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| match report |
1892-93 fixture list |
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| Friendly |
02/01/1893
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The Aberdeen |
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0 - 4 |
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Notts County |
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| Kick Off:
12:00 PM |
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Wilkinson, Bruce, Burke, Bruce |
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| Attendance: 0
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| Venue: Chanonry, Aberdeen |
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| GREAT GAME AT CHANONRY |
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 Among the many at attractions provided for the Aberdeen public during the New Year holidays, football matches always bulk largely; and this year the fare presented was of an exceedingly interesting kind. For the first time since football began to be played in the city, an English team came north to try conclusions with the local exponents of the game. To the premier Aberdeen club - the Aberdeen F.C. to wit - fell the honour of having the Englishmen as their guests; and a more gentlemanly set of players the southerners could not have desired as their hosts and opponents. Like every other English team of any repute, the Notts County Eleven includes several Scotch players, who, like many of their fellow countrymen, were tempted to cross the Border by the inducements held forth by the professional combinations of England. Whatever regrets Scotchmen may have experienced at the fact of so many clever exponents of one of the most popular national games having been lured away, to the loss of Scottish football, they are patriotic enough to admit that the wanderers can yet play football as it ought to be played. Thus it was only to be expected that the greatest interest would be aroused in the match which took place at Chanonry yesterday. The teams as they took the field were:
NOTTS COUNTY.
Toone; Calderhead, Hendry; Shelton, Wilkinson, Bramley; McGregor, Burke, Oswald, Bruce, Docherty.
ABERDEEN:
Ramsay; Ketchen, Wood; Anderson, Cobban, Ross; White, Black, F. Whitead, A. Whitehead, Brown.
Notts, it will be seen, had to play one or two reserve men, but their eleven included, at least, two International players, these being Oswald and Shelton; while, curiously enough, only three of the eleven were Englishmen. A strong, well-built team it was, however, and one which it was fully expected would be a hard nut for the local men to crack. The Aberdeen, too, had a good eleven on the field, and much interest was centred in the reappearance of Arthur Whitehead, who has been in London for some time, and has played for the London Caledonian. For some time before the match commenced, a constant stream of spectators made their way to Chanonry, and by noon the attendance was one of the largest that has been seen on that well-known ground, Mr Charles Glennie, M.A., an erstwhile popular member of the Aberdeen team was referee, and a cordial greeting he received as he stepped on to the field. The linesmen were Mr Gilbert, Notts, and Mr Tom Blann, Aberdeen. McInnes and Whitelaw, two of the best Notts players, accompanied the team to Aberdeen, but did not take the field. The teams were a little late in appearing, but the crowd, who appeared to be in the best of holiday humour, whiled away the time by singing with great vigour various popular ditties. When the players appeared they were loudly cheered.
Without loss of time the game commenced, Oswald kicking off for Notts. The Englishmen went right away at the start, and Ketchen kicked out. Wood then saved by a strong punt, and Aberdeen got up the field, but play was somewhat loose to begin with. After another strong attack by Notts the local men, by good combination, got well up. A. Whitehead and Black had the leather in charge, but the latter shot feebly, and Toone easily saved. Notts were undoubtedly having most of the game, but Aberdeen was not without its share, although they seldom got near enough goal to be actually dangerous, the powerful kicking of the south backs frustrating all their efforts. At length, however, the locals forced a corner, and matters looked promising for them. The ball was well placed, but Calderhead sent it out. It was returned immediately, however, and Toone had to handle from a neat shot by Brown. Aberdeen kept up the pressure, and White was loudly applauded for another fine try, which nearly took effect. Continuing to lay heavy siege on the Notts citadel, Aberdeen forced two more corners, but they could not improve upon them. The local backs and halves were now playing a sterling game, and had the forwards used a little more judgment in front of goal they should have scored, for they were being fed in capital style. For full fifteen minutes Aberdeen kept the game fairly in hand, to the evident surprise of their opponents. Then Notts wakened up and strove hard to score, but still Ramsay, well aided by Wood and Ketchen, defied all their efforts. Once more the ground team returned to the charge, and Morley Brown sent in a stinger which just went past the post. Black was being well supplied with the ball, but he was greatly harassed by Hendry, and never was allowed a proper chance of shooting, although at times he might have done a little better than he did. Again Notts bore down in irresistible style, and Wood kicked out beautifully, but the ball was again returned, and Docherty sent in a splendid shot. Ramsay was on the alert, however, and earned a hearty cheer by saving in a remarkably smart manner. McGregor followed soon after with a ball that narrowly missed the goal. Aberdeen again went away with a rush, and Black should have scored, but he skied the ball. He looked suspiciously like being offsides too. Half-time had almost arrived when Wilkinson scored the first goal of the game for Notts. Aberdeen retaliated with great vigour, and Toone had to save several times. At one moment intense excitement prevailed as the ball bobbed on the cross-bar of the Notts goal, but almost miraculously the visitors preserved their charge intact.
The second period opened with some loose play, each end being visited in turn. The Notts goal ran a narrow escape however; but then the Aberdeen end was visited, and Bruce scored with a swift, raking shot which it would have been almost impossible to stop. This again roused the ground team, and bearing down to the other end, they gave the Notts defence an anxious moment. Black showed a bit of specially find play. He caught the ball cleverly as he was flying along the field, and kept perfect command of it, but his final kick was disappointing. Another visit to the Aberdeen goal by the English team was more successful, Burke registering a third point very cleverly. The superior training and staying power of the Notts team now became apparent, and it was easily seen that they had something up their sleeve, while the local men were becoming pumped out. A spell of end to end play was unproductive to either side. Black sent in a good shot, which passed right across the Notts goal, but no one was there to put it through. Aberdeen were undoubtedly playing with considerable vigour, but their passing was often faulty; while the Notts team played to each other with remarkable precision. In the course of a flying visit Bruce again found an opening and put his team four up. From this point to the finish Notts strove hard to increase their lead; while Aberdeen also made strenuous endeavours to notch a point. All their efforts were unavailing however, and the game ended Notts County, 4 goals; Aberdeen, 0 goals.
Source: Aberdeen Journal, 3rd January 1893
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"The match of the season" was the visit of the famous Notts Chanonry on Monday, and though the weather was terribly cold, an interesting game was witnessed. The locals lost by 4 goals to nil, but for all that they played uncommonly well, and had they had a less talented individual to deal with than they might have scored one or two points.
From Chanonry.
Notts had a splendid team on the field, although, of course, the absence of Whitelaw, McInnes, and Daft interfered to some extent with their combination, which is the outstanding feature of this crack eleven.
Capable substitutes were, however, in their places, and everybody was in a hypercritical condition before the game was started, about twenty minutes past the specified hour.
Aided by a slight breeze during the initial period of the game, the homesters did remarkably well, and only one goal was chronicled against them - and it was a regular scorcher, having been delivered by Bruce (inside left).
The closing half placed the whites with their faces against the sun, which militated extensively against their movements, and when Referee Glennie sounded the "gong" the Englishmen were leading by 4 goals to nil.
Nobody will deny the fact that the Aberdeen should have had 2 goals at any rate, at least the strangers admitted this, but Black, outside right, was never seen to play such an inferior game, missing the ball on every occasion nearly, and rarely centering or shooting with the slightest iota of accuracy.
Owing to the absentees already referred to, the play of the Notts men was slightly disorganised but nevertheless the exhibition which they gave cannot but have a beneficial effect upon Aberdeen players in general.
One important outstanding feature of their forwards was the distance they banged for goal.
Whenever within 20 yards or so they judiciously let go, and in spite of Ramsay's abilities as a custodian their placing at such a long range was splendidly timed and judged.
Toone, who is now considered the best goalkeeper in Great Britain, so says Jamie Oswald, did not get much to do as we would have wished him, but nevertheless in his manipulation of at least two stingers, he showed that the ability was there. This is the opinion of nearly every Notts man - "A forward really doesn't know when he will score against Toone." He will be International against Scotland this year.
Calderhead, who runs little Holt of Everton a neck to neck race for premier honours in England as centre half-back, played right-back, and showed during the game that he was master of the situation, although at times the Aberdeen left-wingers caused him no end of trouble.
Hendry at left-back blocked magnificently and returned powerfully. He was the heaviest man in the team, and took some shunting.
The half-backs were not particularly strong, but it was very prominent that their whole game was feeding the forwards.
Shelton on the left was decidedly the best, tackling and placing with precision.
The forwards as a quintette were, as Davie Calderhead remarked, not brilliant, but we could not help admiring the manner in which James Oswald pedalled the leather through all opposition. He showed indisputingly that he was possessed of a lot of football, and thoroughly understood what to do exactly on every occasion. His kindly advice to players on the field and gentlemanly tactics was characteristic of the individual.
Bruce, inside left, is the beau ideal of a forward. His every movement being executed in a cool and judicious way. A tricky dribbler, and one of the best shots agoing, he gave Ramsay several raking ones to hold. He scored 3 of the 4 goals, his first point being a regular blizzard.
Gregor on the extreme right careered along the with great dash, and centred finely. He was slightly indisposed, and accordingly did not do himself justice.
Burke and Docherty - both reserve men - were not above mediocrity, although the former was easily the better of the two, the latter doing absolutely nothing the whole time.
Notts were entertained to luncheon in the Waverley after the match.
In the name of Notts, Mr Harris, one of the directors of Notts County F.C., heartily thanked Aberdeen for the great kindness and attention which they had received at their hands, and trusted that they would have the pleasure of meeting the whites at Nottingham at some future time.
Mr. Harris' singing of "Eliza" and "The man who broke the bank at Monte Carlo" was vociferously received.
Notts left for Glasgow at 5:25 in great form, and amid cheers from the Aberdeen men who saw them take their departure.
Source: Bon-Accord, 7th January 1893
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The Aberdeen Teamsheet:
Ramsay; Ketchen, Wood; Anderson, Cobban, Ross; White, Black, F. Whitead, A. Whitehead, Brown
Bookings: |
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Notts County Teamsheet:
Toone; Calderhead, Hendry; Shelton, Wilkinson, Bramley; McGregor, Burke, Oswald, Bruce, Docherty
Bookings: |
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| Referee: |
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Mr. Charles Glennie, Aberdeen |
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