FOOTBALL AFFAIRS
— John James Bentley | 01/05/1914 —

Backs have, of course, different methods. For instance, the Walters invariably told you that they meant to charge, and they did not forget to carry out their intentions. N. J. Ross was a bit of a puzzle in this respect, for he would stand back and then make a sudden rush at you. I once experienced a "rush," and went down, but did not mind thta a great. I, however, felt justified in objecting when Ross stamped his studs on my innocent chest. We were always the best of pals, and after the match he came to our dressing-room and apologised. I always think he was the best individual full-back I ever saw; and yet he came to Preston as a forward, and it was quite by  accident he went behind, for at Padiham, a rather noted club in those days, the back failed to turn up, and Ross filled the vacancy. A good job for the Preston North End that he did. He saved them innumerable times, and it was always a sore point with him that he failed to get an English Cup medal. He played in the Final when they were so unexpectedly beaten by West Bromwich — they had not previously lost a match during the whole of the season — and whne the club was successful, in 1889, he had joined Everton, owing to some little dificculty with the committee; but he soon returned to his old club, and died with it. He was a fine player and a fine fellow, and it is somewhat strange tha both he and his brother Jimmy should die so early, for as I knew them in the football field they appeared typical athletes. Jimmy did not really come down as a footballer — simply as N. J.'s brother — but he turned out to be one of the best forwards I have come across. He was of an argumentative nature so far as referees were concerned, and on one occasion, when I had awarded a free kick against him, he said it was not a free kick. I pointed out that it was about to be taken, and advised him to get into goal. He rushed away and saved with his head, when the goalkeeper was beaten. We had a laugh about afterwards, and Jimmy said it reminded him of the man in the stocks, when a sympathising friend remarked that he ought not to be there. But he was there, and so was the free kick.

FOUR GOOD COMBINATIONS.

The goalkeeper is entitled to all credit, for he is the last man to pass, and a mistake on his part is fatal; but I should imagine that M'Nair and Dodds have had a little say in that matter of eleven goals. They make a fine combined pair, and in England we have had them with A. M. and P. M. Walters — probably the best — Clare and Underwood, of Stoke; Ross and Howarth, of Preston North End; Jones and Sommerville, of Bolton Wanderers; and each pair had a goalkeeper behind them in respectively W. R. Moon, W. Rowley, J. Trainer, and J. W. Sutcliffe. We have had many good backs and many good goalkeepers, but I cannot remember four better combinations than I have named. There have been brilliant goalkeepers like Herby Arthur, Robinsons, Williamson, Hardy, and others, but as a blend I do not think you can improve upon the quartette I have named.

The brothers Walters were the most forcible tacklers I have known, although a personal experience with "Nick" Ross would almost compel me to give the verdict to him. But "A. M." and "P. M." were, in my opinion, always fai, if distinctly agressive, and i frequently acted as referee in their matches. They often remarked that I allowed charging. I did not see why it should be prohibited, for the rules allow it, and in our practice games "shouldering" was one of our lessons. There is no harm in it, and if referees would permit honest, even if somewhat heavy, charging a vast amount of what may be reasonably termed the nasty work of "ankle-tapping" would be done away with. I am perfectly certain that our players of to-day would much rather go straight at an opponent than trip him, but the artistic tripper is passed by and the vigorous charger penalised. It is very seldom a charge is dangerous, except possibly on an ince-covered ground; but even under these conditions it is far better than a tap on the ankle, for in one case the player can see what is likely to come, but in the other, he does not expect.