THE FIGHT AT SHEFFIELD
— John James Bentley | 18/03/1889 —

The semi-final tie between North End and the Albion aroused as much enthusiasm as the noted tiee at Perry Barr a little over twelve months ago, and it was a good move to have it played at Sheffield, for trips were run from almost every town in Lancashire and the Midlands, whilst I should imagine nearly all the Sheffield folks turned out to see the first semi-final they have had in the birthplace of Association football. From noon the streets presented an animated appearance, the trippers whiling away the time as best they could in murky Sheffield, with cards with "Play up, North End," or "Play up, Albion," to denote which way their feelings ran. The railway officials had a very busy time of it, but appeared to have made ample arrangements. So far as I could learn, about 2,000 came from each of the towns most interested, though, unfortunately, one-half of those from West Bromwich had nothing but a dreary railway ride for their money, as they only arrived in Sheffield at 4-20. The teams were in town early, North End putting up at their old quarters, the Royal, and the Albion staying at the Maunche. Each team had its prominent supporters, Mr. Sudell, Mr. Banks, Alderman Walmsley, Mr. Joe Eccles, and others accompanying the North End, whilst the Albion had their Mayor, the two secretaries, and I should imagine the whole of the committee. Brakes and 'busses were in plenty, and, goodness knows, they were needed, for there was a tremendous crowd bent on seeing the match. Some went down before twelve o'clock, and from that time until 3-30 the money takers were very busy. North End arrived about ten minutes before the time announced for the kick-off, and the Albion, were not long after them. The ground had a very imposing appearance, and in some places the crowd would be thirty deep, whilst the walls were packed and even the roofs of the stand and other buildings were occupied by an assortment of venturesome youths who meant to see the game at any cost. At this time the arrangements seemed admirable, and all was orderly, and I was silently congratulating Mr. Haigh in having successfully coped with an extraordinary attendance, when, just as Bayliss was ready to start the leather, the crowd at the bottom goal showed a disposition to get nearer the field of play than they were entitled to do, and Mr. Clegg used his persuasive powers very effectively, and the spectators retired somewhat. The ball was then put in motion before 24,000 persons, by far the largest number ever seen in the famous cricket enclosure. The teams were:—

North End.— Mills-Roberts, goal; Howarth and Holmes, backs; Drummond, Russell, and Graham, half-backs; Gordon, Ross, Goodall, Dewhurst, Thomson, forwards.

Albion.— Roberts, goal; Robinson and Green, backs; Horton, C Perry, and Timmins, half-backs; Bassett, W Perry, Bayliss, Pearson, and Wilson, forwards.

Umpires, Messrs Smith and Stacey. Referee, Mr. J. C. Clegg.

When the game began the crowd behind the goals pulled off their hats, and the effect of a large swaying concourse of spectators being bareheaded was rather ghastly. The play started in favour of North End, and may be said to have continued so, for it was but seldom the Albion broke away. Sam Thompson had a goal disallowed for off-side, and in ten minutes the game was stopped owing to the people in front of the pavilion getting over the touch line. Mr. Clegg again tried his quiet manner, but it was no use; Mr. Stacey could be seen motioning, and Mr. Smith joined his brother officials in an ineffectual attempt to convince the trespassers that they would be better outside. Then the players had a go, and two stalwart policemen marched up with an air of it takes-us-to-make-'em move, but even their sticks and threats were unavailing. Then the Mayor, Alderman Clegg, seeing his son was in a quandary, left the stand and elbowed his way through, and, amidst loud cheering, went to work on a system of bundling them over one at a time. If they would not go peaceably his Worship collared them and accelerated their movements, and presently there was sufficient room left for the game to proceed, though after the Perry Barr fiasco we did not know whether it was a Cup tie or not. The game proceeded in favour of North End, but on several occasions the Albion forwards sprinted up, and had it not been for some good play by Holmes and Howarth, Mills-Roberts would not have been idle. As it was, Bayliss ought to have scored from a quick centre by Bassett, but the Doctor tipped it out just in time, and the Prestonians breathed freely again. The game went on — nearly always in the Albion quarters — but the time flew away, and it seemed that the defence of Roberts, Green, and Robinson would be too good for the rather weak shooting powers of North End, when a free kick was allowed; and after Mr. Clegg had measured out the necessary six yards, Dewhurst touched the ball across, Thompson jumped out of the way for Russell, who came rushing up, and first blood was drawn. The Albion were not at all disheartened, and indeed played up much better; but, for all that, they had the worst of it, and it seemed very probable that North End would increase their score, but this they did not succeed in doing, and the interval arrived with North End, 1 goal; Albion, none.

There was more determination displayed by the North End forwards in the first quarter of an hour of the second half than all the rest of the game put together, and they must have pleased their admirers by the manner in which they set about their work against the wind. They had again the best of the play, and some very good shots were sent in, Thomson missing a centre from Ross by barely a foot when nothing could have saved the goal. There was some very fine football shown by the North End forwards and the opposing defenders; and then there was a great change, for the Albion forwards evidently thought it was about time they did something, but Pearson commenced by missing a very easy chance from a capital pass by Bayliss, who fed both wings unselfishly. Mills-Roberts had not been tested to anything like the same extent as the other Roberts, but now he had a "peculiar" and had only just time to drop on it full length as the Albion forwards reached him. The Albion men did not seem too well versed in the kind of football the Welshman treated us to, and they almost stood still watching Roberts wriggle like a snake and put the ball outside. The Albion claimed three things — a goal, free kick, or corner; but like most greedy people they got nothing — a goal kick being the result. This was of bit of a startler, for if Mills-Roberts did not carry the ball, he certainly put it over the line. However, the Albion kept on, and Green and Robinson were enjoying themselves about the half-way line. I happened to be between Mr. Sudell and the North End trainer — the "Prnce of Wales" — and I cannot say that I enjoyed myself, for both of them kicked about like a pair of restive ponies, especially now that the Albion were having all the best of it. The time did not seem to fly past very rapidly to them, for at any moment the Albion might have scored, and but for the fine defence of Howarth and Graham they would have done, for Holmes, Drummond, and Russell were never too certain at this portion of the game. The last ten minutes was a particularly anxious time, but both Howarth and Holmes kept their heads clear and the Albion forwards were sent back pointless. I made my way to the entrance gates and just saw a man relieve another of a gold "ticker," but being collared, he dropped it, and on the owner picking it up he found it had the company of another gold one, so that he made a profit out of the transaction. The whistle blew with the Albion still in the North End goal, but they had to retire beaten, for the first time in a Cup tie, by the League champions.

TOO EXCITING TO BE GOOD.

I don't think there are many who would leave the Bramall-lane ground with the impression that they had seen football of a scientific character. Anyway, I didn't. I had seen a crowd of unusual dimensions, and a very pleasant and enjoyable game, but neither side had displayed anything like the same amount of good football as I have seen them. Where we expected to see some genuine football — I mean combination of the forwards — there was none, or very little. North End only showed a bit of their true form, in the first quarter of an hour after the interval, and the Albion theirs in the last quarter of an hour of the match. With these exceptions both sets of forwards seemed to be in a very spasmodical sort of mood, and kicked the ball away in almost schoolboy fashion. The exceptions were the two centre forwards, and both Bayliss and Goodall did their utmost to get the others to play the game. Bassett was completely out of it, and did next to nothing — in fact, I never saw my little favourite to worse advantage. He had not much assistance from W. Perry, it is true, but for all that he might have made more of his opportunties. The other wing was almost as bad, and Wilson was the better of the two. The half-backs were also very medium. Charlie Perry, though slightly better than the other two was a long way below his usual form. The two backs and Roberts did splendid work, and though both Robinson and Green are on the small side, they showed plenty of pluck, and not only cleared finely but tackled strongly. Roberts had all his old sang froid about him, and kept his head wonderfully cool. He had three times as much work as Mills-Roberts, who, however, had three very difficult customers to deal with, and has still a clear book in cup ties. The North End backs were good, especially Howarth, who was far and away the best on the field. He is going stronger than ever, and, were it not for the two Walters, would stand a remarkably good chance of his cap against Scotland. Holmes was occasionally erratic, but put in some timely kicks, and there is no doubt as to which was the best of the halves, the veteran Graham beating his two juniors into a cocked hat. One of the Prestonians remarked, "Johnny could play football without his feet," and whilst it would be rather awkward moving about without pedal extremities, still Graham's head is such a useful part of his body that he headed more than he kicked, and was altogether too much for Bassett. Russell, is hardly the Russell he was, and Drummond does not pass to his forwards like Sandy Robertson. As I have said, Goodall was the best of the forwards, and Ross and Gordon were a street in front of the other pair. Fred Dewhurst seemed very tired, and Thomson did not get along at all well. They were slow on the ball, and their shooting could not be considered deadly. The game may be summed up as being in favour of North End — bad forward play, moderate half back display, capital defence on the part of the backs, and rattling goal-keeping when they were called upon. Of course there is a protest and it will come before the Council to-night. I do not know the exact grounds only that both captains are said to have laid an objection to Mr. Clegg when the crowd broke through, but so far as I could see there was little or no interference after, the game was proceeded with.