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School days in Cathcart: the earliest pictures of John Harley, 'El Reformador' of Uruguayan football
Cathcart Public School class in 1896. John Harley, then aged 10, is front row, second from left.
A truly remarkable coincidence has brought together my own family history and the life of a Uruguayan football legend, a Scotsman called John Harley.
I was recently discussing with fellow historians the proposal to build a statue to John Harley at his birthplace in Cathcart, to the south of Glasgow. A fundraising campaign has now been launched to pay for a fitting memorial (see below).
Although little known in Scotland, Harley is celebrated as 'El Reformador' in Uruguay for his influence in changing the style of the game there from the long ball to short passing in the traditional Scottish manner. It is a transition that is credited with taking Uruguay to two Olympic titles in 1924 and 1928, then to two World Cups in 1930 and 1950.
On learning that Harley was born in Cathcart in 1886, a light bulb went on in my head as I recalled that my own grandfather, John Fowler Mitchell, was also born in 1886 and lived in Cathcart. I knew that somewhere in the family archive were some old school photos, and after a lengthy rummage I found no less than four class groups taken in the 1890s. Every single one of them features not only my grandfather but also a young John Harley.
The images on the four cabinet photos are still sharp, taken outside Cathcart Public School. And on the back of the cards, my prescient grandfather had taken the trouble to write down the names of everyone he could remember, creating a fantastic record of late Victorian schooling.
I was recently discussing with fellow historians the proposal to build a statue to John Harley at his birthplace in Cathcart, to the south of Glasgow. A fundraising campaign has now been launched to pay for a fitting memorial (see below).
Although little known in Scotland, Harley is celebrated as 'El Reformador' in Uruguay for his influence in changing the style of the game there from the long ball to short passing in the traditional Scottish manner. It is a transition that is credited with taking Uruguay to two Olympic titles in 1924 and 1928, then to two World Cups in 1930 and 1950.
On learning that Harley was born in Cathcart in 1886, a light bulb went on in my head as I recalled that my own grandfather, John Fowler Mitchell, was also born in 1886 and lived in Cathcart. I knew that somewhere in the family archive were some old school photos, and after a lengthy rummage I found no less than four class groups taken in the 1890s. Every single one of them features not only my grandfather but also a young John Harley.
The images on the four cabinet photos are still sharp, taken outside Cathcart Public School. And on the back of the cards, my prescient grandfather had taken the trouble to write down the names of everyone he could remember, creating a fantastic record of late Victorian schooling.
Cathcart Public School, which opened in 1876 in Craig Road. The building was demolished in the 1960s.
The earliest picture is dated June 1891 and shows the infant class of 4- and 5-year-old boys and girls with their teacher, Miss Minnie Christie. It was known as the 'tuppeny class' as the parents paid twopence a week for the children to attend. John Harley is sitting in the front row, wearing a sailor suit, and what makes this particularly interesting is that two months earlier he was recorded in the 1891 census as a patient at the Victoria Infirmary. Whatever was wrong with him, he had clearly recovered sufficiently to go to school by this time.
Cathcart Public School 'tuppeny class' in 1891 with John Harley circled at the front and JF Mitchell circled at the back.
There are further class photos from 1893, 1895 and 1896, all of which include boys only, because they were taught separately from the girls.
In each case, my grandfather wrote 'Jock' rather than John Harley which indicates he was on friendly terms. And that can be backed up by the fact that they lived in the same street, Holmhead Crescent - the Harleys at number 2, the Mitchells at number 6.
Very likely they enjoyed football together. I have a recording of my grandfather talking about his childhood where he says one of his favourite activities was playing football in the street ('there wasn't much traffic then'), and I also recall him telling me that, as a boy, he sneaked into Hampden to watch Queen's Park take on the famous Corinthians.
In each case, my grandfather wrote 'Jock' rather than John Harley which indicates he was on friendly terms. And that can be backed up by the fact that they lived in the same street, Holmhead Crescent - the Harleys at number 2, the Mitchells at number 6.
Very likely they enjoyed football together. I have a recording of my grandfather talking about his childhood where he says one of his favourite activities was playing football in the street ('there wasn't much traffic then'), and I also recall him telling me that, as a boy, he sneaked into Hampden to watch Queen's Park take on the famous Corinthians.
Class photo of 1893 with John Harley back row, far right, and my grandfather in the middle of the front row
Class photo of 1895, with John Harley front row far right, my grandfather middle of third row.
From schooldays in Cathcart, their lives took different paths, to opposite sides of the world.
Harley embarked on a career in railway engineering which took him to Springburn in north Glasgow, then to Argentina and finally Uruguay, where he spent the rest of his life. Others have researched and written about his life and football career, and a great place to start is the Scots Football Historians Group website.
My grandfather, on the other hand, went on to secondary school at Allan Glen's in Glasgow before university in London and Glasgow, and a career in the Indian Civil Service. He did carry on playing football but it was of the rugby variety, appearing for his university teams. He died in 1984, aged 97.
Harley embarked on a career in railway engineering which took him to Springburn in north Glasgow, then to Argentina and finally Uruguay, where he spent the rest of his life. Others have researched and written about his life and football career, and a great place to start is the Scots Football Historians Group website.
My grandfather, on the other hand, went on to secondary school at Allan Glen's in Glasgow before university in London and Glasgow, and a career in the Indian Civil Service. He did carry on playing football but it was of the rugby variety, appearing for his university teams. He died in 1984, aged 97.
An issue of the Penarol club magazine from 1952 dedicated as a tribute to John (or Juan) Harley
The move for a permanent memorial to John Harley has now been launched with an ambitious crowdfunding campaign. It will need private and corporate donations, as the aim is to raise £35,000 for a statue or bust near Harley's birthplace.
The immediate area around Braehead in Cathcart has changed little since he was born there on 5 March 1886, next to the picturesque bridge where his grandfather worked at the Old Snuff Mill.
A tribute to John Harley in Cathcart would celebrate his influence, like so many other 'Scotch professors', in taking Scottish football around the world.
The immediate area around Braehead in Cathcart has changed little since he was born there on 5 March 1886, next to the picturesque bridge where his grandfather worked at the Old Snuff Mill.
A tribute to John Harley in Cathcart would celebrate his influence, like so many other 'Scotch professors', in taking Scottish football around the world.
Braehead houses in Cathcart, where John Harley was born (Glasgow School of Art archive)
The birth record of John Harley at Braehead, Cathcart, on 5 March 1886 (National Records of Scotland)
Old Snuff Mill Bridge, Cathcart, adjacent to John Harley's birthplace at Braehead
Map of Cathcart at the time John Harley lived there. The Old Snuff Mill Bridge over the river is to the right, while Cathcart Public School, now demolished, is left of centre. (National Library of Scotland)
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A fitting tribute to Scottish football pioneer Joseph Taylor was unveiled this week, following the restoration of his grave at Cathcart Cemetery in Glasgow.
Taylor was one of the 'originals', a key member of the Scotland team that faced England in the world's first international match in 1872. He went on to play six times for Scotland, twice as captain, and also won the first three Scottish Cups with Queen's Park, the latter two as captain. On giving up playing he was elected President of Queen's Park and continued to guide the progress of the game until tragedy intervened and he was struck down by pleurisy and tuberculosis. He died aged just 37, leaving a wife and four children.
Taylor was one of the 'originals', a key member of the Scotland team that faced England in the world's first international match in 1872. He went on to play six times for Scotland, twice as captain, and also won the first three Scottish Cups with Queen's Park, the latter two as captain. On giving up playing he was elected President of Queen's Park and continued to guide the progress of the game until tragedy intervened and he was struck down by pleurisy and tuberculosis. He died aged just 37, leaving a wife and four children.
Joseph Taylor, Queen's Park and Scotland
The restored grave is unveiled by Ally Firth (left) and Colin Taylor, who is Joseph's great grandson. (Photo: Ross Turpie, Daily Record)
I first visited the grave in 2012, tracking it down through the undergrowth as part of a project to trace the last resting places of the Scotland team from 1872. All of them are now known with the frustrating exception of the captain, Robert Gardner, as I wrote about a few years ago.
I was then contacted by Colin Taylor, a great grandson of Joseph who spotted my article, and we have been in regular contact over the years. To my delight, he told me that some of Joseph's prize possessions remained in the family, including his Scottish Cup medal from 1876 (pictured below).
However, the grave was in a poor condition, leaning dangerously forward, hidden by ivy, and had lost the fleur-de-lys on top. It needed to be saved before it was too late, and a fundraiser last year raised over £1,000 for its restoration. There were contributions from a number of fans (the biggest from the West of Scotland Tartan Army) but fell short of the goal of £2,500, with the shortfall met by Joseph's descendants. The work took place over the winter.
Colin Taylor and his cousin Alex were guests of the Scottish FA at the 150th anniversary match between Scotland and England last year, and this week they travelled back to Glasgow for the unveiling of the restored grave. It can now be safely visited and admired at Cathcart Cemetery, where it is in Section I, Lair 567.
I was then contacted by Colin Taylor, a great grandson of Joseph who spotted my article, and we have been in regular contact over the years. To my delight, he told me that some of Joseph's prize possessions remained in the family, including his Scottish Cup medal from 1876 (pictured below).
However, the grave was in a poor condition, leaning dangerously forward, hidden by ivy, and had lost the fleur-de-lys on top. It needed to be saved before it was too late, and a fundraiser last year raised over £1,000 for its restoration. There were contributions from a number of fans (the biggest from the West of Scotland Tartan Army) but fell short of the goal of £2,500, with the shortfall met by Joseph's descendants. The work took place over the winter.
Colin Taylor and his cousin Alex were guests of the Scottish FA at the 150th anniversary match between Scotland and England last year, and this week they travelled back to Glasgow for the unveiling of the restored grave. It can now be safely visited and admired at Cathcart Cemetery, where it is in Section I, Lair 567.
Joseph Taylor's restored grave in all its glory. It includes an additional plaque which records his achievements and contains a QR code for further information.
Cathcart Cemetery is 'home' to an extraordinary number of Scottish football giants, some of which have now been restored in recognition of their importance to the game. You can read about them at the Scots Football Historians Group website, or with the Friends of Cathcart Cemetery.
The Queen's Park team which won the first Scottish Cup in 1874. Joseph Taylor is front row, second from left, proudly wearing the lion rampant that denotes him as a Scotland internationalist. His Scottish Cup medal from 1876, when he captained the team, is below.
A ticket to the memorial match played after Taylor's death, to raise funds for his widow and four children. Not only did 7,000 spectators turn out to pay their respects, Queen's Park added a further £50 to the fund.
A gathering of football fans witnessed the unveiling of the restored grave in Cathcart Cemetery (Photo: Ged O'Brien)
Joseph Taylor
Profile from The Men Who Made Scotland
Born 16 December 1850; Wellington Street, Dunoon, Argyllshire.
Died 4 October 1888; Victoria Terrace, Mount Florida, Glasgow.
Son of a hotel keeper in Dunoon, Taylor grew up in the town and was successful locally as a runner, winning numerous athletic contests at the Cowal Gathering in 1869 and 1870. When he came to Glasgow to work around that time, he joined Queen's Park and they soon made use of his athleticism, speed and leadership on the football field. He was selected at full back for the first Scotland international in 1872 and retained his place every year until 1876, captaining the side twice against England. He also won the first three Scottish Cups, the latter two as team captain. According to DD Bone: 'No man who captained the Queen's Park was so much respected both on the field and in private life. None hated unfair or rough play more.' After giving up playing in 1877, still only 26 years old, he continued his involvement with the club and was elected President for 1878-79, while he worked as a clerk for a drapery wholesaler. Sadly, he was struck down with pleurisy and tuberculosis and although he went to New Zealand in an attempt to clear his lungs, it was to no avail. He returned home to Mount Florida and died there in 1888, aged 37, leaving a wife and four children.
Honours
Scotland v England 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875c, 1876c; Wales 1876.
Queen's Park player 1870-77 (Scottish Cup winner 1874, 1875c, 1876c).
Profile from The Men Who Made Scotland
Born 16 December 1850; Wellington Street, Dunoon, Argyllshire.
Died 4 October 1888; Victoria Terrace, Mount Florida, Glasgow.
Son of a hotel keeper in Dunoon, Taylor grew up in the town and was successful locally as a runner, winning numerous athletic contests at the Cowal Gathering in 1869 and 1870. When he came to Glasgow to work around that time, he joined Queen's Park and they soon made use of his athleticism, speed and leadership on the football field. He was selected at full back for the first Scotland international in 1872 and retained his place every year until 1876, captaining the side twice against England. He also won the first three Scottish Cups, the latter two as team captain. According to DD Bone: 'No man who captained the Queen's Park was so much respected both on the field and in private life. None hated unfair or rough play more.' After giving up playing in 1877, still only 26 years old, he continued his involvement with the club and was elected President for 1878-79, while he worked as a clerk for a drapery wholesaler. Sadly, he was struck down with pleurisy and tuberculosis and although he went to New Zealand in an attempt to clear his lungs, it was to no avail. He returned home to Mount Florida and died there in 1888, aged 37, leaving a wife and four children.
Honours
Scotland v England 1872, 1873, 1874, 1875c, 1876c; Wales 1876.
Queen's Park player 1870-77 (Scottish Cup winner 1874, 1875c, 1876c).
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Andy Mitchell and Dougray Scott at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground, venue for the first football international in 1872
I enjoyed taking part in the BBC Scotland documentary 'Bringing Football Home' which was presented by the actor Dougray Scott, who explained how Scotland's football pioneers laid the groundwork for the modern style of the game.
The narrative follows the story over hundreds of years, starting with the oldest football in the world, through the Foot-Ball Club founded in 1824, the first international in 1872 and the 'Scotch Professors'. It then examined how Scottish football lost its way in the 20th century, while the passing game was exported around the world.
You can see the programme on BBC iPlayer and it is an entertaining hour.
What made it different for me was discovering Dougray Scott's own personal link to football history, which he was unaware of despite being a lifelong football fan.
He knew his father Allan had played for Queen's Park in the 1940s, although without making the first team. But what he did not know was that three members of the previous generation - his great uncles - were top referees, including one who holds a Scottish record to this day.
He was given the name Dougray because it was his grandmother's maiden name. And the Dougray family, who hailed from the Barrhead area, had an amazing record as referees in the early years of the 20th century. Three brothers - James, Tom and John - all refereed at the highest level.
The narrative follows the story over hundreds of years, starting with the oldest football in the world, through the Foot-Ball Club founded in 1824, the first international in 1872 and the 'Scotch Professors'. It then examined how Scottish football lost its way in the 20th century, while the passing game was exported around the world.
You can see the programme on BBC iPlayer and it is an entertaining hour.
What made it different for me was discovering Dougray Scott's own personal link to football history, which he was unaware of despite being a lifelong football fan.
He knew his father Allan had played for Queen's Park in the 1940s, although without making the first team. But what he did not know was that three members of the previous generation - his great uncles - were top referees, including one who holds a Scottish record to this day.
He was given the name Dougray because it was his grandmother's maiden name. And the Dougray family, who hailed from the Barrhead area, had an amazing record as referees in the early years of the 20th century. Three brothers - James, Tom and John - all refereed at the highest level.
Referee Tom Dougray with team captains George Wilson (England) and Jimmy Blair (Scotland) in 1922; and below, the team page from the match programme.
Of the three, Tom Dougray was outstanding. He was on the Scottish League list from 1908 to 1934, in which time he took charge of eight internationals, including four England v Scotland matches from 1920-26. Incredibly he refereed no less than 11 Scottish Cup finals, starting in 1910 with the Dundee v Clyde final and concluding in 1933 when Celtic beat Motherwell. In doing so, he set a record which will almost certainly never be broken.
When he retired in 1934, age 54, Tom Dougray told his story in the Sunday Post.
There is a video of Tom Dougray in action on the Pathe News site. This still from the video shows him meeting the England and Scotland captains at Old Trafford in 1926, and then taking control of the game.
Tom was following in the footsteps of his elder brother, James, who had just two years as a first division referee (1902-04) but left a lasting impression as one of the founders of Scotland's first Referee Association in 1903.
Tom was following in the footsteps of his elder brother, James, who had just two years as a first division referee (1902-04) but left a lasting impression as one of the founders of Scotland's first Referee Association in 1903.
James Dougray was appointed secretary of the Scottish Referee Association when it was founded. Dundee Evening Post, 10 August 1903 (British Newspaper Archive)
The third referee in the family was John, ten years younger than Tom, who made it onto the Scottish League list for four years in the 1920s. This created the unusual situation of having brothers appointed to referee matches on the same day.
Two Dougrays referee on the same day! Tom at Motherwell, John at Firhill. Dundee Courier, 19 December 1924 (BNA)
And to finish with, I leave you with this anecdote about Tom Dougray being confronted by a razor-wielding fan in Edinburgh. The story was related in a local paper many years later so is hard to verify, but the writer claims to have witnessed the incident. The irony is that his assailant was a Hibs fan, as is Dougray Scott today!
The extraordinary story of Tom Dougray's encounter with an angry Hibs fan in Edinburgh, as told in the Montrose Review, 2 April 1948 (BNA).
The three refereeing brothers:
James Dougray (1877-1952)
Tom Dougray (1879-1964)
John Dougray (1889-1932)
Dougray Scott: Bringing Football Home is available to watch on BBC iPlayer at this link: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wdny
James Dougray (1877-1952)
Tom Dougray (1879-1964)
John Dougray (1889-1932)
Dougray Scott: Bringing Football Home is available to watch on BBC iPlayer at this link: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001wdny
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Nettie Honeyball in her football costume, as she appeared in The Sketch, 6 February 1895 (British Newspaper Archive)
She had one of the most evocative names in football. Historians have speculated for years about the identity of Nettie Honeyball, the iconic Victorian pioneer of women's football, and most concluded that her name was a clever pseudonym. But a startling new discovery indicates she really did exist.
Honeyball was founder and captain of the British Ladies Football Club which launched in 1895. In response to intense media interest, the 'moving spirit of the lady footballers' gave interviews, posed for photos, and for a brief moment in time was known throughout the land. Then, just as suddenly, she vanished.
She was such a significant character in the development of women's sport that she is celebrated for her contribution, yet she has proved frustratingly elusive. Not only was she invisible in official records, her name sounded implausible, and one Victorian writer described her name as 'singularly ominous and Dickensian'. Today, most sources will tell you that Honeyball was a made-up name, a cover for one of the other players.
However, the mystery has just taken a dramatic twist and may have been solved thanks to a newly-digitised newspaper on the British Newspaper Archive.
Honeyball was founder and captain of the British Ladies Football Club which launched in 1895. In response to intense media interest, the 'moving spirit of the lady footballers' gave interviews, posed for photos, and for a brief moment in time was known throughout the land. Then, just as suddenly, she vanished.
She was such a significant character in the development of women's sport that she is celebrated for her contribution, yet she has proved frustratingly elusive. Not only was she invisible in official records, her name sounded implausible, and one Victorian writer described her name as 'singularly ominous and Dickensian'. Today, most sources will tell you that Honeyball was a made-up name, a cover for one of the other players.
However, the mystery has just taken a dramatic twist and may have been solved thanks to a newly-digitised newspaper on the British Newspaper Archive.
This brief paragraph in the Morning Leader appears to confirm that Honeyball was a genuine name, not a pseudonym
On 11 March 1896, the Morning Leader published a brief announcement: 'I am desired by Miss Nettie J Honeyball, the hon sec of the British Ladies Football Association, to state that her address is not now 27 Weston Park, Crouch End, but 56 Lillington Street, Belgravia, S.W., where all communications should be addressed.'
This is the missing link historians have searched for, as the Lillington Street address was the home of Anne Honeyball, a single woman in her twenties who lived there with her widowed father. Surely she must be Nettie?
There are so many tangents to the story of the British Ladies FC that the answer is not yet conclusive, as I will explain, but in many respects she fits the bill.
Anne Jane Honeyball was born in 1867 in Pimlico, the younger daughter of Francis, a carpenter and cabinet maker, and his wife Emma.
She was baptised (as Annie rather than Anne) in the nearby church of St James the Less, and is recorded at 56 Lillington Street in most subsequent censuses up to 1911 with her family. Two brothers appear to have died young, her elder sister Fanny married George Stubbles in 1882, her mother died in 1892, and she remained with her father until his death in 1915.
Only in 1891 is she not at home, but intriguingly a Janetta Honeyball, aged 21 and born in Pimlico, is lodging in Lambeth where she worked as a cashier for a grocer. The age is slightly wrong but as Janetta does not appear in any other records, is this Anne? Given her middle name of Jane, which also appears as Nettie Honeyball's middle initial, it does seem to be a strong possibility.
This is the missing link historians have searched for, as the Lillington Street address was the home of Anne Honeyball, a single woman in her twenties who lived there with her widowed father. Surely she must be Nettie?
There are so many tangents to the story of the British Ladies FC that the answer is not yet conclusive, as I will explain, but in many respects she fits the bill.
Anne Jane Honeyball was born in 1867 in Pimlico, the younger daughter of Francis, a carpenter and cabinet maker, and his wife Emma.
She was baptised (as Annie rather than Anne) in the nearby church of St James the Less, and is recorded at 56 Lillington Street in most subsequent censuses up to 1911 with her family. Two brothers appear to have died young, her elder sister Fanny married George Stubbles in 1882, her mother died in 1892, and she remained with her father until his death in 1915.
Only in 1891 is she not at home, but intriguingly a Janetta Honeyball, aged 21 and born in Pimlico, is lodging in Lambeth where she worked as a cashier for a grocer. The age is slightly wrong but as Janetta does not appear in any other records, is this Anne? Given her middle name of Jane, which also appears as Nettie Honeyball's middle initial, it does seem to be a strong possibility.
A picture postcard view of Lillington Street, Pimlico. The street no longer exists, having suffered substantial bomb damage in WW2, it was later demolished.
In late 1894 the first letters from Nettie Honeyball appeared in the papers, promoting the football club from an address in Crouch End, which was the home of the Smith family. The house at 27 Weston Park, which still stands, is a six-bedroom three-storey villa, so the Smiths would have had space for a lodger, and she proudly told one journalist that she had a room entirely for her own use.
As the British Ladies FC captured the public imagination, Nettie gave numerous interviews in the first few months of 1895, in which she came across as assured, determined and forthright in her support for women's emancipation. She often posed for photos, including a full page plate in The Sketch, and gained a fair degree of notoriety or popularity, depending on your point of view. When the opening match was played at Crouch End on 23 March, she was a team captain and very clearly the figurehead of the club.
As the British Ladies FC captured the public imagination, Nettie gave numerous interviews in the first few months of 1895, in which she came across as assured, determined and forthright in her support for women's emancipation. She often posed for photos, including a full page plate in The Sketch, and gained a fair degree of notoriety or popularity, depending on your point of view. When the opening match was played at Crouch End on 23 March, she was a team captain and very clearly the figurehead of the club.
The poster for the first match of the British Ladies FC, which names Nettie Honeyball as the main contact.
Honeyball continued to speak intelligently and assuredly on behalf of the team as they toured the country in April and May.
Yet, despite her high profile, and the large crowds which the lady footballers attracted, there was trouble behind the scenes. In May she had to deny a press report that 'the lady footballers are at loggerheads among themselves, and the team is likely to break up in consequence'.
However, there does appear to be truth in the rumours as by the end of May, just two months after the club played its first match, she was nowhere to be seen. Without her, the British Ladies FC continued to pursue a hectic schedule of matches, with a second team springing up in apparent rivalry.
Nettie's name was still briefly quoted in the autumn as club secretary before Jessie Allen took over, citing an illness for Honeyball, then the rival captain Mrs Graham (real name Helen Matthew) said 'she is no longer connected with us in any way'.
Yet, despite her high profile, and the large crowds which the lady footballers attracted, there was trouble behind the scenes. In May she had to deny a press report that 'the lady footballers are at loggerheads among themselves, and the team is likely to break up in consequence'.
However, there does appear to be truth in the rumours as by the end of May, just two months after the club played its first match, she was nowhere to be seen. Without her, the British Ladies FC continued to pursue a hectic schedule of matches, with a second team springing up in apparent rivalry.
Nettie's name was still briefly quoted in the autumn as club secretary before Jessie Allen took over, citing an illness for Honeyball, then the rival captain Mrs Graham (real name Helen Matthew) said 'she is no longer connected with us in any way'.
Nettie Honeyball with the British Ladies FC players as they prepare for their first match in 1895. She is front centre, holding the ball, clearly in charge of the group. (Picture from Sporting Favourites magazine)
What went wrong? It could have been the incessant glare of publicity, disagreements with other players, or maybe the household dynamics at Weston Park became a challenge, with too many involved in the team: Alfred Hewitt Smith, the team manager, would go on to marry Hannah Oliphant, who played for and administered the team right up until its demise a decade later; his brother Frederick was already married to Jessie Allen, named as assistant secretary; and their little sister Phoebe was also a player and club secretary.
Whatever happened, Nettie Honeyball was out of the picture and left Crouch End to return to Pimlico, notifying her change of address to the Morning Leader. Apart from that brief mention, there were no further interviews and no more press interest in her.
On the surface, the move to Lillington Street points to Anne Honeyball being Nettie but there are still doubts which are raised by a careful reading of her press interviews. Although she gave little away about her background, she made a telling comment to The Sketch in January 1895 that the other recruits to the team 'were all strangers to me, except my sister' Then in April she told the Maidenhead Advertiser after a match that 'I have been accustomed to athletics all my life with my brothers'.
If these comments are true, Anne cannot be Nettie. Her sister was in her thirties, married with three young children; her brothers had both died young.
Whatever happened, Nettie Honeyball was out of the picture and left Crouch End to return to Pimlico, notifying her change of address to the Morning Leader. Apart from that brief mention, there were no further interviews and no more press interest in her.
On the surface, the move to Lillington Street points to Anne Honeyball being Nettie but there are still doubts which are raised by a careful reading of her press interviews. Although she gave little away about her background, she made a telling comment to The Sketch in January 1895 that the other recruits to the team 'were all strangers to me, except my sister' Then in April she told the Maidenhead Advertiser after a match that 'I have been accustomed to athletics all my life with my brothers'.
If these comments are true, Anne cannot be Nettie. Her sister was in her thirties, married with three young children; her brothers had both died young.
The British Ladies FC North team which played in the first match on 23 March 1895. They were captained by Nettie Honeyball, back row, second from left. (The Sketch, 27 March 1895, via British Newspaper Archive)
While much of the British Ladies FC press coverage must be taken with a great degree of scepticism, this opens the door to another possibility: Anne's cousin Nellie. Her identity was explored in detail by James Lee, whose well-researched book The Lady Footballers was published in 2008.
Nellie, born in Pimlico in 1873, was the daughter of Frederick Honeyball, elder brother of Francis and also a carpenter. The family lived at 36 Tachbrook Street, which was literally a stone's throw from Lillington Street. Nellie had two elder brothers, which fits with those interview comments, and a younger sister Edith, although there is no record of her playing for the club.
Perhaps most tellingly of all, the Westminster and Pimlico News of 12 June 1896 carried a report of a dispute that ended up in Westminster Magistrates Court, where Nellie Honeyball of 56 Lillington Street was bound over to keep the peace.
Nellie is with her family at Tachbrook Street in the 1891 census, so she cannot be 'Janetta' but did she then go to live for a while with her uncle round the corner? He would have had a spare room after his married daughter Fanny moved out.
So, the mystery continues. While Nettie Honeyball does appear to be a real person rather than a pseudonym, I can find no conclusive proof whether she was Anne or Nellie.
And of course, I cannot entirely dismiss a third possibility, that the paragraph in the Morning Leader was a deliberate red herring. But she was well known to the paper, so I think this unlikely.
Nellie, born in Pimlico in 1873, was the daughter of Frederick Honeyball, elder brother of Francis and also a carpenter. The family lived at 36 Tachbrook Street, which was literally a stone's throw from Lillington Street. Nellie had two elder brothers, which fits with those interview comments, and a younger sister Edith, although there is no record of her playing for the club.
Perhaps most tellingly of all, the Westminster and Pimlico News of 12 June 1896 carried a report of a dispute that ended up in Westminster Magistrates Court, where Nellie Honeyball of 56 Lillington Street was bound over to keep the peace.
Nellie is with her family at Tachbrook Street in the 1891 census, so she cannot be 'Janetta' but did she then go to live for a while with her uncle round the corner? He would have had a spare room after his married daughter Fanny moved out.
So, the mystery continues. While Nettie Honeyball does appear to be a real person rather than a pseudonym, I can find no conclusive proof whether she was Anne or Nellie.
And of course, I cannot entirely dismiss a third possibility, that the paragraph in the Morning Leader was a deliberate red herring. But she was well known to the paper, so I think this unlikely.
A mention of Alfred Hewitt Smith's elusive book on the British Ladies FC (East Anglian Daily Times, 30 Nov 1896, via British Newspaper Archive)
On top of the Honeyball identity question is conundrum as to how she got involved in football in the first place. The answers may lie in a book by Alfred Hewitt Smith, who managed the team's affairs. In 1896 he published The Truth about the British Ladies Football Club and sent it to journalists. Sadly, no copies are known to exist but perhaps one will surface.
The Honeyball cousins had much in common: both were daughters of carpenters, both spent their lives in Pimlico, both remained single. Curiously, the Smith family’s father Arthur was also a carpenter. While carpenters and cabinet makers were skilled craftsmen, this tends to demolish the much-repeated claim that the football club drew its players from the 'upper middle class'.
The Honeyball cousins had much in common: both were daughters of carpenters, both spent their lives in Pimlico, both remained single. Curiously, the Smith family’s father Arthur was also a carpenter. While carpenters and cabinet makers were skilled craftsmen, this tends to demolish the much-repeated claim that the football club drew its players from the 'upper middle class'.
Death certificate for Anne Jane Honeyball, otherwise known as Constance Young. She died alone in 1947, aged 80.
According to the 1911 census, Anne also became an upholsterer, probably working for her father, but after his death in 1915 she changed her name to Constance Younge. This can perhaps be explained in part by a marriage (although no trace has been found) as electoral rolls show that she lived with a George Younge for a couple of years, but by 1921 she was a widow, working as a cleaner, and she lived alone until her own demise in Pimlico in 1947.
She died in sad circumstances, aged 80 and alone, her death certificate describing her as a 'blind spinster' and the informant was the coroner's officer, who also arranged her burial. Her name was also recorded as Constance Younge, the name she had used since 1918, and it would be an irony indeed if Nettie Honeyball chose her own alias.
She died in sad circumstances, aged 80 and alone, her death certificate describing her as a 'blind spinster' and the informant was the coroner's officer, who also arranged her burial. Her name was also recorded as Constance Younge, the name she had used since 1918, and it would be an irony indeed if Nettie Honeyball chose her own alias.
Probate record for Nellie Honeyball, who died in 1941 aged 68.
Nellie also remained in Pimlico and by 1921 she was a clerk for St Clement's Press, which had printed the suffragist newspaper Votes for Women before the war, although by then it was better known for printing the Financial Times. She died in 1941, aged 68, at the wartime emergency hospital in Haileybury College, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery. She left her estate to her younger sister Edith, who was also single.
The crucial question remains: which of them was Nettie? Neither Anne nor Nellie appear to have left any trace, and neither have any direct descendants to ask. It is a question which will continue to intrigue historians but I am sure the answer will eventually come out.
In the course of my research I have accumulated a range of background material which I would be happy to share with other researchers. Please use my contact form.
The most comprehensive online source of information about the British Ladies FC is Patrick Brennan's outstanding Donmouth site, launched almost 20 years ago and which has continued to grow. Click here for more, and also check out their own research into Nettie Honeyball.
If you would like to read more about another significant but elusive player for the British Ladies FC, click here to read my article about Emma Clarke.
The crucial question remains: which of them was Nettie? Neither Anne nor Nellie appear to have left any trace, and neither have any direct descendants to ask. It is a question which will continue to intrigue historians but I am sure the answer will eventually come out.
In the course of my research I have accumulated a range of background material which I would be happy to share with other researchers. Please use my contact form.
The most comprehensive online source of information about the British Ladies FC is Patrick Brennan's outstanding Donmouth site, launched almost 20 years ago and which has continued to grow. Click here for more, and also check out their own research into Nettie Honeyball.
If you would like to read more about another significant but elusive player for the British Ladies FC, click here to read my article about Emma Clarke.
- Published on
Joe Harper in his Scottish Cup-winning Aberdeen shirt in 1970
Did Joe Harper really score five goals on his international debut? It is a question which has puzzled me ever since the Scottish FA decided to upgrade five Scotland tour matches in 1967 to full international status.
The move, which provoked a heated debate among football historians, was essentially made to ensure that Sir Alex Ferguson would receive a full international cap in time for his 80th birthday. He duly came to Hampden in October 2021 and was presented with his cap at half time in the Scotland v Israel match, a gesture which was loudly cheered by the capacity crowd. Other players in the squad have been similarly recognised, and have appreciated the gesture.
But back in 1967, the tour party was unequivocally not the full national team, and Scottish FA secretary Willie Allan made this abundantly clear. Although Scotland had just beaten world champions England 3-2 at Wembley, most of the regular players were not available, with Celtic and Rangers in European finals and various other call-offs.
Allan was supported by the Glasgow Herald, which stated 'Under no circumstances should they be labelled a Scottish international team. Our newly-won prestige, both at international and club level, is too precious for that.'
This stance annoyed some of the opponents, notably the Australians who wanted to test themselves against Scotland's stars, but the tour went ahead anyway under the guise of a Scotland XI.
It has to be said that the ultimate decision on which Scotland matches are deemed to be worthy of a cap is the prerogative of the Scottish FA, even if they don't meet FIFA standards. There are several instances in the past when a match did or did not count for the award of a cap, sometimes for fairly arbitrary reasons.
However, in upgrading some of the 1967 matches, the Scottish FA seem to have slipped up when deciding which ones. Despite claiming to have studied their archive, they either failed to do the research properly or were poorly advised.
The first five games versus Israel, Hong Kong and three against Australia, were all against full national teams, whereas the last four games were not, the opponents being New Zealand Under 23s, an Auckland Provincial team, Vancouver All Stars and Canada Amateurs.
Yet Hong Kong was ignored in the 'upgrading' review, despite them being FIFA members and selecting essentially the same team which played in the Merdeka Cup that year.
The move, which provoked a heated debate among football historians, was essentially made to ensure that Sir Alex Ferguson would receive a full international cap in time for his 80th birthday. He duly came to Hampden in October 2021 and was presented with his cap at half time in the Scotland v Israel match, a gesture which was loudly cheered by the capacity crowd. Other players in the squad have been similarly recognised, and have appreciated the gesture.
But back in 1967, the tour party was unequivocally not the full national team, and Scottish FA secretary Willie Allan made this abundantly clear. Although Scotland had just beaten world champions England 3-2 at Wembley, most of the regular players were not available, with Celtic and Rangers in European finals and various other call-offs.
Allan was supported by the Glasgow Herald, which stated 'Under no circumstances should they be labelled a Scottish international team. Our newly-won prestige, both at international and club level, is too precious for that.'
This stance annoyed some of the opponents, notably the Australians who wanted to test themselves against Scotland's stars, but the tour went ahead anyway under the guise of a Scotland XI.
It has to be said that the ultimate decision on which Scotland matches are deemed to be worthy of a cap is the prerogative of the Scottish FA, even if they don't meet FIFA standards. There are several instances in the past when a match did or did not count for the award of a cap, sometimes for fairly arbitrary reasons.
However, in upgrading some of the 1967 matches, the Scottish FA seem to have slipped up when deciding which ones. Despite claiming to have studied their archive, they either failed to do the research properly or were poorly advised.
The first five games versus Israel, Hong Kong and three against Australia, were all against full national teams, whereas the last four games were not, the opponents being New Zealand Under 23s, an Auckland Provincial team, Vancouver All Stars and Canada Amateurs.
Yet Hong Kong was ignored in the 'upgrading' review, despite them being FIFA members and selecting essentially the same team which played in the Merdeka Cup that year.
The Scottish FA's official minute book recorded the match in Canada with a hat-trick for Joe Harper
On the other hand, the Scottish FA did decide to recognise the match against Canada, even though they were certainly not the full Canada international team. In fact they were all amateurs, who were preparing for Olympic qualifiers against Cuba later that month. Hence this match does not appear in Canadian records.
It is probably too late now for the Scottish FA to change their decision, but the inclusion of the Canada match has thrown up a historical conundrum: Joe Harper's five goals on his debut, contributing to a 7-2 win.
If that is correct, he equals the Hughie Gallacher's record for goals in a single Scotland match, and when he was interviewed recently Harper was understandably proud of his achievement. At first glance there seems little doubt about it, as every Scottish newspaper reported his five goal haul. Harper himself has been interviewed about his feat.
However, there were no Scottish journalists on the tour, so every report for every match was supplied to our newspapers by local agency reporters rather than people who knew the team. They were accepted at the time but further research, using archive sources, raises several doubts about the tour statistics, and in particular Joe Harper's haul.
Most notably, the Scottish FA kept its own record of the matches, and their minute book contains a surprise about this game. It states that Harper scored three, with the others being an own goal by Kauck, one from Bobby Hope and two from Willie Morgan.
It is probably too late now for the Scottish FA to change their decision, but the inclusion of the Canada match has thrown up a historical conundrum: Joe Harper's five goals on his debut, contributing to a 7-2 win.
If that is correct, he equals the Hughie Gallacher's record for goals in a single Scotland match, and when he was interviewed recently Harper was understandably proud of his achievement. At first glance there seems little doubt about it, as every Scottish newspaper reported his five goal haul. Harper himself has been interviewed about his feat.
However, there were no Scottish journalists on the tour, so every report for every match was supplied to our newspapers by local agency reporters rather than people who knew the team. They were accepted at the time but further research, using archive sources, raises several doubts about the tour statistics, and in particular Joe Harper's haul.
Most notably, the Scottish FA kept its own record of the matches, and their minute book contains a surprise about this game. It states that Harper scored three, with the others being an own goal by Kauck, one from Bobby Hope and two from Willie Morgan.
A detailed report of the Canada v Scotland match in the Winnipeg Free Press, attributing Joe Harper with three goals
This is supported by the report in the Winnipeg Free Press, which gave a detailed account of all the goals, and it concurred: Harper got three, not five. The only aspect which it disagreed with was the identity of the Canadian who scored the own goal, suggesting it was Bob di Luca rather than Karl Kauck.
Admittedly, the Winnipeg Tribune went along with Harper scoring five. So you have two men, presumably sitting alongside each other in the press box, but not conferring on the goalscorers.
Nevertheless, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Harper did not score five, and that this was a fiction which only gained currency through an agency reporter.
Therefore, I have little doubt that Hughie Gallacher's five-goal haul against Ireland in 1929 should remain as the record for a single Scotland international.
This was not the only tour match in which a question mark remains over a goalscorer. In the opening game, Scotland beat Israel 2-1 in Tel Aviv with a late winner, but who scored it could be one of three players, as even the Israeli press could not agree.
Harry Hood was the man according to the Scottish FA minutes and Israeli paper Ma'ariv. Eddie Colquhoun scored according to reports in Davar, the Dundee Courier and the Press and Journal. And it was Alex Ferguson in Al Ha-mishmar and La Merhav in Israel as well as the Glasgow Herald, Evening Times and Evening Express back home. Which was correct? Unless film of the match turns up, we may never know.
Meanwhile, the Scottish FA has yet to update its online archive to include the 1967 tour, over two years after the decision to upgrade the matches to full international status. So for now, the six players who won caps during the tour but at no other time are not even mentioned: Alan Anderson, Jim Townsend, Alex Ferguson, Harry Hood, Hugh Tinney and Harry Thomson. And Joe Harper remains on four caps, two goals.
I have a small vested interest in getting this right this, as I set up that archive when I worked at Hampden two decades ago. It dearly needs attention to make it more accessible and to correct a number of mistakes.
Click here to read the full statistics of the 1967 tour, as far as they are known.
Admittedly, the Winnipeg Tribune went along with Harper scoring five. So you have two men, presumably sitting alongside each other in the press box, but not conferring on the goalscorers.
Nevertheless, it is hard to escape the conclusion that Harper did not score five, and that this was a fiction which only gained currency through an agency reporter.
Therefore, I have little doubt that Hughie Gallacher's five-goal haul against Ireland in 1929 should remain as the record for a single Scotland international.
This was not the only tour match in which a question mark remains over a goalscorer. In the opening game, Scotland beat Israel 2-1 in Tel Aviv with a late winner, but who scored it could be one of three players, as even the Israeli press could not agree.
Harry Hood was the man according to the Scottish FA minutes and Israeli paper Ma'ariv. Eddie Colquhoun scored according to reports in Davar, the Dundee Courier and the Press and Journal. And it was Alex Ferguson in Al Ha-mishmar and La Merhav in Israel as well as the Glasgow Herald, Evening Times and Evening Express back home. Which was correct? Unless film of the match turns up, we may never know.
Meanwhile, the Scottish FA has yet to update its online archive to include the 1967 tour, over two years after the decision to upgrade the matches to full international status. So for now, the six players who won caps during the tour but at no other time are not even mentioned: Alan Anderson, Jim Townsend, Alex Ferguson, Harry Hood, Hugh Tinney and Harry Thomson. And Joe Harper remains on four caps, two goals.
I have a small vested interest in getting this right this, as I set up that archive when I worked at Hampden two decades ago. It dearly needs attention to make it more accessible and to correct a number of mistakes.
Click here to read the full statistics of the 1967 tour, as far as they are known.
- Published on
Archie Robertson
Andy Black
There's nothing like an early goal to set a match alight, and recently I have been looking into the fastest goals ever scored by Scotland's national team. There are several candidates for first minute strikes, but which of them was actually the quickest ever?
In the absence of film footage and accurate timing, it is impossible to say definitively, but based on numerous newspaper reports these are Scotland's fastest:
Archie Robertson v Austria, 19 May 1955. According to several reports including the Evening Express, he scored after just 15 seconds; the Evening Times said 20 seconds. Scotland went on to win 4-1 in Vienna on their end-of-season tour.
Andy Black v Czechoslovakia, 8 December 1937. Most papers, including the Evening Express, Daily News and Evening Despatch all agree 20 seconds. And what is more, Black was making his international debut! This was the opening goal of a 5-0 win at Ibrox.
The record appears to belong to Robertson, but Black makes a strong claim.
In the absence of film footage and accurate timing, it is impossible to say definitively, but based on numerous newspaper reports these are Scotland's fastest:
Archie Robertson v Austria, 19 May 1955. According to several reports including the Evening Express, he scored after just 15 seconds; the Evening Times said 20 seconds. Scotland went on to win 4-1 in Vienna on their end-of-season tour.
Andy Black v Czechoslovakia, 8 December 1937. Most papers, including the Evening Express, Daily News and Evening Despatch all agree 20 seconds. And what is more, Black was making his international debut! This was the opening goal of a 5-0 win at Ibrox.
The record appears to belong to Robertson, but Black makes a strong claim.
Stevie Chalmers
RS McColl
There are several other first minute goals:
Stevie Chalmers v Brazil, 25 June 1966. In a match best remembered for Pele's only appearance at Hampden, Chalmers fired home the opener in the first minute. Timings vary, with the Sunday Sun saying 30 seconds, the People judging it 45 seconds, and one fan who was trying out a new stopwatch recorded it at precisely 38 seconds. The game ended 1-1.
RS McColl v England, 7 April 1900. Wearing Rosebery strips, the opening salvo of a first half hat-trick by 'Toffee Bob' came after 'less than 40 seconds' according to the Evening Standard, 'in forty seconds' thought the Belfast News-Letter, while the Lancashire Evening Post said 'at the end of 45 seconds'.
John White v West Germany, 6 May 1959. This goal in a 3-2 victory was reported in most British papers as 'the very first minute' but I found a more precise time of 50 seconds in a German paper, Fussball Sport.
Tommy Ring v England, 6 April 1957. Reports generally say the first minute, but in this instance the goal can be timed precisely from video at 58 seconds.
England captain Bob Crompton managed to score an early own goal for Scotland at Newcastle on 6 April 1907 which was timed variously as 'less than a minute' (Empire News), 'scarcely a minute' (Sports Argus), 'in the first minute' (Morning Post) and 'exactly sixty seconds' (Scottish Referee).
Willie Lambie v Ireland, 30 March 1895. His opening goal at Celtic Park was described as 'less than a minute' (Dundee Advertiser and Belfast News-Letter) and 'in the first minute' (Morning Post), while others thought 'in a minute', 'only a minute', 'about a minute' and 'hardly a minute'.
The quickest in the current century appears to be Billy Dodds v Belgium on 24 March 2001 which was timed at one minute and ten seconds.
Other early goals include:
Kenny Dalglish v Denmark, 15 November 1972 – 'second minute' or '60 seconds' (Hull Daily Mail).
Denis Law v Finland, 21 October 1964 – '90 seconds' (Daily Mirror).
William Thomson v Wales, 26 March 1892 – 'second minute' (Dundee Courier); 'two minutes' (Scottish Referee); 'after two minutes' (South Wales Daily News).
Alex Jackson v England, 31 March 1928 – 'two minutes' or 'three minutes' depending on reports.
Henry Morris v Northern Ireland, 1 October 1949 on his debut; 'in the first two minutes' or 'three minutes' (Ireland's Saturday Night).
Other suggestions and sources welcome!
Stevie Chalmers v Brazil, 25 June 1966. In a match best remembered for Pele's only appearance at Hampden, Chalmers fired home the opener in the first minute. Timings vary, with the Sunday Sun saying 30 seconds, the People judging it 45 seconds, and one fan who was trying out a new stopwatch recorded it at precisely 38 seconds. The game ended 1-1.
RS McColl v England, 7 April 1900. Wearing Rosebery strips, the opening salvo of a first half hat-trick by 'Toffee Bob' came after 'less than 40 seconds' according to the Evening Standard, 'in forty seconds' thought the Belfast News-Letter, while the Lancashire Evening Post said 'at the end of 45 seconds'.
John White v West Germany, 6 May 1959. This goal in a 3-2 victory was reported in most British papers as 'the very first minute' but I found a more precise time of 50 seconds in a German paper, Fussball Sport.
Tommy Ring v England, 6 April 1957. Reports generally say the first minute, but in this instance the goal can be timed precisely from video at 58 seconds.
England captain Bob Crompton managed to score an early own goal for Scotland at Newcastle on 6 April 1907 which was timed variously as 'less than a minute' (Empire News), 'scarcely a minute' (Sports Argus), 'in the first minute' (Morning Post) and 'exactly sixty seconds' (Scottish Referee).
Willie Lambie v Ireland, 30 March 1895. His opening goal at Celtic Park was described as 'less than a minute' (Dundee Advertiser and Belfast News-Letter) and 'in the first minute' (Morning Post), while others thought 'in a minute', 'only a minute', 'about a minute' and 'hardly a minute'.
The quickest in the current century appears to be Billy Dodds v Belgium on 24 March 2001 which was timed at one minute and ten seconds.
Other early goals include:
Kenny Dalglish v Denmark, 15 November 1972 – 'second minute' or '60 seconds' (Hull Daily Mail).
Denis Law v Finland, 21 October 1964 – '90 seconds' (Daily Mirror).
William Thomson v Wales, 26 March 1892 – 'second minute' (Dundee Courier); 'two minutes' (Scottish Referee); 'after two minutes' (South Wales Daily News).
Alex Jackson v England, 31 March 1928 – 'two minutes' or 'three minutes' depending on reports.
Henry Morris v Northern Ireland, 1 October 1949 on his debut; 'in the first two minutes' or 'three minutes' (Ireland's Saturday Night).
Other suggestions and sources welcome!
Goals against Scotland
Needless to say, Scotland has also conceded some quick goals with two prime candidates for fastest:
Edgar Chadwick (England) on 2 April 1892 was timed at 30 seconds by the Lancashire Evening Post and 'less than a minute' in the Evening Standard.
Dave Walsh (Northern Ireland) on 17 November 1948 was also clocked at 30 seconds in the Daily Herald, while other papers thought it was 40 seconds.
More recently, Robbie Earnshaw's first of a treble for Wales on 18 February 2004 was timed at 42 seconds on Sky Sports and 43 seconds on the BBC.
Denis Wilshaw (England), 2 April 1955, scored in 45 seconds according to the Evening Times and Belfast Telegraph.
And finally, Georges Aeby of Switzerland opened the scoring at Hampden on 15 May 1946 'in the first minute' according to most papers, but nobody gave a more accurate time. Similarly William Kenyon-Slaney scored the first ever international goal for England on 8 March 1873 in one or two minutes, but none of the reports was concerned with precise timings.
That appears to be all the goals scored in the opening minute of Scotland matches, although it is possible that evidence will be found to exclude these candidates, or even to add another to the list.
NB I have only covered the Scotland men's team above, as few detailed records exist for the women's equivalent. However, it should be mentioned that Julie Fleeting twice scored in the opening minute, v Estonia on 3 September 1997 and v Portugal on 17 February 2001. So did Hayley Lauder v Israel on 16 June 2012, after 58 seconds. However, neither of them can beat Kathryn Morgan of Wales who scored against Scotland in just 13 seconds on 2 June 1996.
Needless to say, Scotland has also conceded some quick goals with two prime candidates for fastest:
Edgar Chadwick (England) on 2 April 1892 was timed at 30 seconds by the Lancashire Evening Post and 'less than a minute' in the Evening Standard.
Dave Walsh (Northern Ireland) on 17 November 1948 was also clocked at 30 seconds in the Daily Herald, while other papers thought it was 40 seconds.
More recently, Robbie Earnshaw's first of a treble for Wales on 18 February 2004 was timed at 42 seconds on Sky Sports and 43 seconds on the BBC.
Denis Wilshaw (England), 2 April 1955, scored in 45 seconds according to the Evening Times and Belfast Telegraph.
And finally, Georges Aeby of Switzerland opened the scoring at Hampden on 15 May 1946 'in the first minute' according to most papers, but nobody gave a more accurate time. Similarly William Kenyon-Slaney scored the first ever international goal for England on 8 March 1873 in one or two minutes, but none of the reports was concerned with precise timings.
That appears to be all the goals scored in the opening minute of Scotland matches, although it is possible that evidence will be found to exclude these candidates, or even to add another to the list.
NB I have only covered the Scotland men's team above, as few detailed records exist for the women's equivalent. However, it should be mentioned that Julie Fleeting twice scored in the opening minute, v Estonia on 3 September 1997 and v Portugal on 17 February 2001. So did Hayley Lauder v Israel on 16 June 2012, after 58 seconds. However, neither of them can beat Kathryn Morgan of Wales who scored against Scotland in just 13 seconds on 2 June 1996.
- Published on
The silver medal won in 1851 by the 93rd Highlanders against the University of Edinburgh Football Club.
Many places claim to be the true home of football, not least Sheffield, London and Glasgow. But had events taken a different slant, the title would undoubtedly belong to the capital of Scotland.
Recently I gave a talk to the FootyCon football history conference in Manchester, in which I explained how, in the first half of the 19th century, Edinburgh was a leading exponent for the type of game that ultimately became association football. But the direction of travel changed dramatically in the summer of 1854, when two sports grounds opened in the same week, each hosting a different code of football. In brief, rugby won and the landscape of sport in the city changed.
To read my PowerPoint talk detailing what happened and why, click here to open an illustrated pdf and read about a classic case of 'what if'.
Recently I gave a talk to the FootyCon football history conference in Manchester, in which I explained how, in the first half of the 19th century, Edinburgh was a leading exponent for the type of game that ultimately became association football. But the direction of travel changed dramatically in the summer of 1854, when two sports grounds opened in the same week, each hosting a different code of football. In brief, rugby won and the landscape of sport in the city changed.
To read my PowerPoint talk detailing what happened and why, click here to open an illustrated pdf and read about a classic case of 'what if'.
The earliest known rules of football, written in 1833 in Edinburgh by John Hope for his Foot-Ball Club.
To read more about the story of football in Edinburgh, and John Hope's involvement, read 1824: the World's First Foot-Ball Club.
- Published on
This month sees two significant milestones for Scottish football. It is the 150th anniversary of the first international match in the world, between Scotland and England on 30 November 1872. It is also the 50th anniversary of Scotland's first women's international, against England on 18 November 1972.
Both these events provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our football heritage. It is also a chance to recognise all the players who have contributed to Scottish football's national teams over the years.
That is why I am proposing the introduction of unique Heritage Numbers for everyone who has played for Scotland, men and women.
Currently the Scottish FA has a Roll of Honour for players who have amassed 50 or more caps. When this scheme was originally launched in the 1980s there were just a dozen or so players, all men, who qualified. Today, however, with the increased number of fixtures and greater use of substitutes, it is far easier for players to reach that total and 50 caps is less of a measure of greatness. Indeed, it fails to include many fine players of the past who could never have reached that figure at a time when Scotland only played three games a year.
When I speak to former players, almost without exception the most memorable international they played was their first cap. Representing Scotland is a supreme honour in itself, and earning the tag of 'internationalist' is something that lasts a lifetime. Hence I think that is the event that should be marked, rather than an arbitrary number of caps.
It is not a new idea: several sports from cricket to rugby league have adopted the scheme, and some countries already have it for football. The Football Association in England, for example, launched Legacy Numbers for their men's team in 2019, and this year are extending it to the women's team following a major research programme.
Scotland has yet to adopt the idea. For the men's team, all the information is available although there was a recent complication with the retrospective adoption of some tour matches from 1967 as full internationals, which added players to the list. Including those late additions, a total of 1,227 men have now played for Scotland, the latest being Calvin Ramsay who won his first cap against Turkey.
One of the major stumbling blocks to compiling an equivalent record for the women's national team has been the lack of historic information, but that is no longer a barrier.
In recent months I have been researching and gathering details about the women's national team and I believe I now have a full list of every woman who has ever played for Scotland. The latest additions are Brogan Hay and Rebecca McAllister who made their debuts against Venezuela, taking the total up to 244 players.
Most of that number were first capped under the Scottish Women's FA who ran the team up to 1997. I have to admit that it is possible that my list may have to be slightly revised, as not all the teamlines were recorded at the time and media coverage was minimal. Sometimes players were included in squads but there is no definitive record of whether they actually played (substitutions were a particular problem). However, by a careful examination of archive material and by asking many former players for their memories, I am confident it is 99 per cent correct and possibly 100 per cent. I would be delighted to hear from anyone with additional information.
My overall point is that playing for Scotland is an achievement that should live for ever, and I believe that players deserve the unique recognition that comes with a Heritage Number. At a time of celebration for those anniversaries, there is no better time for the Scottish FA to act.
Click here for the full list of Scotland Men's Heritage Numbers.
Click here for the full list of Scotland Women's Heritage Numbers.
Both these events provide a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our football heritage. It is also a chance to recognise all the players who have contributed to Scottish football's national teams over the years.
That is why I am proposing the introduction of unique Heritage Numbers for everyone who has played for Scotland, men and women.
Currently the Scottish FA has a Roll of Honour for players who have amassed 50 or more caps. When this scheme was originally launched in the 1980s there were just a dozen or so players, all men, who qualified. Today, however, with the increased number of fixtures and greater use of substitutes, it is far easier for players to reach that total and 50 caps is less of a measure of greatness. Indeed, it fails to include many fine players of the past who could never have reached that figure at a time when Scotland only played three games a year.
When I speak to former players, almost without exception the most memorable international they played was their first cap. Representing Scotland is a supreme honour in itself, and earning the tag of 'internationalist' is something that lasts a lifetime. Hence I think that is the event that should be marked, rather than an arbitrary number of caps.
It is not a new idea: several sports from cricket to rugby league have adopted the scheme, and some countries already have it for football. The Football Association in England, for example, launched Legacy Numbers for their men's team in 2019, and this year are extending it to the women's team following a major research programme.
Scotland has yet to adopt the idea. For the men's team, all the information is available although there was a recent complication with the retrospective adoption of some tour matches from 1967 as full internationals, which added players to the list. Including those late additions, a total of 1,227 men have now played for Scotland, the latest being Calvin Ramsay who won his first cap against Turkey.
One of the major stumbling blocks to compiling an equivalent record for the women's national team has been the lack of historic information, but that is no longer a barrier.
In recent months I have been researching and gathering details about the women's national team and I believe I now have a full list of every woman who has ever played for Scotland. The latest additions are Brogan Hay and Rebecca McAllister who made their debuts against Venezuela, taking the total up to 244 players.
Most of that number were first capped under the Scottish Women's FA who ran the team up to 1997. I have to admit that it is possible that my list may have to be slightly revised, as not all the teamlines were recorded at the time and media coverage was minimal. Sometimes players were included in squads but there is no definitive record of whether they actually played (substitutions were a particular problem). However, by a careful examination of archive material and by asking many former players for their memories, I am confident it is 99 per cent correct and possibly 100 per cent. I would be delighted to hear from anyone with additional information.
My overall point is that playing for Scotland is an achievement that should live for ever, and I believe that players deserve the unique recognition that comes with a Heritage Number. At a time of celebration for those anniversaries, there is no better time for the Scottish FA to act.
Click here for the full list of Scotland Men's Heritage Numbers.
Click here for the full list of Scotland Women's Heritage Numbers.
- Published on
This month marks 50 years since the first Scotland women's football international, against England at Greenock on 18 November 1972.
That anniversary prompted me to research the history of the national team, a subject which appears to have been woefully neglected by the football authorities and the media in the past. There are no match reports for many games, in fact some games were barely mentioned in the press at all. Allied to poor record-keeping by the old Scottish Women's FA, and a lax attitude at the Scottish FA after they took over in 1997, many players have been forgotten, and those records and statistics which have been published are frequently wrong.
After months of research, I can now start to put that right by publishing a definitive record of every Scotland women's international from 1972 to date, a total of 370 matches in fifty years.
To see a full list of Scotland matches, click here (pdf).
That anniversary prompted me to research the history of the national team, a subject which appears to have been woefully neglected by the football authorities and the media in the past. There are no match reports for many games, in fact some games were barely mentioned in the press at all. Allied to poor record-keeping by the old Scottish Women's FA, and a lax attitude at the Scottish FA after they took over in 1997, many players have been forgotten, and those records and statistics which have been published are frequently wrong.
After months of research, I can now start to put that right by publishing a definitive record of every Scotland women's international from 1972 to date, a total of 370 matches in fifty years.
To see a full list of Scotland matches, click here (pdf).
I have also been compiling a full set of statistics for every match. This has proved a considerable challenge given the lack of contemporary reporting for the early games.
Quite often, a squad list would be published for a game or a tournament, but the team that played was not recorded or was missing the substitutes. It has not yet been possible to finalise the statistics for the SWFA years from 1972-1997, but I do have a complete record from the time that the Scottish FA took over.
To see Scotland's full match record from 1998 to date, click here (pdf). This includes a wealth of details including the number of caps each player had won, the substitutes and the time they came on, goalscorers and times of goals, and the venue, with attendance where known. [NB I have watermarked the file to discourage copying.]
It corrects a number of mistakes which have been published online, even in sources such as the Scottish FA archive which could (and should) more more accurate.
In particular, the number of caps won by certain players has been wrongly recorded, notably record goalscorer Julie Fleeting whose caps total came to 118, with 110 goals scored in those matches (most accounts claim 121 caps and 116 goals).
My next step is to add to the record of the pre-1998 matches, and in particular I hope that the players who featured in those matches can be recognised properly for their contribution to Scotland's football history.
The Scottish FA recently presented caps to the 1972 team, and it would only be right if all the other players were also awarded caps. I also support the introduction of 'heritage numbers' for every internationalist.
There are now 243 names on the list of Scotland players, of whom 144 made their first appearance under the SWFA. However, I acknowledge that the number may have to be revised slightly if new information comes to light.
If you have any comments or queries about these statistics, please get in touch through the Contact Form.
In compiling these statistics, I would like to acknowledge the help and co-operation of a number of football historians, in particular Neil Morrison and Tommy Malcolm. I would also like to thank several former players for sharing their memories (and their press cuttings!), notably Margaret McAulay Rae and Elsie Cook.
Quite often, a squad list would be published for a game or a tournament, but the team that played was not recorded or was missing the substitutes. It has not yet been possible to finalise the statistics for the SWFA years from 1972-1997, but I do have a complete record from the time that the Scottish FA took over.
To see Scotland's full match record from 1998 to date, click here (pdf). This includes a wealth of details including the number of caps each player had won, the substitutes and the time they came on, goalscorers and times of goals, and the venue, with attendance where known. [NB I have watermarked the file to discourage copying.]
It corrects a number of mistakes which have been published online, even in sources such as the Scottish FA archive which could (and should) more more accurate.
In particular, the number of caps won by certain players has been wrongly recorded, notably record goalscorer Julie Fleeting whose caps total came to 118, with 110 goals scored in those matches (most accounts claim 121 caps and 116 goals).
My next step is to add to the record of the pre-1998 matches, and in particular I hope that the players who featured in those matches can be recognised properly for their contribution to Scotland's football history.
The Scottish FA recently presented caps to the 1972 team, and it would only be right if all the other players were also awarded caps. I also support the introduction of 'heritage numbers' for every internationalist.
There are now 243 names on the list of Scotland players, of whom 144 made their first appearance under the SWFA. However, I acknowledge that the number may have to be revised slightly if new information comes to light.
If you have any comments or queries about these statistics, please get in touch through the Contact Form.
In compiling these statistics, I would like to acknowledge the help and co-operation of a number of football historians, in particular Neil Morrison and Tommy Malcolm. I would also like to thank several former players for sharing their memories (and their press cuttings!), notably Margaret McAulay Rae and Elsie Cook.
- Published on
Robert Guérin is hailed as the founder of FIFA, having hosted the meeting in May 1904 that brought football nations together in common cause. He then served as its President for two years and is rightly celebrated as a sporting pioneer.
Yet there is an amazing mystery behind the man, as his true identity has been hidden for over a hundred years: Robert was his surname, not his first name, while Guérin was a suffix he adopted in adult life.
I would like to introduce you to Maurice Robert. That was the real name of FIFA's first President.
Yet there is an amazing mystery behind the man, as his true identity has been hidden for over a hundred years: Robert was his surname, not his first name, while Guérin was a suffix he adopted in adult life.
I would like to introduce you to Maurice Robert. That was the real name of FIFA's first President.
The birth registration in 1876 for FIFA's first President (Archives de Reims)
When he was born in Reims in 1876, his full name was registered as Clément Auguste Maurice Robert. He was the son of Jean-Marie Robert, a cloth manufacturer and merchant, and his wife Louise.
Little is known about the first two decades of his life but he must have learned English - a skill which was essential in years to come - as in 1898 Maurice Robert was accepted into the Society for the Propagation of Foreign Languages. By then he was working in commerce and living in Paris, in a narrow street in Montmartre that was to remain his home for the rest of his life.
He joined Union Sportive Parisienne, a multi-sports club founded in 1896, but was not much of a player and became its secretary between 1900 and 1904. He was therefore mentioned regularly in the press as the club's contact for fixtures, which reveals that he was known as Maurice Robert until the end of 1900, then early in 1901 he changed his surname to Robert-Guérin.
Little is known about the first two decades of his life but he must have learned English - a skill which was essential in years to come - as in 1898 Maurice Robert was accepted into the Society for the Propagation of Foreign Languages. By then he was working in commerce and living in Paris, in a narrow street in Montmartre that was to remain his home for the rest of his life.
He joined Union Sportive Parisienne, a multi-sports club founded in 1896, but was not much of a player and became its secretary between 1900 and 1904. He was therefore mentioned regularly in the press as the club's contact for fixtures, which reveals that he was known as Maurice Robert until the end of 1900, then early in 1901 he changed his surname to Robert-Guérin.
These cuttings from L'Auto in late 1900 (above) and early 1901 (below) demonstrate the change in surname from Robert to Robert-Guérin (from gallica.bnf.fr)
Although his reason for change is not clear, the root of this addition can be found in his family tree: his grandfather Jean-Pierre Robert had married Reine-Antoinette Guérin, and the family firm of Robert-Guérin had exhibited its merino fabrics at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
Maurice Robert-Guérin became more involved in sport and joined the USFSA, a national governing body for many sports, where he was in turn its treasurer and secretary, working from its base at 229 rue Saint Honoré in Paris. His first love at the time was football, refereeing several high profile matches, but he was also involved in a range of activities which no doubt helped him to make his way as a sports journalist.
The story of the founding of FIFA is well known and Robert-Guérin recalled the spirit of the times for FIFA's 25th anniversary: 'It was not difficult to foresee in 1903 that football was going to become more popular all over the world. I decided to found the International Federation of Association Football, with the collaboration of very good friends.
'I was rather surprised that the initiative was not taken up by England, where football was triumphing. I though that, by rights, the chairmanship belonged to the Football Association of England.'
He went to London to meet Frederick Wall, the FA secretary, who listened but merely replied that he would refer the matter to the FA board. Robert-Guérin waited patiently for months but heard nothing, so he asked again and was invited back to London where, this time, he met Lord Kinnaird who was friendly but non-committal. 'It was like cutting water with a knife,' he recalled.
Faced with English prevarication, 28-year-old Robert-Guérin felt he had no option but go ahead without them, and called the meeting at which FIFA was established on 21 May 1904. Reluctantly he accepted the role of President, which was not a role he cherished but he remained at the helm of the fledgling organisation for two years until Englishman Daniel Woolfall was persuaded to take over in 1906.
Maurice Robert-Guérin became more involved in sport and joined the USFSA, a national governing body for many sports, where he was in turn its treasurer and secretary, working from its base at 229 rue Saint Honoré in Paris. His first love at the time was football, refereeing several high profile matches, but he was also involved in a range of activities which no doubt helped him to make his way as a sports journalist.
The story of the founding of FIFA is well known and Robert-Guérin recalled the spirit of the times for FIFA's 25th anniversary: 'It was not difficult to foresee in 1903 that football was going to become more popular all over the world. I decided to found the International Federation of Association Football, with the collaboration of very good friends.
'I was rather surprised that the initiative was not taken up by England, where football was triumphing. I though that, by rights, the chairmanship belonged to the Football Association of England.'
He went to London to meet Frederick Wall, the FA secretary, who listened but merely replied that he would refer the matter to the FA board. Robert-Guérin waited patiently for months but heard nothing, so he asked again and was invited back to London where, this time, he met Lord Kinnaird who was friendly but non-committal. 'It was like cutting water with a knife,' he recalled.
Faced with English prevarication, 28-year-old Robert-Guérin felt he had no option but go ahead without them, and called the meeting at which FIFA was established on 21 May 1904. Reluctantly he accepted the role of President, which was not a role he cherished but he remained at the helm of the fledgling organisation for two years until Englishman Daniel Woolfall was persuaded to take over in 1906.
The officials of the USFSA in 1905, with Robert-Guérin holding several roles including secretary-general, head of football and head of croquet. (gallica.bnf.fr)
Meanwhile, as president of the association football section of the USFSA, he was effectively the manager of the France national team for its first 12 matches, from their 1904 debut against Belgium up to the disastrous 1908 Olympic Games in London.
His time included defeats of 15-0 and 12-0 to England amateurs, and ultimately the humiliating 17-1 crushing by Denmark at the Olympics.
His time included defeats of 15-0 and 12-0 to England amateurs, and ultimately the humiliating 17-1 crushing by Denmark at the Olympics.
The marriage registration from 1907 for Maurice Robert and Edith Harris, which he signed in his real name (Archives de Paris)
In 1907 he married, and as his formal name had never been changed he signed the document as Maurice Robert. His wife was an Englishwoman called Edith Harris, who already had a two-year-old daughter called Rosetta. The marriage certificate specifically includes Rosetta so that she was legitimised and took the surname Robert. It is not clear whether Maurice was the father.
For the rest of his professional life, he was known as Robert Guérin, with the ambiguity of Robert being a first name or part of a double-barrelled surname. I cannot find any instance of him using Maurice as a journalist, and he appears always to have described himself simply as Robert-Guérin, sometimes with a hyphen, sometimes not.
In his private life, however, his surname remained simply Robert. After Edith died in 1926 he remarried the following year to Andrée Brunel and again he signed the certificate as Maurice Robert.
Having given up sports administration in 1908, he worked for most of his life as sports editor of Le Matin, and although he continued to report on football he developed a passion and expertise in aviation, writing for several specialist magazines. He was highly respected in his field, and was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1922, then promoted to Officer in 1934.
For the rest of his professional life, he was known as Robert Guérin, with the ambiguity of Robert being a first name or part of a double-barrelled surname. I cannot find any instance of him using Maurice as a journalist, and he appears always to have described himself simply as Robert-Guérin, sometimes with a hyphen, sometimes not.
In his private life, however, his surname remained simply Robert. After Edith died in 1926 he remarried the following year to Andrée Brunel and again he signed the certificate as Maurice Robert.
Having given up sports administration in 1908, he worked for most of his life as sports editor of Le Matin, and although he continued to report on football he developed a passion and expertise in aviation, writing for several specialist magazines. He was highly respected in his field, and was made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1922, then promoted to Officer in 1934.
The promotion of Robert-Guérin to officer of the Légion d'honneur in 1934 (Midi Olympique, via gallica.bnf.fr)
Despite his prestigious reputation, Robert-Guérin appears to have kept a fairly low public profile. I was amazed when researching this article that only one photo of him appears to be available, and he left little in the way of personal reminiscences.
After Le Matin folded in 1944 (with its reputation sullied for taking a pro-German stance during the occupation) he was left impoverished, and that led to the only time he is known to have used another version of his name. A few years ago some of his personal letters came up at auction and they were apparently signed Clément Robert-Guérin. Written in the late 1940s, they revealed he was in difficult financial circumstances and losing his sight.
After Le Matin folded in 1944 (with its reputation sullied for taking a pro-German stance during the occupation) he was left impoverished, and that led to the only time he is known to have used another version of his name. A few years ago some of his personal letters came up at auction and they were apparently signed Clément Robert-Guérin. Written in the late 1940s, they revealed he was in difficult financial circumstances and losing his sight.
A rare photo of Maurice Robert-Guérin
And when he died in 1952, his death was registered with the same name as when he was born: Clément Auguste Maurice Robert. His pioneering days were long gone, and there were just brief reports in the press of his demise, a sorry farewell to one of the pioneers of world football.
His death is announced in the newspaper Combat (gallica.bnf.fr) and in the Archives de Paris
Clément Auguste Maurice Robert, also Robert-Guérin
Born 28 April 1876 at 16 boulevard du Temple, Reims.
Married (1) 11 July 1907 to Edith Emma Harris.
Married (2) 27 January 1927 to Andrée Brunel
Died 14 February 1952 at 17 rue Germain Pilon, Montmartre, Paris.
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Author
All blog posts, unless stated, are written by Andy Mitchell.