STRAY LEAVES.
BEST BRITISH TEAMS.
James Catton | 02/10/1917

Taking up the thread of our discussion on Scotland's best Association football team, "Ayrshire writes:— "There is really not a great deal between your team and mine, as you select at least two players I never saw (Gordon and Drummond) in addition to N. J. Ross and James MacAulay. To be quite candid, however, I must say that I prefer my own left wing much as I admire Alec Smith." On this we can agree to differ.

THE GOLDEN AGE.

A gentleman at Dumbarton, who prefers to assume the name of "Mr. Macawber," sends a good letter in which he writes:—

Regarding "Scot," frae Paisley, I am afraid he must just blame his parents for not having him born sooner, as to my mind he, like many other present-day followers of the game, has just missed the period when we saw the real football played, and though I am not an "ancient," I can go back quite clearly to the original Hampden.

Regarding best players, this is a biz question, but to mention just a few I should say Crabtree was the best all-round player I ever saw and I saw him play in all five positions in the defence in international matches, and he got there every time. But for a pivot Jimmy Cowan, notwithstanding his Celtic Park failure, stands out alone. I always thought him the finished article in every sense of the term, and the late Jack Campbell, of Sunderland, though not a G. O. Smith or M'Coll for finesse, was a much more effective player than either. The present chairman of West Bromwich, with Neilly M'Callum, of Renton, a good second, will always stand out as the outside right, and Spiksley on the other extreme.

Like you, I think Arnott and Ross were unsurpassed, but as a combination the Walters were a better pair. Abercorn at that time nad two brotuers at back (Cuthbertson), who, while not so polished, were a good strong combination. All the same, the Walters could mix it all right when in the mood.

Your par on change of style hits the nail on the head, and more particularly in connection with the goalkeeper. There were Moon, Sutcliffe, Hillman, etc., and Gillespie, Wilson (Vale), and Lindsay (Renton), just to mention a few who had to contend with a battering ram at centre as well as getting rid of the hall. 

I saw Macaulay two seasons ago playing here in a "benefit," and I make bold to say he could go out and keep yet with the average, the way the modern player is protected. Harking back to change of style, I would like very much to see any of the following teame perform at the present time (about the period from 1888 till 1904, or so); Renton, Q. P. Third Lanark, Celtic, Hearts, our own, Sunderland, The Villa, P.N.E., Everton, and The Wednesday I don't think anyone could accuse those teams of want of pace. Their brilliancy was caused simply because they had pace and football combined, and that was what made the game worth looking at; not as now, a series of throw-ins with a little, very little football. So, the present-day lot against those I have mentioned would, I am afraid, make a sorry show. Since starting this effusion I have seen Watty Arnott passing along. He is "on the road" for "Sweeties," and though getting on, naturally, is as fresh and fit as ever. Now I could go on like this for ever, but I fancy I hear you say, "Is this another of them?"

CRABTREE'S VERSALITY.

Both Crabtree and Cowan were really great players, but for his versatility preferences must be given to James Crabtree who played in all the five back positions in representative matches. He filled every place on the field, and when I first met him he was an outside left. I saw him in his first match against Scotland at Goodison Park in 1895, when he was partner to L. V. Lodge. It is sad to think that both of them died young under unhappy circumstances. Crabtree never was so fine a defender as in the Scottish matches of 1895 and 1899.

In these days it is well to recall that when in Germany he led the English teama out of a music-hall because one of the singers introduced an uncomplimentary referenes to Queen Victoria, and he once silenced a roomful of Irishmen who cheered the Boers. Although Crabtree would now be verging on 46, I think he would have amuggled himself into the army during this crisis.

Of James MacAulay I shall tell a tale when I write his sketch.

ANOTHER CHAMPION OF THE PAST.

"Ayrshire-Anglo," who used to play for Kilbirnie and afterwards resided in England, is good enough to send along the following communication:—

The discussion in your column is very interesting, and your correspondents have selected very good teams, so far as their knowledge goes, but apparently they have never seen many of the crack players bred in Scotland.

I will submit the following names for their edification:—Goal, J. Wilson (Vale of Leven); backs, Holmes and Watson (Q.P.), M'Intyre and Forbes (Vale of Leven). Paton, and Butelieon (Dumbarton), D. Gow (Sunderland), T. Brandon (Blackburn Rovers), and A. Thomson (Third Lanark); half-backs, P. Miller (Dumbarton), B. Kelso (Benton), T. Robertson (Q.P.). D. Russell (P.N.E), Auld (Sunderland), Geo, Dewar (Blackburn Rovers, J. M'Laren (Hibs), and J. Graham (P.N.E); forwards, Frank Shaw (Pollokshields), N. M'Callum (Benton); J. Ross (P.N.E), J, J. Blessington (Celtic), A. Hunter (Aston Villa), J. Weir (Q.P.), Highet (Q.P), Joe Lindsay (Dumbarton), James Oswald (Third Lanark), J. M'Pherson (Rangers), J. M'Call (Renton), Sam Thomson (P.N.E.), John Allan (Q.P.), and W. Gray (Pollokshields).

So far as I have seen none of the above players have been mentioned in the discussion. A selection from the above might be:— Wilson; Paton, Forbes; Kelso, Russell, Graham; N. M'Callum, Ross, J. Weir, J. M'Call, and Sam Thomson.

When I read the above names I am a little surprised at the pile written about some of the so-called cracks of to-day. Compare M'Nair and Dodds with some of the above. Where have we in Scotland half-backs of the calibre of the above; and how do W. Reid and even the incomparable Quinn compare with some of these old-timers?

For the sake of variety I give you a British team:— Trainor; Howarth, N. J. Ross; Kelso, Raisbeck, Needham; Gordon, Goodall, Southworth, Cobbold, and Daft. I am not forgetting the Bassett, Bloomers, M'Williams, etc., but I think the above team will take some beating

Did any of your correspondents see the English forwards walking through Sootland in 1892 at Ibrox Park? Bassett, Goodall, Southworth, Chadwick, and Hodgetts. Can we select a forward line to-day in Britain anyway near the same class?

This letter could be the foundation of half a dozen articles, as I saw most of the players" Ayrshire-Anglo" mentions. How the names of the old Preston team live in the mind of football folks. In these articles have been chosen Trainor, Howarth, Jack Ross, Dave Russell, Graham, Gordon, Goodall, James Ross, Drummond, and Sam Thomson. Another friend of mine suggested "Sandy" Robertson, very strongly instead of Hugh Wilson. It was one of my regrets that I did not have a crack with Sandy" when he was here in khaki! These Preston players may well be chosen. To me there have been none like them.

GREAT BRITAINS'S BEST.

This last letter brings me back to our original correspondent, "Ayrshire," the Dublin Fusilier in hospital at Chipping Norton. In the course of a long epistle he selects for the best English eleven of all times:—

Hardy; Crompton, Oakley or Crabtree; Crabtree or Warren, F. Forman, Needham; Simpson, Bloomer, Goodall, Chadwick, and Spiksley.

For Wales his choices are:—

Trainor; Dai Jones, Charles Morris; Parry, Morgan-Owen, Hughes; Meredith, Lot Jones, Davis, G. Morris, and Vizard. 

For Ireland he nominates:

Scott; M'Cracken, Craig; Harris, M'Connell, Hamill; Lacey, Gallagher, Gillespie, O'Hagan, and Kirwan.

He prefers Hardy to Gay, Sutcliffe, and Robinson. To Crompton he pays tribute thus:— "Whether winning or losing he was always the same great-hearted defender. He, at least, never falled." He has a hearty word for Herbert Burgess, and adds: "His kicking of a wet and heavy ball in a storm of slees in 1904 was long spoken about in Scotland, and scarcely less admirable was bie display in 1906 when Makepeace was carried off." But he prefers Oakley for his physique. After weighing the claims of Holt, Wedlock, and Roberts he prefers Forman for his handling of M'Coll in 1899. At his best be deems John Simpson "the most effective and finished wing man in the world. I have never seen a man who in any position could direct the ball with such certainty towards goal." He discusses Charles Buchan, and wonders how masterful Cobbold and Gosling really were, while he does not forget Stanley Harris.

Now, into all these matters I cannot entet at this session, but in my nex I will name those players who in my judgment constitutue the aristocratcs of the game in each country.