Officials       

Cliftonville Grounds, Solitude, Belfast, was on Saturday the scene of the Fifteenth Association International between England and Ireland. The day opened very fine, and as a consequence an immense crowd, variously estimated at from 10,000 to 12,000 spectators, attended. The wet weather of the previous fortnight had left the ground in a very sticky state, and this, undoubtedly, had much to do with the wide shooting of the English forwards, which took place during the game. Both teams played as selected. Long before the hour for commencement the grounds were packed in every part, and it was a mystery how the crowds continuing to make their way up Solitude would be accommodated. Spectators even lined the cycle track, but these were kept well in check by a number of soldiers placed round the ground. The first team to appear was Ireland, headed by their captain, Fitzgerald, and received lusty cheers. The English team made their appearance three minutes before the time. They were enthusiastically cheers, and looked a very muscular lot in cream shirts.
Ireland won the toss and decided to play with the wind, which was playing from the Pavilion goal, Smith kicked off punctually for England against the rain, and Fitzgerald, obtaining position, gave to his forwards. Baird rushed the ball down the field, a corner being conceded. Baird took the kick and sent well into goal, Kinsey cleared, the ball going into touch off England. On the throw-in the ball was sent behind. On the kick-out the ball was returned, and Ireland again rushed down. The ball went into touch off England, and on the throw-in the English halves passed up the field, but Fitzsimmons returned, and the ball went into touch. Gordon sent behind in the throw-in. England then tried to get away through Smith and Bloomer, but Milne intervened, and some exciting play occurred over the posts. Gordon had twice chances and sent to his forwards, but the splendid defence of the visitors prevented scoring. A shot of Milne's just missed the posts, going behind. The English forwards then had a fine rush down the field, the ball going into touch. The ball travelled to the other side of the field, but was quickly sent back. The English forwards got away but were spoiled by Torrans, and the ball went off Lodge. On the throw in the ball was sent well in front of the visitors' goal. Kelly sent in weakly and Raikes easily cleared. Stanfield missed a gran opportunity by kicking over the horizontal. On the kick out the English made their way past centre, and as the result of a fine throw-out Bloomer got away, and though hard pressed by Milne, sent well in. The ball went behind and on the throw-in a foul was given against Ireland, Kelly being the offender. The kick was well-centred, and some fine heading took place in front of the posts, which ended in Ireland getting well down the field. Stanfield was tumbled in front of the posts by the back, as Baird went for Raikes, but nothing resulted from this. Fitzgerald returned a nice pass of the halves, but the defence again returned and the Englishmen gradually made their way up the field, but were repulsed by Gordon, who sent well down the field, Peden got possession and had the goal at his mercy, but offside was given against him. By a splendid combination by Bloomer and Bassett England got away and had a couple of chances which failed, however, Bassett sending behind. On the kick out England continued to press, and a long shot by Chadwick went behind. England now had the best of the play,, although the wind and the rain was against them. Spikesley, although hardly fed, was playing splendidly, and sent in three shots, but good defence prevented scoring. Gordon sent weakly out, and Smith got possession and sent strongly in, the ball just going wide. England got away again on the left, and Spikesley obtained the ball from a miss-kick by Ponsonby. He sent behind, and in the kick out Peden tried to get away. He was badly fouled by Crabtree, and a free was given against the visitors. The ball was returned, and England commenced to press. Bassett sent behind. On the kick out the ball went into touch, and Ireland threw out. Gordon spoiled the attempt of the forwards to get away. Peden made off on the line, and ultimately sent strongly in. Raikes easily cleared, and the English had a splendid rush up the field, the defence failing to stop them. The ball was sent out, and Ireland got away. On the resumption of the game, Turner was stopped, but Baird took up the running and brought well down the field  The ball was centred and Stanfield sent to goal, while Peden rushed the goalkeeper. Raikes fisted behind, however, and on the corner being taken, a long shot by Milne just went over the posts. On the re-start Ireland continued to press. Stanfield played splendidly, fooling three men and placing Gordon, who almost scored. England then got slowly away, and Spikesley had a fine chance of scoring. He was spoiled by Fitzpatrick, who sent the ball down the field. The backs returned and Turner made a bad miss, the ball going into touch. On the throw in a long shot by Milne missed by inches. Raikes kicked out and Gordon placed splendidly to Peden, who centred. Milne again got on the ball, and a second time just missed the posts. England then got away, but a splendid shot by Ponsonby sent them back, Peden got away and passed to Kelly, but the player was off side and a free kick was given against Ireland. This advantage let the visitors away, but they were soon repulsed, and England sent into touch. Peden threw out, and the halves of the visitors obtained possession and passed forward, with the result that Spikelsey got away. He was spoiled by Fitzpatrick, and the ball was sent by Stanfield to Peden, who was off-side. A free-kick was given, although he did not touch the ball, and England got away. The ball went into touch, and on the throw out Bassett missed a good chance by kicking wide. On the kick out a long shot from Spikesley was returned by Torrans. Baird got away by himself, but was badly followed, and the result was that when robbed by the kick the ball was sent well down the field, and the visitors' forwards got away again. A centre by Bloomer, which Spikesley failed to reach, went behind, and on the throw in Ireland got away. Lodge obtained possession, but being hard pressed by Peden and Stanfield, conceded a corner. On being centred the ball was cleared, and Bassett broke away. He passed to Bloomer in front, who rushed the whole length of the field, and ultimately passed to Smith, who obtained the first goal. On the restart Bassett got away on the right wing, and showed a rare turn of speed. He was pressed by Gordon and sent behind. On the throw in England continued to press and a long shot by Smith went over the posts. On the restart Peden got away, but was spoiled by Bassett, who sent into touch. The visitors' forwards got away, and Spikesley had a nice run up when, he passed to Chadwick, who sent behind. Ireland was again hard pressed, and they conceded a corner which was taken by Bassett. Baird got away, but was spoiled, and England were passing when half-time was announced.
The second half was started by Stanfield against the breeze. Smith robbed. England got away, but Gordon placed and sent to Stanfield; he failed to reach in time, and Chadwick sent down the field. Spikelsey got away, but was spoiled by Ponsonby. England, however, pressed, and a shot by Chadwick was just saved by Ponsonby. England continued to press, and twice long shots were put in, one by Bloomer calling forth all the exertions of Scott to save. The ball went into touch, and England again pressed, but the ball went behind. On the throw in Baird got away, and centred to Stanfield, who gave to Peden. A good chance was muffled by wild shooting. England got away from the kick, and an exciting scrimmage took place at the Irish goal, Gordon at last relieving in the presence of five opponents. This relief was only temporary, and England, who admittedly had the best of the game, pressed hard again. The Irish halves at length repulsed them, but a free given the visitors let them away. Lodge returned, and Baird got away. He passed to the other side of the field, and Peden took up the running, ultimately sending across to Gordon, who let Baird away again. He was spoiled by Bloomer, but Gordon robbed this player, and the ball went into touch. The ball was then got away by Oakley and Bassett, and Bloomer, by nice combination, got down to the Irish goal, where Gordon skied the ball, and Bloomer put behind. On the kick out the Irish forwards made praiseworthy efforts to get away, but Crayshaw, with a long shot, almost beat Scott, the ball just grazing the crossbar. England still retained the advantage, but wild shooting spoiled many opportunities of scoring. Ireland at length got away fro the kick-off, and only when half-length up the field a foul was given against Crayshaw. Torrans placed well into goal, but Stanfield lost, and England again got away by Chadwick and Spikelsey. Gordon spoiled and passed to Peden, who brought well up the field, but lost at the corner. Crayshaw returning, England then got on, and Scott saved a splendid shot. England continued to press, and in a scrummage Gordon again saved. The ball ultimately went behind, and on the throw-in Ireland got away by Stanfield. He passed to Baird, who was robbed by Lodge. Turner came to the rescue, and Ireland got into the English forwards, to be sent back by a kick from Lodge. The ball at length went behind. Torrans kicked out, and a nice run by Milne brought play past the centre. He was spoiled by one of his own men, but Baird got possession, and getting away beautifully, passed in front of goal, and England had good luck in clearing. The visitors again came away with a rush, and made strenuous efforts to score. Scott and his confreres having a hard time of it. England now had the best of the game, and were unlucky at goal more than once. Ireland got away from a throw in, and a shot by Gordon compelled Lodge to kick Raikes, who easily cleared. England came away again, and Spikesley missed a grand chance when a score appeared imminent. Milne temporarily stopped a rush of the forwards, but Bassett got away, and in a fine sprint brought up the line, where he was stopped by Gordon. Ireland got away by Stanfield, who passed to Peden. That player was again offside, and England got away with the free-kick. Scott saved splendidly, and Stanfield again got away; he sent to Baird, who was robbed. England then got off, but Ponsonby saved neatly. Stanfield and Gordon then got away, and passed to Peden, but the ball went outside. On the throw-in Ponsonby sent up, and Baird sent behind. Ireland continued to have the best of the play for a time, but a long shot from the defence sent the leather behind. Play was stopped for a time owing to Bloomer being accidentally kicked by Torrans. On the restart Bloomer got away, but Ponsonby saved. The English forwards again pressed, and Bloomer obtaining the ball from a miskick by Torrans, sent strongly in, the shot leaving Scott little chance of saving goal. On the restart the English forwards got away again, and Spikesley sent to Smith. Smith spoiled, and the Irish got away from a pass of Fitzpatrick. Gordon was robbed, and England pressed, but were unable to score. Milne got away from a throw in, but the defence prevented scoring. A minute later Stanfield got away and passed to Baird. This player, although twice tackled, centred, and Stanfield got possession in front of the posts. A goal seemed certain, but Stanfield was charged, and the ball went behind. England then got away, but were repulsed, and a fine run of the Irish forwards brought the ball up the field. Peden again got unfortunately off-side, and Ireland lost the advantage she had gained by the free kick. The Irish forwards were pressing when 'Time!' was called.
There was really very little scientific football to be seen during the match. This was no doubt attributable to the condition of the ground. Ireland should certainly have scored twice in the first half, but for the flukey play of some of the forwards and Torrans, the left full-back. All the Englishmen played well, especially Smith, Bloomer, Chadwick, and Bassett. That the best team won., however,, there can be no doubt. The fact is the spectators were surprised that the score was not a runaway one on the part of the visitors.