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1930 saw the brainchild of Jules Rimet come to fruition. THE WORLD CUP. THE JULES RIMET TROPHY.
The first tournament only got off the ground due to a lot of hard work by Rimet himself. It was held in Uruguay and consisted of the host nation plus eight other "American" countries. Four European nations were cajoled onto appearing, including France. Various excuses were offered for other countries failure to compete. Mainly political and economic unrest. Plus, of course, it was a three week sailing from Europe the the South Americas at the time.

The hosts won the trophy .Only the French put up any kind of show for the Euro’s. They had the honour of scoring the first ever World Cup goal, thru’ Lucient Laurent. Beating Mexico 4 – 1.  The teams were split into four groups, each group having a seeded team. Three seeds made the Semi-finals. The games were a bit of an anticlimax. Uruguay and Argentina beating Yugoslavia and U.S.A, respectively 6 – 1.

The final was held in Montevideo but not without a little controversy. Who should provide the ball? Common sense came to the fore and EACH country provided a ball. One for each half. The hosts won an eventful match 4 – 2 after being 1 – 2 down. In typical Latin style, the Uruguay nation celebrated and the Argentines rioted.
The U.S.A. had one thing to celebrate. Bert Patenaude scored the first HAT-TRICK in WORLD CUP history. The Yanks beating Paraguay 3 – 0 in a group match.

There were two more World Cup competitions before the next war broke out. Both played against a background of political unrest and intrigue. Firstly Uruguay refused to defend thier title in Europe because of the poor European representation four years earlier. Argentina deliberately sent a weakened team, as Mussolini had poached three Argentine players. Deciding that they had "Italian Lineage".  More were to follow. This time sixteen countries took part. Twelve of these were from Europe. An about face to the previous competition in ‘30.

The format was changed to a knock-out competition. Not well received, by and large.  The quarter-finals turned out to be an ALL EUROPEAN affair. There were dissenting  voices to be heard.

Not unnaturally the referees bore the brunt of this. M.Mercet of Switzerland was suspended , eventually, by his own association for blatant bias to the Italians.Swedish referee Eklind was accused of conspiring with Mussolini, before matches.  The Italians were expected, by their own fans , at least, to win the trophy and they went about the task in a very "heavy" way. The home-born Italians very ably abetted by the growing number of Argentine "Italians", battled,  or rather battered, their way past, first Spain and then in the semi, the very talented Austria. Brawn again winning the day.

In the final the football playing Czechoslovakia ran rings round the Italians but taking some seventy minutes to score. With less than ten minutes remaining Orsi, yet another Argentine "Italian" scored a freakish equaliser. In extra time the Czechs ran out of steam and finally Schavio scored Italy’s winner. Mussolini’s propoganda and alleged "referee-plant" had triumphed
                                                                                                                                
The 1938 World Cup in France was a real let-down. Once again political turmoil and the ever increasing prospect of war, dividing alliances. Only fifteen countries sent teams. Twelve from Europe two from the Americas ,(well fancied Brazil and Cuba) and one from Asia, Dutch East Indies. Uruguay still had their knickers in a twist over the supposed European snub eight years earlier. Argentina declined to play because they tried to insist, unsuccessfully, that the World Cup should alternate between The Americas and Europe.True to type, the Argentine people, on hearing that they wouldn’t be taking part, rioted.   The Home Nations were invited to play but all declined.

Once again a knock-out system was employed. This gave Sweden a first round bye.
The tournament itself was more remembered for it’s brutality than it’s football. The Italians were at the forefront of the rougher games and even Brazil were quite out of charactor and had two players "red-carded" in their game with Czechoslovakia. Brazil met Italy in the semi-final and were duly put in their place.

The final, in Paris, should have been a classic. Italy’s defence against the very skillful Hungarians. It turned out to be another rough-house from the Italians. They just intimidated the Magyars and went in at half-time 3 – 1 to the good. Although the Hungarians tried to play football in the second half the Italians shut-up shop.The Italian defence gifted a second goal to Hungary,then went to the other end to score the goal of the tournament. Thus Italy became the first country to successfully defend their trophy.
The next World Cup Tournament would be twelve years hence. i’m sure we English want to forget that one.

After the end of the Great War sport in general and football in particular tried to return to normal.
For some teams that meant replacing players who had been killed or whose injuries meant they couldn’t return, either.

F.I.F.A. also found things wouldn’t run smoothly.
Before start of the war they had expanded into the Americas and Africa. New members were Canada, United States, a couple from South America and South Africa. The travel restrictions prevented many Internationals from being played. The hoped for nurturing of a greater grouping had to be put on hold.

The biggest blow of all, for F.I.F.A. was the death in October 1918 of it’s President D.B.Woolfall.
It wasn’t far off extinction but somehow survived under the Presidentship of Dutchman Carl Hirschmann. However trouble continued to dog the association and in 1920/21 the Football Association of the Irish Free State was formed to oversee the game in Southern Ireland. Leaving the Irish Football Association as the governing body of the Six Counties. Not really a problem for F.I.F.A. except that the Home Countries PLUS Northern Ireland promptly resigned from the Association. They wouldn’t take part in the Association which included enemies from the recent war. (Germany, Austria and Hungary). The Home Countries plus Begium, Luxembourg and France called for the "Enemies" to be expelled. Their wish wasn’t granted so the Home Countries broke away from F.i.F.A.This situation was to look like an on-off engagement between two temperamental suitors. In 1924 they were enticed  back into the F.I.F.A. fold.

Forward four years and they broke-up once again. This time over players being paid, "Broken Time" money in the 1928 Olympic Games Tournament. So for around 20  years their main competition was the Home Championship which had re-started in 1919. Even so England played many internatioal matches whilst not affiliated. Fairly regularly playing  France and Belgium, whom they seemed to use for shooting practice.  It was at this time that Scotland began to take the unofficial title of Best British Side. Unfortunately England could only lay claim to being third out of the four countries. Wales at this time were beginning to show their true worth. They started the campaign with a 2 – 1 victory over England at the home of Arsenal. The following season. They drew 0 – 0 at Ninian Park in Cardiff.

Of the twenty Championships up to the start of the Second World War England managed just three outright wins and three shared. Whereas Wales won six outright and shared one Scotland’s record over the same period was seven outright and four shared.
Every Scotsman will of course point to the 1928 game at WEMBLEY as Scotland’s FINEST HOUR. In this game, Scotlands forward line of Alex Jackson,( 3 goals) James Dunn, Hughie Gallacher, Alex James( 2 goals) and Alan Morton, ran the English defence ragged. England’s consolation goal, in a 5 – 1 hammering game with virtually the last kick of the game.For many years the Scotland side were lovingly referred to as THE WEMBLEY WIZARDS. Not just by the Scots, either.

As the 1930’s dawned so did the World Cup. This was the brain child of Frenchman Jules Rimet. He was President of F.I.F.A. and must be given much praise  for this innovation and for his work in helping to enlarge the membership to  more than quadruple it’s 1920 figure by the time he retired in 1954.

Referees, Again.
It would appear that our much hated card flourisher Mike Riley is to put his whistle away for good. Keith Hackett the chief of the PROFESSIONAL GAME MATCHDAY OFFICIAL is going into retirement and will be succeeded by Mr Riley.  The pair will work in tandem for the final six months of Mr Hacketts contract, to ensure a smooth transition.

When war was declared 4th August 1914 most sports stopped immediately but not football. The Football League carried on. Most players were on one-year rolling contracts so were unable to heed the pleas and urging of many people to join-up. The players only chance of going to war was for their clubs to cancel their contracts, which they weren’t inclined to do.

Many public figures tried to urge the footballers to join-up. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the first to do so, followed by Fred Charrington, son of the brewer, who went to war on West Ham United for being cowards. Charles Fry, the well-known footballer and cricketer called for all football to be abandoned and contracts voided.
Whilst recruiing was going on at a fair pace more people were having a go at the footballers including the church. Mainly thru’ the Bishop of Chelmsford who rubbished those who didn’t put their country first.

Eventually a battalion of the Middlesex Regiment was formed  called the 17th Service ( Football) Regiment. The first person to join was Franklin Buckley. An England International who would become manager of Wolves. Buckleys lead was soon followed when the Football Association and Football League gave their blessing for unmarried players to join-up. The 17th Battalion soon filled all the available vacancies. Mainly with star-struck supporters who wanted to fight beside their heros. Frank(lin) Buckley, having seen service in the forces in the King’s Regiment between 1900 and 1903, was given the rank of Lieutenant. He finished up as a Major.

Scotland’s top-dogs at this time was Hearts of Midlothian.They had won eight successive leagues games when the whole team joined-up, in the Army. Seven of them never returned. However the signing of the team had a great impact on everybody. Recruitment really gathered pace.  By the following March over one hundred professional footballers were under arms. Led by Clapton (now Leyton) Orient, whose first eleven led the way.

Around this time ATHLETIC NEWS took the government and the "do gooders" to task, accusing them of trying to stop the man in the street from enjoying "the poor man’s sport". How hollow those last four words ring in regards to todays over paid "slaves".
Many of the footballers who went to war covered themselves in glory. None more than Lance Corporal  William Angus who played for Celtic. He managed to crawl thru’ "no Man’s land" to rescue an officer who was badly wounded, managing to reach him without being seen. The return journey was exactly the opposite and Angus was hit about forty times. He eventually returned to his trench with the officer. Angus lost an eye and part of his right foot. He was awarded the VICTORIA CROSS.The first professional footballer to receive the award.

Second Lieutenant Donald Bell of Bradford City,reputed to be the first professional footballer to enrol,  received a Posthumous Victoria Cross. He attacked an enemy machine gun post armed only with grenades, at the Somme. He was successful. Unfortunately he tried to repeat his act a few days later and was killed.

Another to be decorated was Leigh Roose, the Welsh goalkeeper. Despite being a "medic" he was thrust into the Battle of the Somme near Dainville. His citation included,….he threw bombs (grenades?) ,until his arms gave out, then used his rifle to great effect. He was awarded the Military Medal. He was killed attacking German trenches, two months later.

Jimmy Spiers also of Bradford City, another Military Medal winner was killed at Passchendale in August 1917.

A Momentous honour awaited Walter Tull of Northampton Town. One of the first to enlist, he fought at the Somme, earning praise from very senior officers but then  developed Trench Fever. He was repatriated to England and when he had recovered instead of returning to France was sent to the Officer Training school at Gailles in Scotland, despite Military regulations forbidding "any negro or person of colour" being an officer.He was commissioned in May 1917, in the rank of Leiutenant.

He was posted to the Italian Front to become the first ever Black Officer in the British Army. He was later mentioned in despatches for "gallantry and coolness under fire" during the battle of Piave.

This is just a few of the many, many incidents in which footballers were involved during that war. How sad that so many failed to return to their loved ones.I wonder how todays "over-paid" under-achievers would respond to a similar situation.

International games only came into being because of a gimmick.

The game seemd to be rather slow to catch on in Scotland so it was decided to send a team of players over the border to play the Scots and try to get the spectators more interested in the game. Played at Hamilton Crescent in November 1872 the game ended 0 – 0 but appeared to have had the desired effect as a return was arranged for March the following year. This ended in a 4 – 2 win for England.  It was then decided to hold these games annually with the playing venue being "home and away" in successive years. Scotland quickly established themselves as "Top Dogs", winning four and drawing one of the next five games.

Wales were the next national team to appear on the horizon playing England at the Kennington Oval and losing 2 – 1 (1879).

The Irish F.A. was founded in 1880. Their first International match being two years later when they were heavily defeated, 13 – 0 at Bloomfield Road, Belfast. At this point in history players for the Irish team were drawn from those born and based on the island. "Foreign" based players were not considered for selection for around ten years. It was 1920 before thoughts of division, in a football and a political sense, came to the fore. The Republic played their first ever International match  in the 1924 Olympic Games beating Bulgaria 1 – 0.

In 1883 the Home Championship was inaugurated. Scotland were the first champions wiininng thier three games with record of 10 goals for and just 1 against.

In 1884, the Scottish F.A. complained that James Forrest, included in the English team was a professional. He was being paid ONE POUND A WEEK by Blackburn Rovers. He was eventually allowed to play but had to wear a jersey to distinguish him from the other players.

In 1890, Blackburn born Jack Reynolds played for Ireland. The following year he scored Irelands only goal against England in a 1 – 9 defeat. The following year he made his debut for England. (E.E.Evans also had the distinction of playing for two of the home countries.) Reynolds is also in the history books as the only player to score both for and against England, barring own goals, of course. There were many outstanding players in this era. Especially, G.O.Smith of Corinthians and Steve Bloomer, of Derby County. Both were prolific scorers for both club and country. Smith scored 11 goals in 20 games for England whilst Bloomer notched 28 goals in 23 games. Also, at that time, he was the only player to score 4 goals on two occasions for his country.

England and Scotland virtually annexed the home Championship between them. There was a a three-way tie in 1902/3 and Wales won their first Championship in 06/07 and Ireland won their second in 1913/14. The Welsh Championship winning side was captained by Leigh Roose and included "Welsh Wizard" Billy Meredith. This was quite an accomplishment for Wales as they were never certain which of their chosen squad would turn-up. Teams were loathe to let their players turn-out for the National Side, (Things haven’t changed down the ages, then).

1904 saw the formation of Federation Internationale de Football Association or as we know it, F.I.F.A. It was founded in Paris and it’s first President was Robert Guerin. He made quite a mess of it’s first international competition in 1906. Taking this and other factors into consideration, he was replaced by an Englishman, Daniel Burley Woolfall. The association was formed by seven countries. France, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The three home nations were early "sign-ups" to the association.

Football in general was making strides through the 1900’s until the  Great War took centre stage.

The Second World War played havoc with sporting events and football as much as any other.

The league programme did get underway with Blackpool sitting in first place, unbeaten with 6 points from three games, when the programme was abandoned.

The football world appeared to have more of a grasp of the situation well before the Government. The Munich Agreement whilst popular with the majority of people was viewed with suspicion by many in the football world. Indeed George Kay manager of Liverpool made his distrust of Hitler well known and joined the Territorial Army. He entreated his players to join, as did West Ham’s manager Charlie Paynter.

To see how footballers were prepared to help their country was well presented in April of 1939. Well in advance of hostilities being declared. Bolton had a home game against Sunderland. Before the start Harry Goslin, Bolton captain made a speech urging the men in the crowd to join the Territorials. All the playing staff of thirty five either joined the Terriers or undertook other essential occupations.

This course of action encouraged other clubs to follow suit. Being fit was a boon to those who joined the forces and most were understandably given posts as Physical Fitness Instructors.So not too many of them actually saw combat. However the lead was what was needed to encourage Joe Public to enrol,too.The clubs really did set a great example. Wolves. for instance, had ninety-one of their staff join-up. Seventy-six from Liverpool and a host of other teams were responsible for any number in excess of forty staff members. To be different, most of Arsenals players joined the R.A.F. Around 800 footballers volunteered to join-up.

Some footballers did see action. One in particular was Wilf Mannion, a future England regular. He was reported killed in France but was actually rescued from Dunkirk. He managed to "fit-in" a war-time international game against Scotland before being posted to South Africa, being readied for the invasion of Sicily.

Some players never made it back home. One who didn’t was Bolton’s Harry Goslin. He died fron shrapnel wounds. Others who didn’t make it included, Walter Sidebottom also of Bolton considered a future international. He was torpedoed. Joe Rooney of Wolves died in an air raid. There were many others including eight on Arsenals books.One was Bill Dean a goalkeeper who claimed"I’ve fulfilled a lifes ambition and played for Arsenal". He died in action just over a year later.

Quite a few players were wounded and many were told they wouldn’t play again. Of course British Spirit prevailed and many proved the doctors wrong. Bil Shorthouse of Wolves. Stan Mortensen had bad head injuries when his Wellington bomber crashed. Jackie Stamp of Derby County was wounded in the Dunkirk evacuation  He defied the doctor’s prognocis.Probably the most unlikeliest recovery was Roy White (Spurs).He was torpedoed during the evacuation and when he was eventually rescued he’d gone blind. After two months in hospital his sight returned.After the war he became a Spurs regular.

The game itself became regionalised with a travel limit of 55 miles imposed by the government. London had a ready made grouping and they were supplimented by teams on the periphery of the capital. Clubs like Reading, Aldershot and Brighton. There were six other regions. Some regions had two divisions. London’s two divisions were both played in two sections.Giving a total of ten divisions in all.

Due to the travel restrictions players tended to play for the team nearest to where they were stationed. Not surprisingly Aldershot were the envy of many other clubs.

The leagues were tinkered with on a regular basis  until they became League North, League South and League West. They ran like this until the war ended and became League North, League South and division three operated on a north/south split thru’ to the end of the 45/46 season.

During these years the F.A.Cup was discontinued and replaced by the Football League War Cup. It ran on similar lines to the F.A. Cup. In addition there was the The London  War Cup. two years later a league North Cup was introduced.

These were desparate times for some teams who found it hard to put out a decent squad. It appears league tables were very much a "hit and miss" affair. The public didn’t seem to mind too much but those who were able to watch a game could most probably have done so on a Sunday. And we thought Sunday football was a new inovation when it started a few years ago.

The end of the war in ‘45 saw the resumption of competitive football in the form of the F.A. Cup.

During hostilities the league set-up was two "first divisions", North and South and lesser regional leagues. On this occasion the two finalists were both from the Southern Section, Charlton Athletic and Derby County. 98,000 saw they game which went into extra time, but not without a couple of "firsts". Jacky Stamp, (Derby centre forward), shot for goal only for the ball to burst in mid-air. Just as it had done in a regional league game between the same sides the previous week.

First blood went to Derby when Charlton’s left half Bert Turner put thru’ his own. Almost immediately Charlton went on the attack and Turner equalised. The first person to get on both score sheets in an F.A. Cup Final.The  game went to extra-time, for only the second time at Wembley. Derby went on to win 4 – 1.Charlton gained their revenge next season. beating second division Burnley 1 – 0 in extra-time.

No team dominated in the early years after ‘45 until Newcastle won 3 times between ‘51 and ‘55. In amongst these successes was the MATTHEWS FINAL. Bolton lead 3 –1 with some 22 mins remaining. Matthews completed one of his dazzling runs with a cross for Mortenson to score his and the teams second goal. Mortenson went on to score the only Cup Final hat-trick at the old stadium.

The next outstanding happening was in the 55/56 final,  when City, having lost the previous year, beat Birmingham 3 – 1. With their goalkeeper, Bert Trautman playing for the last 20 mins with a broken neck.The club doctor stated that the slightest jolt to the neck could have paralysed if not killed him. I watched that game on T V and Trautman was awesome.

Two years later Man Utd lost to Bolton Wanderers. This was three months after the Munich disaster. United were allowed to sign players who had already played in that seasons cup games. The only time it has been allowed. Not surprisingly Bolton ran out 2 – 0 winners. United’s second consecutive Cup final defeat. They made amends beating Leicester City 3 -1 in 62/63.

The sixties really belonged to ‘Spurs with a double success in 60/61 and 61/62. Follwed by a third in  66/67.

The 64/65 final would add a new name to the trophy now matter who had won. It turned out to be one of Liverpool’s numerous successes. Leeds had to wait until 71/72 for their first ever Cup Final win. The following season when they attempted to retain the trophy, they were surpisingly beaten by a Porterfield goal for Sunderland.
No one team dominated during the Seventies, and the start of the Eighties saw three years of replays. ‘Spurs winning the first two of these for yet another double final success.

Everton won in 83/84 and were beaten in each of the following two seasons. The second of which saw the first ever Merseyside Derby Final. Repeated three seasons later, when Liverpool  also repeated their victory. The shock of the decade came in 87/88 when WIMBLEDON beat all the odds and Liverpool by a single goal.
‘Spurs saw in the next decade with a 2 – 1 defeat of Notts Forest.

The next nineteen years have been a virtual monopoly fo the "BIG FOUR". Only twice has an "outsider" won the Cup. Everton 94/95 and last year Portsmouth were successful.

When the F.A. Cup is mentioned the thoughts often tend to wander to the few clubs who have also achieved the Cup and League Double. With some hundred and twenty finals decided only six teams have achieved the Double. Preston, Aston Villa, ‘Spurs and Liverpool have one success each Whilst Arsenal and Man. Utd have three each.

The spread of these successes shows no pattern whatsoever. Two between 1889 and 1897 then a blank until 1961. A ten year gap to the next and then another barren spell until 1986.Then there was a fistful (four) between 1994 and 1999. The last occasion was 2002.

Although the "Big Four" appear to have most things their own way, none seems to be able to really dominate as Man. Utd did in the nineties.

AFTER THE WAR.

The Second World War ended in 1945 and almost
Immediately the F.A Cup took centre stage. The league programme didn’t re-start until 46/47 season.
The composition of the league was so different to today. Ten of the "starters" now languish in  lower divisions. Brentford, Grimsby Town, Blackpool, Huddersfield Town, etc etc. Notable absentees were Man City Newcastle and ‘Spurs and a few other household names.

The winter that season was atrocious.I can actually remember how bad it was. The result was that the season was extended over to June. What was a decider for the championship was played at Bramall Lane in brilliant sunshine. United entertained Stoke City, who needed to win to displace Liverpool from top spot. United won 2 – 1 and Liverpool were champions. Relegated were Leeds Utd and Brentford. Brentford have never reached such dizzy heights since.
The feat of the season must surely have been that of Jackie Balmer of Liverpool. He scored TEN consecutive goals in three games.Three against Portsmouth, four against Derby and then another three against Arsenal. A feat I’ve never seen repeated, let alone beaten.

The first side to hit  trouble was little New Brighton. ( As New Brighton Tower they had played alongside the famous tower from 1897 until1901. Playing to crowds of around 1000 in an 80,000 capacity stadium was always doomed to failure, at least financially. So it proved).The Rake Lane side lost their place at the end of the 50/51 season. They seeked re-election but were replaced by Workington. Wigan made one of their many unsuccessful attempts to gain admission. Even their threat to apply to the Scottish Football League carried no weight.

In 1949 and then again in 1950 Portsmoth won successive League titles. The only times they’ve done so.
The first fifteen seasons from 46/47 onwards saw five teams share twelve champoinshps between them. After this Liverpool and Manchester United served notice of what ws to come. They won alternative titles over the next four seasons, before a lull The quiet before the storm, perhaps. In 73 Liverpool won what was to be the first of a real bundle of championships. Eleven of the next eigtheen titles went to Anfield. Throw in a couple of Everton triumphs and the trophy hardly ever seemed to leave the City.

Liverpool, Arsenal and finally Leeds United were the winners of the last three old league titles. In 1992 the entire first division complement resigned from the Football League and formed THE F.A. PREMIER LEAGUE. At the end of the 91/92 season normal relegation/promotion took place and the subsequent twenty-two teamed formed what we now know as the PREMIER LEAGUE. Affectionately called the PREMIERSHIP.

The 1994/95 season saw the last table of twenty-two teams. Due to the interference of F.I.F.A. all major leagues were reduced to twenty clubs. That meant relegation for FOUR teams and promotion for two, to comply. It was also decided that there would be three teams relegated to the first division and the top two from that division would gain automatic promotion and the next four would play thru’ an elimination competition for the other place. This has now been extended to include the whole four divisions. Why not give the third place to the team that has earned it thru’ the season’s endeavour? MONEY. I’m sure.

The Premiership is now seventeen years old and has proved to be a virtual benefit for Manchester United. They have just completed their second hat-trick of wins to bring it to a total of eleven. Arsenal and Chelsa have shared five of the remaining six. History has shown that this is a game of swings and roundabouts. Will United continue to be Top Dog. We can but wait and see.

A significant move took place in 1987 when for the first time, the Football Conference Champions gained automatic promotion to the fourth division.However, such was the gap in class between the two divisions , that the relegated team was a good bet to gain promotion at the first attempt. Of course time was a great leveller and soon relegation to the Conference was to be avoided t all costs.

At  this time the football Pyramid system of promotion really took-off with feeder league teams given something to play for. All feeder leagues now being structured for automatic promotion and relegation. Meaning, (theoretically) that any team could move from the non-league set-up into the Conference League and fom there into the Football League proper. Wimbledon and Wigan did just that.

Until 2003, only the Conference Champions had been promoted as of right but the rules were changed to the same format as the Football League Play-offs for the 2nd to 5th teams so that two teams were promoted each season.

The pyramid system was proving so popular that in 2004/5 an additional level was introduced below the Conference. Conference North and Conference South. This would cut down on travel for many teams. To accomodate this change some leagues amalgamated and formed regional divisions within the new set-ups.The Conference League itself was renamed Conference National.

It was at this point that the Football League First Division was renamed The Championship.The 2nd and 3rd divisions reclassified as championship League One and Two, respectively. That is how they remain.
It now remains to look at the history of the F.A. Cup from 45/46 to date.

URL.biz – Soccer

The history of football (part 4)

F.A.CUP

I’ve touched  upon the origins of this competition, earlier.
The actual competition itself kicked-off in season 1871/72 with just fifteen teams involved.( These days, in excess of SIX HUNDRED is the norm).

The sides in those days were all amateur and the original trophy was valued at only £20. Unfortunately. it was not to be played for, for many more seasons. In 1895 Aston Villa were the winners and they allowed the Cup to be displayed in a Birmingham sports outfitters window. Bad move. It was stolen and never saw the light of day again.
This was the first of FOUR cups. The size and design have changed somewhat, although the present trophy is an exact replica of the third.

The finals have been played in many different venues. Twenty of the first twenty one finals were held on the Kennington Oval, ( the odd one out was played at Lillie Bridge 1873), followed by Fallowfield,(one year) and Goodison Park, also a one-off. The next "home" was to be Crystal Palace for twenty years. With the Great War in full swing 1915’s final at Old Trafford was to be the last, before it ended. From 1920 to 1922 Stamford Bridge became the temporary venue. Then in !923 " Football Came Home", to WEMBLEY. The official attendance, at what has always been known as "The White Horse Final", was One Hundred Thousand. Unofficial estimates, which many pundits of the time were more inclined to accept, were double that total.The honour of scoring the first ever goal at the stadium went to David Jack of Bolton Wanderers, who beat West Ham United 2 – 0.

It was here, at Wembley that the most memorable games have been played.
1926, the Cup went out of England for the one and only time when Arsenal were turned over by a much inferior team, (according to popular thought), Cardiff City. 1 – 0.

1933.
Everton v Man City. This was the first occasion when the players wore numbers on their shirts.Everton were numberd 1 to 11 and City 12 to 22.
Theoretically, Everton were managerless at this time and the team selectors included Dixie Dean. Everton were 3 – 0 winners.

1934.
City were back to try again. This time they had a new goalkeeper, one Frank Swift. At that time the youngest ever goalkeeper to play in  a cup final.The game was played through a thunderstorm and quite early on Swift couldn’t hold a Rutherford shot and it spun into the corner of the net. Despite this set-back City turned it round in the second half to win 2 – 1. At the final whistle Frank Swift, ( a future England captain) feinted. The match was refereed by Stanley Rous. Later to be knighted and also become President of F.I.F.A.

1938.
A minute of extra time was left when the commentator announced, "if a goal is scored now, I’ll eat my hat". Preston were immediately awarded a penalty. George Mutch converted and the commentator did indeed eat his hat. This result reversed the 1922 final when Huddersfield also won with a penalty.Unbelievably this was the FIRST cup final to be TELEVISED.

1939.
The last final before the Second World War. With Wolves red-hot favourites. A star-struck member of the Portsmouth staff went into the Wolves dressing room to ask for their autographs. When he returned to his own dressing room he showed the book to anyone who was interested. This included the selectors. When they saw the state of the hand writing in the book they told their players that their opponents were scared out of their wits. At least, that’s how the story goes. Pompey won 4 – 1.
Many more great matches have been played since, of course, but these seem to have a magic of their own.

The history of football (part 3)

The end of the first full season of the 20th century saw the League title go to LIVERPOOL.Their first of many.
The following season saw Bristol City admitted to the second division. Nevertheless the North and Midlands still had what appeared to be a stranglehold on the leagues by virtue of sheer numbers.

1905/06 saw both divisions increased to 20 teams. New sides included, Chelsea and Leyton Orient.
New sides being invited to join the league were few and far between, although London’s tally was increased when Fulham and then Spurs were enrolled between 1907 and 1909. Spurs did extremely well in their first season finishing just one point behind Bolton, in second place and earning promotion at their first attempt. Spurs had already racked-up a first in 1901 being the first Non-League club to win the F.A Cup, since the birth of the Football League. Southampton were beaten finalists the previous and following seasons, whilst in the same position as Spurs.

There were no more Southern clubs admitted to the league before the advent of the Great War. The League ceased to operate after the end of the 1914/15 season until 1919/20 season.

The first season after the war ended, wasn’t too old before Leeds City were EXPELLED from the second division after just eight games. They were found guilty of financial irregularities, including paying players during the war period. Ultimately the club was dissolved. Their place, and record in the league was given to Port Vale. The following season Leeds United was formed. They found themselves in the Second Division for season 1920/21.

When the League resumed after the war, the two divisons were increased to 22 teams each. There was still an imbalance regarding southern teams and for the season 1920/21 a third division was introduced, comprising twenty two teams. This comprised almost entirely of the first division of the Southern League. The following season this division was entitled Third Division South and a Third Division North was formed. This division only comprised of twenty teams. It was however increased the following season to twenty-two teams. Only one team from each Third Division was promoted.  In season 1923/24 Liverpool failed in their effort to win a third consecutive championship. it would have been a "First". However, it wasn’t long before this remarkable feat was accomplished. Huddersfield Town equalled Liverpool’s effort in the next two seasons and then went one better to claim the first ever "Triple".

In 1930/31 Everton won the Second Division title and promotion to the top flight. The following season they won the First Division title two points clear of Arsenal. No mean feat in itself. It did however rob Arsenal of what would have been a "Five-Timer". As they had won the previous season’s title and then the next three, after Everton’s success.  Arsenal were without doubt The team of the decade. They again finished top of the pile in 1937/38. Their old enemy Everton were successful the following year, the last full season before the start of the Second World War.

Next time there’s some F.A.Cup stats to catch-up with.

The history of football (part 2)

The second half of the 19th century saw football (soccer), beginning to emerge as a game on it’s own. Until then many versions of the game allowed players to run with the ball. Probably the most noticable step forward was in 1863 when two rule changes took place. Until this time players were allowed to catch and run with the ball. When this happened the opposition was allowed to…..charge, hold, trip or hack him. (No change there then). After some half dozen meetings with long and  bitter debate, the changes were agreed. A Mr Campbell, then the F.A. treasurer objected loudly to the changes, claiming that hacking an opponents shins was true football. He promptly resigned his post. These changes finally split "football" into it’s two codes, which up until now were open to dispute. We now had Soccer and Rugby. Each with it’s own inviolate rules. (Well, at least until the likes of F.I.F.A. began to stick their oars in).

With soccer having got itself fairly well grounded a number of inter-club games, (friendlies) and minor league games took place on a fairly regular basis. Until July 1871, when at a meeting of the F.A. in the offices of The Sportsman it was decided that something of a more competitive nature was needed. It was proposed that clubs within the association would be invited to take place in a  competition for the CHALLENGE CUP.
iT WAS AN INSTANT SUCCESS. The trophy itself cost the princely sum of £20.
The first winners were The Wanderers, composed of ex-public schoolboys and University players. 2,000 spectators paid one shilling each at the Kennington Oval.
The F.A. Cup is the oldest National Competition in the world.

Forward to 1888 when the Longest Running League was formed, the Football League, as we know it, today. True there were only twelve clubs in the initial season. None from the South of England. Preston North End were the first League Champions, going thru’ the season without losing a single game. Finishing 11 points clear.
That season the twelve clubs amassed a total of 586 goals between them.  There were some mind -boggling scores. Villa  9  Notts County 1.— Blackburn  5 Accrington Stanley 5. Throw in a couple of 4 -4 ’s a handful of 6 – 2 ’s plus a few games of seven or more goals and you can see that the spectators certainly got their monies worth.
Preston were the team to beat, but other clubs were making headway. Preston won the league for the second year running but this time by only 2 points. The following season they  had to give way to Everton, by 2 points.
The league was expanded to fourteen teams 91/92 season. Increasing by two again the following season, when it was also extended to two divisions.

In 1893 Woolwich Arsenal joined the league to become the first team South of Birmingham
Two years earlier there had been a big advance, thanks to a Liverpool engineer, one James Brodie who "invented" goal nets. Thereby putting paid to many many arguements that were rife in  those days.     From here-on it was all systems go. Teams added to the league make-up  are names to conjure with. Liverpool, Newton Heath, Northwich Victoria, Middlesborough ironworks, Glossop North End, Bootle, etc, etc.

There was not any automatic promotion. Each of the bottom two in the first division had to play a "Test Match" against one of the top two in the second division. The winners prizes were a place for two teams in the top division.

A rather unsettling feature of the times was that a team would often "fall off the radar",Having been relegated it was not unknown for them to disappear for a number of years. This happened to Accrington Stanley in 92/93, when they finished next to bottom. They didn’t reappear in League competitions until the Third Division North was formed in 1921/22 season.
I will take an in depth look at the composition of the League from the turn of the century and some "firsts", next time.