Bramall Lane…
…1873
Sheffield
Vs
London
Inter-Association Fixtures were a staple of the Football Game’s…
…‘Early-Doors’
…the most prestegious ( & earliest…) of the lot of course, the annual encounter between the most influential of all of the Associations, the two which effectively drew up the ‘Laws’ of the game between them…
…Sheffield
London…
&
Having met for the very first time back in 1866, a 2-0 win for the London boys in Battersea Park, the Sheffielders are holding their own, in the series, thus far, tie-ing with the Southern foe, three games a piece…
Sheffield’s famous cricketing venue, Bramall Lane, constructed back in 1855 & a home to the Yorkshire County Cricket Club from it’s inception in 1863 until 1973 opened up its gates to the up & coming g the preceding year, hosting Sheffield & Hallam - A match held to raise much needed funds for that years Lancashire Distress Fund*…
*…The Lancashire Cotton Famine (1860-65)
The Londoners line led by legendary lordly Wanderer & fox in either* box…
(*…Footballers were Footballers in the early days, not Centre-Forwards, Goal-Keepers or Left-Backs etc, & standing tip-toed at just the five foot four, Arthur played with distinction in them all & every other position besides…)
Arthur Kinnaird
Older brother Charlie nudging Sheffield ahead…
Sheffield’s famous Brothers Clegg are, of course, found to be in fine form for Sheffield…
Charles
…up top
…round the back…
Willy
England’s original* Number 10…
Charles Chenery
…of the capital’s original* Crystal Palace club*…
…reduces arrears but it’s a clear case of too little, too late for the most unfortunate Londoners…
…it sure must’ve been a bloody long haul on those hard wooden train seats from Yorkshire back to the comfort of the Metropolis in those distant days, especially with your tail firmly fixed ‘twixt your Lordly little legs !
Arthur was born a Lord - the eleventh of the line dating back to the 17th Century…