St Albans City F.C. Statistics Saintsnet - The Official website of St Albans City Football Club

css drop down menu by Css3Menu.com

Change:  Move to:
03.10.1908 at 15:00 Clarence Park Attendance :
St Albans City
1 - 1
Upton Park
Referee : FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round match

Goalscorers
Fred Habbijam
None
Opening squads
K. McIntyre
Harry Davis
Charles Patrick
Fred Habbijam
Hugh Day
Tom Noel
C. Northern
Tommy Walker
Roy Morrison
Victor Bourdon
Leslie Hosier
J.H.Jones
F.G.Spackman
J.W.C.Agate
L.M.Jones
D.Renouf
C.G.McFarlane
S.J.Owens
O.Papinean
F.Cutter
M.Levoi
G.F.Mitchell
Substitutes
siva karthi's
Substitutions
None. None
Yellow cards
None. None
Red cards
None. None
Match report
St Albans City accomplished a remarkably fine performance in their first cup-tie encounter when, on Saturday, at Clarence Park, they drew with Upton Park in the preliminary round(1) of the Football Association Cup competition. For the new club, in only the fourth match of it’s existence(2), to draw with one of London’s best amateur teams was in itself a splendid feat, but furthermore the City deserved to win. It is simply mere hard luck that robbed them of victory, not once, but often, and it seemed that a whole host of misfortune befell them just because of this, of all times, they were not wanted. If they lose in the replay on Thursday of this week, they will deserve the sympathies of all and certainly will get those of the spectators at the match on Saturday.
The game was fast from beginning to end and the cup-tie fever was apparently in all, including the spectators. It was a record “gate” for the season and about a thousand persons lined the ropes and were interested up to the final whistle.
St Albans opened the game in grand style and the first half-hour raised high hopes in the minds of the Albanians. But the damper came in the form of a very mild goal for Upton Park – a goal that was bordering on the “fluky”, and, on the run of play to the period, was altogether undeserved. By their performance up to half time the City had at least deserved to draw level and before the end had had such hard luck in front of goal – not because of indifferent play, that they would have got no more than they deserved if they had won by two goals.
The misfortunes against the City, outside the ordinary goal-scoring luck, were many. Early on Hosier was badly minded and Davis ricked his foot severely, by which he was handicapped throughout the game. Habbijam was also “laid out” and the effects of a complaint called for attention twice or three times during the game, while Day, who had been indisposed during the week, was still bad in health. Four of the City’s best men, therefore, had more than their opponents play to fight against.
Despite this every one of the City eleven played splendidly. With the exception of the faulty clearance which let the visitors score, McIntyre was very safe. He was always “there,” although his manner of getting “there” sometimes puts his supporters on pins. Bourdon worked hard and did well, although he made one or two faulty kicks and moves. Patrick was brilliant and always a tower of strength, while Noel, Habbijam and Davis were all “stickers” and served their side with credit. Davis was particularly fine and, despite his badly injured foot, played one of the best games of any on the field.
The forwards were a remarkably fine line. Hosier was at his best and with a better defence against him, yet managed again and again to get right through to his corner to give his customary fine centres. Day, as before stated, was inspired and the fact that he did not reach his usual high form can thus be excused. Walker has not played better for the City and more tangible results were deserving for his work in front of goal. C.Northern, the old Abbey player, was introduced at inside left and delighted the operators with his tricky work. It is a thousand pities that he is unable to turn out regularly for the eleven. Morrison, who was tried at inside last week, appeared in the outside position and, although he was not always brilliant, did much useful work and one or two things of exceptional merit.
It was pleasing to note the combination was not forgotten by the five. Led by Northern this was at times most effective and pretty and should be kept up in future.

Reprinted from the “The St Albans Post” 7th October 1908.

1 First Qualifying Round
2 This was the third game actually played.The Herts Charity Cup tie versus St Saviours was a walk-over.