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The venue of The Athletic Ground in Richmond was chosen by the FA Council at Chancery Lane on Thursday, 8 March 1893. The ground was chosen because the Oval cricket ground was being resurfaced. It thus became the first venue to hold an England vs. Scotland match at both codes. Rugby (1891) and Association.
Easter Saturday, 1 April 1893
British International Championship 1892-93 (10th) Match

 
England 5 Scotland 2 [1-1]
 






Season Record


Football League Record

Richmond Athletic Association Ground, Old Deer Park, Kew Foot Road, Richmond, Surrey
Kick-off (GMT): 'at 3.30 set the ball in motion'; 'punctually at half-past three'; 'at 25 minutes to four'; 'at 3.35'; 'at thirty seven minutes past three'.

Attendance: 'witnessed by over 15,000 people'; 'between 15,000 and 20,000 people'; 'probably not more than 20,000'; 'before over 20,000'.
Receipts: '£811'. (new English record for the fixture)
England's only visit to Richmond, but eleventh visit to London, and to Surrey, sixth victory
George Cotterill won the toss James Hamilton kicked-off
[0-0] Englishmen claimed the ball had gone through.
[1-0] Cunliffe Gosling header 15

 'then Cotterill shot, the ball glancing off Gosling's head and going through'
other reports suggest Chadwick made the cross
 


[1≡1] Tom Waddell header 30
'Sellar charged Gay and Waddell tipped the ball through'
'The teams were away some minutes.'; 'after an ineterval of about eight minutes'; 'after ten minutes interval'; 'a rather protracted interval was filled in with songs, including 'Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon,' by a band of patriotic Scots.'
  


[2≡2] George Cotterill 65
 'succeeded in driving the ball through'

[3-2] Fred Spiksley volley 78
 9-yard volley from a 60-yard Bassett cross
goal stood despite Spiksley being offside

[4-2] Fred Spiksley header 80 BRACE
 
'Bassett dashed along the right wing and centred, Spiksley sprinted into the centre, trapped the ball with his right foot and coolly drove it home with his left.'
[5-2] Fred Spiksley 84 HAT-TRICK
 15-yard left-footed volley set up by Bassett
[1-2] William Sellar 55
'M'Mahon centred to Waddell, who in turn sent the ball to Sellar, banging the ball past Gay and lodging it in the net.'
<England's fifteenth equalising goal




Glasgow Herald states that Chadwick scored the fourth and Holt the fifth



however, 19 match reports give it to Reynolds
"So bright and warm was the afternoon, and the great heat rendered the football very trying to the players."
 
Jack Reynolds was creditted with scoring the fifth goal in the immediate aftermath. However, from 1903, ten years after the match, Fred Spiksley, with significant witnesses, was then creditted with the goal, during which time, he himself stated that he had scored it and the record books followed suit. The momentum of which, shows no signs of slowing....
England's fifth goal? - Spiksley—What they said.....
John Bentley was the Football League President, in his column ten years later, he wrote: "...we won 5 goals to 2—three coming from Bassett's centres, which were met by the dashing Spikesley and crashed into goal." - Daily Express, Thursday, 5 February 1903
"It is just ten years ago since Fred Spikesley helped England to beat Scotland at Richmond by five goals to two, his share in that magnificent victory being three goals shot by him."
- Athletic News, Monday, 2 March 1903.
"He was awarded his first international cap in 1893 against Scotland, at Richmond, and many of us recall how he obtained three goals in ten minutes against the Scots." -
Athletic News, Monday, 16 March 1903. Although it was his second appearance
"One of the most remarkable goalscorers in the history of Association football was Fred Spikelsey. 'The Old Fogey' relates how Spikesley scored three goals against Scotland in ten minutes."
- The Echo, Saturday, 14 November 1903.
"I have a remembrance that Spikesley scored three goals against Scotland in ten minutes." - 'Marcus', Football Post, Saturday, 21 November 1903.
Recalling three England-Scotland matches, Billy Bassett wrote in his coulmn regarding the match in 1893: "I could get along at that time, and I kept swinging the ball across, and either Edgar Chadwick or Fred Spikesley met it perfectly. Spikesley took three centres in hand and scored each time, and amid a scene of tremendous excitement England won by five goals to two." - Aldershot Military Gazette, Friday, 25 October 1907.
"FOOTBALL ECHOES—The last occasion upon which England scored five goals was in 1893, at Richmond. Fred Spikesley scored three goals on that occasion." - Woolwich Herald, Friday, 16 April 1920.
"Somebody was asking Fred Spiksley what he considers the most brilliant achievement of his career. His answer was: 'The hat-trick against Scotland at Richmond in 1893.'"
- Grimsby Daily Telegraph, Friday, 7 November 1924
"...and the grey-beards still talk over the match with Scotland in 1893, in Glasgow, when England were losing by 3—1 something less than half an hour from the close, and when Spikesley by his speed and ball control literally pulled the game back, three goals resulting from his work, and Scotland, being beaten in the end by 4—3."
- Great Players by 'Historian', Lancashire Daily Post, Saturday, 20 February 1926. I mean - he got the venue and scorelines wrong.... was 'Historian' mistaken anything else?
"Spiksley's achievements are football history. He got ten caps for England and did the 'hat-trick' in his first two matches for his country. He scored three goals in succession in ten minutes against Scotland in 1893. No other Englishmen has performed the feat. Imagine a goalscoring record being held by an outside left." - Charles Eade, Sports Editor, Sunday Express, 16 February 1933.
Fred Spiksley wrote about his own recollections on the match for a Sunday newspaper forty years later. After describing his first two goals with articulate precision, he wrote:
"I scored another goal after this, my third, within ten minutes. This is a feat I am told that has never been equalled by any other player for England against Scotland." - Sunday Express, 19 March 1933
Sir Frederick Wall, the secretary of the Football Association, was in attendence in Richmond, and he wrote a piece 'FAMOUS INTERNATIONAL MATCHES' some years later, where he wrote:
"During this season of 1892-93, England won her three international matches by such an aggregate as 17 goals to 3. Now five of these goals were scored by F. Spikesley, including three in this match at Richmond...Whenever I saw [Spikesley] he played well, but never better than at Richmond, for he scored the last three goals in about ten minutes." - Sunday People, 16 September 1934.
"Any number of famous players have worn the blue and white stripes of Sheffield Wednesday. Names that come readily to mind, however, are those of Fred Spiksley, the famous left winger and the only man to score a 'hat-trick' against Scotland in international football." - Halifax Daily Courier, Saturday, 3 November 1934
"Fred Spiksley, the only English player who has scored a 'hat-trick' against Scotland."
- Shields Gazette, Friday, 25 October 1935
"DID YOU KNOW?—That: Fred Spiksley created a record, still unequalled, when he scored a hat-trick for England against Scotland in 1893." - Sheerness Guardian, Saturday, 2 October 1937
Bob Alaway attended his first ever England match in Richmond, aged nine years, and he had been honorary secretary of Middlesex Wanderers for fifty years when he spoke with Bernard McElwaine, when he wrote: "Bob recalls his first match when, in stiff collar and Eton suit, he saw the great Fred Spiksley play in an international against Scotland at Richmond in 1893 and score three goals from the left wing in 10 minutes." - Daily News, Thursday, 29 January 1948, an excerpt from Alaway's book 'Football All Round the World.'

"Fred Spiksley scored three goals in ten minutes at Richmondonly time in history any player has scored three or more goals for England v. Scotland in International Championship."
- Football Echo, Saturday, 25 March 1950
A few reports, particularly in Gainsborough, acknowledge the 1893 hat-trick when Dennis Wilshaw became the second player to score an England hattrick against Scotland in April 1955, and...
"However, Fred Spikesley also got an English Cup winner's medal in 1896. That medal is now in the possession of his nephew, Mr. Fred Spicksley, of Trinity Street, Gainsborough. Attached to that medal is a gold chain given to the Gainsborough player for his memorable achievement in being the first Englishmen to score a 'hat-trick' against Scotland."
- Gainsborough News, Friday, 13 May 1955. According to Clive Nicholson's Flying Over an Olive Grove, the medal was stolen and no longer in existence.
"He [Sidney Dowman, formerly of Ropery Road, Gainsborough] wants to know (to settle a bet) whether it is true Fred Spikesley was the first man to score three goals in one match against Scotland? Yes, he was. The year was 1893. He netted all three goals from the outside left osition in ten minutes."
- Gainsborough News, Friday, 5 April 1957
"IT's A FACT—Fred left England with this imposing record:-Three goals in ten minutes for England v. Scotland in 1893." - Star Green 'un, Saturday, 28 January 1961
"With Scottish heads dropping, Bassett left Maley trailing yards behind and delvered a crossfield pass which was picked up by Cotterill. Running at pace, Cotterill linked with Spiklsey to beat the last line of the Scottish defence. Spiklsey took aim from distance and Lindsay could only parry his shot out to Cotterill. Cotterill again set up Spiksley who from fifteen yards out volleyed home with his left foot to make it 5-2 on 84 minutes." - Clive Nicholson, Flying Over an Olive Grove, pp117, October 2016.
England's fifth goal? - Reynolds—What they said..... (all within the week!)
"Spikesley put in a capital shot, which Cotterill undeavoured to make use of, but could not reach properly. His attempt sent the ball back to Reynolds, who, with a long shot taken promptly, scored England's fifth goal." - The Field, Saturday, 8 April 1893. - How did this turn into Spikesley claiming the goal more than ten years later?
"These players kept up a continued bombardment, and, assisted by Reynolds, made the success of England assured. Reynolds, with a long shot, scored the fifth goal for England."
- Sporting Life, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"The fifth goal for England followed soon after from a magnificent effort by Reynolds, who had the ball passed to him by Chadwick. The Anglo-Irishman was standing between the 25 and half-way line, and he steadied himself and took aim at the Scottish goal. The ball went swift and straight as an arrow, hardly rising more than a foot from the ground, and fairly beat the Scottish goal-keeper." -
'Olympian', Yarmouth Gazette, Saturday, 8 April 1893 (also in the Bucks Advertiser).
"And still they were not satisfied, for from a rattling kick by Kinsey, Arnott returned. Reynolds met it, and drove it home for the fifth timea splendid shot." -
'The Free Critic,' Athletic News, Monday, 3 April 1893.
although within ten years, the Athletic would change its opinion.
"...and Reynolds with a magnificent long shot made England's victory doubly sure."
- Sheffield Evening Telegraph, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"...and a few minutes later Chadwick centred splendidly, and Reynolds, with a long swift shot, secured a fifth goal."
- Morning Post, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"but, strange to relate, the Scotchmen suddenly collapsed, as in many minutes Spikelsey had kicked tow more goals, whilst just before the close Reynolds, with a long shot, added another."
- Evening Standard, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"Reynold's followed with a fifth."
- Dundee Advertiser, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"It was at this period anybody's game, but strange to relate the Scotchmen suddenly collapsed, as in as many minutes, Spikesley had kicked two more goals, whilst just before the close Reynolds, with a long shot, added another."
- Sheffield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"Disaster for Scotland did not end here, for a minute or two later Chadwick and Spikesley came away together, and though Smellie half saved, Reynolds from 15 yards distant, beat Lindsay with a hard, low shot." -
The Yorkshire Herald, Monday, 3 April 1893. (also in Alcester Chronicle, Bayswater Chronicle, Bromley Chronicle, Christchurch Times, Diss Times, Dover Express, Earlstown Guardian, East & South Devon Advertiser, Eastern Daily Press, Exmouth Journal, Henley & South Oxford Standard, Hornsea Gazette, Leeds Mercury, Loftus Advertiser, North Devon Gazette, Nottingham Journal, Sevenoaks Chronicle, Sheerness Times, Shipley Times, Tenbury Wells Advertiser, Western Morning News)
"...Chadwick and Spikesley came away, and though Smellie half cleared, Reynolds, with a splendid long shot, scored a fifth goal for England amidst tremendous cheering."
- Liverpool Echo, Monday, 3 April 1893 (also in Dublin Evening Mail and South Wales Daily News, variation on this in the Birmingham Daily Post).
"The end of this attack was a pass by Chadwick to Reynolds, who with a long straight, swift shot fairly beat Lindsay....The fifth goal was also a very doubtful point; in fact, a neutral man would never have give it."
- The Scottish Referee, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"Three minutes later Cotterill passed to the right, and Reynolds took effect with a long shot, and made the score five to two."
- Lloyds Weekly, Sunday, 2 April 1893/Daily Chronicle, Monday, 3 April 1893.
"...and before the whistle blew, Reynolds added a fifth." -
Aberdeen Free Press, Monday, 3 April 1893
"The final goal of the match was obtained by Reynolds." -
Louth & North Lincolnshire Advertiser, Monday/Wednesday, 3/5 April 1893.
"The last three goals were put on in ten minutes, Spikelsey, the Sheffielder, scored a couple of them, and did a great deal towards the addition of the third."
- Rotherham Advertiser, Saturday, 8 April 1893
"The play of England improving, Spikesley shot a couple of goals, Reynolds adding a fifth."
- Penny Illustrated Paper, Saturday, 8 April 1893.
"The English were not yet done with yet, for after Arnott had cleared a good shot by Kinsey, Reynolds sent in a long kick, which Lindsay could not reach, and England were placed three goals ahead."
- Richmond Herald, Friday, 7 April 1893.
"Again the English forwards got in front of the Scotch goal, and Cotteril passed back to Reynolds, who put on the fifth and last goal with a fast shot."
- West Somesert Free Press, Saturday, 8 April 1893.
"Mr. Fred Spiksley, the former international footballer, was overcome by the heat and fell dead in Tattersall's enclosure at Goodwood, yesterday. He..scored three goals in one international match, and played seven times for England."
- Yorkshire Post/Nottingham Journal, Thursday, 29 July 1948
- referring to his hat-trick against Wales?
 

"AN OFF-SIDE VICTORY" Scottish Referee

Officials         

England Team Records Scotland
Referee
John Charles Clegg (FA Chairman & Vice-President)
46 (15 June 1850), Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire
played for England in 1872
"The match was honoured by HRH The Duchess of Teck (Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge, b.1833), the Duke of Teck (Franz Paul Karl Ludwig Alexander b.1837) and the Princess Mary (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes, b.1867), [and Prince Adolphus of Teck (Adolphus Charles Alexander Albert Edward George Philip Louis Ladislaus of Cambridge, b.1867)] to whom the captains of the two teams were presented before the game began".
Linesmen (McGregor replaced T. Gunning, London)
England (FA Chairman) Scotland (SFA President)
William McGregor
49 (13 April 1846) Birmingham
Archibald Sliman
Battlefield, Mount Florida, Glasgow
 

England Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 1st
Colours "The Englishmen were dressed in white flannel shirts...."

Captain
George Cotterill Selection following the trial match, The seven-man FA International Selection Committee
P last of 2, W 2 - D 0 - L 0 - F 11 - A 3. P 18 of 195, W 16 - D 1 - L 1 - F 77 - A 17.
  team chosen after the FA Cup Final at Fallowfield on Saturday, 25 March 1893.
England Lineup
  seven changes to the previous match (Holmes, Reynolds, Bassett & Spiksley remain) league position (25th March) ave lge pos: 7th
24   Gay, Leslie H. 22
8 days
24 March 1871 G Cambridge University AFC, Old Brightonians FC & Corinthians FC 1 2ᵍᵃ
210
  Holmes, Robert 25
282 days
23 June 1867 RB Preston North End FC (FL1 3rd) 5 0
  Harrison, A. Hugh 23
122 days
30 November 1869 LB Old Westminsters AFC & Corinthians FC 2 0
final app 1893
  Reynolds, John 24
39 days
21 February 1869 RHB West Bromwich Albion FC (FL1 11th) 3 1
  Holt, John 26
167 days
16 October 1866 CHB Everton FC (FL1 4th) 6 0
  Kinsey, George 26
125 days
27 November 1866 LHB Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (FL1 9th) 2 0
Bassett, William I. 24
64 days
27 January 1869 OR West Bromwich Albion FC (FL1 11th) 10 3 or 4
  Chadwick, Edgar W. 23
291 days
14 June 1869 IR Everton FC (FL1 4th) 4 3
Cotterill, George H. 24
362 days
4 April 1868 CF Old Brightonians AFC & Corinthians FC 4 2
final app 1891-93
Gosling, R. Cunliffe 24
290 days
15 June 1868 IL Old Etonians AFC & Corinthians FC 2 1
Spiksley, Frederick 23
66 days
25 January 1870 OL Wednesday FC (FL1 10th) 2 6
the 32nd brace scored ~ fifteenth hattrick
reserves: John Goodall was in attendance, and even made the team photograph.
team changes: Bob Howarth (Everton FC (FL1 4th)) was the original right-back, his place going to Bob Holmes. John Goodall (Derby County FC (FL1 14th)) was replaced with George Cotterill, who was only called upon because of his proximity to the ground, and the fact he had a telephone. Goodall had injured himself in a match the previous day.
team notes: Jack Reynolds had already played five times for the Irish team, scoring once (1890-91 (two appearances and one goal against England)).
Umpire Charlie Clegg also played for England in the first ever international, and is the older brother of WIlliam, who appeared in 1873 and 1879.
appearance notes: Billy Bassett is the sixth player to make ten England appearances, whereas Johnny Holt is the nineteenth player to make six.
31 players have now made five England appearances and 38 players have now made four. Jack Reynolds is the sixtieth player to have now made three England appearances. 111 players have now played for England more than once.
Bassett is the first player to make nine appearances under the guidance of the ISC, whereas Goodall is the second player to make eight.
hattrick notes: IF Spiksley scored England's fifth, then he has scored his second hat-trick for England in his first two appearances.

records:

England's thirtieth victory in 49 matches. Also their thirtieth competitive match.
England extend their record of back-to-back victories, now at nine matches, and extend their unbeaten record to twelve matches. Their 'Home' record now stands at six victories in a row.
This is the fourth time England have won all three games in one season, the only time they will do it for three consecutive seasons.
The second time England have scored seventeen goals in a season/year, and they came from a record-breaking ten different goalscorers.
England have now scored 174 goals, fifteen have now been equalising goals - but this is the first time that the second England goal has been the first equalising goal in the match.
 
2-3-5 Gay -
Holmes, Harrison -
Reynolds, Holt, Kinsey -
Bassett, Chadwick, Cotterill, Gosling, Spiksley.
Averages: Age 24 years 165 days Appearances/Goals 3.7 1.1

England previous teams

1892:

Toone Holmes Dunn Reynolds Holt Shelton Bassett Goodall Southworth Chadwick Hodgetts

1893:

Gay Harrison Kinsey Chadwick Cotterill Gosling Spiksley

 

Scotland Team

 
Rank No official ranking system established;
ELO rating 2nd
Colours "...and the Scots were dressed in the customary dark blue jerseys."
Captain Jim Kelly Selection The Scottish Football Association Selection Committee, of seven members
P 3 of 5, W 2 - D 0 - L 1 - F 15 - A 8.
  team chosen at the Alexandra Hotel in Glasgow, on Saturday, 25 March 1893, following the Scotland vs. Ireland match.
Scotland Lineup
  Lindsay, John 31
75 days
16 January 1862 G Renton FC 3 11ᵍᵃ
final app 1888-93
  Arnott, Walter 31
324 days
12 May 1861 RB Queen's Park FC 14 0
mst apps
final app 1883-93
  Smellie, Robert 27
168 days
22 December 1867 LB Queen's Park FC 6 0
final app 1887-93
  Mitchell, David 26
337 days
29 April 1866 RHB Rangers FC 4 0
  Kelly, James 28
66 days
25 January 1865 CHB The Celtic FC 7 1
  Maley, William Patrick 24
341 days
25 April 1868 LHB The Celtic FC 2 0
final app 1893
Sellar, William 28
162 days
21 October 1864 OR Queen's Park FC 9 4
final app 1885-93
Waddell, Thomas Smith 22
143 days
9 November 1870 IR Queen's Park FC 4 2
  Hamilton, James 23
284 days
7 June 1869 CF Queen's Park FC 3 3
final app 1892-93
  McMahon, Alexander 23
167 days
16 October 1870 IL The Celtic FC 3 1
  Campbell, John 20
225 days
19 August 1872 OL The Celtic FC 2 0
reserves: not known
records: Scotland's fiftieth match (W 38 - D 6 - L 6 - F 194 - A 68)
"The majority of the Scottish team left Glasgow as Thursday evening for the English Metropolis. They were located at the Caledonian Hotel, London."
 
2-3-5 Lindsay -
Arnott, Smellie -
Mitchell, Kelly, Maley -
Sellar, Wadell, Hamilton, McMahon, Campbell
Averages: Age 26 years 5 days Appearances/Goals 5.2 0.7
       Match Report Sheffield Independent, Monday, 3 April 1893
Favoured with weather of the most delightful and summer-like description, the 22nd annual contest under Association rules between representative teams of England and Scotland took place on Saturday at the Athletic Ground, Richmond. The afternoon, indeed, was really too hot for football, being more suggestive of August than April, but, though very exhausting  to those who had to play an hour and a half's football at high pressure, it was greatly appreciated by the thousands of spectators. There was, of course, a very big crowd present, but probably not more than 20,000, as was fortunate, for the Athletic Ground at Richmond, admirable enclosure as it is, is not adapted for the accommodation of anything like an exceptionally large gathering. The straggle was honoured by the presence of Royalty in the persons of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Teck, the Duke of Teck, the Princess May and Prince Adolphis of Teck, and before the game began the captains of the two elevens were duly presented to the distinguished party.
    On winning the toss the English captain placed his men with their backs to the sun, and the moment that Hamilton kicked off the Scotchmen forced the ball over the line. Then the Englishmen rushed the ball down, and Cotterill head in. Lindsay stopped the shot, but Cotterill caught the ball on the rebound, and his second stroke went just outside the post. On restarting from the goal-kick the visitors broke away, but before they could become dangerous the pressure was relieved through Campbell's getting off-side, and following this incident the home side showed to conspicuous advantage. They attacked repeatedly, and but for a fine bit of play by Arnott at back, Cotterill would probably have scored early in the game. The big Corinthian was very carefully watched, and this at times made him appear not only ineffective, but poor, but with Gosling, he in the first 20 minutes took the ball into dangerous proximity with the Scottish goal, and on two occasions he was perhaps unfortunate in failing to score. In a momentary attack by the visitors they were assisted by a free kick awarded for a foul, but Smellie kicked too hard, and Chadwick, getting the ball away, ran it down and passing to Gosling, the Old Etonian, scored the first goal for England after fifteen minutes' play. Keeping up the pressure, Cahdwick again made a nice run and passing to Bassett, the latter sent in a shot which Arnott managed to half stop, and eventually to clear, but for a log time the Scottish forwards never had the ball as the play of the half-backs was magnificent. For pace and clever ness the English forwards easily beat the Scotch, but near goal they did not shine conspicuously. Gosling, after a good run, was well placed, but his shot was a poor one, and Arnott had no difficulty in preventing Chadwick from coming to his assistance. For nearly half an hour Gay, the English goalkeeper, had really nothing to do, but at the end of that time the visiting forwards showed some decided improvement, and in one of their occasional attacks M'Mahon dropped the ball up slowly to Gay. The shot was a very quiet one and should have been easily dealt with, but Gay framed very badly at it, and before he could clear Sellar run up and dashed the ball through, and so equalised amidst the shouts of delight of the Scottish partisans/ Encouraged by their unexpected success the Scots played up with renewed vigour, and during the next ten minutes they were constantly in front of the English goal. The pressure was kept up without intermission, but only on two occasions did the attack appear really dangerous, and gradually England got upon terms with their opponents. But by this time the Combination of the visitors had greatly improved, and the Scottish half-backs allowed the English forwards but few opportunities of shooting effectively, and at half-time the score was still ENGLAND 1 goal. SCOTLAND 1 goal.
After an interval of ten minutes Cotterill kicked off, and Spiksley dribbling down, forced a corner, but the ball was cleared, and after a splendid run Sellar shot just outside. Scotland directly afterwards had a chance through Gay's being penalised for running out too far in clearing, but Holt, who throughout showed capital form, quickly got rid of the ball and relieved the pressure for a time. It was only momentarily, however, as Scotland was soon back again, and after some pretty passing Sellar sent in a low shot which Gay could not reach, and the visitors obtained a tangible advantage, the second goal being scored within two minutes of the resumption. Just about this time the English forwards deteriorated very much and quite lost their combination, Cotterill in the centre being especially weak, but the half-backs maintained their good form. After a short attack by the English forwards Scotland broke away and forced a corner. This was at once cleared, and in turn Spiksley compelled one of his opponents to put the ball behind, and after a good centre and a long and exciting bully, Cotterill succeeded in driving the ball through, England thus equalising at the end of 15 minutes. Having once again placed themselves upon level terms, the English team showed a determination to better their position, and their improvement was wonderful. The half-backs persistently fed Spiksley and Chadwick, and the pair made the most of their opportunities, as they time after time carried the ball into dangerous proximity to the Scottish goal. 'Hands' against Smellie, close to goal, gave England a chance, but the attack was repulsed. The ball was not allowed to go far up the field, however, as Bassett raced back with it, and passing across to Spiksley, the latter shot through, and placed England a goal in front. Almost as soon as the ball had been restarted the same two players were instrumental in obtaining the fourth point, as Bassett again crossed to Spiksley, who dashed up and headed the ball through. With a won game the Englishmen continued to show grand form and for a time their forwards fairly ran through the Scottish defence. In an attack Chadwick and Spiksley came away, and although Smellie half cleared the latter's shot. Reynolds' returned with a tremendously fast low stroke, which scored the fifth goal for England, the last three having been obtained in ten minutes. As the game drew to a close the Scotchmen played up vigorously, but although Gay was twice called upon to handle the ball away they were not fortunate enough to score, and England was left with the victory.
  
       Match Report The Times, Monday, 3 April 1893
The general estimate of the attendance at the Richmond Athletic Ground on Saturday, when the 22nd match between England and Scotland took place, was 20,000. Everything was favourable for the spectators, but the summer weather could not have been very welcome to the players, who, however, maintained a fast pace to the end. England were able to claim a decisive victory after a match in which the tide of success inclined to each side before finally turning strongly for the home eleven. The nature of the play kept the spectators at a high pitch of excitement, and the football seemed thoroughly appreciated. Although the partisan spirit was very marked among the large company perfect good humour prevailed ; and the Scottish element, after making much noise in the time that they were leading, submitted quietly to the banter of the English team's friends as, within some quarter of an hour to 20 minutes, England recovered their form and scored four goals. The Duke and Duchess of Teck, Princess May, and Prince Alexander of Teck witnessed the play from an enclosure set apart for them in front of the grand stand. In spite of the well-planned arrangements the spectators crowded in front of the place occupied by the Press, some of whom must have been greatly hampered in their work...
...Chadwick and Spikesley brought the ball along the left side, and taking a fine centre from the former Gosling butted it through. Thus the England team obtained the opening goal...
...Campbell and M'Mahon forced the ball close to the home line and it was sent into the mouth of the goal, and Waddell drive it through...
Ends had not long been changed when the Scottish again forced the play, and the outcome of some accurate passing was a goal by Sellar, who had received the ball from Waddell...
...Following close play near the Scottish posts and a dexterous save by Lindsay, the ball was returned from the right wing, and Cotterill, amid loud cheering, brought the figures level...
...but a few minutes later Bassett and Gosling dribbled down the right side and a long pass was given to Spikesley, who had got so well forward that a prompt appeal was made for "off-side," and he scored with a fine shot. The off-side appeal was over-ruled. Again, England forced the game, the wing men playing splendidly. Bassett helped Spikesley to get the fourth goal, and a long kick from the left (by Chadwick) was followed by Reynolds registering the fifth point with a lofty shot from half-back...
It was little less than remarkable the style that England half-way through the second stage managed to renew their combination...
This is England's third consecutive victory, and they have now won six matches to Scotland's 11. There have been five drawn matches.
 
       In Other News....
It was on 1 April 1893 that the British Admiralty sent its congratulations to the Neptune Salvage Company on its successful re-floating of the battleship HMS Howe after it had run aground five months earlier whilst attempting to negotiate the narrow entrance to Ferrol Harbour on the Spanish coast.
 
Domestic Football Results (1 April 1893)                                                Teams in a silver box denotes a player representing England
  
The Football
League Division One:   
Bolton Wanderers 2 Sunderland 1
   Pike's Lane, Bolton (13,000)
Bentley, Weir ~ Campbell
John Sutcliffe, Davie Weir and Jimmy Turner started for Bolton
Tom Porteous started for Sunderland
  
Burnley 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0
   Turf Moor, Burnley (8,000)
Turnbull, nk
Wolves were missing George Kinsey. However, they started with Billy Rose, Dick Baugh, Harry Allen, George Woodhall and Harry Wood.
  
Everton 4 Blackburn Rovers 0
   Goodison Park, Liverpool (14,000)
James, McMillan, Geary, Maxwell
Everton were without Johnny Holt and Edgar Chadwick, but did have Bob Howarth and Fred Geary
Nat Walton, Jimmy Forrest and Jack Southworth started for Rovers
  
Newton Heath 2 Preston North End 1
   North Road, Manchester (9,000)
Donaldson (2) ~ Stewart
Preston were without Bob Holmes
  
Wednesday 0 Stoke 1
   Olive Grove, Sheffield (5,000)
Dixon
Wednesday were without Fred Spiksley, but did have Billy Betts
Stoke started with Bill Rowley, Tommy Clare and Joe Schofield
  
West Bromwich Albion 3 Derby County 1
   Stoney Lane, West Bromwich (3,655)
T.Perry, Geddes, C.Perry ~ A.Goodall
West Brom were without Billy Bassett and Jack Reynolds, but did start with Joe Reader and Tom & Charlie Perry.
County started with Jack Robinson, Jack Cox, Fred Forman and Steve Bloomer
 


Division One Table
Team P
Sunderland 27 43
Preston North End 25 33
Everton 27 32
Aston Villa 27 32
Bolton Wanderers 29 32
Stoke 29 28
Blackburn Rovers 29 28
West Bromwich Albion 28 27
Nottingham Forest 29 27
Wolverhampton Wanderers 26 26
Burnley 27 26
Wednesday 29 25
Derby County 27 24
Notts County 28 22
Accrington 27 20
Newton Heath 28 17

Preston's hopes of reclaiming the title for the third time in five years were all but over following a shock defeat at Newton Heath, who were already destined for the test matches where they would successfully retain their First Division status. Although Sunderland only needed one more point, Preston faltered again, two days later, on Easter Monday, by failing to beat Accrington, and the so-called 'team of all talents' retained the Championship, emulating Preston's achievement of three years earlier.
   
   
  
The Football
League Division Two:
Burton Swifts 0 Sheffield United 3
   Peel Croft, Burton (3,000)
Hill, Waller, Gallacher
United started with Mick Whitham
  
Grimsby Town 3 Walsall Town Swifts 0
   Abbey Park, Grimsby (1,000)
Higgins (2), Ackroyd
  
Lincoln City 5 Bootle 1
   John O'Gaunt's, Lincoln (2,000)
Raby (2), Smallman (2), Roberts ~ nk
 
Small Heath 3 Ardwick 2
   Coventry Road, Birmingham (1,000)
Hallam (2), Walton ~ Yates, Carson
Chris Charsley started for Heath
Small Heath completed their league fixtures with a ninth successive victory, but it was another two weeks before they could claim to be champions, and they then lost their test match to Newton Heath, thus failing to win promotion, with Darwen and Sheffield United both successful.
Division Two Table
Team P
Small Heath 22 36
Sheffield United 20 32
Darwen 21 30
Grimsby Town 21 23
Ardwick 21 19
Northwich Victoria 20 18
Burton Swifts 21 18
Lincoln City 20 17
Bootle 21 17
Crewe Alexandra 21 15
Burslem Port Vale 21 13
Walsall Town Swifts 21 12
     
     
       Source Notes
TheFA
Scottish FA
Cris Freddi's England Football Factbook
ScottishSportHistory: Andy Mitchell
LondonHearts.com
The Football Association Yearbook
Richard Keir's Complete International Record of Scotland
Original Newspaper Reports
Flying Over an Olive Grove - Clive Nicholson, pp.111-121.
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