There was a bright sun shining and a cold, crisp atmosphere when the keenest of rivals, St Albans City and 2nd Coldstream Guards, face each other on Saturday afternoon. Sergt.Roman, the well known Army centre-half, was a conspicuous absentee from the Coldstream’s eleven. The home team had decided upon a notable experiment, putting “Billy” Butcher, a brother of the illustrious West Ham player, at inside left. “Billy” was an unqualified success and it was really funny to see him dodging here and there, like a mouse among elephants. He is exceedingly nimble footed and his debut with the City’s first team leads me to hope that he will be given frequent opportunities for displaying his innate skill at Association Football(1).
FOOTBALL CHAT
How are the mighty fallen? The team that visited Clarence Park last Saturday was a mere shadow of former Coldstream sides, both in physique and cleverness. The one exception was Sergeant Leach, recently re-instated as an amateur, was in a class by himself. The remaining soldier players were probably suffering from the effects of a surfeit of football, Saturday’s match being their fourth serious game of the week, but obviously this does not entirely explain their poor display of football ability.
For once the referee appeared to give complete satisfaction, for there was an entire absence of murmuring against his decisions. This is a great tribute, even to such an old favourite as Mr.W.Robinson. He knows the game from “alpha” to “omega,” having played in first-class football for some time.
In pre-war days it was his custom to referee Charity Cup matches free of charges and for this the Herts F.A. presented him with a token which is probably unique in the football world – a referee’s medal.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times” – 22nd November 1919.
1 Herbert Butcher, known as Bertie, went on to become one of the club’s most loyal and successful servants. He retired from playing in 1923 after making 92 appearances and scoring 28 goals. He was 1st team trainer from 1945 until 1961 during which time he made one more appearance for the first eleven in 1949 at the age of 52, thus becoming the oldest player to appear for the City. |
