Interesting and curious facts about full internationals and national players (1901-1910) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------by IFFHS--- 1901 Walter Bennett, born in Mexborough (Yorkshire) in 1874, was a miner and rather small outside right, but strong, aggressive and dangerous in front of goal. In February 1896 he joined Sheffield United. Two years later he was an English champion with them, and reached the English Cup final in 1899, 1901 and 1902, winning it on two occasions. Half-way through the 1904/05 season, "Cocky" Bennett transferred to Bristol City, and won the second division championship with them in 1906. The temperamental winger played his only full "A" international (6:0 Wales) on March 18, 1901. He joined Denaby United in 1907, the club where his career would eventually end. He still was active as a footballer when he was killed in a mining accident on April 6, 1908. Peter Boyle, born on April 26, 1876, played professional football for Sheffield United, with whom he won the English Cup in 1899 and 1902. The defender played five full "A" internationals for Ireland between 1901 and 1904. His son Thomas Boyle also won the English Cup with Sheffield United, in 1925. When Ireland lost to Wales (0:1) in Belfast on March 23, 1901, it would be the last time for a number of years that Ireland did not field any foreign-based players, as all the good Irish players had joined the wealthy English clubs. Charles Burgess Fry, born in Croydon on April 25, 1872, attended Repton School and then Wadham College in Oxford (until 1895). He developed into a good, athletic defender who played for Old Reptonians, Southampton FC and Portsmouth FC, from 1892 to 1903 also for Corinthians (London), as he always remained an amateur. On March 9, 1901, he played for England (3:0 Ireland), and a year later reached the English Cup final with Southampton. Along with football, and more successfully so, he played cricket for Oxford, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, scoring 30,886 runs all together. In track and field, he excelled at the long jump and the 100 yards dash. He held the British record for the long jump for some years, and in 1893 almost set the world record. He also played rugby for Oxford, Blackheath, Barbarians and Surrey. From 1896 to 1898 he was a schoolmaster at Charterhouse, but then decided to pursue journalism and politics. From 1898 to 1950 he was a marine trainer on the S. S. Mercury. Charles Fry died on September 7, 1956.
Charles Burgess Fry Bertram Oswald Corbett was born in Thame (Oxon) on May 15, 1875. He attended the Thame Grammar School and Oriel College in Oxford, where he also played football. From 1897 to 1906 he played for Corinthians (London) as well as for Reading FC. The outside left was an extremely fast dribbler. "Bertie" Corbett wrote the Annals of the Corinthians Football Club, which was published in 1906. On March 18, 1901, he played his only full "A" international. He always remained an amateur and was a teacher at Brighton College, and later a headmaster in Dorset. He died on November 30, 1967. His brother Reginald Corbett, who was four years his junior and also played on outside left, attended Malvern College and played for Old Malvernians and Corinthians, two London teams. He was a small but unpredictable winger, quite dangerous in front of goal, and played once for England on March 2, 1903 (2:1 Wales). Like his older brother, he also chose to remain an amateur and was a headmaster. He died on September 2, 1967. James Iremonger was born in Norton (Yorkshire) on March 5, 1876, and started playing football for Wilford and Nottingham Jardine before joining Nottingham Forest in 1896, the club he would stay with until 1910. He was a strong and two-footed defender. “Jim” Iremonger played for England once in 1901 and again in 1902. He also was a first-rate cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire from 1897 to 1914, scoring a total of 16,622 runs. From 1919 to 1927 he was a football coach with Notts County. He died on March 25, 1956. William James Jones was born in Penrhiwceiber near Aberdare in 1876. He played for Aberdare FC until 1901, then a few months for Kettering, from December 1901 until summer 1902 for West Ham United, and then for Aberaman and Rogerstone (1904-1906). Half-back "Bill" Jones, the first Welsh national professiona player from south Wales, played for Wales four times from 1901 to 1902. He is believed to have died during World War I in Serbia in 1918 while serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Samuel McAlpine, born on December 7, 1878, was the goalkeeper of Cliftonville FC (Belfast). He also tended goal for Ireland when Scotland scored their all-time high win (11:0) in Glasgow on February 23, 1901. Since "Sam" McAlpine never was called up again for the Irish national team, his goal ratio of 11.00 set a sad world record. It would, however, be broken in March 1908 by Frenchman André Renaux of Racing Club de Roubaix (12.00), and some four weeks later by Norwegian Sverre Lie of Ski og FK Mercantine, Kristiania (now Oslo) (13.00). Albert Wilkes, born on October 1, 1874, played for Oldbury Town and Walsall before joining Aston Villa in 1898. He still was a reserve when the "Villans" were English champions in 1898/99, but the following season, when the Birmingham side successfully defended their title, he was made a regular. The right wing half played five times for England from 1901 to 1902, but his form started to decline in 1904, and his club put him back on the bench. Thus Albert Wilkes transferred to Fulham in 1906, where he played in defence. In 1909 he concluded his footballing career to devote himself to his profession as a photographer, but a fire devastated his studio. He still became a renowned photographer, especially for West Bromwich Albion, and was always developing new techniques. In September 1934 he was elected to the Aston Villa board of directors, but died on December 9, 1936.
The Scottish Football Association (SFA) had arranged a full international with the Irish Football Association (IFA), the entire proceeds of which were to be donated to the Ibrox Disaster Fund. The IFA accepted, but preferred August 9, 1902. In order to ensure a good attendance however, it was essential that both national teams field their England-based players. However, the English clubs cynically refused to release them, and the Football Association (FA) did not intervene. Since both sides could field only home-based players, turnout was accordingly low, a paltry 3,000 spectators watched Scotland beat Ireland 3:0 at the Balmoral Show Grounds, and the aid for the Glasgow families was rather modest. The England-Scotland encounter (2:2) in Birmingham on May 3, 1902, was the first time that the two had met since the first full "A" international back in 1872 with. This time, however, both sides consisting entirely of professionals. Nicol Smith of Scotland was playing his 13th and last full "A" international. Nicol Smith, born in Darvel (Ayrshire) on December 25, 1873, played for Vale of Irvine FC, Royal Albert and Darvel FC before joining Glasgow Rangers in 1893. The right full-back was an eager tackler, fearless and strong, but always fair. He was still playing football when he died of typhoid fever on January 5, 1905, at the age of 31. His wife also died of the disease at about the same time. Nicol Smith won every Scottish championship with the Rangers from 1899 to 1902, and from 1894 to 1904 also reached the Scottish Cup final five times, winning it on three occasions.
Nicol Smith Originally, the match played on the Wiener WAC ground on October 12, 1902, was just an encounter between the Vienna and the Budapest town selections (5:0). At the time, Austria and Hungary were part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. A few years later, however, the national FAs of Austria and Hungary agreed to declare this match a full "A" international. This was not as arbitrary as it might seem, given that both FAs had had a hand in arranging the match and that during subsequent years all national players of both FAs belonged only to clubs of these two cities. At the beginning of the 20th century, being a national player was not all that safe in Austria, especially for those in academics. Thus, not a few of those who played also in the national team did so under the guise of a pseudonym. From 1901 to 1906, these included: "Eipel" (Wilhelm Eipeldauer, First Vienna FC), "Omlady" (Emil Waducha, Wiener Athletiksport-Club), "Quick" (Raimundo Mössner, Deutsche Jugendmannschaft Währing [Vienna]), "Mac John" (Max Leuthe, Wiener Athletiksport-Club), "A.N. Other" (Pulchert, First Vienna FC), and "Lintsch" (Heinrich Lenczewsky, First Vienna FC). 1903 When Uruguay played Argentina in Buenos Aires on September 13, 1903, it was the first time ever that there were three brothers in Uruguay's national team: goalkeeper Amílcar Céspedes (born on May 15, 1882), outside right Bolívar Céspedes (born on December 10, 1883), and centre forward Carlos Céspedes (born on December 31, 1884), all of them with Club Nacional de Football (Montevideo). The latter two also scored all three goals in Uruguay's victory over Argentina (3:2). Juan Pena (1882-6.4.1964), who played inside right for CURCC Montevideo, played for Uruguay ten times from 1905 to 1910, and captained the national team twice. He was a great all-round sportsman, being national golf, rowing, tennis and football champion as well as a first-rate cricketer. He played football for five different Montevideo clubs, and in 1908 for Belgrano AC (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
Juan Pena John Sharp, born in Hereford on February 15, 1878, played for Hereford Thistle before joining Aston Villa in 1897. Two years later he transferred to Everton FC, with whom he reached the English Cup finals in 1906 and 1907. During the first decade of the 20th century, the outside right was a prominent player in the English top league, yet he only played for England twice, once in 1903 and again in 1905. "Jack" Sharp was very quick at the start, clever and unusually tough wing forward. As a cricketer, he was so good that he also played for England, from 1899 to 1925 also for Herefordshire und Lancashire, scoring a grand total of more than 22,000 runs. By profession he was a sports supplies dealer in Liverpool. From 1923 onwards he one of the directors of Everton FC, the club he had played for until 1910. "Jack" Sharp died on January 27, 1938. James Watson was born in Motherwell on October 4, 1877. From 1895 he played for Burnbank Athletic before transferring to Clyde FC (Glasgow) in December 1897. Two years later the left full-back transferred to Sunderland, where he was part of the 1902 champions winning side. From 1907 to 1910 he still played for Middlesborough FC. Between 1903 and 1909, "Jim" Watson played for Scotland six times. Despite his 86 kg, he was one of the best defenders in Britain, and very good in the air. After his active career ended, he worked as assistant trainer before emigrating to Canada, where he died during World War I. Defender Carlos Carr Brown (25.2.1882-12.8.1926) was a member of the famous Brown family, one of the pioneers of football in Argentina. He studied and also played football in Great Britain. His four brothers were also in Argentina's national team. Jorge Gibson Brown (3.4.1880-31.1.1936) started as centre forward before gaining popularity as a defender. Left half-back Ernesto A. Brown (7.1.1885-12.7.1935), like all the brothers, played for Alumni AC (Buenos Aires). The other two brothers, Alfredo C. Brown (1.12.1886-30.8.1958) and Eliseo Brown (bprn on October 29th, 1888) were forwards. These five Brown brothers had a cousin, Juan Dodds Brown (born 21.6.1888), who starting in 1906 played in defence for the national team. There were never more than three Brown brothers and their cousin in the national team at the same time. The five Brown brothers played a total of 44 full "A" internationals, thus setting a world record for brothers playing full internationals in 1910, ahead of William Henry and Samuel Meredith of Wales (41), John and Archibald Goodall (34), John, Robert and Charles Richard Morris of Wales (31), Robert and Samuel Torrans of Ireland (27), Thomas David and Maurice Pryce Parry of Wales (23), and Charles and Arthur Cambier of Belgium (21).
Over the period of 25 years, Scotland had three national players called John Cameron. The first, a defender, played in 1886 and was with Glasgow Rangers. The second John Cameron (13.4.1872-20.4.1935) was an inside forward with Queen's Park FC (Glasgow). The third one, another defender, played for Scotland once in 1904 and again in 1909 and was with St. Mirren FC (Paisley) and Chelsea FC (London). Thomas Davies was born in Cefn Mawr (Ruabon) in 1872. In 1890 he transferred from Brockside Villa to Druids FC (Ruabon), the club he would play for until 1910. He had the constitution of a horse and never was injured. From 1898 to 1904 he reached the Welsh Cup final five times with his club, winning it three times. From 1903 to 1904 "Tom" Davies – a half-back turned full-back – played for Wales four times. He was an advocate of total abstinence from both tobacco and alcohol, which he repeatedly and ardently championed in public until his death in the 1950's. George Henry Davis, born in Alfreton on June 5, 1881, started playing early on for Derby County, but only became a regular during the 1903/04 season. In 1907 the outside left was relegated with the "Rams". One year later George Henry Davis emigrated to Canada, where he played for Calgary Hillhurst FC, and won the Canadian Cup in 1922. While playing for Derby, he reached the English Cup final in 1903, and in 1904 he played twice for England. The injury-prone wing forward returned to England around 1960, where he lived in Nottingham for the rest of his life. When France played their historic first full "A" international, only 12 players were allowed to travel to Belgium. Leaving Paris at 22:00 on the eve of the match, the team travelled by with the railway through the night and reached Brussels at 4:00 the next day. First, Émile Fontaine or Jacques Davy drew lots to see which of them would get to play. Davy, who actually was better at hockey than football, won. The only player who was not from Paris was outside left Adrien Filez from Tourcoing, the youngest on the team. Making their international début in Vivier d'Oie on May 1, 1904, before a crowd of 1,500 spectators, France drew 3:3. Their first scorer was Louis Mesnier, who played under the pseudonym "Didi". During the first few years, the French FA (USFSA) preferred players from Paris for the national team and all but ignored good ones in the province. Thomas Bruce Niblo, born in Dunfermline on September 24, 1877, came to Hamilton Academicals from school football and Cadzow Oak. The restless wing forward, who played once for Scotland in 1904, played for Linthouse and Newcastle United (1898-1900), then Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest (1904-1906), then Watford and again Newcastle United (1907/08). "Tommy" Niblo, a good dribbler and quite powerful, was also very good at golf. He sustained permanent injuries during World War I and died in 1933. Dr. Leslie Henderson Skene, born in Lambert (Stirlingshire) on August 22, 1882, attended George Watson's College in Edinburgh and then Edinburgh University, for which he also played while he was at medical school. Thereafter he joined Queen's Park (Glasgow), and also played once for Scotland in 1904. He was a casual, calm and not exactly energetic goalkeeper. By profession he was a nephrologist. From 1910 on, his sporting career gradually came to a close in Ireland with Glentoran (Belfast) after he had spent three seasons with Fulham (London). Thomas Parker Sloan, born in Eastwood (Glasgow) on October 4, 1880, played for Thornliebank FC and Glasgow Perthshire before joining Third Lanark in 1900. He was a physically powerful centre-half, big, quick and fearless, with a good grasp of the game around him. By trade he started out as a carpenter, then became a trade school teacher. He was known as "Tod" after a jockey in the USA. His active career, during which he won the Scottish championship in 1904 and the Scottish Cup in 1905, ended in 1913. He later became director of his Glasgow club Third Lanark. On October 9, 1904, Austria entertained Hungary in Vienna. For the past four full internationals, Ferenc Gillemot had been coaching the Hungarian national team. However, he was so distracted that he missed the train and did not join the team – and he had the case which contained the equipment of all the players. Thus the Hungarian team arrived in Vienna without coach, money or kit. The Austrians were generous, however, and helped the Hungarians out. They also won the match (5:4), which was played on the Cricketer field. Alfred Ernest Watkins, born in Llanwnnog (Montgomeryshire) in June 1878, started his footballing career in 1893 with Caersws and Oswestry United before he joined Leicester Fosse (1897-1899), then transferred Aston Villa, did a short stint with Grimsby Town, then joined Millwall Athletic (1901-1906) and finally Southend United. "Ernie" Watkins was the oldest of six footballing brothers, and from 1898 to 1904 already had played for Wales five times. He died in a fire at his house in Barking (Essex), on December 7, 1957. The only one of his brothers who also made the Welsh national team was Walter Martin Watkins (10 matches from 1902 to 1908), who was two years his junior. He started with Caersws and joined Oswestry United in 1894, then played for Stoke FC (1900-1904), Aston Villa, Sunderland (1904/05), Crystal Palace (London), Northampton (1906/07), Stoke FC, Crewe (1908/09), Stafford Rangers and Stoke again FC (1911-1914). Martin Watkins, a small inside forward, dominated on the pitch but was restless and did not settle down off the pitch until 1911. He died in Stoke on May 14, 1942.
Alfred Ernest "Ernie" Watkins Samuel Wolstenholme, born in Little Lever (Lancashire) in March 1876, started out with Farnworth Alliance and played for Horwich before joining Everton FC in 1897. He stayed with them for seven years before transferring to Blackburn Rovers. A right half-back, he played for England three times from 1904 to 1905. His last clubs were Croydon Common (1908/09) and Norwich City (1909-1913). Immediately after concluding his active career, the tricky half-back with the precise passes went to Germany, where after the outbreak of World War I he was unjustly interned for several years just because he was English.
Donald McLeod, born in Laurieston near Falkirk on May 28, 1882, played for Stenhousemuir before he joined Glasgow Celtic in 1902, where he developed into a strong and resolute right full-back. From 1905 to 1906 he played for Scotland four times. From October 1908 to 1913, he played in Middlesborough (England). During World War I he was a gunner with the Royal Field Artillery. He fell in Belgium on October 6, 1917, at the age of 35. When Scotland played Ireland (4:0) in Glasgow on March 18, 1905, their left full-back was William McIntosh from Third Lanark. At the end of the season (1905/06), he transferred to local rivals Partick Thistle (Glasgow). He emigrated to Canada before the outbreak of World War I, where he made a career in politics and by the mid-1930's had advanced to regional government in Edmonton (Alberta). John Lyall (16.4.1881-19.2.1944), a very safe goalkeeper, was born in Dundee. In 1901 he transferred fom Jarrow to Sheffield Wednesday (England), with whom he won the English championship in 1903 and 1904, and the English Cup in 1907. From 1909 to 1911 he played for Manchester City, and from then until 1914 for Dundee FC. In 1905 he played for Scotland once (1:0 England). He also emigrated to North America, where he worked in Canada as a plasterer, but died in the USA. On April 30, 1905, Eric Thornton (an Englishman living in Belgium) kept goal for Belgium against the Netherlands. When on May 7, 1905, France came to Brussels to play Belgium, they protested against Belgium fielding an English goalkeeper. Thus the match was delayed one hour, for Belgium had to get another goalkeeper, Robert Hustin of Racing Club de Bruxelles. This match was to be controlled by English referee John Lewis, but the coach which was to get him from the railway station had badly lost its way, and Lewis only arrived 15 minutes after kick-off – after the match had been delayed one hour. He took over from Belgian Rodolf Williams Seeldrayers (later FIFA president), under whose direction the match had remained scoreless. In the end, the guests won 7:0.
Eric Thornton Belgium had started this full international with ten players, as centre forward Gustave Vanderstappen of Union St.-Gilloise only arrived at Vivier d'Oie some minutes after kick-off. This field, the home ground of Racing Club de Bruxelles, was located in the then still autonomous south Brussels commune Uccle (Ukkel). Due to the one-hour delay, caused by the above-mentioned protest, French goalkeeper Georges Crozier of Union Sportive Parisienne had to leave the field in the 65th minute, the score standing at 0:4, so as to catch the train and be back at the barracks in time, as he was then doing military service. Thus France played on short-handed. Captain and full-back Fernand Canelle, who had replaced Crozier in goal, conceded another three. French wing half-back Charles Wilkes – who played for France's oldest football club, Havre Athletic Club (founded in 1872) – came from the Channel Islands, but had since taken on French citizenship. In 1905, half-backs Edward and John Hughes – who were not related – played together in all three of Wales' full "A" internationals. "Teddy", born in Ruabon in 1876, played for the "Spurs" (London) from 1899 to 1908, and from 1899 to 1907 also played 14 times for Wales. The centre-half, who was creative and strong in the air. "Jack Geezer" Hughes, who was born in Flint in April 1877, also played in England (Liverpool FC), from 1903 to 1906. The wing half-back only played for Wales three times, the above-mentioned matches in 1905. His career was cut short by an injury which he sustained in 1908 while playing for Plymouth Argyle. He was said to have family ties with Ireland, and before the full "A" international in Belfast on April 8, 1905 (2:2 Ireland), the Irish FA required him to prove his nationality before he was allowed to play for Wales. Welsh outside left in 1905 was either Alfred Oliver (Bangor FC) or Robert Atherton (Middlesbrough FC). Alfred Oliver was born in Bangor on September 15, 1882, and except for the 1905/06 season (Blackburn Rovers) played for Bangor FC from 1903 to 1914, but only twice for Wales, in 1905. At the age of 11, he had stayed with his grandfather at Min y Don (Anglesey), where he attended the Beaumaris Grammar School. After World War I, Alfred Oliver still played for Llandegfan and worked in the construction business. He died in Glyn Garth (Menai Bridge, Anglesey) on March 29, 1963. His son Glyn Oliver was an aerospace designer in the USA, where he also worked on Project Apollo (moon landing). Robert Atherton was born in Bethesda (Caernarfonshire) on July 29, 1876, but spent his childhood in Scotland, where he also attended school and high school and started playing football for Dalry Primose. He then joined Heart of Midlothian FC (Edinburgh), and in 1898 transferred to local rivals Hibernian FC. In 1903 he went to England, where he played for Middlesbrough, and from 1906 on for Chelsea (London). From 1899 to 1905 he played for Wales nine times. "Bob" Atherton, who served on a submarine during World War I, was killed in action in the English Channel in November 1917. John Tracey, born in Llandysilio (Mongomeryshire) on August 24, 1876, started as a centre forward for St. Martin's. When one day the goalkeeper was absent, "Tracey" replaced him, and from then on always kept goal. He then went on to play for Chirk AAA (1898-1900), Oswestry, Druids FC (Ruabon) (1902-1904) and Wrexham. After his first transfer, he was a reserve for three years. During his first full season (now with Druids) he held 12 of the 18 penalties awarded against his side, and in 1905 played once for Wales (2:2 Ireland, in Belfast). In 1906 he was found to have been a professional and was disqualified. After a one-year break he adopted his uncle's name "Morgan", and in 1907 went back to playing for the same club, which kept his secret. The last clubs he played for were Chirk AAA and Chester (1910/11). Thus he entered the annals of Welsh football as John Tracey Morgan. By profession he was a underground mine manager in Chirk, and also spent some time working in a coal mine in China. Ireland's goalkeeper against Wales (2:2) on April 8, 1905, was Robert Reynolds of Bohemians FAC (Dublin). During the same, he had won the Irish cycling championship. This was the only match he ever played for Ireland.
Outside right Alphonse Wright (born on 2.9.1887) of Racing Club de Bruxelles made his international début for Belgium in Paris on April 22, 1906. Neither the hosts nor the "Union Belge des Sociétés de Sports Athlétiques" (UBSSA) had realised that being English, he was not entitled to play for Belgium. Only two years later, after he had played for Belgium five times, did the Belgian FA discover that he only held British citizenship, and so no longer nominated him for the national team. Wright had kept this secret quite well.
Alphonse Wright The phrase "petit diables rouges" [little red devils] first appeared when the Belgian press celebrated the national team's 5:0 victory over their Dutch rivals in Antwerp on April 29, 1906. This quickly became the national team's epithet – "Diables Rouges" in French, "Rode Duivels" in Flemish. At first, the Belgian public only used the term at unofficial internationals, but a few years later, the whole world had come to apply it to the Belgian national team – to this day. Valentin Harris, who was born on June 23, 1884, and played for Shelbourne FC (Dublin), made his international début for Ireland against England (0:5) at Solitude in Belfast on February 17, 1906. The inside forward played for Ireland 20 times until 1914. "Val" Harris also excelled at Gaelic football, winning the All Ireland Medal with Dublin in 1901. In many parts of Ireland, Gaelic football was and remains more popular than soccer. Dr. Thomas Mayne Reid Waddell, a doctor of medicine, played for Cliftonville FC (Belfast), where he also was the captain from 1904 onwards. 1906 was a great year for him. The centre forward, who was very dangerous in front of goal, made his international début for Ireland in Dublin on March 17 (0:1 Scotland). During this year, he also received both his licence as a physician and his degree and went on to practise medicine as a surgeon in Glossop, where until 1908 he played several matches for the local second-division club. He became infected while operating on a child and died in Haydock Hospital (Glossop) on May 19, 1926, at the age of 44. The Czech FA, which had been a provisory member of FIFA since 1906, became a full member one year later, and so was entitled to play official full "A" internationals. However, the two strongest Prague clubs – SK Slavia and AC Sparta – refused to release their players for the international début against Hungary (1:1) in Budapest on April 1, 1906, as both clubs were at odds with the "Český svaz footballový" (Czech FA). The Hungarian press took offence, and wrote that that the Czechs had a low opinion of Hungarian football. During this match, the brothers Vladimír and Bohumil Jelínek (both with FK Smíchov of Prague) played on the Czech right wing under the pseudonyms “Jelen” and "Milka". In 1906 the Hungarian FA hired Alfréd Hajós-Guttmann as the new national coach. Up until 1902, Hajós-Guttmann had played as inside forward, and captained Hungary at their international début in Vienna (0:5 Austria). The all-round sportsman, who was born on February 1, 1878, had won the Hungarian championship in 1901 and 1902 with Budapesti Torna-Club, and played until 1903. He had also been a prolific scorer. In 1896 he was the first Hungarian Olympic gold medalist (100 m freestyle swimming). James S. Young, who was born in Kilmarnock on January 10, 1882, played for Dean Park FC before joining their great local rivals Kilmarnock FC. He later transferred to Barrow and Bristol Rovers, and in 1903 to Glasgow Celtic. His footballing career continued until 1917, when injury brought it to an end. While he was with the “Celts”, he won the Scottish Cup six times and the Scottish championship nine. Known to all as "Sunny Jim", the right half-back and long-standing team captain fit and very consistent. "Sunny Jim" only played for Scotland once, though, in a 1:0 victory over Ireland in Dublin on March 17, 1906. He died in a motorcycle crash on September 4, 1922.
James "Sunny Jim" S.Young When Wales surprisingly beat Scotland 2:0 on March 3, 1906, the Welsh attack counted three Jones, none of whom were related. Outside right William Jones ( .4.1882-13.7.1941), born in Chirk, was popularly only known as "Lot". Inside left Richard Jones, born in Mongomeryshire in 1879, was just called "Dick" and was the brother of Edward and "Will" Jones, both of whom also played for Millwall. Centre forward John Jones, born in Rhyl in 1885, was only known as "Love" Jones. He played for Rhyl, Stoke (1905-1907), Crewe, Middlesbrough (1909-1911) and Portsmouth. "Love" still was playing football when he contracted tuberculosis, and five months later died in his native town on December 21, 1913, at the age of 28. Héctor J. Henman, born in Oxford (England) on January 5, 1879, left for South Africa early on. He continued to play football there, and eventually was called up for the South African selection, with which he went on a tour of South America in 1906. Héctor Henman did not return to South Africa but stayed in Argentina, where he joined Buenos Aires top club Alumni AC. On October 21, 1906, the inside forward made his international début with Argentina (2:1 Uruguay in Buenos Aires). This match also featured outside left Wilfredo A. Stocks of Belgrano AC, who had been born in Nottingham on April 5, 1883, and come to Argentina with his parents as a child. The former Argentine international died in 1977 at the age of 94. Joseph William Henry Makepeace, born in Middlesbrough on August 22, 1881, started playing football at the Liverpool School, also for the Liverpool Juniors. In 1903 he joined Everton FC for good. He was a fairly attacking left wing half-back, and from 1906 to 1912 played for England four times. In 1906 he won the English Cup with the "Toffeemen", reached the English Cup final in 1907, and won the English championship in 1915. "Harry" Makepeace also was an all-rounder. He was a first-rate cricketer, and played cricket for Lancashire from 1906 to 1930, scoring 25,745 runs, and also played cricket for England. He later worked as a cricket coach and died on December 19, 1952. Edward Gordon Dudas Wright, born in Earlsfield Green (Surrey) on October 3, 1884, attended St. Lawrence School, Queen's College (Cambridge) and the Royal School of Mines. While playing for Cambridge University, he also played once for England (1:0 Wales) on March 19, 1906. After his studies, he played for Worthing, Reigate Priory, Leyton, Portsmouth and Hull City, and at the same time also for Corinthians (London). From 1908 to 1912 he played 15 official full "A" internationals for the England amateurs, scored five goals and was part of the side which won the 1912 Olympic football tournament. "Ted" Wright became a professor at Hymer College (Hull), but in 1913 went to South Africa as a mining engineer, where after a short stay in the USA he died in June 1947 at the age of 62. Samuel Hulme Day, born in Peckham on December 29, 1878, attended Malvern College and Queen's College (Cambridge), where he also practised sports. After his studies he became a teacher, played for Old Malvernians (London) and taught at Westminster School. In 1906 the inside right played for England three times and scored two goals. When the England amateurs played France (15:0) in Paris in 1906, he also scored two goals. At the same time, he also played for Corinthians (London) both during his studies and afterwards until 1912. "Sammy" Day also was an outstanding cricketer, playing for Kent from 1897 to 1919, where he scored 7,722 runs at the highest level.
Samuel "Sammy" Hulme Day The great and famous school clubs in England had founded their own Amateur Football Association (AFA) which was neither affiliated nor subordinated to the Football Association (FA). This AFA also fielded a selected team which played against a French select XI from national French associations which were likewise not affiliated with FIFA and, like the AFA, not entitled to play official full "A" internationals. Samuel Hulme Day also played several matches for the AFA, including an 8:0 win over a USFSA team in Paris on March 18, 1909, and a return match in Ipswich on March 12, 1910, which his side won 20:0. "Sammy" Day scored five goals during the former match, and 11 (!) during the latter. Since neither the AFA nor the USFSA were affiliated to FIFA, his goals cannot be considered a world record. The forward with the Master of Arts degree died on February 20, 1950. Up until World War I, the French national team had played 36 official full "A" internationals. The following 17 French internationals fell during World War I: Marius Royet (Union Sportive Parisienne), Henry Gigot (Club Français Paris), André François (Racing Club de Roubaix), André Puget (Racing Club de Paris), Albert Jenicot (Racing Club de Roubaix), René Fenouillère (Red Star Amical Club de Paris), Pol G. Morel (Red Star Amical Club de Paris), Francis Vial (Club Athletique de Vitry), Charles Dujardin (Union Sportive Tourquennoise), Émile Dusart (Racing Club de Roubaix), René Camrad (Association Sportive Franais Paris), Julien Denis (Racing Club de Calais), Charles Geronimi (AF Garenne Colombes Paris), Ernest Guéguen (Union Sportive Servannaise et Malouine Saint-Malo), Jean Loubière (Gallia Club de Paris), Pierre Six (Olympique Lillois), J. Verbrugge (Association Sportive Française Paris). Club affiliations were determined at the time of a player's international début. French national goalkeeper Zacharie Baton (Olympique Lilloise), who played for France four times from 1904 to 1906, lost a leg in 1915 while fighting in World War I. Jonkheer Constant Willem Feith, who was of royal lineage, was born on August 3, 1884. He studied law and became a judge. He also was a talented sportsman, played in the Dutch national cricket team and on April 29, 1906, made his international début with the Dutch national football team in Antwerp (0:5 Belgium). He played for HVV (The Hague), the most successful Dutch club during the first decade of the 20th century. Although his technical means were limited, the inside forward had a keen sense for goals. During a Cup match in 1904, when HVV beat Bussumsche FC 20:0, he alone scored ten goals. During the 1906/07 season he played 29 matches and scored 53 goals. In 1908 the physically robust "Wim" Feith switched to defence. On September 26, 1920, he played his 350th (in total) and last match for HVV. During his career he scored a total of 234 goals, even though he had been a defender for the past 12 years. "Wim Herr von" Feith died on September 15, 1958. 1907 Left wing half-back George McClure of Cliftonville FC (Belfast) made his international début for Ireland in Belfast on February 23, 1907, which ended with a 2:3 loss to Wales. He was an Irishman who was born in Scotland, on July 26, 1885. Ireland's goalkeeper on that match day was James John Sherry of Bohemians FAC (Dublin). The two times international died on January 26, 1914, at the age of 27. Also at this match, Irish outside right was John Blair of Cliftonville FC (Belfast), a winger born on November 12, 1882, who became president of the Irish League during the 1921/22 season. In 1907 things had become quite unbearable for the Belgian national team, especially when it came to test matches. The Belgian selection had won a match against the Rheinisch-Westfälischer Spiel-Verband (2:0) in Cologne (Germany). The team travelled back on the same day, and the four players from Bruges (Brugge) – Arthur and Charles Cambier, Robert de Veen, Hector Goetinck – reached the Brussels railway station late in the evening, where they were left to themselves. Having first spent the trip on wooden seats on the train, they now spent the night on wooden benches at the railway station so as to get to Bruges the next day. Moreover, the national players were required to bring their used kit to the next match, or else to send it – washed – to the selection committee. Thomas Alexander Jackson, born in Thornliebank (Renfrewshire) on November 12, 1878, first played for Summerlee Juveniles and Thornliebank FC before joining St. Mirren FC (Paisley) in 1898. He would stay with the club for 11 seasons. The right full-back, a gentlemanly player, always remained an amateur. From 1904 to 1906 he played for Scotland six times. He also was an excellent bowler and billiards player. A hat dealer by profession, he fell in 1916 while fighting in World War I. When Scotland met England (1:1) at James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on April 6, 1907, the Scottish national team included nine (!) legionnaires mercenaries who played professionally for English clubs. The only two players who were with Scottish clubs were full-back Charles Bellany Thomson and inside right Robert Walker, both of whom played for the "Hearts" (Edinburgh). On this day, "Bobby" Walker set a new Scottish world record (21 full "A" internationals). It also was Scotland's 94th full "A" international, and the first time that no players from Glasgow lined up.
Robert "Bobby" Walker On April 7, 1907, Bohemia met Hungary for the third time, having drawn their previous two matches. The Czechs only arrived in Budapest shortly before kick-off and went straight from the railway station to the Millenáris pálya ground. The "Magyars" considered this arrogant on the part of the Czechs, and to make matters worse, the guests also were leading 2:1 at half-time. During the second half, however, the Czechs grew increasingly tired, and backed by the cheers of 1,000 spectators, Hungary won 5:2. Three of Hungary's goals were scored by 16 year-old József Horváth of Budapesti Torna-Club. Victor Sergent (1887-1924), who was born in England to an English mother and a French father, learned to play football in Winchester. Later his family moved to Paris, where Victor played for Racing Club de France. At the same time he also played for AS Saint-Raphaël for a longer period. On April 21, 1907, he made his international début for France, against Belgium in Brussels on April 21, 1907. The left full-back played a total of five full "A" internationals until 1913. Austria's first full "A" internationals were played in Vienna on the WAC or the Cricketer ground. However, relations had soured both between the clubs themselves as well as between the clubs and the "Österreichischen Fussball-Bund" (Austrian FA), so that neither club was willing to make its pitch available or release its players. Thus the full international against Hungary on May 5, 1907 had to be moved to Rudolfsheim, home ground of Rapid Wien. As it was, one side of this pitch was 1.25 m higher than the other. The Rapid players were used to this, and Austria fielded seven of them to good effect (final score 3:1). When Argentina beat Uruguay 2:1 in Montevideo on October 6, 1907, outside left Ricardo Malbrán scored both goals. The outside forward played for Club Atlético San Isidro. By profession he was a physician and worked at the hospital which was named after his family. When Hungary met Austria (4:1) in Budapest on November 3, 1907, carrier pigeons with a message were sent to Vienna, Graz, Linz and Prague after each goal. Two of Hungary's four goals were scored by outside left veterinarian Dr. Gáspár Borbás of MAC Budapest (born on June 26, 1884). Hungary's centre-half was Izidor Kürschner- Szcs of MTK Budapest. The then 22 year-old "Dori" Kürschner would be an even more successful coach, also in Germany and in Switzerland.
Harald August Bohr (22.4.1887-21.1.1951) played for Akademisk Boldklub (Copenhagen) and took part in the 1908 Olympic football in London. The right half-back played four times for Denmark from 1908 to 1910. He was the brother of the world-renowned physicist Niels Henrik David Bohr (7.10.1885-18.11.1962), who played football for the same club but never was called up for the national team. On the other hand, he won the Nobel prize for his research on the structure of atoms. When Switzerland met Germany (5:3) on April 5, 1908, the Swiss fielded two players with an academic degree. Their goal was kept by Dr. Ivan Dreyfuss (Servette FC, Geneva), and their inside right was Dr. Siegfried Pfeiffer (FC Basel), who scored two goals. Switzerland also profited from an own goal by Ernst Jordan, the right full-back of Magdeburger Fußball- und Cricket Club Victoria 1896. Ernst Jordan, who was born on May 18, 1883, really was called Ernst Langmeier, but played under the pseudonym "Jordan". The German FA was evidently not aware of this, and had him on file as Ernst Jordan. When Germany first met Switzerland, on April 5, 1908, the German goal was kept by 19 year-old high school senior Fritz Baumgarten (Berliner FC Germania 1888), who conceded five goals in pouring rain and was never called up for the national team again. The youngest player on the German team was outside left Willy Baumgärtner (Düsseldorfer SV 1904), who at the age of 17 years and 104 days also was the youngest ever German international. Until 1909, the outside forward played for Germany four times in a row, yet without ever scoring a goal. Around 1930 Willy Baumgärtner emigrated to Brazil and settled in São Paulo, where he died on November 16, 1953. When Norway lost to Sweden (3:11) in Göteborg on July 12, 1908, Norwegian outside left Tryggve Herman Gran of Ski og FK Mercantile, Kristiania (now Oslo) played his only full "A" international ever. The fellow, who was born in Bergen on January 20, 1889, would attain fame, though not as a footballer. First, though, he played for Bergen Fodboldklub and then for La Villa Longchamp Ouchy in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he continued his schooling after he turned 13. When he returned to Norway, he played for Mercantile, took part in the above-mentioned international and earned his wings as a pilot at the capital. He also was an excellent skier.
Tryggve Herman Gran When Robert Falcon Scott of England needed a ski instructor for his Antarctic expedition (1910-1913), he chose Norwegian Tryggve Herman Gran. This expedition was a race against a similar expedition by Norway, which was headed by Roald Amundsen and crossed the Antarctic reach the South Pole, in 1911. Gran had also become a polar explorer, his passion was flying. On July 30, 1914, he became the first man to fly over the North Sea: He took off from Scotland and four hours and ten minutes later landed in Norway, just south of Stavanger (Reve). During World War I he was a pilot with the British, was awarded a medal and promoted to major. In 1919 he was the first man to fly from London to Stockholm, and amongst the second to cross the Atlantic by air. He went on to write several books, and died in Arendal on January 9, 1979, at the age of almost 90. When Hungary beat Bohemia 5:2 in Budapest on April 5, 1908, Dr. Paul von Goldberger kept goal for Hungary. The native German from Freiburg had already played in Vienna under the pseudonym "Gilly" before joining the second-division Hungarian club 33 FC (Budapest). The German goalkeeper (born in 1880) was not eligible to play for Hungary, even through the Hungarians had him on file as Dr. Pál Goldberger-Gilly. His younger brother, Karl von Goldberger, who studied in Berlin, was also a goalkeeper and used the same pseudonym "Gilly". He played for Berliner T.u. FC Britannia 1892 at the German 1903 and 1904 finals, and in 1907 won the German championship with Freiburger FC. Arnoldo Pablo Watson Hutton (20.8.1886-29.7.1951), centre forward of Alumni AC (Buenos Aires), was the son of Alejandro Watson Hutton, the great pioneer of football in Argentina and a native Scot. From 1906 to 1913, Arnoldo played 17 times for Argentina and scored six goals. A wiry man, from on 1906 he was part of the Alumni winning side and would become an prolific scorer. When Norway made their international début in Göteborg on July 12, 1908 (3:11 Sweden), their centre-half Poul Houmann of Ski og FK Mercantile, Kristiania (now Oslo), was injured but could not be replaced because there were no substitutes. As a Belgian living and working in the Norwegian capital Kristiania, Poul Houmann (16.5.1883-21.2.1978) was not eligible to play for Norway. After returning to Belgium, he went back to playing for his old club Racing Club de Bruxelles starting with the 1908/09 season, and from 1912 onwards for Standard Club Liégeois. When Belgium played against the England amateurs in London in April 1909, half-back Houmann was nominated for the Belgian national team, but was not selected in the end.
Poul Houmann Otto Hantschick (Berliner T.u. FC Union 1892) made his international début in Berlin on April 20, 1908, against the England amateurs (1:5). The full-back (born on February 11, 1884) studied art (painting and drawing) in Frankfurt am Main, then moved to Berlin after finishing his studies. One of the six German players making their international début on this day was outside right Adolph Gehrts of FC Victoria 1895 (Hamburg). The quick and clever winger (born on October 30, 1886) died on January 17, 1943, while fighting in World War II. His club mate and partner on the right wing at Victoria (Hamburg) was Hermann Garrn, popularly only known as "Etsche" or "Etje". Inside right Hermann Garrn (11.3.1888-27.3.1964) was actually called Hermann Ehlers. He played for Germany twice from 1908 to 1909. Hans Schmidt, born in Berlin on November 2, 1887, still was attending school when he joined FC Germania 1888 (Berlin), where he developed into a good outside right. He also became a businessman. On July 7, 1908, he played his only full "A" international for Germany (2:3 Austria). He died on July 9, 1916, while fighting in World War I. Evelyn Henry Lintott, born in Godalming (Surrey) on November 2, 1883, attended the King Edward VI Grammar School and St. Luke's College in Exeter, where he also began to play football. He played for Woking, Surrey County and Plymouth Argyle, and from 1907 on for Queen's Park Rangers (London). He developed into a strong and clever left half-back who provided good passes and had a solid grasp of the game around him. From 1907 to 1908 he played four official full "A" internationals for the England amateurs as centre-half. He only became a professional during the summer of 1908. In November of the same year he transferred to Bradford City AFC, and in 1912 to Leeds City. From 1908 to 1909 he also played seven times for England. Until 1911, he was chairman of the Players' Union for a lengthy period, and also worked as a teacher. During World War I he served with the 1st Yorkshire Regiment and fell on July 1, 1916, while fighting at the Somme (northeastern France). When Belgium beat France (2:1) in Paris on April 12, 1908, Belgian goalkeeper Robert Hustin had not been released by his employer, so reserve keeper Henri Leroy (also of Racing Club de Bruxelles) was lined up on short notice. Leroy went on to play 18 more full "A" internationals while Robert Hustin only made ten. When Belgium lost to the Netherlands (1:3) in Rotterdam on April 26, 1908, wing half Georges Mathot was injured. Although substitutions of players were not allowed then, Dutch captain "Bok" de Korver agreed to let Camille Vanhoorden replace Mathot at half-time. It is not known whether English referee John T. Howcroft noticed this. William Lennie, born in Glasgow on January 26, 1882, played for Mossvale FC before he joined Queen's Park FC (Glasgow) in 1901. After intervals of one season, he transferred first to Rangers, then Dundee, Fulham and finally Aberdeen (1905-1913), where he settled down and found the position which really suited, outside left. In 1908 he played for Scotland three times, thus also becoming the first "Dons" international. After he married a young Aberdeen girl, they emigrated to the USA. The most famous Irish full-back after the turn of the century was William Robert McCracken (born on January 29, 1883), who had so far played for Ireland 11 times and was a professional with Newcastle United. He made his internatioal début on February 22, 1902, while still with Distillery FC (Belfast). Before the match against England in Belfast on February 15, 1908, "Billy" McCracken suddenly demanded five times the usual player's fee, whereupon the Irish Football Association (IFA) suspended him, lined up "Sandy" Craig (Glasgow Rangers) instead and did not select him again until 1919.
William Robert "Billy" McCracken The Austro-Hungarian sports authorities were definitely not kindly disposed towards the Czechs. First they instigated and succeeded in getting Bohemia excluded from FIFA in June 1908, thus preventing it from playing full "A" internationals. Furthermore, they decided that the German-speaking "non-Czechs" living and playing in and around Prague would henceforth be eligible for the Austrian national team. Thus, in 1908 the Austrian national team included Johann Schwarz, Robert Cimeras, Dr. Paul Fischl, Robert Merz, Ernst Thurm and Ladislaus Kurpiel, all with the Prague-based Deutscher Fußball-Club (DFC). From 6.6.-8.6.1908, this team played three official full "A" internationals on three consecutive days, including a 1:11 defeat to England, Austria's highest international defeat. Dr. Louis Otten, born on November 5, 1883, studied medicine and played for Quick (The Hague). From 1907 to 1911 he played for the Netherlands 12 times. "Lou" Otten was a very reliable left full-back. His greatest contribution came as a physician, for as he invented a vaccine against the bubonic plague. The professor of medicine died on November 7, 1946. James Hamilton Speirs, born in Glasgow on March 22, 1886, played for Annandale and Maryhill before joining great local rivals Glasgow Rangers in 1905. He later went to England, where he played for Bradford City AFC (1907-1912) and Leeds City. In 1911 he won the English Cup with the "Paraders", having played for Scotland (2:1 Wales) on March 7, 1908. The inside forward liked to hang back a little and provided his colleagues with good passes. He died on August 20, 1917, while fighting in World War I. Maurice Vandendriessche (born in 1887) played for France twice in 1908 even though he was still a minor according to the laws then in force. The right half-back played for Racing Club de Roubaix, with which he also won the French championship in the same year. During World War I he played for Belgium under the pseudonym "Vandendey" (also military team matches) and later took on Belgian citizenship. French goalkeeper Zacharie Baton from Lille, who from 1906 to 1908 played for France three times, was considered a war hero in his country. He was injured while fighting in World War I and captured in Serbia, but escaped and continued to fight on the front, where he was captured again. Due to his injuries, it became necessary to amputate his left arm while he was in captivity. The French side which played against the Netherlands (1:4) in Rotterdam on May 8, 1908, included the brothers Julien and Victor Denis. While Julien Denis (Racing Club de Calais) had started as centre-half, his younger brother Victor (Union Sportive Tourquennoise) was only a reserve with. Victor (born on 12.1.1889) desperately wanted to play. Thus the brothers decided that Julien would feign injury so that Victor would get to play. This happened during the 55th minute, to which the Dutch agreed. Somehow, though, the deception was discovered, and the brothers were never again called up for an full international. While Victor would go on to become a famous reporter, Julien Denis fell in 1914 while fighting in World War I. Last but not least, it should be mentioned that until the 1990's, all French publications consistently showed the wrong players in the line-ups for France's full "A" internationals in 1908 as well as their Olympic football tournament matches. French IFFHS member Pierre Cazal was finally able to prove this and make the necessary corrections.
On the occasion of the FIFA Congress in Budapest, Hungary played three full "A" internationals at Millenáris pálya (29.5.-31.5.1909). They lost two matches to England (2:4 and 2:8) and drew one with Austria (1:1). The young Imre Schlosser and Dr. Gáspár Borbás were Hungary's bright lights on the left wing. 19 year-old goalkeeper Ferenc Bihary-Büchelmayer was the only player to take part in all three matches. Towards year-end 1908 the USFSA (France) rashly left FIFA and its place was taken by its national rival CFI. None of the clubs affiliated with it had any players with international experience, but these were the players which now had to be fielded at full "A" internationals since those who had previously been national players were with clubs affiliated with the USFSA and so no longer eligible for the national team. Thus France did not stand a chance and lost both their full "A" internationals in 1909, against Belgium (2:5) and the England amateurs (0:11). On March 16, 1909, Germany played a full "A" international against the England amateur national team in Oxford. The sea had been rough while crossing from Dover the previous day, and some of the players still suffered from seasickness, which is likely to have contributed to Germany's 0:9 defeat. One of these was left full-back Erich Massini of FC Preussen (Berlin), who was born on September 13, 1889. He had not fully recovered, his performance was accordingly poor, and this would be his only full "A" international. He fell on July 26, 1915, while fighting in World War I. George Hebdin (19.4.1889-26.3.1970) played his third full "A" international for Belgium, in Antwerp against the Netherlands (1:4) on March 21, 1909. It was not until after this match that the Belgian FA realised that the centre forward of Union St.-Gilloise only had British citizenship, and henceforth no longer considered him for full "A" internationals. However, a FIFA ruling in 1912 made his return to the national team possible. According to this ruling, a foreigner was eligible to play for the national team if he had lived in the country for ten years. Thus, from 1913 on, George Hebdin played for the "Diables Rouges" again, now as outside left. He played a total of 12 times for them, including the gold medal at the Olympic football tournament in 1920.
George Hebdin Germany enjoyed their full international win in Karlsruhe on April 4, 1909 (1:0 Switzerland). Much of the credit for the victory goes to right full-back Dr. Otto Nicodemus. The sturdy and precise defender was born in the Biebrich district of Wiesbaden on June 21, 1886. He studied natural sciences and later became the head of a laboratory, but still played for Freiburger FC. He was also s one of Germany's top philately experts. He died of a stroke on December 2, 1966. On April 4, 1909, Germany adopted the inadvisable English habit of fielding two equal national teams on the same day, each playing an official full "A" international. Thus one team played in Karlsruhe (see above) and the other in Budapest (3:3 Hungary). Germany's inside right against Hungary was Leopold Richter (22.5.1885-3.8.1941), who had attended the Wettiner Gymnasium in Dresden and played for Dresdner SC, with which club – and his two brothers – he reached the semi-finals of the German championship in 1905. He then went on to study in Leipzig, where he joined VfB Leipzig. In October 1909 he sustained a grievous knee injury which put an end to his footballing career. After finishing his studies he returned to Dresden, where he was a secondary school teacher for the rest of his life. Outside left Fritz Schulz (born in Berlin on November 9, 1886) also played against Hungary, his only full "A" international. The typesetter played for SC Hertha 1892 (Berlin) and fell on March 5, 1918, while fighting in World War I. James Main, born in West Calder (Midlothian) on May 29, 1886, was still a youth when he started playing football with Hibernian FC (Edinburgh), where he developed into a resolute right full-back. During the 1904/05 season he was put on the "Hibs" league team, and became a regular the following season. He played one match for Scotland, in Glasgow on March 15, 1909 (5:0 Ireland). Around Christmas he suffered an internal injury, from which he died on December 29, 1909, at the age of just 23. Harold McDonald Paul, born in Gourock (Renfrewshire) on August 31, 1886, joined the Queen's Park FC (Glasgow) amateurs as a youth and stayed with the club until 1914. He developed into a quick outside left with a powerful shot. Since he attended the Crieff Academy, which also was a big rugby school, it was only natural that he also was a good rugby player. He studied veterinary medicine, became a veterinary surgeon and worked mainly in England. He played for Scotland twice in 1909, and during World War I served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps. He died on April 19, 1948. Maurice Pryce Parry was born in Trefoen (near Oswestry) in 1878 and played for Oswestry United until 1898. He then went on to play for Long Eaton Rangers, Leicester Fosse (1898/99), Loughborough and Brighton United before joining Liverpool FC in March 1900, for whom he played 207 league appearances. His last clubs before the outbreak of World War I were Partick Thistle (1909-1911) and, again, Oswestry United. From 1901 to 1909 he played for Wales 16 times. Maurice Parry, an engineer by profession, always remained an amateur. He was a tireless wing half-back, never stopping during a match, and in 1906 won the English championship with the "Reds". After his military service he managed Rotherham County (1921-1923), then worked as a coach in Liverpool, Barcelona, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne and Jersey (USA). On March 24, 1935, he died of chronic bronchitis, a consequence of gas poisoning during World War I. His brother Thomas David Parry, who was three years his junior, only played for Oswestry United (1896-1905), and seven times for Wales. He played both as wing half-back and inside right (or left). Ioan Haydn Price, born in Maerdy (Glamorganshire) in February 1883, played first for Mardy Corinthians and Aberdare before joining Aston Villa in December 1904. He later also played for Burton United, Wrexham (1908/09), Leeds City, Shrewsbury Town (1910/11) and Walsall (1911-1915), during World War I occasionally also for the "Spurs" (London). He could play both as wing half-back and inside right (or left), and from 1907 to 1909 played for Wales five times. He was a sprinter and gave good passes. From 1919 on, he was secretary-manager at several clubs. By profession he was a teacher, and hence also referred to as "the Birmingham schoolmaster". He died in Portsmouth on March 7, 1964. Leigh Richmond Roose was born in Holt near Wrexham on November 27, 1877, as the son of a Presbyterian minister. He attended the Holt Academy and the University College of Wales in Aberystwyth. It was with the university side that he began his career as a goalkeeper. In 1898 he transferred to local rivals Aberystwyth Town, with whom he won the Welsh Cup. During the 1900/01 season he played first for Druids FC (Ruabon) and then for London Welsh, as he continued his medical studies at King's College Hospital in London, where he specialised in bacteriology. In 1901 he joined the first-division club Stoke FC, where he became a regular right away. He always remained an amateur, and even during his studies went on a cross-country train trip from London each and every weekend.
Leigh "Dick" Richmond Roose Leigh Richmond Roose played for Wales 24 times from 1900 to 1911. In 1907 he was relegated with Stoke, and after half a year in the second division transferred to Sunderland AFC at the beginning of 1908, where he became a regular right away. This, however, placed a greater stress on him, as for every home game he had to take the train from London to north east England. In 1911 his form deteriorated, and he switched clubs after staying only a few months with each of Huddersfield Town, Aston Villa and Woolwich Arsenal (London), where he played his last first-division match, in 1912. "Dick" Roose had a great attitude, especially since he always remained an amateur. He was courageous on the pitch, and exuded calm and confidence. In his private life, he was a passionate card player and brother-in-law of Welsh rugby international J. C. Jenkins. He was, however, a perpetual medical student. During World War I he served with the 9th Royal Fusiliers and was decorated several times. On October 7, 1916, he fell on the French front, by then having attained the rank of corporal. When Sweden lost to the England amateurs (0:7) in Hull on November 6, 1909, their front line included the three Bergström brothers: Gustaf (6.7.1884-9.2.1938) on outside right, Erik (6.1.1886-30.1.1966) on inside right, and Henrik Bergström (1889-1945) on outside left. Erik Bergström, with seven full "A" internationals and six goals to his credit, played the most of three. Charles Graham Webb, the son of sergeant William Webb, was born at the Curragh Army Barracks (Kildare) on September 14, 1886. He played for Ireland twice in 1909, while he was with the English club Brighton and Hove Albion. The inside left had played for Bohemians FAC (Dublin) previously. He later became a corporal with the Cheshire Regiment.
In 1910 France lost all three of their full "A" internationals, thus making ten consecutive international defeats, and by a good margin. When France met the England amateurs (1:10) in Brighton on April 16, 1910, outside left Auguste Tousset (Étoile des Deux Lacs) was a last-minute replacement for Joseph Delvecchio. The previous day, Tousset – completely unprepared – had been present at the railway station entirely by chance, where he travelled with the team to England when it turned out that Delvecchio would be unable to make it. As it was, Tousset even scored the consolation goal. Harold Thomas William Hardinge was born in Greenwich on February 25, 1886. He played for Maidstone United before joining Sheffield United in 1905, where he needed two years to make the league team, but then was a regular until 1913. The last side he played for was the London club Woolwich Arsenal FC (1913-1921), which in 1914 was renamed Arsenal FC and from the 1919/20 season belonged to the first division. The inside forward was an individualist on the field, but also quite good at outwitting the opponents‘ defence. He only played once for England, in 1910. "Harry" Hardinge also was a cricket international, and played cricket for Kent from 1902 to 1933, scoring over 33,000 runs. By profession he was an employee of the sports goods retailer John Wisden, doing occasional stints as a coach in the USA and in Spain. He died on May 8, 1965. Wilhelm Trautmann was born in Mannheim on December 6, 1888, and already in his youth was one of the football pioneers in his home town. He played for Mannheimer FC Victoria 1897 until 1911, when the club merged with local rivals FG to become Verein für Rasenspiele (VfR) Mannheim. Wilhelm Trautmann, the first German international from Mannheim, made his international début as centre-half in Basel on April 3, 1910, against Switzerland (3:2). This was also his only full "A" international. Originally, he had been a track-and-field athlete, and had had regional success at multi-discipline events. He was gifted with a powerful shot and enlivened the game on the football pitch. He joined the army in 1914 and returned from World War I seriously injured, unable to continue his sporting career. He went into hog wholesale and died on July 24, 1969.
Wilhelm Trautmann Willy Fick, born in Lurup (Pinneberg) on February 17, 1891, started playing football at FV Holstein Kiel, a club which had emerged from FC Holstein in 1908. On April 17, 1910, the inside left played for the "Störche" [Storks] at the finals of the German championship (4:1 FC Preussen, Berlin). One week later he made his international début in Arnhem (2:4 Netherlands), and following week played in the semi-finals of the German championship (6:0 FC Tasmania 1900, Rixdorf). Willy Fick scored in all three matches. When in 1911 his club contested the German championship again, his younger brother Hugo Fick played on outside right while Willy was injured and unable to play. In 1912 the "Störche" finally won the German championship, with Hugo and Willy Fick playing as inside right and left. A few months later Willy Fick fell sick, and after a protracted illness died on September 5, 1913, at the early age of 22. Another player who would not live very long was Gustav Unfried. The wing half-back of FC Preussen (Berlin) was born in Stuttgart on March 24, 1889, and made his international début for Germany on April 24, 1910. In 1908 he had been German runner-up with FC Stuttgarter Kickers, and one year later moved to Berlin. By profession he was a land surveyor. Like many others, he was drafted into the army when World War I broke out, and fell on September 13, 1917. William Hibbert was born in Golborne near Wigan (Lancashire) on September 21, 1884, where he also attended school and learned to play football. He played for Newton le Willows and Brynn Central before joining Bury FC in 1906. In October 1911 he transferred to Newcastle United, and in 1920 to Bradford City. He spent his last season (1922/23) with Oldham Athletic. The inside right was not very tall, but quite diligent and enthusiastic on the pitch. He played his only match for England in Glasgow on April 2, 1910 (0:2 Scotland). In 1923 he went to work as a coach in the USA, also for Coats FC (Rhode Island). In June 1927 he went to Spain and in 1930 returned to England, where he first coached Wigan Borough near his native town before moving to Blackpool in 1938, where he lived and worked until his death on March 16, 1949. John C. Hehir, who kept goal for Bohemians FAC (Dublin), played one match for Ireland on April 11, 1910 (1:4 Wales). However, soccer was not so important for "Jack" Hehir, for his great passion was Gaelic football, which he also played for Ireland on several occasions. Italy made their international début in Milan on May 15, 1910, when they won a clear victory over France (6:2), with 22 year-old Pietro Lana of Milan FCC scoring three goals. However, the Italians had greatly overestimated their victory over the rather weak French, because 11 days later they fielded the same exact line-up in Budapest against Hungary and were aghast at the result (1:6). The Italians would never have believed such a thing to be possible. Robert Faas was born in Pforzheim on July 3, 1889, and was trained as a mechanic. He learned football at 1. FC Pforzheim together with his brother Emil, who also was a goalkeeper and was German vice-champion with the club in 1906. Robert Faas, who was very talented, played for Germany once in 1910. He quickly fell ill, however, and died in 1914.
Robert Faas
George Law, born in Arbroath on December 13, 1885, first played for his home club before joining Glasgow Rangers in March 1907. He played for Leeds City from 1912 to 1916. He reached the Scottish Cup final with the Rangers in 1909, and was Scottish champion two years later. The right full-back was quick, nimble and gifted with a powerful shot. He was also a hard tackler, but always fair. In 1910 he played for Scotland three times. George Law studied engineering and also worked in this field. Not losing track of things was no easy matter with Wales, where the media reported national players without first names. During the 1876-1940 period there were 31 different internationals with the surname Davies, and 42 named Jones. There also were 17 Williams, 15 Evans, 12 Roberts, 11 Hughes, 11 Lewis, 9 Morris and 9 Owen. Untangling the various degrees of kinship relations was another thorny problem. IFFHS Executive Committee member Ian Garland (Chesham) did real pioneering work here. George C. Robertson, born in Stonefield (Lanarkshire) in 1870, played for Yorker Athletic and Motherwell FC before moving to England in March 1910 and playing for Sheffield Wednesday for the next ten years. He was a very talented and quick outside left, and from 1910 to 1914 played for Scotland four times. A knee injury in May 1920 brought his active footballing career to an end. He had studied and become a teacher, but in the 1920's emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1943. In November 1910 the Austrian national team left for Budapest without a trainer and with only ten players for their full "A" international against Hungary. The full-back Fritz Drexler of First Vienna FC had missed the train just as it was leaving Vienna. The Austrians already had prepared themselves to play short-handed when Fritz Drexler, who had caught the next train, arrived only 11 (!) minutes after German referee Edgar Blüher had started the match at Millenáris pálya. This brought the guests back up to full strength, but they still lost 0:3. Robert Hense, born in Cologne on November 17, 1885, attended the Marzellen-Gymnasium, where he also began to play football before joining the local club Rhenania. In 1903 he transferred to Kölner Ballspiel-Club. He started out in attack, but found that defence suited him better, and it as in this position that he made his international début for Germany on October 16, 1910 (1:2 Netherlands). This was also his only international match. In 1911 he was in France on business (Paris & Roubaix), but otherwise always stayed with his Cologne club, and also ran his bicycle shop in that town. He also was a good oarsman and tennis player and went on practising sports until his death on June 20, 1966. When on May 7, 1910, "Lomme" Vanden Eynde (Union St.-Gilloise) fouled Belgian football idol Charles Cambier (FC Brugeois) so seriously that he sustained a double leg fracture, Vanden Eynde had to run for his life, for as Charles' brothers Arthur and Joseph, who also played for the Bruges club, chased him all over the pitch and were ready to throttle him. It took a small crowd of players, orderlies and attendants to restrain them. Guillaume Vanden Eynde had been repeatedly been criticised because of his reckless tackling. The Belgian FA (UBSSA) suspended the 26 year-old offender for life. Cambier's fracture was complicated, and it was not until two years later that the Belgian national team captain played again. The fateful match had taken place in the context of the "Tournoi International de l'Exposition" in Brussels. "Lomme" Vanden Eynde had enough time to improve his rowing, where he was even better at a national level. However, the ban was surprisingly lifted in 1912.
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