Blackpool-rocks
Well-known member
For those who like a trip down memory lane, before tomorrows FA Cup tie, here's a match report from 1899 when West Brom met South Shore (who merged with Blackpool later in the year).
West Bromwich Albion v South Shore
FA Cup Round One
28th January 1899
Venue : Stoney Lane
Attendance : 7,000
Weather : Windy
It was extremely hard luck for South Shore, that after fighting their way through the qualifying rounds of the English Cup competition, they should have been drawn, away from home, against such powerful opponents as West Bromwich Albion. They had no chance of victory, whereabouts had they had to meet, such a club of the calibre of Kettering, Tottenham, or Jarrow, they would have had an excellent prospect of entering the second-round.
As matters stand at present, they will take no further part in the competition, but will have the satisfaction of dividing the gate, which amounted to £164 14s. 6d. This is a great consideration, and will give a much needed fillip to the clubs finances. It does not often fall to the lot of South Shore to draw £80 odd as the result of a match.
As was only to be expected, the match proved a runaway affair, the Albion winning by eight goals to nothing. They were too good at every point for South Shore, yet, considering that they have been in training for a fortnight, the Shoreites were not disgraced. There were several redeeming features in the team, and two of them were the playing of the Griffiths and Speight.
Speaking of the former, a West Bromwich writer says: “He deserves good praise, and will make a first class custodian for someone.” Of Speight, the same scribe remarks that he “is a right winger worthy of a place in a better team". Then the two backs, Barrow and Porteous, were in gold trim, but it must have been rather galling to Porteous to have so many goals scored against him.
He had played on the same ground six times previously, without having a point scored against him. The half-backs were very weak, and, with the exception of Speight, the forwards were ditto. It was a pleasant game all through, and one from which plenty of enjoyment was derived.
South Shore's Big Encounter.
The biggest encounter South Shore have had this season took place at Birmingham, on Saturday, their opponents being West Bromwich Albion. South Shore had been training all the week, and it was expected that they would not let the “Throstles” walk through the first round of the English Cup, without a stiff fight. The Shore team took a good contingent of supporters, and altogether the attendance at the West Bromwich ground numbered about 7,000.
The teams were :-
WEST BROMWICH Position. SOUTH SHORE
Reader Goal Griffiths
Cave Right Back Barrow
Williams Left Back Porteous
Perry Right Half Higgins
Jones Centre Half Lightbown
Dunn Left half Whitham
Bassett Outside Right Speight
Simmons Inside Right Thompson
Flewitt Centre Smith
Richards Inside Left Jones
Garfield Outside Left Arrandale
South Shore won the toss, and elected to play uphill with the wind, but the Albion were the first aggressors. Bassett, receiving the ball, put in a shot which Griffiths only partly reached, and the ball rolled into the net. The home team continue to press, and Griffiths saved several times. The visitors then livened up a bit, and Speight, passing Williams, forced a corner. This was easily negotiated, but directly afterwards Speight made another good run, and ended up just skimming the bar with a beautiful shot.
South Shore were again forced back, and Richards headed into the net, from a pass by Jones. Griffiths brilliantly saved a fine shot from Garfield, but the “Throstles” were not to be kept back, and Jones and Bassett each scored. The former from a corner and that the latter, with a fine long shot, which Griffiths could not reach. Bassett was fouled within the twelve yards limit, and a penalty was awarded, Williams took the kick, but Griffiths saved, only to be beaten by Jones directly afterwards. Barrow gave the Albion a sixth by putting through his own goal, and just before the interval Garfield again got the ball past Griffiths, the score, at half-time, being -
Half-time : West Bromwich Albion, seven; South shore, none.
On resuming, South Shore had a little more of the play, and Reader had to handle a couple of beauties from Speight. Richards collided with Whitham, and the former was hurt, having to leave the field. Griffiths was applauded, time after time, for his splendid goal-keeping, and it was not until forty minutes had passed that he was again beaten.
Result :-
West Bromwich Albion……………….Eight
South Shore…………………………….Nil
-oOo-
West Bromwich Albion v South Shore
FA Cup Round One
28th January 1899
Venue : Stoney Lane
Attendance : 7,000
Weather : Windy
It was extremely hard luck for South Shore, that after fighting their way through the qualifying rounds of the English Cup competition, they should have been drawn, away from home, against such powerful opponents as West Bromwich Albion. They had no chance of victory, whereabouts had they had to meet, such a club of the calibre of Kettering, Tottenham, or Jarrow, they would have had an excellent prospect of entering the second-round.
As matters stand at present, they will take no further part in the competition, but will have the satisfaction of dividing the gate, which amounted to £164 14s. 6d. This is a great consideration, and will give a much needed fillip to the clubs finances. It does not often fall to the lot of South Shore to draw £80 odd as the result of a match.
As was only to be expected, the match proved a runaway affair, the Albion winning by eight goals to nothing. They were too good at every point for South Shore, yet, considering that they have been in training for a fortnight, the Shoreites were not disgraced. There were several redeeming features in the team, and two of them were the playing of the Griffiths and Speight.
Speaking of the former, a West Bromwich writer says: “He deserves good praise, and will make a first class custodian for someone.” Of Speight, the same scribe remarks that he “is a right winger worthy of a place in a better team". Then the two backs, Barrow and Porteous, were in gold trim, but it must have been rather galling to Porteous to have so many goals scored against him.
He had played on the same ground six times previously, without having a point scored against him. The half-backs were very weak, and, with the exception of Speight, the forwards were ditto. It was a pleasant game all through, and one from which plenty of enjoyment was derived.
South Shore's Big Encounter.
The biggest encounter South Shore have had this season took place at Birmingham, on Saturday, their opponents being West Bromwich Albion. South Shore had been training all the week, and it was expected that they would not let the “Throstles” walk through the first round of the English Cup, without a stiff fight. The Shore team took a good contingent of supporters, and altogether the attendance at the West Bromwich ground numbered about 7,000.
The teams were :-
WEST BROMWICH Position. SOUTH SHORE
Reader Goal Griffiths
Cave Right Back Barrow
Williams Left Back Porteous
Perry Right Half Higgins
Jones Centre Half Lightbown
Dunn Left half Whitham
Bassett Outside Right Speight
Simmons Inside Right Thompson
Flewitt Centre Smith
Richards Inside Left Jones
Garfield Outside Left Arrandale
South Shore won the toss, and elected to play uphill with the wind, but the Albion were the first aggressors. Bassett, receiving the ball, put in a shot which Griffiths only partly reached, and the ball rolled into the net. The home team continue to press, and Griffiths saved several times. The visitors then livened up a bit, and Speight, passing Williams, forced a corner. This was easily negotiated, but directly afterwards Speight made another good run, and ended up just skimming the bar with a beautiful shot.
South Shore were again forced back, and Richards headed into the net, from a pass by Jones. Griffiths brilliantly saved a fine shot from Garfield, but the “Throstles” were not to be kept back, and Jones and Bassett each scored. The former from a corner and that the latter, with a fine long shot, which Griffiths could not reach. Bassett was fouled within the twelve yards limit, and a penalty was awarded, Williams took the kick, but Griffiths saved, only to be beaten by Jones directly afterwards. Barrow gave the Albion a sixth by putting through his own goal, and just before the interval Garfield again got the ball past Griffiths, the score, at half-time, being -
Half-time : West Bromwich Albion, seven; South shore, none.
On resuming, South Shore had a little more of the play, and Reader had to handle a couple of beauties from Speight. Richards collided with Whitham, and the former was hurt, having to leave the field. Griffiths was applauded, time after time, for his splendid goal-keeping, and it was not until forty minutes had passed that he was again beaten.
Result :-
West Bromwich Albion……………….Eight
South Shore…………………………….Nil
-oOo-
