights, but he relished about with oppoennts who had fine physique and liked robust play.

How the Scots revelled in calling up men like James Quinn, George Livingstone and Bobby Templeton to give Crompton the time of his life. But they did not. If any Scot could charge Crompton to the grass, what a cheer he got. And what a compliment to the English back.

Thus the enthusiasts of pre-war football had the rare sight of a full-back who was comparatively slow, being fast enough, who was heavy without making the most of his weight, and who preferred to play the ball and use it like a chess-master to being furious, fierce and mean in small ways.

He admired his foes. He once said that the best left-wing pair he ever faced as combination was Peter Somers, of the Celts, with Howard McD. Paul, of the Queen's Park.

NO SUCCESSOR

They were "the hardest wing" he ever had to tackle, and that at the inter-league match of 1909, at Glasgow Celtic's ground. The forwards of the Scottish League on that Feburary day were: — A. Bennet (Rangers), Bobby Walker ("Hearts"), James Quinn (Celtic), P. Somers (Celtic), and H. McD. Paul (Queen's Park).

Five years after this match, I understand that Crompton wrote a letter in which he said: "I shall remember them all, no matter how long I live."

Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that he considered Alec Smith, of Darvel, who played with Glasgow Rangers, the shrewdest and most skilful outside-left he ever met in an international match.

Since Anno Dommi beat this Lancashire lad, the Football Association have never found his successor either as a back or a man. Between 1919-20 and 1933-34 England has had 11 right-backs, a full team in his stead. Only three of them — Clay, of Tottenahm, in 1922; Cooper, of Derby, in 1929; and Goodall, of Huddersfield, in 1931 — have played in each of the three international matches in one season.

And yet Crompton, save for a mishap, would have played for 13 consecutive years against Scotland. Nor should it ever be forgotten that Crompton was a fair man.

I remember West Ham United being drawn at home against Blackburn Rovers in the Association Cup-ties of 1910-11.

If I recollect rightly, Butcher was the outside-left, and I could not help admiring Crompton in that match for the way he almost encouraged that forward.

He often smiled at him as much as to say, "I like your style, but I shall stop you when I want."

A friend of mine, who was so very fast in his youth that he could have left this back standing still, once played against Crompton in a charity match at Blackburn.

In describing his experiences he said, "When I got the ball he gave me every opportunity. He ran near me as I was skirting the touchline. He said. Go on young 'un, and eventually whispered. Now centre, and I did. I wonder how many cracks would encourage a youngster like that."

There was once a keen match between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers, at Old Trafford, when the right-wing raider thought he would try a fall with Crompton. He did — and fell.

As he regained his feet the forward shouted to the referee: "Penalty!" James Mason, of Burslem, the referee merely said: "Superior strength," and went on with the game.

In the whole of my career I never head anyone say an unkind or disparaging word about Crompton, and I hope that he is still taking an interest in football and getting some enjoyment out of life. He gave plenty to others when he was not in the corner of a railway carriage cuddling a "shilling shocker."

If Crompton never had the pleasure of receiving the gold medal as captain of the Cup winners, he was the skipper when the Rovers became the League champions in 1911-12 and 1913-14. Brilliant as the Blackburn Rovers have been, only in these seasons have they carried on the great honour of the long club campaign.

If I were asked why they were supreme in these years, my answer would be a player's name — John Simpson, who has strong claims to be considered the cleverest outside-right who ever played.

This is an all-embracing statement that is likely to make the admirers of Bassett, William Meredith and Alec Bennett (Scotland has never had an Alan Morton on the right wing) jump up and protest.

I stand by Jocky" Simpson, one of the two real Anglo-Scots ever known from my point of view. Of course Anglo-Scot was a term applied to Scots who took the high road south and played for English clubs in the League.

John Goodall and John Simpson were of Scottish blood, but, as it happened, born in England. In football law each was eligible to play for England, even though both learned their game north of the Tweed. They could rightly be described as Anglo-Scots.

The F.A. have never played a man in their national teams unless a member of an English club within their jurisdiction. Simpson was acknowledged to be the finest outside-right in Scotland, his club being Falkirk. Scotland could not legally play him. England could if they would.

In January, 1911, the F.A. went so far as to invite Simpson to take part in an international trial match, "Whites" v. "Stripes," at Tottenham.

The letter was sent to the secretary of Falkirk, Mr. William Nicol, and that happened just when Simpson had said that he would never again play for "the Bairns," as they are called. The reason why is of no consequence.

RECORD FEE.

What happened I learned afterwards. Nicol went to see Simpson and found him in bed owing to a headache. On hearing the news, Simpson said that he certainly would play at Tottenham, and he added that he did not intend to play again for Falkirk. Simpson could not be persuaded to alter his mind.

Nicol then wrote to Everton, Aston Villa, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United, Bradford and Tottenham, saying that Simpson was for transfer.

Simpson saved the trial match from being an ordinary game, and he was signed the same evening in an hotel in Russellsq, London, by Blackburn Rovers for the unprecedented fee at that date of over £1,800, of which it was said that Falkirk gave Simpson £500.

This was an outlay in those days, but it was largely owing to Simpson that Blackburn ran to the semi-final stage of our Cup in 1911. I am told that Crompton said he "got the money back at once." 

England won the international championship of 1910-11, and it was a coincidence that the victorious eleven nad Simpson, a Scot, born at Pendleton. Manchester, at outside-right, as well as Robert Evans, who had played ten times for Wales, at outside-left.

The F.A. discovered that Evans was born at Chester, and claimed his services as they had a perfect right to do.

Simpson lived as a baby for some time at Pendleton and Evans, who was born next door to Wales, was for three weeks at Chester. Still, the action of the International Selection Committee was thoroughly justifiable.

PERFECT BALL CONTROL.

Truly "Jocky" Simpson exerted considerable influence on the course of events in English football, for he was only with Blackburn Rovers for just over four seasons, the European war and an illness interrupting his brilliant career.

I have said that he was the cleverest outside-right I ever saw. Why? His control of the ball was such that it was very rarely any position was too difficult for him to use it with advantage. His centres into the goal area were accurate from every possible position, and from some that looked impossible.

If he made a centre from the corner flag, or even volleyed from anywhere near the flag, he would use his instep so as to hook the ball back, and occasionally to curl the ball inwards to the goal.

Such centres made me say, "What a fluke," but when he did such things three or four times in a match it became obvious that this was not a lucky shot. His centres were about the best ever known.

In these times, with a relaxed off-side rule, much praise is bestowed upon a wing-forward if he scores freely. When Bastin got 33 goals in 1932-33 the figures were said to be a record.

All I can say is that Simpson got just as many under the old rule in a season at Falkirk. This club had then a class line of forwards, but it was Simpson's deadly left foot that scored so often.

And I remember that Woodward said that Simpson could do all he needed in a few inches. Most men would require a yard where he would be content with half a foot of space.

And he was so quick, not only in a sudden burst of speed to beat his opponent, but in using the ball to the advantage of his side.

BORN FOOTBALLER.

Never was he selfish, because he invariably tried to make the right move. Born a footballer if ever a child was, he had no liking for any other game. Football was his only joy. He loved to be in the open air.

In his youth he began to work in a foundry, but gave up indoor work, and when he was not playing about with a ball for a junior club, where he attracted a lot of attention, he was driving an omnibus between Falkirk and the village of Laurieston.

The Falkirk club head about Simpson, and Mr. Nicol and Mr. Chapman, who was the librarian of the town, went out to see the youngster. They travelled by the omnibus that Simpson was driving. He heard them talking and making inquiries. Simpson knew who they were, but they did not know him.

When they got into touch with Simpson they recognised him as the laddie who had driven them to the villa. They laughed at the joke and engaged him.

And in a year or so Simpson became "Wee Jocky Simpson," the football idol for miles round. Think of the clubs that saw this young man go to Blackburn. The Glasgow Rangers gave him a trial. Chelsea went north and offered 1.500 for his transfer. Newcastle United and Midlesbrough were just as eager.

At that time neither Simpson nor Flakirk would consider any offer. Simpson was happy aming his own folk Falkirk knew his power over the public and other teams.

When the day came that Simpson wished to move, Falkirk could not understand his change of mind, because at that time he could be paid a higher salary in Scotland than in England.

Yet he came and conquered, although he was always a marked man. Nevertheless, he was an honest footballer, who gained the respect of his advesaries and won the admiration of the crowd.