TERRITORY

This season marked some new aspects for England and its territory. Furthermore, footballing advances were noticeable throughout the season. According to some contemporaries, much of this development was due to professionalism, thus consequently attracting Scots and shaping the English method, especially through combinations and tactical improvements.

Of the novelties seen in the season, for instance, the Gletlemen (Amateurs) v. Players (Professionals) match was a welcome addition to the calendar. These were very common fixtures in Cricket, but they began to be held in Association. A total of two matches were played, the Gentlemen winning the first on 16 January 1886 through W. N. Cobbold, and the Players winning the second on 20 March 1886, after a strengthening of the professionals with the addition of six Scots and with North End as the base team.

For the traditional The North v. The South meeting it was quickly decided, due to Cobbold, R. T. Squire and G. Brann scoring all three goals. Just under thirty minutes were needed to decide the match.

DOMESTIC CUPS:


FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP: Blackburn Rovers F.C.
LANCASHIRE CUP: Bolton Wanderers F.C.
LIVERPOOL CUP: Everton F.C.


Some of the Cups had their share of surprises. For example, Blackburn Rovers F.C. failed to win their fifth Lancashire Cup title, and consequently lost the final to Bolton Wanderers F.C. through a goal by Fallon.

However, Fergie Suter's side won their third consecutive FA Cup title, thus equalling the Wanderers' achievement. In fact, the final featured one of the finest individual goals ever scored, according to the critics. Jimmy Brown, the centre-forward and captain of the Rovers, received the ball close to his own goal, dribbled past several opponents and added the second goal for his side.

In the Liverpool Cup, Everton F.C. won the competition for the second time.

THE NORTH END SIDE.

Although Blackburn Rovers were winning the major English football tournaments, with seven titles in the last three years, the team was still behind Corinthians F.C. and, especially, Preston North End. 

The North End side faced the Cup-holders four times in the season; North End won all four.

The team was very strong last season, but, especially with the arrival of John Goodall, they seemed unbeatable. In fact, due to their sovereignty, they were given the nickname "Invincibles".


NICHOLAS LANE JACKSON: Of the opposing clubs, Preston North End was greatly superior to the others, and is, without doubt, the best ordinary club team in the country. Their play is so good all round that it would be unfair to select any one of them for social mention.


The team were beginning to excel in a way that drew comparisons to the brilliant Queen's Park F.C. team of a few years earlier. For most of the season, Major William Sudell's North End remained unbeaten, losing only two meetings in the closing stages, having gone over fifty games unbeaten.

*   *   *

NATIONAL TEAM

After their recent failures against Scotland, England had shown some resilience against opposing players. It is true that Scotland no longer had the formidable names that had shaped their previous routs, but it was clear that England had made progress in football.

The main match of the season — Scotland v. England — ended in a frustrating draw for the English, as even the Scottish pundits believed their neighbours were superior.

After the draw against Scotland, England beat Wales and shared the Home Championship with Scotland in that edition. This was the first time that England had been crowned champions of the competition, although, as mentioned earlier, they shared the top spot.