QUEEN'S PARK v. PRESTON NORTH END
HAMPDEN PARK, OCTOBER 30, 1886.
— "Bauldie" | 21/11/1902 —

Hardly any past club match created such a furore of excitement as did this the third fixture between the "Proud Prestons" and the Scottish premiers. The reasons for this are not far to seek. In the first place, professionalism had just been legalised over the Border, and John Goodall, the Rosses, Drummond, Gordon, and Robertson, Thomson, Russell, and Graham had all joined Major Suddell's talented brigade. John Goodall's term of registration had not been completed, and so he was unable to play in this all-important tie. Another matter which added to the excitement and increased the interest was due to the fact that on September 25 of the same year on Hampden Park the champion parlour passers of the P.N.E. had taken six goals to one off the Queen's, that being a record score put up against the Scottish amateurs to that date. The attendance would number ten to twelve thousand, one of whom was Mr N. L. Jackson, of Corinthian fame. The day was one of the liveliest; all were built up on witnessing a class exposition of the game, and I should say that, bar one regrettable incident, they did. 

Walter Arnott, captain of the Queen's for the day, kicked off for them, and the two Allans made tracks for the swarthy Wharton, who, as a sprinter, was one of the English deerfoots of his day. J. Allan, the old Kilwinning pacer, could also fly a bit, and with Gordon, at one time of Port-Glasgow, made up trio of flatfoots that would be hard to equal in these modern days. Drummond replied with a breakaway for Preston, and a corner, followed by a foul, caused Gillespie some uneasiness. Assisted manfully by Arnott and Smellie, who more than held their own with the English pair, the visiting forwards were kept at bay, yet not for long, because on a foul being awarded to the Queen's the ball was crushed through past Gillespie after eight minutes' play. Great forward work by Harrower (who was the most useful and conspicuous of the home forward line) was checked by Nicholas Ross, whose clean, powerful kicking was only equalled by Arnott's fancy returns.

Gordon and Ross, jun., believed at their prime to be the speediest and most knowing of all English or Scottish combines, were seen tearing along the wing, and from their grand work Thomson had the ball through again, the point, however, being disallowed for off-side. Half-time arrived with the Preston North End leading by 1 to 0. As an exhibition, the first half was most equal and most brilliant, holding the crowd in the thrilling ecstacies of delightful expectation as to what would turn up next, so evenly were the giants on both sides moving. With far more method with the ball, and moving like machinery, the Prestonians in the second half assumed the mastery, Dewhurst heading through a second goal amidst plenty of cheering. This second success had rather a chilling influence with the home eleven, especially forward, where the comparison between the two teams was rather "oderous." The Queen's "wingers" did their best to raise the hopes of their supporters, and rallied strongly against such a powerful defence. However. they failed, and that cute and tricky artist, known as little Jim Ross, with a slanting shot, sealed the fate of Queen's with a third goal, and the game was up and the tie won and lost. But for a most regrettable incident near the close this match would not have been so famous. Ross, jun., in meeting Harrower, in a most ungentlemanly and uncalled-for way, brought the Queen's forward of the day to the ground in such a way as nearly to break his vertebrae. 

Annoyed at being defeated by what they termed a team of "renegades," the Queen's supporters rushed on the field, and would have torn the lithe, little old Heart to pieces, so wild were they at the "duck," for such was the nature of the act. Happily for Ross, the Queen's officials rallied round him, and he was hustled in safety into the pavilion. There he had to remain for an hour or two trembling with fear. Latterly he was spirited away, and so there was left to him and to all who witnessed this match an undying memory of it. It is rather curious and rather humiliating that "Proud Preston" is a pride no longer on our football earth, and that our Scottish "premiers" have also sadly declined. I wonder what the Queen's executive of to-day would give for a return to the classic slopes of this grand eleven.

QUEEN'S PARK.

Goal, *G. Gillespie; backs, *W. Arnott and R. Smellie; half-backs, A. Stewart and *J. J. Gow; forwards, *A. Hamilton, *J. Lambie, *G. Somerville, *W. Harrower, *D. S. Allan, and *J. Allan. 

*Internationalists v. England.

PRESTON.

Goal, Wharton; backs, Ross and Howarth; half-backs, Russell, Graham and Robertson; forwards, Gordon, Ross, jun., Thomson, F. Dewhurst, and G. Drumond.

Referee— Mr. Cope, Staffordshire F.A.