1872-73 in English football
Encyclopedia
The 1872–1873 season was the second season of competitive football
in England
.
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Football's second season saw the world's first FIFA recognized international match
: Scotland
v England
. The Football Association
(FA) had initiated 'international' matches between English and Scottish players since 1870, under the auspices of the FA. The first official match took place when Queen's Park
, a leading Scottish club in football's development, invited the FA to pick an English team to face a Scottish team (which, as they picked the team, consisted entirely of Queen's Park players). The match took place at Hamilton Crescent
, Glasgow
on 30 November 1872 and ended in a 0–0 draw in front of around 4,000 spectators.
The FA hosted a return match at Kennington Oval, London
on 8 March 1873, which marked the first official meeting of the sides in England, with the English adopting Scotland's 2–2–6 formation. England only retained two of the players who had appeared in the November 1872 match, Ernest Greenhalgh
in defence and Charles Chenery
, a forward. England selected a side with a strong Wanderers
influence, including Leonard Howell
, Robert Vidal
, Alexander Bonsor
, William Kenyon-Slaney
and Hubert Heron
. Of these only Heron would play more than two matches for England. The other players selected were Alexander Morten
in goal, William Clegg
(whose brother Charles had played in the previous match) and Royal Engineers
Pelham von Donop
and Alfred Goodwyn
.
The severely limited funds available to the fledgling SFA meant they were only able to finance rail fares to London for eight players, so the team was augmented with three Anglo-Scots who had appeared in the earlier unofficial series, Lord Kinnaird
, John Blackburn and Henry Renny-Tailyour
. The match ended in a 4–2 victory for England.
The Scottish Football Association
was formed on 13 March 1873 (after both these matches) and then took over the running of the Scotland team (helping to further signify that the FA was to become an English, not UK-wide (or even worldwide), organisation).
The FA Cup
returned for a second season. Under the rules of the time, the previous year's winners, Wanderers
, automatically qualified for the final Lillie Bridge
on 29 March 1873, where they beat the Oxford University
2–0. After this season, the 'challenge' rule was scrapped and the current holders had to start in the first round like everybody else.
* England score given first
Key
Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Overview
Scotland v England (1872)
Scotland v England was the first ever official international football match to be played. It was contested by the national teams of Scotland and England. The match took place on 30 November 1872 at West of Scotland Cricket Club's ground at Hamilton Crescent in Partick, Scotland...
: Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
v England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
(FA) had initiated 'international' matches between English and Scottish players since 1870, under the auspices of the FA. The first official match took place when Queen's Park
Queen's Park F.C.
Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
, a leading Scottish club in football's development, invited the FA to pick an English team to face a Scottish team (which, as they picked the team, consisted entirely of Queen's Park players). The match took place at Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent
Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 30 November 1872 and ended in a 0–0 draw in front of around 4,000 spectators.
The FA hosted a return match at Kennington Oval, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 8 March 1873, which marked the first official meeting of the sides in England, with the English adopting Scotland's 2–2–6 formation. England only retained two of the players who had appeared in the November 1872 match, Ernest Greenhalgh
Ernest Greenhalgh
Ernest Harwood Greenhalgh was an English footballer who played for England as a full back in the first international match against Scotland.-Playing career:...
in defence and Charles Chenery
Charles Chenery
Charles John Chenery was a footballer who played for England in the first international match against Scotland. He also played cricket for Surrey and Northants.-Football career:...
, a forward. England selected a side with a strong Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
influence, including Leonard Howell
Leonard Howell (footballer)
Leonard Sidgwick Howell was an English footballer who won the FA Cup with the Wanderers in 1873 and made one appearance as a full back for England in the second international match.-Football career:...
, Robert Vidal
Robert Vidal
Robert Walpole Sealy Vidal was a prominent 19th century footballer who featured in the first three FA Cup Finals for two different clubs. In March 1870 he played in the first ever international football match, which took place at The Oval, London. He represented England again in 1871-Football...
, Alexander Bonsor
Alexander Bonsor
Alexander George Bonsor was one of the earliest known footballers.-Career:Bonsor played in the 1872 FA Cup Final - the first ever final in the FA Cup's history - and finished on the winning side...
, William Kenyon-Slaney
William Kenyon-Slaney
William Slaney Kenyon-Slaney , sportsman, soldier and politician.Kenyon-Slaney was born in Rajkot in Gujarat in India, the son of Captain William Kenyon of the 2nd Bombay cavalry and Frances Catherine Slaney, daughter of Robert A. Slaney of Shropshire...
and Hubert Heron
Hubert Heron
George Hubert Hugh Heron was an English footballer who made five appearances as a forward for England in the 1870s and won three FA Cup winners' medals.-Playing career:...
. Of these only Heron would play more than two matches for England. The other players selected were Alexander Morten
Alexander Morten
Alexander Morten was an English footballer who captained the England team in its second official international, played against Scotland on 8 March 1873....
in goal, William Clegg
William Clegg
-External links:****...
(whose brother Charles had played in the previous match) and Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers A.F.C.
The Royal Engineers Association Football Club is an association football team representing the Corps of Royal Engineers, the "Sappers", of the British Army. In the 1870s it was one of the strongest sides in English football, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and being Cup Finalists in four of the first...
Pelham von Donop
Pelham von Donop
Lieutenant-Colonel Pelham George von Donop was an officer in the Royal Engineers and later Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways...
and Alfred Goodwyn
Alfred Goodwyn
Alfred George Goodwyn was an English Royal Engineer, who represented his regiment at football. He was a member of the Regiment's team that was defeated in the very first FA Cup final. He also represented England in the second international football match against Scotland in 1873.-Career:Goodwyn...
.
The severely limited funds available to the fledgling SFA meant they were only able to finance rail fares to London for eight players, so the team was augmented with three Anglo-Scots who had appeared in the earlier unofficial series, Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird
Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, 11th Lord Kinnaird KT was a principal of The Football Association and a leading footballer....
, John Blackburn and Henry Renny-Tailyour
Henry Renny-Tailyour
Henry Waugh Renny-Tailyour was an amateur all-round sportsman who appeared for Scotland in some of the earliest international football and rugby union matches, remaining to this day the only player to have represented the country in both codes...
. The match ended in a 4–2 victory for England.
The Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
was formed on 13 March 1873 (after both these matches) and then took over the running of the Scotland team (helping to further signify that the FA was to become an English, not UK-wide (or even worldwide), organisation).
The FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
returned for a second season. Under the rules of the time, the previous year's winners, Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
, automatically qualified for the final Lillie Bridge
Lillie Bridge Grounds
The Lillie Bridge Grounds was a sports ground in London near to present day Stamford Bridge, opened around 1867. The ground started to fall into disuse after the opening of Stamford Bridge, and after a riot on September 18, 1887 which destroyed the track and grandstand, it finally closed in...
on 29 March 1873, where they beat the Oxford University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
2–0. After this season, the 'challenge' rule was scrapped and the current holders had to start in the first round like everybody else.
National team
| Date | Venue | Opponents | Score |
Comp | England scorers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 November 1872 | Hamilton Crescent Hamilton Crescent Hamilton Crescent is a cricket ground located in the Partick area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home of the West of Scotland Cricket Club.Hamilton Crescent is famous for holding the first ever international football match, played between Scotland and England... , Partick Partick Partick is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch. Partick was a Police burgh from 1852 until 1912 when it was incorporated into the city.-History:... (A) |
0–0 | F | ||
| 8 March 1873 | Kennington Oval, London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... (H) |
4–2 | F | William Kenyon-Slaney William Kenyon-Slaney William Slaney Kenyon-Slaney , sportsman, soldier and politician.Kenyon-Slaney was born in Rajkot in Gujarat in India, the son of Captain William Kenyon of the 2nd Bombay cavalry and Frances Catherine Slaney, daughter of Robert A. Slaney of Shropshire... (Wanderers Wanderers F.C. Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864.... ) (1 & 75 mins), Alexander Bonsor Alexander Bonsor Alexander George Bonsor was one of the earliest known footballers.-Career:Bonsor played in the 1872 FA Cup Final - the first ever final in the FA Cup's history - and finished on the winning side... (Wanderers Wanderers F.C. Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864.... ) (10 mins), Charles Chenery Charles Chenery Charles John Chenery was a footballer who played for England in the first international match against Scotland. He also played cricket for Surrey and Northants.-Football career:... (Crystal Palace) (85 mins) |
Key
- H = Home match
- A = Away match
- F = Friendly
Honours
| Competition | Winner |
|---|---|
| FA Cup FA Cup Final 1873 The 1873 FA Cup final was a football match between Wanderers and Oxford University on 29 March 1873 at Lillie Bridge in London. It was the second final of the world's oldest football competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup... |
Wanderers Wanderers F.C. Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864.... (2*) |
Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition
See also
- Comparison of English and Scottish playing styles
- 1872-73 in Scottish football1872-73 in Scottish footballSeason 1872–73 was the first in Scottish football in which the national team participated in officially recognised matches. There were as yet no organised domestic competitions.-Overview:...