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Results 1891-1900
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"the minimum charge to the field shall be a shilling, raising from 6d., which doubtless affected the attendance." 
Saturday, 18 February 1899
Home International Championship 1898-99 (16th) Match


England 13 Ireland 2
[5-0]
  

Roker Park Ground, Association Road, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, County Durham
Kick-off (GMT): 'fixed to start at three o'clock'; 'kicked off punctually'

Attendance:
'9,600 paying'; 'some 10,000'; 'before 12,000'; 'before 14,000'; something like 15,000';' estimated 15,000'.
Receipts: '£558 17s 6d';
(a new fixture record)
England's first visit to Roker Park, second visit to the North East. First since 1891.
Gilbert Smith won the toss Jack Waring kicked-off

[0-0] Jimmy Settle or Smith strike struck the bar
[0-0] Gilbert Smith shot struck the bar again

[1-0] Frank Forman 16
 'Forman sent in a shot, rebounding off Milne's foot'; 'from about 20 yards range, sent in a bouncing shot'.
[2-0] Fred Forman 21
 'long high kick in off the upright'; 'though Lewis struck it, he was not able to clear, the ball going against the post and rebounding in'.
[3-0] Charlie Athersmith 22
 'kicked'; 'a long shot'; 'a beautiful daisycutter'.
[3-0] Charlie Athersmith strike struck the bar
[3-0] Gilbert Smith struck the post rolled across line

[4-0] Gilbert Smith 32
 'out of the scrimmage'; 'close in as he shot, an appeal for offside';
[4-0] Gilbert Smith 'put through' disallowed: offside

[5-0] Steve Bloomer 40
 'kicked'; 'banged the leather in.'
 
[5-0]Jimmy Crabtree missed pen. 46
 'shot outside'; 'the goalkeeper saving'; 'Lewis saved amidst cheering' ; 'Lewis cleared, giving a corner'. (Lewis foul on Smith)
[6-0] Fred Forman 52
 'Athersdmith sending to Forman, put the ball thro' after Lewis had already cleared one shot'
[7-0] Jimmy Settle 53
 'splendid shot'
[8-0] Gilbert Smith 55
[9-0] Jimmy Settle header 59
[10-0] Gilbert Smith 60 HAT-TRICK
 'from a smart pass from Fred Forman'

[11-0] Gilbert Smith 63
 'a result of some very smart play'; 'chipped in'
 

Two very descriptive Irish reports state Jack Waring took the kick, and McAllen picked up the rebound>





[12-1] Jimmy Settle 80 HAT-TRICK
 'after Lewis saved twice, Settle put through easily'.

  

[13-2] Steve Bloomer 89
<The Referee states Bloomer took the kick. Irish & Dublin News states Smith took it







<The Telegraph states Needham scored number nine

<The Telegraph states Forman scored number eleven
[11-0] Jack Mercer strike grazes the post
[11-0]Jack Waring saved penalty 65
'Waring shot hard'; 'kicked straight for goal, Hillman managed to kick the ball...'
(Crabtree fouled Watty)
[11-1] Joe McAllen rebound
65
 '...but it swerved round to the left off his foot and M'Allen rushing up kicked the ball through'
 

[12-2] James Campbell 88
'with only Hillman before, had no difficulty in scoring'
<The Telegraph states Athersmith scored number 13
Player lost since last match
Reg Birkett (30 June 1898) 49


Football League Record
First time that both teams took a penalty-kick each  
 

"AN EASY VICTORY FOR ENGLAND" Yorkshire Post

Officials       

England Team Records Ireland
Referee
Alexander Hamilton
33 (22 July 1865) Queen's Park FC, Scotland FA
"The telegraphic work in connection with the match was a record for football in Sunderland, there being 33,000 words in press messages despatched, 8,000 of which went to Belfast and Dublin. Some 2,000 private messages were likewise sent."
Linesmen
J. Howcroft
England
Thomas W. Gibson
Ireland

England Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 1st
Colours "The Englishmen wore white jerseys and dark knickers."
Captain Gilbert Smith Selection The five-man FA International Selection Committee
P 7 of 13, W 5 - D 0 - L 2 - F 31 - A 8. P 34th of 195, W 27 - D 4 - L 3 - F 144 - A 33.
seventh, eighth or ninth captaincy team chosen in The Crystal Palace pavilion, on Monday, 1 February 1899, following the trial match.
England Lineup
  five changes to the previous match (Robinson, Oakley, Wreford-Brown, Wheldon & Spiksley out) league position (1st February) ave lge pos: 8th¹⁰
29   Hillman, W. John 28
80 days
30 November 1870 G Burnley FC (FL1 4th) 1 2ᵍᵃ
242 third keeper to face a penalty kick oldest to face a penalty so far the third Burnley player to represent England only app 1899
243   Bach, Philip 26
163 days
8 September 1872 RB Sunderland AFC (FL1 11th) 1 0
the second Sunderland player to represent England only app 1899
  Williams, William 23
29 days
20 January 1876 LB West Bromwich Albion FC (FL1 8th) 5 0
Forman, Frank 23
271 days
23 May 1875 RH Nottingham Forest FC (FL1 13th) 3 1
  Crabtree, James W. 27
57 days
23 December 1871 CH Aston Villa FC (FL1 TOP) 7 ¹
England's first penalty kick is missed
     
  Needham, Ernest 26
28 days
21 January 1873 LH Sheffield United FC (FL1 9th) 8 1
Athersmith Harper, W. Charles 26
284 days
10 May 1872 OR Aston Villa FC (FL1 TOP) 8 3
Bloomer, Stephen 25
29 days
20 January 1874 IR Derby County FC (FL1 10th) 9 17
the 47th brace scored, his fifth mst gls

Smith, Gilbert O. 26
85 days
25 November 1872 CF Old Carthusians AFC & Corinthians FC 14 9
the 46th brace, eighteenth hattrick, fifth four-goals
244 Settle, James 23
166 days
5 September 1875 IL Bury FC (FL1 7th) 1 3
the 45th brace, nineteenth hattrick the first Bury player to represent England
245 Forman, Frederick R. 25
102 days
8 November 1873 OL Nottingham Forest FC (FL1 13th) 1 2
the 44th brace scored the twelfth Forester to represent England
       
reserves: not known
team changes: On 9 February, it was announced that Charlie Athersmith would take the place of Oxford University AFC's Gilbert Vassall. The Corinthian was needed to take the field as Captain in Oxford's varsity match against Cambridge University AFC.
family notes: Fred and Frank Forman are brothers. Frank had already played for England last season. They are the twelfth set of brothers to play for England. The eighth set of brothers to play together. The very first set of brothers to score in the same match.
appearance notes: Gilbert Smith is the fifth player to have made fourteen England appearances, whereas Steve Bloomer is the fifteenth to have made nine.
Nineteen players have made eight appearances. Jimmy Crabtree is the 28th player to have now made seven and Bill Williams is 36th to have made five. Frank Forman is the 87th player to have now made three appearances for England.
Smith is the third player to make fourteen appearances under the guidance of the ISC.
records: Third time two hat-tricks have been scored in a single match, all against Ireland (1882 & 1884).
The thirteenth goal is England's 200th goal scored on a Saturday.
"The teams visited the Avenue Theatre last evening, and during the morning, the teams visited places of interest and witnessed a ship launch and after the match to-day were invited to dinner by the Sunderland club."; "The Englishmen put in an appearance at The Grand Hotel, their headquarters, before six o'clock."
 
2-3-5 Hillman -
Bach, Williams -

Fk. Forman, Crabtree, Needham -
Athersmith, Bloomer, Smith, Settle,
Fd. Forman
Averages: Age 25 years 217 days Appearances/Goals 5.3 2.1

 

Ireland Team
 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 6th
Colours "Erin's representatives sported their ancient colour in their jerseys, which were bright blue and white pants."
Captain Joe McAllen Selection
in charge: J Reid (secretary)
Ireland Selection Committee;
"accompanied by Messrs. D. W. Foy, T. W. Gibson, J. S. Brolly, J. Clugston, and A. Thompson, of the Selecting Committee, and Mr. J. Reid"
P 1 of 2 - W 0 - D 0 - L 1- F 2 - A 13. team chosen on Saturday, 11 February in Belfast, following the inter-league match.
Ireland Lineup
140   Lewis, James 24
167 days
4 September 1874 G Glentoran FC 1 13ᵍᵃ
  Pyper, John Stanley 21
40 days
9 January 1878 RB Cliftonville FAC 4 1
  Torrans, Samuel 29
14 days
4 February 1869 LB Linfield FAC 23 0
  Ponsonby, John 24
101 days
9 November 1874
in Old Kilpatrick, Scotland
RH Distillery FC 9 0
final app 1895-99
  Milne, Robert George 28
140 days
1 October 1870
in Inverarity, Scotland
CH Linfield FAC 14 1
  Cochrane, Michael 25
9 days
27 February 1874 LH Distillery FC 4 0
Campbell, James Caughley 23
166 days
5 September 1875 OR Cliftonville FAC 7 1
  Mercer, John Thomas 21
328 days
27 March 1877 IR Distillery FC 4 0
141   Waring, John 24
332 days
23 March 1874 CF Distillery FC 1 0
3rd (& missed) penalty kick against England only app 1899
142   Watty, John 20
49-140 dys
late 1878
in Liverpool, England
IL Distillery FC 1 0
only app 1899
McAllen, Joseph Croft 23
344 days
11 March 1874 OL Linfield FAC 2 2
reserves: not known
team changes: Jack Waring, Mick Cochrane and Jack Waring replaced Cliftonville's Jim Pyper, Jack's brother, Glentoran's George McMaster and Distillery FC's John Peden in the side. McMaster and Peden were unable to travel.
team notes: Jack and Jim Pyper are brothers
missed penalty notes: The referee granted a penalty kick, and Hillman came out to meet the ball. Waring shot hard, and Hillman kicking the ball, it swerved round to the left and was going outside, when McAllen made a sudden rush, caught the ball within a yard of the line and sent it into the net.'; 'the referee awarded a penalty kick. This was taken by Waring, who kicked straight for goal. Hillman managed to kick the ball out, but it swerved off his foot and M'Allen rushing up, scored'.
There are many reports, almost all exclusively in the English press, that give the kick to Joe McAllen, but none were as descript as the two found in two separate Irish newspapers.
records: Ireland's fiftieth match is also their third consecutive defeat.
"They had been travelling since eight o'clock on Thursday night, from Belfast, via Liverpool, and were naturally tired, arriving in Sunderland at 1.41 on Friday afternoon. They at once drove off to their quarters by the sea, the Roker Hotel."
Their return....
"left by the 6.40 train, the Irishmen getting to Liverpool at 2.20 where the Logic was in waiting to convey them home. They arrived home at 4.40 in the evening."
 
2-3-5 Lewis -
Pyper, Torrans -
Ponsonby, Milne, Cochrane -
Campbell, Mercer, Waring, Watty, McAllen.
Averages: Age 24 years 151-159 days Appearances/Goals 6.4 0.3
"The teams visited the Avenue Theatre last evening, and during the morning, the teams visited places of interest and witnessed a ship launch and after the match to-day were invited to dinner by the Sunderland club. Mr. Henderson, president of the club, presided. Both teams left by the 6.40 train."
 
       Match Report The Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 20 February 1899

For the fifth year in succession, England have proved the victors in the international match with the Irish representatives, but we have to go back to 1882 for a more decisive beating. Then England won by 13 goals to love, at Belfast. On Saturday, at Sunderland, the score was 13 goals to two. The match was played on the Roker Park Ground, in beautiful weather, before about 14,000 spectators. England won the toss, and elected to play from the south end of the field, but there was little or no advantage gained, the wind being so light. Waring started the leather, and Williams had to clear a smart attack. Fred Forman came to the front with a nice burst, and put in the ball, which struck Milne's foot, and rebounded into the Irish goal, thus opening the Englishmen's score. A fine combined run by Fred Forman and Settle led to the second goal for England, Forman sending in a shot which Lewis had no chance with. They game had only restarted when the speedy Athersmith rushed up the field, and beat the Irish custodian with a beautiful shot. This was the third goal for England, and before the spectators had fairly settled down again, Smith, who had been playing a rare game at centre, tipped the ball into the net for a fourth time. It was plainly seen that the Irishmen were outclassed, both as regards speed and combination. Bloomer was ruled offside just as Smith had sent through. Ireland broke away again, and from a centre Milne kicked wide. At length Hillman was called upon to save for the first time, Mercer attacking. A splendid run by Athersmith took the ball from mid-field, passing all opponents, and when near the goal he passed to Bloomer, who banged the leather into the net for the fifth time. After the restart, the Irishmen made a short incursion, but the shooting of the forwards was weak. Some clever passing was then shown by England. The Irish defence was most severely tested and it required all the efforts of the backs to keep the goal intact, for when the whistle was blown for half-time, the Englishmen were pressing with the score:—England five goals, Ireland nil.
  The teams re-entered the field at two minutes to four. England coming on first. The game restarted at four o'clock. A penalty kick, given for England because Lewis fouled Bloomer, resulted in nothing, the goalkeeper saving. For a few minutes each goal was visited in turn, then Athersmith worked the ball right down on the wing, and ended by sending to Forman, who had no difficulty in beating Lewis with a low shot. The Irishmen next broke away, but another player was ruled off-side, and play was deflected into the Irish territory, and two goals followed in rapid succession, G.O. Smith and Settle doing the needful. For the next five minutes play was of a give and take character, the ball hovering about the centre line. At length Smith dashed away, and took the ball to the Irish goal mouth. Here play was slightly deflected, but Needham rushed into the breach and scored the ninth goal for England. Shortly after, a corner fell to England. The ball was well placed, but an Englishman headed over. Lewis was called upon to save some very dangerous shots after a period of pressure, Smith scored yet another goal from a smart pass from Fred Forman. A corner was conceded to the Irishmen. Shortly after the Hibernians pressed hard, McAllen and Mercer doing some good work, sending in a few grounders, compelling Bach to kick out, which he did splendidly. Mercer planted the ball right into Hillman, but the custodian expeditiously threw away. The Irish attack was very determined, but the English defence was superb. The next goal, No. 11, was got by Forman, as the result of very smart play. The English territory was next invaded, and Williams was called upon to clear his lines; the Irishmen still pressed, and Mercer was conspicuous for his plucky play. He sent in a shot which grazed the upright. He was loudly cheered for this effort. Two corners followed for Ireland. The first one was ineffective, but the second one resulted in a penalty kick. McAllen took the kick, and scored the first goal for Ireland, Hillman being unable to save. The penalty was given through Crabtree tripping Wattie. Lewis was next called upon twice to save; the ball had been worked down by the English forwards, and after Lewis saved twice, Settle put through easily. From the restart the Irish custodian had a warm time, the Englishmen sending in repeated attempts, Frank Forman being particularly busy. The Irishmen seemed to deteriorate as the time proceeded, and whilst they had at the beginning of play been good, towards the latter part the back rank seemed incapable to prevent their opponents scoring goals in an easy manner. Bloomer came from the centre of the field, and sent in a thundering shot, which, however, went among the spectators. Athersmith next called upon Lewis, and a visit to the English goal followed, and a corner was conceded [to] the Irishmen. The kick resulted in nothing. Campbell, however, returned to the attack, and put on the second goal for Ireland. It was the best goal of the afternoon, and Campbell was loudly cheered. He tried the same tactics a minute later, but they did not come off a second time. The Irish territory was then invaded, and Athersmith had no difficulty in adding another goal to England's big total just before the end.
   

       Match Report The Times, Monday, 20 February 1899
The Irishmen sustained a crushing reverse at Roker-park, Sunderland, on Saturday. Completely overmatched from the start, they had to admit defeat from England by 13 goals to two. So thoroughly did the English team hold the upper hand that it was not until their own score held at 11 that Ireland gained their first point. The ground was a trifle soft and muddy, but was sufficiently firm to afford a fair foothold. The 12,000 spectators who were present were thoroughly rewarded for their attendance, as, though the match was so terribly one-sided, they had the pleasure of witnessing an exceptionally brilliant exposition of the game by the English forwards. The play might well be described as one long series of attacks on the Irish goal, only broken at rare intervals by breaks-away on the part of the Irish forwards, who scarcely ever were really dangerous...
Thanks largely to the skilfulness of Lewis, their goal-keeper, the Irish defence held up for the first quarter of an hour, but afterwards, it broke down entirely. In about 12 minutes four goals were obtained, and a fifth came soon afterwards...
...Then McAllen kicked a penalty goal, and shortly before time Campbell, the best of their forwards, aking advantage of an easy opening, scored their second point... Of a brilliant front rank G. O. Smith, in the centre, stood out prominently, once more emphasizing the fact that in this position he has no superior in England. His judgment in passing to his wings, whom he kept together admirably, was splendid, while his shooting was hard, low, and frequent. Settle scored three times, Bloomer and Frank Forman twice each, and Athersmith and Fred Forman once each... It should be stated that Ireland were not quite fully represented, three changes having been made in their side.
 
       In Other News....
It was on 18 February 1899 that Émile Loubet was elected the new president of the French Republic, following the death of his predecessor, Félix Faure, just two days earlier, from a brain haemorrhage, whilst 'entertaining' his young mistress.   Cambridge University beat Oxford University, 3-1 in the annual varsity match at Queen's Club, in Kensington.
  
”””””
Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
Domestic Football Results (18 February 1899)
The Football League Division One:
Blackburn Rovers 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2
   Ewood Park, Blackburn (4,500)
Anderson, Booth ~ Miller (
2)
Rovers started with Tom Booth and Bob Haworth
 
Bolton Wanderers 0 Stoke 2
   Burnden Park, Bolton (4,000)
Turner (2)
Wanderers started with Jack Sutcliffe
 
Derby County 4 Notts County 2
   Baseball Ground, Derby (8,000)
A.Goodall (pen), Oakden (2), Bull OG ~
Hadley, Fletcher
County were without Steve Bloomer, but started with Jack Goodall and Jack Cox

Liverpool 2 Burnley 0
   Anfield Road, Liverpool (12,000)
Allan, Robertson
Liverpool started with Rab Howell
Burnley were without Jack Hillman

Newcastle United 2 Bury 0
   St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne (16,000)
Peddie (2)
Bury were without Jimmy Settle

Nottingham Forest 1 Aston Villa 0
   City Ground, Nottingham (11,000)
Morris
Forest were without Fred & Frank Forman
Villa were without Jimmy Crabtree and Charlie Athersmith, but did have Howard Spencer starting

Preston North End 1 Sheffield United 0
   Deepdale, Preston (6,500)
Halsall
North End started with Bob Holmes
United were without Ernest Needham, but started with Willie Foulke and Tom Morren

Wednesday 0 Sunderland 1
   Olive Grove, Sheffield (12,000)
Raisbeck
Wednesday started with Tom Crawshaw and Fred Spiksley
   

Division One Table
Team P
Aston Villa 23 33
Liverpool 26 33
Everton 24 29
Blackburn Rovers 27 28
Burnley 25 28
West Bromwich Albion 26 27
Notts County 24 27
Derby County 25 26
Bury 26 26
Sheffield United 27 25
Nottingham Forest 26 24
Sunderland 24 24
Preston North End 26 23
Stoke 25 23
Wolverhampton Wanderers 25 22
Newcastle United 25 21
Wednesday 25 18
Bolton Wanderers 23 15
Liverpool drew level on points with Aston Villa, but they had played three games more. Preston met Sheffield United for the third time in eight days and for the second time in three days, but took revenge for their FA Cup replay defeat of two days earlier.
     
   
The Football League Division Two:
Blackpool 3 Grimsby Town 6
   Raikes Hall, Blackpool (4,000)
Birkett (2), Parkinson ~
Cockshutt (pen), Jenkinson (2 (1 pen)), Greenwood (2), Richards
Town started with Charlie Richards
  
Burslem Port Vale 2 Lincoln City 1
   Athletic Ground, Stoke (3,000)
Harvey, Beech ~ Swann
 
Burton Swifts 1 Woolwich Arsenal 2
   Peel Croft, Burton (2,000)
Knibbs ~ Shaw (2)
 
Gainsborough Trinity 2 Barnsley 0
   The Northholme, Gainsborough (3,000)
Wigmore, Walters
 
Glossop 1 Leicester Fosse 3
   North Road, Glossop (1,000)
Lumsden ~ King, Galbraith, Watkins
 
Loughborough 0 Newton Heath 1
   Athletic Ground, Loughborough (1,500)
Byrant
 
Manchester City 10 Darwen 0
   Hyde Road, Ardwick (8,000)
F.Williams (5), Meredith (3), Dougal, S.Smith
 
Small Heath 3 New Brighton Tower 2
   Coventry Road, Birmingham (9,500)
Abbott (2), Wilcox ~ Becton, Milward
Tower started with Alf Milward
 
Walsall 6 Luton Town 0
   Hilary Street, Walsall (3,000)
Dean (pen), Aston (2), Martin, Vail (2)
 

Division Two Table
Team P
Manchester City 23 34
Leicester Fosse 24 33
Burslem Port Vale 24 32
New Brighton Tower 24 31
Small Heath 22 30
Newton Heath 23 30
Walsall 24 28
Woolwich Arsenal 23 28
Glossop 24 28
Barnsley 22 22
Lincoln City 22 22
Burton Swifts 24 21
Grimsby Town 20 18
Gainsborough Trinity 24 17
Luton Town 22 16
Blackpool 21 8
Loughborough 23 8
Darwen 21 4
Manchester City maintained their slender advantage at the top (albeit with a game in hand), following an astonishing double-figures scoreline against a hapless Darwen team, who were heading out of the Football League at the end of the season. This was their 13th successive defeat on their way to setting the Football League record of 18 in a row. They would also suffer two more 10-0 defeats before the season was out.
   
   
       Source Notes
TheFA
England Football Factbook
Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats
Rothman's Yearbooks
The Football Association Yearbooks
Original Newspaper Reports
Ancestry.com
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