most trying and critical Q.P. matches of 1876, '77, '78, and '80, and in
all those years was a familiar figure in the Internationals against
England and Wales. As we have previously said about the deceased Mr.
Leckie, players have their peculiarities, and Neill had his. He was a
really brilliant back and pretty sure tackler, but relied too much on
his feet while defending goal, instead of using the breast and head. His
individuality consisted in meeting the charge of an opponent with bended
knees, and he had the knack of taking the ball away and making a
brilliant return in a style that roused the cheers of the spectators. He
was a very hard worker to the last, and only retired from football to go
abroad some years ago. He has, however, returned to Glasgow, and may
frequently be seen at some of the best matches of the season. His play
during 1877 and 1878 was exceptionally good, and in those years was in
the best form of any back in Scotland.
~John Dickson.~
Poor fellow! Mr. Dickson had but a short career, not only in football,
but in everyday life. He caught a severe cold one bleak evening coming
from Hampden Park after a practice match, and succumbed to the malady of
inflammation of the lungs at the age of 28. He started his football life
as a back; but when the Queen's Park lost Mr. Gardner he was tried as
goalkeeper, and did very well. Tall and gentlemanly in appearance, with
neatly trimmed sandy whiskers and moustache, Dickson kicked out in front
of his goal very neatly, and was not afraid to meet the charge of an
opposing forward. An incident in his career caused a great deal of
amusement at the time, however, and is worth recording, just to show the
immense faith he had in the infallibility of his old club. It was in a
cup tie with the Vale of Leven, when that club beat the Queen's Park by
two goals to one. Dickson appeared at goal with an umbrella, as the rain
was falling fast, but when the Vale scored their first goal he was
obliged to throw away his companion, and work harder than ever he had
done before.
~Angus Mackinnon.~
A powerfully-made young fellow, above the medium height, Mr. Mackinnon
was a very fair forward, and always played in the centre with Mr.
William M'Kinnon, his namesake, and the pair were a "caution" to meet in
a hot tussle. The six forwards took part in the play then, with two on
each wing and a couple in the centre, and it was a treat to see how well
the Mackinnons worked in their places. Mr. Angus, however, was rather
short in the temper, and often had a "few words" with both companions
and opponents during a game. He played a very indifferent game in the
final tie and some of the matches previously, but was really in
excellent form at that same year's International against England, and
scored one of the goals. Mr. Mackinnon died about four years ago in
Canada.
~Frederick Anderson.~
If there is one player more than another that deserves to be remembered
by his old club, the Clydesdale, for the manner in which he brought it
before the public by scoring one of the goals in the third International
at Partick in 1874, it is Anderson. He was a very fine dribbler, and
about the most difficult man in the Clydesdale forwards to get the ball
away from after he had obtained possession. Although not one of the
original members, he was early associated with the Clydesdale, and
played in the best games of seasons 1874, '75, and '76. He was a bit of
a sprinter, and very fast on the ball, with very fine staying power.
Many of the backs who played against him during his best days were
afraid of Anderson when he got near the sticks. He is now in Manchester.
~John M'Pherson.~
Mr. John M'Pherson, of the Clydesdale, is a much older player than his
namesake of the Vale of Leven. When the Clydesdale went into the game
with a dash that astonished even the Q.P., he was one of their finest
forwards, and, possessing great speed, was not easily tackled by the
best backs of the day. He always played on the right wing, and was a
dangerous man at goal. Mr. M'Pherson did much both for football and
cricket in Inveraray, and even now takes an interest in his favourite
pastime in Rothesay, where he assists his father in the management of
the Queen's Hotel. It may be mentioned that, in addition to his other
qualifications, for "he was so versatile," M'Pherson has acted on more
than one occasion as outrider to Her Majesty when she visited the
Highlands. In 1875 he played against England.
~William Gibb.~
I am sorry to say Mr. Gibb is dead, and that the sad event severs the
link that bound the whole of the Clydesdale eleven together, with the
exception of the blank left by the loss of their accomplished
goalkeeper. Mr. Gibb was a tall and powerful young fellow, and I have
frequently seen a few of his opponents feeling rather shy before
attempting to oppose his progress towards goal. During the winters of
1873, 1874, and 1875, the Clydesdale forward play was good. So brilliant
was his form in 1873 that he was taken to Landon to play against
England, and scored one of the goals got by Scotland, who were defeated
by four goals to two. Mr. Gibb's only fault on the field was a
disposition to over-run the ball. He died about two years ago in India.
~A. H. Raeburn.~
In the first final cup tie Mr. Raeburn was one of the half-backs, and
played up with great dash and pluck. If my memory serves me right, he
was one of the original members of the Granville Cricket and Football
Club when the ground was at Myrtle Park, about a couple of stone-throws
from Hampden Park. He was very fond of the game, and no man in the
Clydesdale had more enthusiasm. Mr. Raeburn was a fine tackler, and not
easily flurried when meeting an opponent, and with such men as the
Mackinnons to face in the centre and Weir on the right that day of the
final, he had his own ado. He did not play very much after this game.
~Ebenezer Hendry.~
Mr. Hendry was more of a cricketer than a football player, and made many
fine scores for his side during the early years of his career. With the
exception of Mr. Gardner and Mr. Anderson, all the members of the
Clydesdale could play cricket, and it was more for the purpose of
keeping members together during the winter months that the dribbling
game was started on Kinning Park (the old home of the senior cricket
club of Glasgow). Mr. Hendry was a slow tackler, and took too long to
get on the ball, but when he got a fair chance, was a very neat kicker,
and showed good judgment.
~J. R. Wilson.~
During the past season, Mr. Wilson, who had been abroad for a number of
years, made a visit to his native city, and was welcomed back by his old
friends of the field with remarkable pleasure. No man in the club was
more highly beloved and respected, and, in after years, when his brother
Walter joined the club and played in several of the leading matches, the
pair rarely if ever missed a practice evening. Mr. Wilson was very fast
on the ball, and went right ahead when he got possession. In 1874 he was
chosen to play for Glasgow against Sheffield. In the cup tie which is
now under notice he made some very fine runs, and did much to make a
name for the old Clydesdale. It is with much regret I have to announce
that Mr. Wilson died in Glasgow only a month ago.
~James M'Arly.~
A hard worker and plucky tackler was Mr. M'Arly. For a long series of
years he was one of the finest batsmen in cricket that Glasgow produced.
Contemporary with Mr. Thos. Chalmers (Caledonian), the pair often met on
the field for their respective clubs; but so far as football is
concerned Chalmers played the Rugby game for the Glasgow Academicals,
while his contemporary was half-back in the Association Clydesdale.
About a dozen years ago he went to Manchester, where he is engaged as
partner in a large calico printing business; and the other day I had a
chat with him about old times, and he enjoyed it immensely.
~John Kennedy.~
Pressed into the service of his club on very short notice, Mr. Kennedy
played in the tie as a substitute. He had only been a few weeks at the
game when the match took place, but the young and rising generation of
players must remember the substitutes were few in those days, and it is
not the first time I have seen a match played with one of the clubs a
man short. Kennedy played as a forward, but afterwards developed into a
very fair back, and showed capital judgment in that position.
~J. J. Lang.~
Originally a member of the 3rd L.R.V., Lang left that club and joined
the Clydesdale in 1874. He played in the final, I think, as centre
forward, and backed up Mr. J. R. Wilson. Possessing splendid dribbling
powers, he was a very "showy" player, but his short steps did not make
anything like the progress with the ball one imagined at the time. He
was a somewhat heavy charger when he got the chance, and frequently
preferred to take his man before the ball.
~A Final Charity Cup Tie Eleven Years Ago.~
Bringing my reminiscences down to 1879, the year above all others when
Association football was, so to speak, in a kind of transition stage,
the clubs that earned the greatest fame, and justly so, were the Queen's
Park, Rangers, and Vale of Leven. Who, among all the gallant throng that
played in those clubs--and, for that part of it, the spectators--can
forget the exciting tussles engaged in by the trio? In this year the
Rangers met the Vale of Leven in the final tie for the Association
Challenge Cup, and also in the final for the Charity. Party, or shall I
say club, feeling ran as high, if not higher, than now, the excitement
was great, and intensified by the fact that the Leven men had been
eventually awarded the Association Cup without playing off the drawn
match, in consequence of the Rangers not turning up. Later on, too, the
crack Dumbartonshire eleven overthrew the Queen's Park in the semi-final
of the charities, on Glasgow Green, by four goals to none. Well, it was
on Tuesday evening, 20th May, that the battle came off on Old Hampden
Park, and both the Rangers and Vale of Leven mustered in strong force.
Lovely weather helped to swell the crowd, and some 12,000 people were
inside the ground. The Vale of Leven scored almost at once by Mr.
M'Dougall, and this looked like the prelude to victory. The Rangers,
however, set their teeth, and before the contest closed vanquished their
powerful opponents by scoring a couple of goals--one by Mr. Struthers,
and another out of a scrimmage. Since then eleven years have come and
gone, and with them a new generation of football players. Seeing that
the Rangers were the victors, I shall proceed to give sketches of their
eleven who played on the occasion, and deal with the Vale of Leven
afterwards.
~George Gillespie.~
In connection with the dribbling game in Glasgow, it should be generally
known that Mr. Gillespie supplies the link which binds the players of
the dead past to those of the living present. He is still to the fore,
and does duty as well as ever. Early in his football career Mr.
Gillespie was not a goalkeeper, for I am certain I saw him play at back
in some of the early matches of the "Light Blues." Nature,
metaphorically speaking, never intended him to be anything in the game
but a goalkeeper, and a brilliant one, too. How he kept goal in this
great match, and dozens of others, is still fresh in the memory both of
old players and spectators. He is the only man on the active list who
played ten years ago, and had the distinction of appearing against
England twice and Wales three times. From the Rangers he joined the Q.P.
about six years ago.
~Thomas Vallance.~
The early history of the Rangers--their triumphs, misfortunes, joys, and
sorrows--have all been shared in by Mr. Thomas Vallance, and he still
sticks to them like the veritable leech. Who could captain a young team
like he? When Vallance led the Rangers to victory in this final Charity
tie, I am sure he was barely out of his teens, and I don't think would
even yet hesitate to don the blue jersey of the club were it hard up for
a back. Vallance was a back, indeed, and for several seasons, but more
particularly that of 1879-80, none in Scotland showed better form. His
returns near goal were neat and clean, and without being in any way
rough with an opponent. Vallance's length of limb and good judgment
often saved his club from losing goals. The whole of the Rangers "lo'ed
him like a vera brither," and at practice his word was law. He played
four times against England.
~Alexander Vallance.~
With quite as much pluck, but awanting in finish and style, the younger
of the brothers, Mr. Alexander, was nevertheless a fine back. Lighter
made and more easily tackled than Thomas, he had a way of his own in
running out the ball before making the final shy, and when this was done
well, as it frequently happened in a first-class match, young Vallance
received a perfect ovation from the crowd. Alexander was in fine form in
this tie, and some of his returns were splendidly made. Instead of going
at an opponent with the air of an infuriated bull, as some backs are
prone to do now-a-days, he kept close to his man, and waited for an
opportunity, which was at once taken advantage of. Like his brother, he
is still in the city, and takes a kindly interest in his mother club.
~Hugh M'Intyre.~
Mr. Hugh M'Intyre and Mr. J. Drinnan were the half-backs in this
contest. No such new-fangled device as three half-backs was ever thought
of in Scotland at that time, and you may be sure the pair had hard work.
Of all the players sent out by the Rangers, M'Intyre was in many
respects the most powerful. He was, however, to be outspoken, the
coarsest. Woe betide the light and gentle forward who tried to pass Mr.
Hugh! He pounced on his man at once, and with raised back--for he was
somewhat round-shouldered--gave the excited spectator the idea that he
meant to have the ball at any cost. His weight gave him an immense
advantage in tackling, and I think old players will be at one with me
when I say that he was the best at that kind of work in Scotland. He was
about the first to leave Glasgow and accept an engagement in England. He
played against Wales in 1880.
~James Drinnan.~
In the list of the Rangers' eleven who took part in the match under
review, the name of Mr. Drinnan does not occur, and I am obliged to
proffer an explanation. In the report of the contest one "R. Jackson" is
credited with keeping H. M'Intyre company on the occasion. As the
incident is past, and Mr. Drinnan no longer amenable to the laws of
engineer apprenticeship, he did in this match what a great many men have
done before him--viz., played under an assumed name. He was a very fair
back, but not sufficiently brilliant to obtain notoriety, and never had
the distinction of playing in an International. He was, nevertheless, a
very useful all-round player, and could take his place as a centre
forward at a moment's notice.
~Peter Campbell.~
The Rangers a dozen years ago without Mr. Peter Campbell would have been
like the Queen's Park now with Mr. William Sellar left out. He was the
life and soul of the forward division, and it is not too much to say of
him that a finer dribbler and harder worker never kicked leather. Poor
Campbell, like so many more of the old lot, is gone to his account! In a
terrible storm in the Bay of Biscay, which left many a home desolate,
seven years ago, the steamer in which he was chief engineer foundered,
and not a soul was left to tell the tale. Quiet and unassuming in
manner, Mr. Campbell was beloved by all, and his untimely death is still
mourned by the Rangers, for whom he did so much. In 1878-79 he was in
such good form that he was chosen to play against Wales, and in 1876 and
1878 did duty for Glasgow against Sheffield.
~Moses M'Neil.~
The M'Neils are quite a football family, and, what is of more account,
have gained distinction in the game. Is it not a fact that Mr. Peter was
one of the founders of the famous club nineteen years ago, and that
Messrs. Harry, William, and Moses kept the ball rolling on Kinning Park
with credit for many a day? Moses is the youngest of the lot, and
consequently what may be termed the most modern. He was quite a boy when
this cup tie came off, and played with a dash and finish on the left
wing that completely astonished all who were present on Old Hampden Park
that May evening. Mr. Moses, too, was more than a mere local player, and
through sheer force of ability was chosen to play against England in
1880, and acted in the same capacity for Scotland against Wales in 1876.
He is still young and active, and resides in the city.
~William Struthers.~
An original member of the Partick, when that club could boast of having
as good a team as now, Struthers was associated with the old pioneers
in Messrs. Boag, James S. Campbell, Love, Sutar, Bell, and Smith, and
joined the Rangers the previous year before the tie. He was a beautiful
dribbler, after the style of Mr. T. C. Highet; went right ahead with the
ball close at his toe, and was the most difficult man to tackle in the
Rangers. He left Scotland some years ago for England, where he played
for the Bolton Wanderers. In brilliant form in the match, he made some
fine runs in company with Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hill, and was successful
in scoring the first goal got for the Rangers. Mr. Struthers is now in
England, where he has settled down.
~David Hill.~
A most unselfish player was Mr. Hill. He was slow, but sure, and if ever
a man showed an example in the field by at once passing on the ball when
necessary, and never opening his mouth from kick-of to time call, it was
he. One of the prominent figures all through quite a decade of seasons
for his old club, Mr. Hill rendered the Rangers valuable service, and
never failed to turn up when he was wanted. In the final Association
Challenge Cup match with the Vale of Leven, played shortly before the
one I am touching upon, and which ended in a tie, some splendid passing
was witnessed between him and Mr. Wm. Dunlop, who, by the way, could not
play in the Charity event in consequence of an injury sustained a week
before.
~Alex. Steel.~
Like the other members of the Rangers, Mr. Steel was very young when he
joined that club. His enthusiasm for the game, however, was unbounded,
and I have been told by an old Rangers' man that he was one of the
original "moonlighters" of the club. This phrase gentlemen, requires
some explanation. It does not refer to Ireland and its agrarian
grievances. No, no. It was only a few choice spirits of the Rangers who,
determined to win all matches, used to practice at full moon, and
frequently frightened some of the belated lieges in the vicinity of
Kinning Park, who swore the place was haunted.
~Charles M'Quarrie.~
Although retired from active duty on the field, Mr. M'Quarrie is even
now in football harness as the treasurer of the Partick Thistle. He did
not play in many of the first eleven matches of the club, but being a
promising lad was always available as first reserve forward. He was
rather a neat dribbler and good backer-up, but a little slow in
tackling. He was always a steady player, and did very well in this game.
He did not play very much after this tie, but gave up football
altogether, till his old love for the game returned some years ago, when
he joined the Thistle, and is one of their most earnest committee
workers.
~Robert Parlane.~
I now proceed to the Vale of Leven men who played in this tie, and
goalkeepers, beware! and, let me tell you, don't think too much of
yourselves nowadays! We had a great man who stood between the posts a
dozen years ago, quite equal at all points to you, and his name was
Parlane. Who did not know Mr. Robert Parlane a decade ago? In the early
history of Association football some of the best players ever Scotland
produced were also good cricketers, and Parlane was one of these, and a
grand wicketkeeper. Without saying too much of the men who have over and
over again distinguished themselves, I cannot help saying that a better
goalkeeper never chucked out a ball. Mr. Parlane did very well in this
match, his only fault being a disposition to go away too far from his
charge. He kept goal for Scotland against England in 1879, and is now in
Belfast.
~H. M'Lintock.~
For six years no man ever did better work for his club than Mr.
M'Lintock. In fact, the Vale of Leven would as soon have scratched
altogether in a cup tie as entered into a doubtful contest without him
and their other great back, Mr. Andrew M'Intyre. M'Lintock did more than
any of the old school now living to popularise a style of back play
which ten years ago was emulated to a large extent all over the country.
He had a most graceful way of turning the ball when it came dangerously
near the goal, and running it out by dodging an opponent. He used both
feet with equal freedom, and was decidedly the cleanest kicker that ever
played in the Vale of Leven. It is a curious fact, and one worth noting,
that Mr. Forbes adopted much the same style. M'Lintock played against
England in 1875 and 1876.
~Andrew M'Intyre.~
Mr. Andrew M'Intyre was a terrible fellow to meet in a hot scrimmage,
and no matter the forwards who opposed--and I have seen three at him in
a close tussle in front--M'Intyre generally had the best of it and got
the ball clear. His powerfully-knit frame served him in good stead in
all the great matches in which he took a prominent part. In the one
under review M'Intyre was sorely beset by the pick of the Rangers'
forwards, but was always in the right place. No player of his day could
work as well in so little space, and get the leather away safely. His
only fault was to be a little demonstrative in the field with opponents,
and tell them a bit of his mind during the game. In 1878 he was chosen
to play against England.
~J. Macintyre.~
The play of the two namesakes was as different as the poles asunder. Of
a fair height and good appearance, Mr. J. Macintyre was one of the most
excitable men that ever stood in front of a goal. He generally warmed up
at bit, however, and even showed more daring when his old club were
playing an uphill game, and I know for certain that in the great drawn
matches for the Association Challenge Cup, between the Vale of Leven and
Rangers, no man ever did harder work. He was slow to get on the ball,
and at times very erratic, but rarely if ever lost an opportunity. Very
rough in tackling, he, above all others in the club, was severe on the
opposing forwards.
~J. M'Pherson.~
Among the Vale of Leven back division, which was so powerful long ago,
none was more devoted to the game than Mr. M'Pherson, who held his place
for several years as one of the backs of whom Caledonia felt proud.
Without the least show or fussiness, M'Pherson did his work quietly, and
had the credit (and a good one, too) of being next to Mr. John Ferguson,
the best-natured footballer in Dumbartonshire. He could play a
magnificent game when he liked, and one season particularly--that of
1883--when he was one of the Scottish Eleven against England at
Sheffield, ably assisted his team to win a hard match by three goals to
two.
~J. Macfarlane.~
The Vale of Leven at the time this tie was played had a rare forward
combination, and in some of their best matches the dribbling and passing
among them were something to be remembered. Macfarlane, however, was
certainly not the best of the lot, but a very safe man, and could play
equally well on the left wing or the centre, and, if I mistake not, work
excellently as a backer-up to J. M'Gregor. Now, when I think of it, he
was severely tackled in this match by H. M'Intyre, and was not in such
good form as some of the other forwards.
~R. Paton.~
There are few, if any, old players in Dumbartonshire, and, I should say,
spectators as well, who cannot remember the familiar figure of Mr.
Robert Paton. A nicely-featured little fellow, with a joke for every
acquaintance, he was full of vivacity, and an intense love for his old
club, the Vale. Yes, "The Vale." Nobody ever called it anything else.
Paton, above all the other forwards who did so much to make the Leven
men beloved at home and feared "abroad," even to the next parishes and
the big city of Glasgow, was a fine player, and never kept the ball
longer than was necessary if he saw a chance. He played against England
in 1879.
~J. Baird.~