1907–08 New Brompton F.C. season

English football club season New Brompton 1907–08 Steve Smith James Barnes Southern League Division One 20th FA Cup Second round Charlie McGibbon (14) Charlie McGibbon (22) 12,000 vs Manchester City (5 February 1908) 2,000 vs Crystal Palace (15 February 1908) and vs Swindon Town (1 April 1908) _black_stripes _blackstripes _black_stripes ffffff ffffff ffffff ffffff 000000 1906–07 1908–09 During the 1907–08 English football season, New Brompton F.C. (named Gillingham F.C. since 1912) competed in the Southern League Division One. It was the 14th season in which the club competed in the Southern League and the 13th in Division One. The team lost their first game of the season 9–1 to Bristol Rovers, the heaviest defeat in the club's history up to that point. Despite the poor start, the team climbed to 6th place out of 20 teams in the league table in mid-November after a run of three consecutive wins, but by the end of December they had slipped to 12th place, having achieved seven wins and five draws in twenty Southern League games. In the second half of the season, however, the team lost fourteen out of eighteen league games, and New Brompton finished the campaign in 20th place, the first time the team had finished bottom of the table. New Brompton also competed in the FA Cup; in the first round they played Sunderland, the first time a team from the Football League First Division had played at New Brompton's Priestfield Road ground. New Brompton won 3–1, which was seen as the greatest win the club had yet achieved. In the second round they held another First Division team, Manchester City, to a draw away from home but lost the replay. The team played a total of 42 league and cup matches, winning 11, drawing 8, and losing 23. Charlie McGibbon was the club's top goalscorer with 14 goals in the league and 8 in the FA Cup. John Martin made the most appearances, playing in 40 of the team's 42 competitive games. The FA Cup match against Sunderland set a new attendance record for the Priestfield Road ground of 10,620; the record was broken again for the match against Manchester City, which drew an attendance reported at 12,000. Background and pre-season New Brompton, founded in 1893,Mitchell Reeves Tyler 2013 140 had played in the Southern League since the competition's formation in 1894.Blakeman Robinson 2014 4 At the time, only a handful of teams from the south of England had been elected into the ostensibly national Football League, with most of the south's leading teams playing in the Southern League.Soar Tyler 1983 177 The 1907–08 season was the club's 13th season in Division One, the league's top division, following promotion from Division Two at the first attempt in 1895. In the preceding eight seasons, the team had only finished in the top half of the league table twice. Their lowest point came in the 1905–06 season when New Brompton finished 17th out of 18 teams in the division but were re-elected to Division One after the Southern League opted to increase the number of clubs in the division.Blakeman Robinson 2014 4–7 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/134335896 6 Grimsby Evening Telegraph 30 October 2023 Newspapers.com subscription The Southern League 28 May 1906 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061054/https://www.newspapers.com/article/grimsby-evening-telegraph/134335896/ live Steve Smith, who had been appointed player-manager midway through the previous season,Arthur 2022 218 continued in the role. Three forwards who had joined New Brompton a year earlier, Joe Warrington, Billy Lee, and Dan Cunliffe, all left after a single season; Cunliffe had been the team's top goalscorer in the previous campaign.Brown 2003 24 In their place, the club signed Jack Hopkins, who had last played for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jack Pickering, who had most recently played for Luton Town, former Tunbridge Wells player Harold Salter, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/19070830/023/0002 2 The Sporting Life 24 January 2024 British Newspaper Archive subscription Southern League prospects 30 August 1907 G. Wagstaffe Simmons and Charlie McGibbon, who played as an amateur while serving in the army with the Corps of Royal Engineers. McGibbon was chauffeured to each home game from his barracks in London in a car paid for by New Brompton's chairman, James Barnes.Bradley Triggs 1994 44 G. Wagstaffe Simmons of The Sporting Life wrote that New Brompton "always appear[ed] to be struggling against an adverse fate". He noted that the team's defence had performed well in the previous season and that results should improve with "a more virile forward line". The players wore New Brompton's usual kit of black and white striped shirts, white shorts, and black socks.Triggs 1999 24 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19080113/090/0008 8 Daily Mirror 29 January 2024 British Newspaper Archive subscription The first round of the English Cup 13 January 1908 Southern League September–December thumb|right|upright=1.5|alt=White Hart Lane football ground|New Brompton were defeated in September at White Hart Lane, home of Tottenham Hotspur. The team's first game of the season was away to Bristol Rovers on 4 September.Brown 2003 25 McGibbon, Pickering, and Hopkins all made their debuts in the forward line, and two newly-signed half-backs, Harry Robotham and David Fullarton, also made their first appearances.Brown 2003 25 New Brompton were forced to play most of the game with only ten men after Hopkins sustained a knee injury. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139388556 9 Western Daily Press 23 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Sensational opening at Eastville 5 September 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061055/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/139388556/ livesubs a The match finished 9–1 to the home team, the highest number of goals New Brompton had conceded in a competitive match in the club's history.Brown 2003 12–25 Three days later Pickering scored twice in a 2–2 draw away to Queens Park Rangers (QPR), https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139594070 14 Daily Mirror 26 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Football results at a glance 9 September 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061109/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/139594070/ live and he repeated the feat on 9 September as New Brompton beat Southampton 2–1 in the first game of the season at their own ground, Priestfield Road.Brown 2003 25 The team achieved a second consecutive home win on 14 September, securing a 1–0 victory over Bristol Rovers just ten days after conceding nine goals against the same opponents. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139946307 9 Western Daily Press 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription A bad day for Bristol 16 September 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061055/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/139946307/ live A week later, New Brompton lost 2–1 away to Tottenham Hotspur; the reported attendance of 16,000 was the highest for any of New Brompton's league games during the season.Brown 2003 25 Even though his team lost, New Brompton's goalkeeper, John Martin, was praised by a reporter for The Sunday People, who wrote that he "saved in brilliant style several times". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140249340 24 The Sunday People 4 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Tottenham Hotspur 2, New Brompton 1 22 September 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061055/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/140249340/ live In the final match of September, New Brompton took a 2–0 lead over Leyton but conceded two goals and had to settle for a draw. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140462900 24 The Sunday People 7 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription New Brompton 2, Leyton 2 29 September 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061557/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/140462900/ live Against Swindon Town in the first match of October, Fred Mavin, a half-back who had been a regular in the previous two seasons, made his first appearance of the campaign and a forward called Barker made his debut in place of Pickering;Brown 2003 23–25 the game resulted in a 1–0 win for Swindon. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141023480 9 The Observer 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The Southern League 6 October 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061557/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer/141023480/ live Another defeat against Reading a week later left New Brompton 14th out of 20 teams in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141023803 9 The Observer 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 13 October 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061557/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer/141023803/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141023972 9 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Plymouth still lead 14 October 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316061559/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/141023972/ live On 19 October, New Brompton took a 1–0 lead away to Crystal Palace but then conceded three goals within four minutes. Bill Marriott, who had scored New Brompton's first goal, then added two more to secure a draw for his team. A reporter for the Athletic News singled out the veteran Smith for praise, saying that he had given spectators "a glimpse of his form of ten years ago" and that "few wing men in the country could have equalled his placing, which led up to all of the visitors' goals". https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000986/19071021/095/0006 6 Athletic News 9 February 2024 British Newspaper Archive subscription Sensations at Sydenham 21 October 1907 A week after Marriott scored the team's first hat-trick of the season, McGibbon did the same, scoring all his team's goals in a 3–1 victory over Watford. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141027101 24 The Sunday People 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription New Brompton 3, Watford 1 27 October 1907 New Brompton's first two games of November both resulted in 2–1 wins, away to Luton Town and at home to Norwich City, after which they were in sixth place in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141027625 14 Daily Mirror 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League comments 4 November 1907 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141027370 9 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 11 November 1907 The three victories were followed, however, by three consecutive defeats.Brown 2003 25 On 16 November, New Brompton lost 3–0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141027888 15 The Daily Telegraph 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 18 November 1907 and this was followed by a 1–0 defeat at home to Northampton Town. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141028144 14 Daily Mirror 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Results at a glance 25 November 1907 New Brompton ended the month with a 5–2 defeat away to Portsmouth; Harry Metherell played in goal in place of Martin, who was absent from the team for the first time in over a year.Brown 2003 24–25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141028346 8 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 2 December 1907 On 14 December, New Brompton played Bradford (Park Avenue), who had been accepted into the Southern League at the start of the season despite being based in Yorkshire, more than 130 miles further north than any other team in the division.Scott 2008 428 In what a writer for The Daily Telegraph called a "remarkable game", seven goals were scored in the first half and Bradford led 5–2 at the interval. In the second half, New Brompton scored three times without reply and the game finished 5–5. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139947451 13 The Daily Telegraph 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 16 December 1907 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139947495 14 Daily Mirror 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League comments 16 December 1907 A week later, New Brompton lost to Plymouth Argyle, who were in second place in the Division One league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139950770 18 The Daily Telegraph 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 23 December 1907 New Brompton's final three games of 1907 took place within four days. On Christmas Day, they played away to West Ham United. Bill Floyd scored an own goal to give West Ham the lead and New Brompton then missed a penalty kick, but Frank Spriggs and Salter scored to give what a correspondent for The Daily Telegraph described as a "surprising victory". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139979012 13 The Daily Telegraph 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 26 December 1907 The following day they gained a second consecutive 2–1 victory, defeating Brentford at Priestfield Road. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139979638 13 The Daily Telegraph 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 27 December 1907 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139979734 3 Liverpool Daily Post 31 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 27 December 1907 The team's final game of the year resulted in a 0–0 draw with Millwall, after which New Brompton were 12th out of 20 teams in the Division One league table, with seven wins, five draws, and eight defeats in twenty matches. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140015176 14 Daily Mirror 1 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Cold weather for Saturday's football 30 December 1907 Citizen 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316062613/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/140015176/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140015164 16 Evening Standard 1 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Positions of the clubs to date 30 December 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316062614/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/140015164/ live January–April thumb|right|upright=1.5|alt=Priestfield Road football stadium in 1906|New Brompton began 1908 with a defeat at their home ground, Priestfield Road. New Brompton's three-game unbeaten run ended in the first game of 1908 at home to QPR, who won 4–0; all the goals were scored in the first half. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140083884 12 The Daily Telegraph 2 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 6 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316062614/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/140083884/ live It was the first in a run of four consecutive league defeats. On 18 January, Smith gave New Brompton a first-half lead against Tottenham Hotspur but Tottenham scored twice to claim victory; due to an injury, Martin was absent from New Brompton's goal for only the second time during the season.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140094052 24 The Sunday People 2 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Tottenham 2, New Brompton 1 19 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316062615/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-people/140094052/ live The run of league defeats continued a week later as New Brompton lost 1–0 away to Leyton,Brown 2003 25 who were in last place in the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141025828 7 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 27 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316063116/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/141025828/ live In the first league game of February, New Brompton lost 2–0 away to Reading, both goals being scored in the first half. The result left New Brompton 18th in the table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140794875 9 Western Daily Press 12 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 10 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316063117/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/140794875/ live On 15 February, goals from Jimmy Hartley and Spriggs secured a 2–2 draw at home to Crystal Palace,Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141026184 9 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 17 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316063118/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/141026184/ live and a week later New Brompton drew 1–1 away to Watford, another team near the foot of the league table. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141026413 9 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 24 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316064118/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/141026413/ live The results took New Brompton back up to 16th place, but they ended February by once again losing to a team below them in the table as Luton Town secured a 1–0 victory at Priestfield Road. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141026606 9 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 2 March 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316064119/https://www.newspapers.com/article/western-daily-press/141026606/ live Following a 2–1 defeat to Norwich City on 7 March, New Brompton won their first league game of 1908 at the ninth attempt when they beat Brighton & Hove Albion; after Brighton had taken the lead in the first half, goals from McGibbon and Salter in the second half gave New Brompton a 2–1 victory.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140248726 6 The Daily Telegraph 4 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 16 March 1908 After that win, however, the team lost their next five consecutive games.Brown 2003 25 The run began with a 2–0 defeat away to Northampton Town on 21 March. After the game, a spectator threw mud at New Brompton's Ernest Harvey, in response to a clash between him and a Northampton player during the match; Harvey retaliated and had to be removed from the scene by police officers. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004114/19080324/040/0006 6 Athletic Chat 12 February 2024 British Newspaper Archive subscription The Southern League trouble 24 March 1908 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003216/19080322/447/0027 27 Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper 12 February 2024 British Newspaper Archive subscription Northampton's success: New Brompton beaten by two goals scored in second half 22 March 1908 Robert Walker and Jimmy Pass, two forwards signed from Tottenham, made their debuts in the final game of March but neither scored and New Brompton lost the game against Portsmouth 3–1, a result which left them 19th in the league table.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141024373 17 The Sunday People 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Plymouth 3, New Brompton 1 29 March 1908 The team's first two games of April resulted in a 1–0 defeat away to Swindon Town and a 2–0 loss at home to Southampton.Brown 2003 25 Smith made what would prove to be his final appearance for New Brompton in the latter game.Arthur 2022 244 Marriott scored New Brompton's first goal in three games against Bradford (Park Avenue) on 11 April, but the game ended in a fifth consecutive defeat for his team.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141024652 11 Western Daily Press 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 13 April 1908 On 17 April, New Brompton won for the first time in over a month, defeating West Ham United.Brown 2003 25 Pass scored his first goal for the team in the first half and Salter and McGibbon added further goals in the second half to secure a 3–0 win. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141025010 7 The Birmingham Post 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 18 April 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316065723/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-birmingham-post/141025010/ live After the victory, the team ended the season with three consecutive defeats in which they scored no goals.Brown 2003 25 One day after beating West Ham, they lost 3–0 at home to Plymouth Argyle, a result which the Western Morning News called an "easy victory" for the visitors. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140570676 7 Western Morning News 9 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 20 April 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316065657/https://www.newspapers.com/image/815954315/?clipping_id=140570676&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjgxNTk1NDMxNSwiaWF0IjoxNzEwNTcyMjA5LCJleHAiOjE3MTA2NTg2MDl9.E05ABLusZWz5yXD0Ja2_yztuC64tyVe4c86sKfLhybE live Two days later, they lost 1–0 away to Brentford.Brown 2003 25 The final game of the season took place on 25 April away to Millwall; Cunliffe, who had left New Brompton at the start of the season, scored both goals in a 2–0 victory for the home team. A reporter for The Daily Telegraph praised New Brompton's goalkeeper Martin for keeping the margin of defeat down to two goals. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140852915 4 The Daily Telegraph 13 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern League 27 April 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316065626/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/140852915/ live The result meant New Brompton had lost fourteen out of eighteen league games since the start of 1908.Brown 2003 25 They finished in 20th and last place in the league table, the worst finish the club had achieved in thirteen seasons in Division One of the Southern League.Blakeman Robinson 2014 4–7 League match details Key In result column, New Brompton's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsBrown 2003 25DateOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance4 September 1907 Bristol Rovers (A)1–9 McGibbon 4,000 7 September 1907 Queens Park Rangers (A)2–2 Pickering (2) 7,000 9 September 1907 Southampton (H)2–1 Pickering (2) 4,000 14 September 1907 Bristol Rovers (H)1–0 McGibbon 7,000 21 September 1907 Tottenham Hotspur (A)1–2 Pickering 16,000 28 September 1907 Leyton (H)2–2 Salter, Harvey (pen.) 6,0005 October 1907 Swindon Town (A)0–1 5,00012 October 1907 Reading (H)1–2 Salter 5,000 19 October 1907 Crystal Palace (A)3–3 Marriott (3) 8,000 26 October 1907 Watford (H)3–1 McGibbon (3) 5,000 2 November 1907 Luton Town (A)2–1 McGibbon, Pickering 5,000 9 November 1907 Norwich City (H)2–1 Hartley, McGibbon 7,000 16 November 1907 Brighton & Hove Albion (A)0–3 5,500 23 November 1907 Northampton Town (H)0–1 6,000 30 November 1907 Portsmouth (A)2–5 Hartley (2) 9,000 14 December 1907 Bradford (Park Avenue) (A)5–5 McGibbon (2), Hopkins, Pickering, Mavin0 not recorded 21 December 1907 Plymouth Argyle (A)0–1 7,500 25 December 1907 West Ham United (A)2–1 Spriggs, Salter 10,000 26 December 1907 Brentford (H)2–1 Hopkins, McGibbon 6,000 28 December 1907 Millwall (H)0–0 4,000 4 January 1908 Queens Park Rangers (H)0–4 5,000 18 January 1908 Tottenham Hotspur (H)1–2 Smith 5,000 25 January 1908 Leyton (A)0–1 2,500 8 February 1908 Reading (A)0–2 0 not recorded 15 February 1908 Crystal Palace (H)2–2 Hartley, Spriggs 2,00022 February 1908 Watford (A)1–1 Salter3,000 29 February 1908 Luton Town (H)0–1 3,000 7 March 1908 Norwich City (A)1–2 McGibbon 3,000 14 March 1908 Brighton & Hove Albion (H)2–1 McGibbon (pen.), Salter 2,500 21 March 1908 Northampton Town (A)0–2 4,000 28 March 1908 Portsmouth (H)1–3 McGibbon 4,000 1 April 1908 Swindon Town (H)0–1 2,000 4 April 1908 Southampton (A)0–2 3,000 11 April 1908 Bradford (Park Avenue) (H)2–3 Marriott, Salter 3,000 17 April 1908 West Ham United (H)3–0 Pass, Salter, McGibbon 5,000 18 April 1908 Plymouth Argyle (H)0–3 5,000 20 April 1908 Brentford (A)0–1 5,000 25 April 1908 Millwall (A)0–2 5,000 Partial league table 1907–08 Southern Football League#Division One main WDL left auto Southern League Division One final table, bottom positions yes 2 15 EXE Norwich City NOR Brentford BRE Brighton & Hove Albion QPR Luton Town CRY Leyton GIL New Brompton 12 9 17 46 49 14 5 19 49 53 12 8 18 46 59 12 6 20 33 56 8 11 19 52 74 9 7 22 44 75 complete Blakeman Robinson 2014 7 FA Cup thumb|right|upright|alt=Football match between New Brompton and Sunderland|Action from New Brompton's FA Cup match against Sunderland As a Southern League Division One team, New Brompton entered the 1907–08 FA Cup in the fifth and final qualifying round;Brown 2003 25 their opponents were Shepherd's Bush of the Spartan League. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141021059 16 Evening Standard 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Tomorrow's fixtures 20 December 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071817/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-standard/141021059/ live McGibbon scored three times as New Brompton beat their amateur opponents 6–0 at Priestfield Road to reach the first round proper.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141020774 15 The Daily Telegraph 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Association Cup 9 December 1907 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071818/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/141020774/ live At this stage of the competition, they were drawn to play Sunderland of the Football League First Division, the top tier of English football.Elligate 2009 15 It was the first time New Brompton had played a team from the First Division in a competitive match at Priestfield Road and it drew a record attendance for the ground of 10,620.Elligate 2009 15 Previewing the game, an uncredited writer for The Daily Telegraph noted that New Brompton were of "very ordinary ability" and would need to "play far above their normal form to avoid disaster". https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139518398 15 The Daily Telegraph 25 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The Association cup 11 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071818/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/139518398/ live George Holley gave Sunderland the lead in the first half but McGibbon equalised shortly afterwards. In the second half, McGibbon scored twice more and New Brompton won the match 3–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140988380 4 Newcastle Daily Chronicle 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The Wearsiders ousted 13 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071819/https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-mail-newcastle-daily-chronicle/140988380/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140988404 14 Daily Mirror 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription New Brompton's great feat 13 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072320/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/140988404/ live The result was considered a significant upset and the greatest victory in New Brompton's history to date, one newspaper reporting that among the home fans "hats and sticks were wildly flung into the air".Elligate 2009 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/140993068 4 Birmingham Evening Despatch 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Notes of the day 13 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072323/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-despatch/140993068/ live In the second round, New Brompton played another First Division team, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141022230 12 The Daily Telegraph 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription League Championship: Division I: Results 6 January 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072323/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/141022230/ live Manchester City, who had won the competition four years earlier. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141021826 6 The Guardian 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The Association Cup final 25 April 1904 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072323/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/141021826/ live The match took place at Manchester City's Hyde Road ground and drew a crowd of 16,000.Brown 2003 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141021369 14 Daily Mirror 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Chelsea at Manchester 1 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072324/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-mirror/141021369/ live Manchester City's Bob Grieve was injured and forced to leave the game within the first ten minutes, reducing his team to ten men for more than 80 minutes. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/139451967 4 The Daily Telegraph 24 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Southern clubs do well 3 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072324/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/139451967/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141001348 11 The Observer 24 January 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Many good games – few surprises 2 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072328/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-observer/141001348/ livesubs a McGibbon scored to give New Brompton the lead late in the first half. The team defended their lead for much of the second half but Lot Jones scored a late equaliser for Manchester City and the game ended 1–1. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141001644 2 Manchester Evening News 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription City just escape defeat 3 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316072827/https://www.newspapers.com/article/manchester-evening-news/141001644/ live The replay at Priestfield Road set another attendance record for the venue, with the crowd reported at 12,000 and the gate receipts at over UK 450 1908 eq yes £ -4.Elligate 2009 30 New Brompton conceded a goal in the first half but McGibbon equalised shortly after the interval from a penalty kick. They repeatedly attacked the Manchester City goal in the second half but could not score. City scored a second goal late in the game and went on to win 2–1 and eliminate New Brompton from the competition. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141022645 4 The Guardian 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The replayed cup ties 6 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316070738/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian/141022645/ live https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141022970 14 The Daily Telegraph 15 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription The replayed ties 6 February 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071336/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-telegraph/141022970/ live Cup match details Key In result column, New Brompton's score shown first H = Home match A = Away match pen. = Penalty kick o.g. = Own goal +ResultsBrown 2003 25DateRoundOpponentsResultGoalscorersAttendance7 December 1907Fifth qualifyingShepherd's Bush (H)6–0McGibbon (3), Hopkins, Salter, Marriott5,00011 January 1908FirstSunderland (H)3–1McGibbon (3)10,6201 February 1908SecondManchester City (A)1–1McGibbon16,0005 February 1908Second (replay)Manchester City (H)1–2McGibbon (pen.)12,000 Players thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer Steve Smith|Steve Smith was the team's player-manager and made 37 appearances. thumb|right|upright|alt=Footballer John Martin|John Martin made 40 appearances in goal for New Brompton. At the time, goalkeepers wore the same colours as their teammates.Davies 2003 51 During the season, 21 players appeared for New Brompton. Martin made the most appearances, playing in 40 of the team's 42 competitive games. Five other players made more than 35 appearances: Floyd, Fullarton, Smith, George Lloyd, and McGibbon. Four players made fewer than five appearances, of whom two, recorded only as McKinnell and McLachlan, made the fewest, each playing only once.Brown 2003 25 McLachlan's appearance was the only game he played for the New Brompton first team.Brown 2003 128 Eleven players scored for the team. McGibbon was the top scorer, with 22 goals, of which 14 were scored in the league and 8 in the FA Cup. No other player scored more than eight times.Brown 2003 25 +Player statisticsBrown 2003 25PlayerPositionSouthern LeagueFA CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsBarker 1FW 4 0 0 040Bill FloydFB 34 0 4 0380David Fullarton 1HB 36 0 1 037 0Jimmy HartleyFW 14 4 1 015 4Ernest Harvey footballerFB 29 1 4 033 1Jack HopkinsFW 11 2 4 115 3George Lloyd 1900s footballerHB 32 0 4 036 0Bill Marriott footballerFW 21 4 1 122 5John Martin 1GK 36 0 4 040 0Fred MavinHB 26 1 4 030 1Charlie McGibbonFW 32 14 4836 22McKinnell 1FB 1 0 0 01 0McLachlan 1HB 1 0 0 01 0Harry Metherell 1GK 2 0 0 02 0Jimmy PassFW 8 1 0 08 1Jack Pickering 1FW 22 7 2 024 7Harry RobothamHB 30 0 3 033 0Harold Salter 1FW 30 7 4 134 8Steve Smith footballer, born 1874FW 33 1 4 0 371Frank Spriggs 1FW 8 2 0 08 2Robert Walker footballer, born 1884FW 8 0 0 08 0 FW = Forward, HB = Half-back, GK = Goalkeeper, FB = Full-back Aftermath Despite finishing 20th in the table, New Brompton were reprieved from relegation to Division Two, which was at the time not automatic. At the league's annual meeting, the chairman of Northampton Town proposed that the bottom two clubs in Division One, Leyton and New Brompton, should be summarily re-elected to the division, but this was rejected. Instead, the two clubs were told that they must "retire" from Division One but would be included on a ballot to fill the two vacant places and three further vacancies created by teams leaving the Southern League altogether. Also on the ballot were two teams from Division Two and two teams applying to join from other leagues. New Brompton gained the third-highest number of votes among the six clubs and thus remained in Division One.Blakeman Robinson 2014 7, 8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141767247 5 Evening Sentinel 21 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Football: Meetings in London to-day 29 May 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071240/https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-sentinel/141767247/ live At the club's own annual general meeting in June, the chairman reported a deficit on the balance sheet of UK 1,277 1908 eq yes £ -4, although this was a significant improvement on the position a year earlier. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/141766917 3 East Kent Gazette 21 February 2024 Newspapers.com subscription Jottings on sport Man of Kent 13 June 1908 16 March 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240316071241/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-east-kent-gazette-etc/141766917/ live Smith left the club, choosing to retire from professional football,Arthur 2022 244 and the playing squad was almost completely overhauled, to the extent that Mavin was the only player in the New Brompton team on the opening day of the 1908–09 season who had played for the team during the previous campaign.Brown 2003 25, 26 New Brompton ended the 1908–09 season in seventh place in the Division One league table, the team's best finish for six seasons.Blakeman Robinson 2014 6–8 The club, which changed its name to Gillingham in 1912,Elligate 2009 102 remained in the Southern League Division One until 1920 when all its member clubs were elected into the Football League to form its new Third Division.Elligate 2009 97 Footnotes a. subs The concept of substitutes was not introduced to English football until the 1960s. Previously, if a player had to leave a game due to injury, the team had to continue with fewer players.https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport Fifty years of substitutions in football: from necessary novelties to tactical tools The Guardian Peter Bateman 18 September 2015 22 October 2023 1 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231001105929/https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2015/sep/18/fifty-years-substitutions-football-sport live References Works cited Arthur Owen The World's First Football Superstar: The Life of Stephen Smith Pen and Sword Books 2022 978-1-39908-348-5 Blakeman Mick Michael Robinson Non-League Football Tables 1889–2014 Soccer Books Limited 2014 978-1-86223-299-0 Bradley Andy Roger Triggs Home of the Shouting Men: Complete History of Gillingham Football Club 1893–1993 Gillingham F.C. 1994 0-95233-610-3 Brown Tony The Definitive Gillingham F.C.: A Complete Record Soccerdata 2003 978-1-8994-6820-1 Davies Hunter Hunter Davies Boots, Balls and Haircuts: An Illustrated History of Football from Then to Now 978-1-84403-261-7 2003 Cassell Illustrated Elligate David Gillingham FC On This Day Pitch Publishing 2009 978-1-9054-1145-0 Mitchell Colin Reeves Jon Tyler Daniel The History of English Football Clubs New Holland Publishers 2013 978-1-78009-449-6 Scott Les End to End Stuff: The Essential Football Book Random House 2008 978-0-59306-068-1 Soar Phil Martin Tyler Martin Tyler Encyclopedia of British Football 1983 CollinsWillow 978-0-0021-8049-8 Roger Triggs Images of England: Gillingham Football Club Tempus Publishing 1999 978-0-75241-567-3 Category:Gillingham F.C. seasons New Brompton Fc Season, 1907-08