Team line-ups from “The Sports Picture Post”(Middlesbrough) Saturday 15th February 1913.
Note the misspelling of Messrs Clark, Meagher, Michell and Brandham.
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This third round tie in the Amateur Cup was played at Stockton on Saturday before a crowd of real good sportsmen, numbering nearly 6,000. The weather was fine but the ground after a few minutes play was a quagmire of black slimy mud, far worse than Tufnell Park in the previous round.
For St Albans, Smith was the hero and nothing came amiss. Grimsdell was easily the best back on the field, his kicking at the end of two hours was as strong as ever. Hearn showed his usual masterly tactics and his steady, effective work spoiled many a Stockton raid. Wiggs at centre-half was quite a star: his tackling and feeding were alike good and it was mainly through his cleverness that the inside forwards of Stockton were so inept. Meagher and Brandham opened shakily but, getting the run of the ground, they rapidly improved and were both playing excellently long before half-time. Brandham’s untiring efforts pleased the home crowd and “Little Tich” and “Smiler” as the local termed him was a popular favourite throughout the game.
Of the forwards, Edmonds stood out best. His tricky runs were well applauded and they gave the City defence relief when they badly needed it. Clark tried hard but the other forwards seemed just below their usual form. The referee gave three fouls against Hammond for heavily charging the centre-half, a twelve stone man, and once he cautioned Wiggs: what for, Arthur did not know.
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Congratulations to the City ! The team’s performance at Stockton and the prospects of the replayed tie at Clarence Park on Saturday have formed the one absorbing topic of conversation in St Albans during the week. The City Club has done nothing better in the course of its successful career of five seasons and, despite many fine performances, has never before aroused such enthusiasm among its supporters. The City are looking forward with confidence to the match and, should they win, they will fill with delight what is expected to be a record crowd.
The Committee have refused tempting terms to play the replay at Stockton and I think, to show them how we appreciate this, there should be a record gate, say at least five thousand.”
Before the party left Stockton, the Club received an offer of £75 to replay the match at Stockton instead of Clarence Park. This offer was refused and, considering the sacrifice the Club are making in order to be loyal to its supporters, the latter will not, or should not, grumble that the “gate” will be 6d instead of 4d.
The holders of the Amateur Cup are the finest team the City have ever met.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser and St Albans Times” 22nd February 1913. |
