FULL-BACKS OF THE PAST
— John James Bentley | 11/11/1910 —

Has it ever struck you what slump there is in full-backs? The question was raised by a very old friend, and a very old football legislator, in Mr. J. Parlby, at the conclusion of the Oldham Athletic and Manchester United match the other day. When you come to consider matters, there is undoubtedly a weakness, so far as first-class full-backs are concerned; and, after Mr. Parlby had called my attention to it, I remembered the difficulty we had often experienced in fixing up our rear defence for International purposes. We have, of course, always had our Crompton; but even Crompton must give way to Anno Domini; and at the present time I do not know a back of what may be termed outatanding ability. And yet it is only eighteen months since Crompton played the game of his life against Scotland at the Palace. The Scotsmen complained that he was foul, and the referee cautioned him — a most unusual experience for one of the most gentlemanly backs I have ever seen. I quite admit that on this particular occasion Crompton was vigorous in the sense that he used his weight; but he was certainly not unfair, nor did he resort to illegitimate actions — he simply faced his man and brought him down.

Crompton in his methods is not unlike the present trainer to his team, Bob Holmes, one of the Preston North End stalwarts, who had the exceptional experience of playing for his country when a second-team man for his club. Holmes played at a time when we had innumerable good backs; but he always held his own, and I do not remember a single foul being given against him for anything beyond handling the ball. He was a perfect sample of what a full-back ought to be, and gained his point without resorting to anything approaching dirty tactics. He had a partner in Bob Howarth — now, I believe, a duly qualified solicitor — built upon pretty much the same lines, and both of them were successful as half-backs. Indeed, the first time I played against Bob Howarth he was at half-back, and it was one of his early games; and I remember he made me look very small. He afterwards played for England, and was undoubtedly one of the best and one of the fairest backs we ever had.

THE KEENNESS OF NICK ROSS.

There was distinct contrast in style betwist Bob Howarth and his partner, N. J. Ross. I would not for a moment say that Ross was unfair, but he was unquestionably vigorous, and occasionally his enthusiasm carried him to a point where the referee was entitled to interfere. I do not object to a full-back being robust, for when the ball invades his territory matters are getting dangerous, and Ross ws not the man to stand on ceremony. He made what appeared to the spectator to be a made, bull-like rush, but it was nothing of the sort — Ross had his eyes on his opponent. I happened to be his opponent one afternoon, and this mad rush of his laid me out. I did not object to that a great deal, but when Ross jumped on my chest and left the imprint of his boots I felt somewhat hurt (literally) and decidely aggrieved, for Ross and I were close friends. But in apologising, after the match, Ross said that if his grandmother were coming along, and seemed likely to score a goal, he would knock her down. I quite believe he would.

GREAT FULL-BACKS.

We have had many pairs of full-backs who, at the present time, we do not seem to replace. First and foremost, I think, A. M. and P. M. Walters ought to be cited. They produced the deal. Vigorous to a degree, they were, to my mind, never unfair, although I am quite prepared to admit that his opinion will not be shared by a vast majority of football followers at the time the two famous brothers were playing. They were heavy, almost violent chargers, but in a lenghty experience of refereeing games in whic hthey took part I cannot recall a single occasion when they acted unfairly or unsportsmanlike. Two other combinations were Sommerville and Jones of Bolton Wanderers, and Clare and Underwood of Stoke. They were different in style from the brothers Walters, but little less effective, and in each case had a magnificent goalkeeper behind them, for the Corinthians had Moon, Bolton Wanderers Sutcliffe (still playing for Plymouth Argyle), and Stoke Rowley. Without the slightest disrespect, I do not think that any of our leading clubs can turn out a trio of rear defenders equal to either of the three I have named. So far as I have seen during the present season, the three representing Middlesbrough most closely approach them, but even the brilliancy of Williamson and the sturdy prowess of M'Leod and Weir do not come up to the standard of the three sets alluded to, and there is little doubt full backs, like centre forwards, are at a premium.

Most people appear to think that the full-back position is easy to fill. It is not, for you require a man of good physique, and at the same time not lacking in speed. It is not sufficient that a mna should be able to kick the lenght of the field — he must be able to stop an opponent or prepared to follow and overtake him, for, as a rule, a full-back's area is within dangerous proximity of his own goal. We have several good backs to-day, but could do with many more. Physique is, of course, a decided asset; but there have been many first-class backs of low stature and little weight, and the other night I came across one of the very best of little 'uns in Herbert Burgess, o Manchester. From his appearance I thought he ought still to be playing football. He was a pocket Hercules, and his success was his admirable judgment. He had not the weight nor the height to assist him, but he was always there, and bob Crompton once told me that he never wanted a better partner than Burgess. I sometimes think that full-backs, like goalkeepers, are born and not made.