1899–1900 Southampton F.C. season

English association football season March 2015 March 2015 Southampton F.C. 1899–1900 Er Arnfield Secretary Dr. Ernest Stancomb Chairman The Dell Southern League Third FA Cup Runners-up Alf Milward (28) Alf Milward (24) 10,000 vs Everton (27 January 1900) (FA Cup) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes FFFFFF 000080 000080 1898–99 1900–01 The 1899–1900 season was the 15th since the foundation of Southampton F.C. and their sixth in league football, as members of the Southern League. They ended the season third in the Southern League, but reached the final of the FA Cup, thus becoming the first southern professional side to do so, and the first side from south of the midlands since 1883.Gibbons 2001 464–465 In the final, they played badly as a result of divisions amongst the players and lost 4–0 to Bury. Start of the season Having won the Southern League title in each of the three previous seasons, Southampton were now considered to be the best football team in England outside The Football League. The club had considered applying to join the league but decided that, because of their location on the south coast, the cost of travelling would be prohibitive. The popular boys' newspaper, Chums featured the club in their October 1899 edition:The Southampton club is the surprise packet of the football world. No team can boast of having fought their way to the front with such lightning-like rapidity as the champions of the South and, if the opinion of experienced judges are worth anything, the Southampton men have absolutely no superiors. It is true that they do not engage in first League duels, but the reason they do not do so is not that they consider they stand no chance of achieving premier honours, but that the departure would not pay them. There are no League clubs in the SouthA a, the consequence being that if Southampton were to enter for the competition, about half their time would be spent in travelling to the North and back — a proceeding that would soon land them high and dry in Bankruptcy Court.Juson Bull 2001 61 With the club £1,000 in debtChalk Holley 1987 26 and in an attempt to ensure success on the pitch, the directors had recruited several top-class players on substantial wages. In order to meet these, the cost of entry to home matches was doubled from sixpence to a shilling.Juson Bull 2001 62 The opening Southern League match was attended by a meeting of "anti-bobs" in Milton Road; "after [their] grievances had been aired, the participants therein wended their way to other haunts than the football field".Juson Bull 2001 62 As a result, the attendance for the match against New Brompton was "disappointingly small" with "barely two thousand people present".Juson Bull 2001 62 Explaining the decision to double the price of admission, the secretary Mr. Arnfield told the Football EchoCandidly, I don't like it personally, but if we don't get enough 'tanners' we must have the 'bobs'. There is [an] alternative ... to an occasional shilling gate, and that is to reduce the wages of players, which means inferior men. After all the brilliant players we have had, Southampton people won't put up with a mediocre team. Why, our people would throw bricks at us.The Board are particularly anxious to retain a good team, but you must remember we have a big deficit and our summer wage bill is within £12 of our winter one, whilst for over four months we have not taken a penny.Juson Bull 2001 62 Players thumb|250px|The Southampton team at the start of the season with the Southern League trophy and the silk banner presented to them by the Southern League for winning the championship in three successive seasons.Chalk Holley 1987 27 (Standing: E. Arnfield (secretary), W. Dawson (trainer), S. Meston, H. Haynes, A. Chadwick, J. Robinson, D. Greenlees, P. Meechan, P. Durber, E. C. Jarvis (director). Seated: A. Turner, J. Yates, J. Farrell, H. Wood, A. Milward. On floor: R. McLeod, R. Petrie). During the summer of 1899, several players left the club including forward Abe Hartley, who joined Woolwich Arsenal,Holley Chalk 1992 160 and Jacky Robertson, who joined Rangers, shortly after becoming the first Southampton player to play for Scotland in April 1899.Holley Chalk 1992 285 Three forwards joined the club in the pre-season: Jack Farrell returned from Stoke, where he had spent the 1898–99 season having played for Southampton from 1895 to 1898,Holley Chalk 1992 120 and Archie Turner was recruited from East & West Surrey League club St. Michael's, Camberley,Holley Chalk 1992 339 but the major signing was former England international Alf Milward from Football League Second Division side New Brighton Tower.Holley Chalk 1992 241–242 The team mow consisted mainly of experienced former Football League players. Ten players appeared in all six F.A. Cup matches and twenty or more Southern League matches, with Alf Milward being ever-present and becoming the team's top goal-scorer. The team had three past or present England internationals (goalkeeper Jack Robinson and forwards Alf Milward and Harry Wood), while full-back Peter Meechan had previously played for Scotland. Archie Turner was the only regular player to have been born in Hampshire and was also the only player not to have previously played in The Football League, but he ended the season by achieving the then unique distinction of being called up for England in his first season in first-class football, and also becoming the first Hampshire-born player to represent England.Holley Chalk 1992 339 Goalkeeper Jack Robinson had previously played for Derby County and was the current England international 'keeper. The full-backs were Peter Durber and Peter Meechan who had previously played for Stoke and Everton respectively. Centre-half Arthur Chadwick had previously played for Burton Swifts and would end the season with two England caps. Either side of him were Scotsmen, Samuel Meston (another former Stoke player) and Bob Petrie, formerly with Sheffield Wednesday. The centre-forward position was contested by Jack Farrell and former West Bromwich Albion and Leicester Fosse player Roddy McLeod. Alongside Archie Turner on the right was Jimmy Yates, previously with Sheffield United and Ardwick, with the two former England internationals, Alf Milward and Harry Wood on the left.Juson 2004 12–13 Several of the players were on high wages with Wood on £5 a week and Robinson earning £5 10sJuson 2004 12–13 with the total wages bill exceeding £60 per week,Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 which with bonuses put the annual total to in excess of £4,000, a total believed to be exceeded by only five or six Football League clubs.Juson Bull 2001 62 In an interview with the boys' paper Chums, the club's "popular secretary and manager, Mr. Arnfield" said:In the main, [the cause of our success is] our bold forward policy of engaging only tip-top players. No man is good enough for us who isn't good enough to take his place in any team in England. We shouldn't dream of engaging a player who wasn't worthy of inclusion in the Aston Villa eleven, for instance. This is our Standard.Juson Bull 2001 61 League season For the 1899–1900 season, the Southern League had been expanded from the 13 clubs, which had ended the 1898–99 season to 17 by the admission of Bristol Rovers and Queens Park Rangers and the promotion of Cowes and Thames Ironworks. The newly formed Portsmouth club inherited the place vacated by the Royal Artillery.Rundle Richard Royal Artillery Portsmouth https://www.fchd.info/RA-PORTS.HTM Football Club History Database 4 February 2013 Of the 17 clubs, CowesRundle Richard Cowes https://www.fchd.info/COWES.HTM Football Club History Database 4 February 2013 and Brighton United failed to complete the season, with their records being expunged.Rundle Richard Brighton United https://www.fchd.info/BRIGHTOU.HTM Football Club History Database 4 February 2013 The season started with a comfortable home 6–2 win over New Brompton but this was followed by a draw at Gravesend United and defeat at home to Swindon Town. After the 3–1 victory at Bristol City on 23 September, Roddy McLeod was dropped to be replaced by Archie Turner on the right-wing. This was the start of a run of twelve games with only one defeat and by mid-January, the Saints were at the top of the table. Amongst the victories were defeats of Chatham 9–0 on 20 December (with four goals from Turner) and of Gravesend 8–0 on 6 January.Chalk Holley 1987 27 The season was then interrupted by bad weather and by the time the league restarted in early March, Saints were without Jack Farrell who had been seriously injured in the F.A. Cup match against Newcastle United. He was replaced by Roddy McLeod but the FA Cup run distracted the team from the league, which resulted in a run of poor performances.Chalk Holley 1987 26–27 The 2–0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Good Friday 13 April finally extinguished any chance of retaining the title.Juson 2004 15–16 There then followed consecutive matches against newcomers, Portsmouth to decide who would come second to Tottenham.Juson 2004 15 The match at The Dell on Saturday 14 April was attended by "barely 3,000" supporters with the home fans being more interested in the Cup Final the following Saturday. Despite the Saints' best efforts, they were thwarted by "Gunner" Matt Reilly in the Portsmouth goal, and Saints went down to goals from Sandy Brown and Dan Cunliffe.Juson 2004 15 The return match at Fratton Park two days later, was attended by an Easter Monday crowd of 10,000 supporters who witnessed a "complete triumph" for Portsmouth with the two goals coming from Sandy Brown and Billy Smith.Juson 2004 16 Saints' performance against Portsmouth was described as "poor in the extreme" and "there was really no comparison between the two teams". The Portsmouth manager, Frank Brettell described Southampton as "stale" and predicted a "comfortable" victory for Bury in the FA Cup Final.Juson 2004 16 After the humiliating 4–0 defeat in the final, Saints played out the remaining three "dead" matches including victories at home to Bristol City and Millwall, in both of which McLeod (who had not been selected for the Cup Final) scored.Chalk Holley 1987 27 The league season ended with Southampton third in the table, nine points behind champions, Tottenham Hotspur.Chalk Holley 1987 27 League results Date OpponentsH / AResultF – AScorers2 September 1899New BromptonH6 – 2Milward (2), Yates (2), Farrell, Wood9 September 1899Gravesend UnitedA2 – 2 Farrell, Milward 16 September 1899Swindon TownH0 – 1 23 September 1899Bristol CityA3 – 1Milward (2), Farrell14 October 1899Millwall AthleticA2 – 0Milward, Turner21 October 1899Queens Park RangersH5 – 1Milward (2), Yates (2), Turner4 November 1899ReadingH0 – 2 11 November 1899Sheppey UnitedA2 – 0 Meston (2)25 November 1899BedminsterA2 – 0 Farrell, Milward 2 December 1899Bristol RoversH4 – 0Milward (2), Farrell, McLeod16 December 1899Thames IronworksH3 – 1 Milward (2), Turner20 December 1899ChathamH9 – 0Turner (4), Farrell, Milward, Petrie, Wood, Yates26 December 1899Tottenham HotspurH3 – 1Farrell (2), Milward30 December 1899New BromptonA2 – 1Farrell, Milward6 January 1900Gravesend UnitedH8 – 0Farrell (2), Milward (2), Cavendish, Chadwick, Meechan, Yates13 January 1900Swindon TownAB b1 – 2 Meston3 March 1900Chatham TownA0 – 1 10 March 1900ReadingA0 – 2 17 March 1900Sheppey UnitedH5 – 0Milward (2), Wood (2), Farrell31 March 1900BedminsterH3 – 2Milward (2), McLeod7 April 1900Bristol RoversA3 – 1 McLeod, Wood, Yates9 April 1900Thames IronworksA1 – 4McLeod13 April 1900Tottenham HotspurA0 – 2 14 April 1900PortsmouthH0 – 2 16 April 1900PortsmouthA0 – 2 23 April 1900Bristol CityH4 – 1Milward (2), McLeod, Wood25 April 1900Millwall AthleticH 2 – 1 McLeod, Yates28 April 1900 Queens Park RangersA0 – 1 Legend WinDrawLoss Top of league table Division One SHP FA Cup In the FA Cup, Saints were no longer required to qualify and entered at the first round proper, where they met Everton, who had finished in fourth place in the First Division in 1899. Everton were easily beaten in a "stunning"Lloyd Holt 2005 62 3–0 victory with former Everton player Alf Milward scoring twice.Chalk Holley 1987 26 The next visitors to The Dell were Newcastle United who Southampton had defeated at the same stage two years earlier. The match was played on 10 February 1900 in wintery conditions. With the match goalless, Jack Farrell was forced to leave the pitch with a dislocated left collar-bone. Southampton played on with ten men until the 50th minute, when referee Arthur Kingscott abandoned the match because of a heavy snowstorm.Collett 2003 560 The sides met again the following Saturday, with Roddy McLeod replacing the injured Farrell. McLeod "seized the opportunity" and scored twice in an easy 4–1 victory.Chalk Holley 1987 26 The third-round match was played a week later against another First Division side, West Bromwich Albion against whom McLeod scored again in a 2–1 victory.Chalk Holley 1987 26 With fellow Southern League team Millwall Athletic having defeated Football League champions Aston Villa in their Round 3 match, after the third of three "epic confrontations",Juson Bull 2001 61 the four semi-finalists were Millwall and Southampton from the Southern League and Bury and Nottingham Forest of the Football League First Division. The draw for the semi-final paired the Southern League and Football League sides, thus guaranteeing that a side from the Southern League would reach the FA Cup Final for the first time.Gibbons 2001 461–462 To prepare for the semi-final, the Southampton players were sent to Buxton for a week's special training starting with morning walks "certainly the fat ones" followed by a bath.Juson Bull 2001 61 The team's secretary, Mr. Arnfield explained the training routine to Chums magazine: ... in the afternoon, sprinting and ball-kicking are the order. Baths are capital for removing stiffness from the joints. And ... everyone in training should go to bed early. Our fellows usually retire at ten, but the night before a big match they are all in bed by nine, They enjoy a long sleep, and don't appear for breakfast before nine.Our diet is an extremely plain one. The customary fare consists of fish, chops and steaks. Vegetables and sweets are banned when a match is about to be played and so are spirits. Half a pint of beer per meal, however, is allowed, and directly the match is over, the players can eat whatever they please. As regards smoking, we only prohibit it on the morning preceding a big match.Juson Bull 2001 61 The semi-final was played at Crystal Palace on 24 March, with a 30,000 crowd seeing a "disappointing" goalless draw.Chalk Holley 1987 26 The replay was the following Wednesday at Reading's Elm Park when a crowd of only 10,000 saw Alf Milward at his "electrifying best", scoring two goals in a straightforward 3–0 victory, to put the Saints through to their first appearance in the final less than 15 years after the club was founded.Chalk Holley 1987 26 FA Cup Final 1900 FA Cup Final thumb|400px|A panoramic view of the Crystal Palace ground during the 1905 FA Cup Final. The final was played on 21 April 1900 at Crystal Palace in front of a crowd of 68,945, many of whom were "rooting" for the southerners;Lloyd Holt 2005 62 the referee was Arthur Kingscott from Derby, who had refereed the second-round match against Newcastle United. The weather was unusually sunny for April and Bury, who won the toss, decided to kick off with the sun behind them.Gibbons 2001 464–465 From the start, the Bury forwards directed several high crosses into the goalmouth to test the Saints' goalkeeper, Jack Robinson. The first goal came after nine minutes when Jack Plant's cross from the right was converted by centre-forward Jasper McLuckie. Bury were two goals up six minutes later when Willie Wood slotted home a loose clearance. Despite Robinson making "a couple of excellent saves",Gibbons 2001 464–465 the match was over as a contest when McLuckie scored his second goal after 23 minutes, following a "fine pass" from Wood.Gibbons 2001 464–465 In the second half, the Saints came back into the game with Alf Milward and Harry Wood having several attempts on goal, to no avail. With ten minutes to play, Robinson made another fine save from Jack Pray, which resulted in a corner. The corner was quickly taken by Billy Richards to Plant, who shot "low and hard"Gibbons 2001 464–465 past Robinson to complete a "football lesson" for the Southampton players.Gibbons 2001 464–465 Aftermath Reporting on the match, the Southampton correspondent for Athletic News described the team's performance as "A weak, wavering, pitiable and lamentable show".I can sadly say, and without doing any injustice to Bury, that from goalkeeper to centre-forward not a man in the Southampton side played up to his reputation.Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 All commentators agree that, while a defeat to a Football League side containing two current England players (Sagar and Plant) was excusable, the margin of defeat and the poor standard of performance were not.Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 Twelve years after the match, "Recorder" writing in the Southampton Pictorial attempted to uncover the reasons for Southampton's failure, for which there had "never been what one could call an official explanation".Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 He claimed that there was a division between the English and Scottish players about who should play as centre-forward. The Scottish players wanted Roddy McLeod whereas the English majority wanted Jack Farrell. Farrell had returned in March from the injury sustained in the second-round match to replace McLeod for the semi-final. Farrell was a temperamental player who had once threatened a local reporter for criticizing his performance, whereas McLeod was a calmer, more selfless player.Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 "Recorder" claimed that:This jealousy, while it disturbed the harmony that was so essential to success, did not develop into disloyalty ... but matters went badly for the team from the start, and some players, instead of making special efforts to save the game, attributed their non-success to the deliberate flouting of their wishes. One unnamed player is reported to have said: "I could see that some of the others were not trying, and said to myself Why should I run myself to a standstill?"Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 Although Farrell and McLeod played out the last three league matches of the season, both players left the club in the summer as did defenders, Meechan, Durber and Petrie.Bull Brunskell 2000 24–25 FA Cup results DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendance27 January 1900Round 1EvertonH3 – 0 Milward (2), Turner10,00017 February 1900Round 2Newcastle UnitedH4 – 1 McLeod (2), Yates, Turner 8,00024 February 1900Round 3West Bromwich AlbionH2 – 1 Turner, McLeod 9,00024 March 1900Semi-final Millwall AthleticN0 – 0 30,00028 March 1900Semi-final replayMillwall AthleticN3 – 0 Milward (2), Yates10,00021 April 1900FinalBuryN0 – 4 68,945 Friendly matches Despite the expanded league season and the long FA Cup run, Southampton continued to play regular friendly matches against other league clubs and amateur touring sides. Of the seventeen matches played, eight were wins, two drawn and seven defeats.Chalk Holley 1987 211 The first friendly match of the season was on 6 September 1899 at the opening of Portsmouth's Fratton Park stadium. Portsmouth played in pink shirts with maroon trimmings, earning them the nickname "the Shrimps",Juson 2004 9 with Southampton in red and white stripes. The match was kicked off by the mayor of Portsmouth, with Portsmouth defending the Milton end of the ground. In an "entertaining spectacle", Portsmouth won 2–0 with goals from Dan Cunliffe (formerly with Liverpool) and Harold Clarke (formerly with Everton).Juson 2004 9 Saints entertained two teams from the Football League First Division, with Wolverhampton Wanderers winning 5–2 on 23 October and champions Aston Villa winning 4–2 on 3 January.Chalk Holley 1987 211 Player statistics PositionNationalityNameLeagueappsLeaguegoalsFA CupappsFA CupgoalsTotalappsTotalgoals 4 FWEnglandSid Cavendish 3 1 0 0 3 13 HBEnglandArthur Chadwick241 603012 FBNot knownBill Crabbe C c 10 00 102 FBEnglandPeter Durber270 603303 HBEnglandFrank Englefield 10 00 104 FWEnglandJack Farrell footballer, born 18732112 4025123 HBEnglandJoe French footballer 30 00 302 FB England Ernest Gill 10 00 103 HBScotlandDon Greenlees 80 00 802 FBEnglandHarry Haynes4000401 GKEnglandJohn Joyce footballer7000704 FWScotlandWatty Keay1000104 FWScotland Duncan McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874)0 00 00 04 FWScotlandRoddy McLeod176 231992 FBScotlandPeter Meechan Peter Meechan (footballer)211 602713 HBScotland Samuel Meston273 603334 FWEnglandAlf Milward2824 6 43428 3 HBEngland Bert Paddington 0 0 0 0 0 03 HBScotland Bob Petrie211 602711 GKEnglandJack Robinson footballer born 1870210 602704 FWEngland Scott Mr. Scott (footballer) D d 10 00 103 HBEnglandVictor Smith English footballer2000204 FWEnglandArchie Turner footballer20 7 6 326104 FWEnglandHarry Wood footballer, born 1868246 603064 FWEnglandJimmy Yates25 8 6 23110 Key GK — Goalkeeper FB — Full back HB — Half-back FW — Forward Transfers In DatePositionNameFrom May 1899 FW Jack Farrell StokeHolley Chalk 1992 120Summer 1899 HB Joe French Local footballHolley Chalk 1992 131 1899 FB Ernest Gill Grimsby TownHolley Chalk 1992 141 May 1899 HB Don Greenlees St MirrenHolley Chalk 1992 148 May 1899 FW Alf Milward New Brighton TowerHolley Chalk 1992 241–242 September 1899 HB Bert Paddington Eastleigh AthleticHolley Chalk 1992 262 May 1899 FW Archie Turner St. Michael's, CamberleyHolley Chalk 1992 339 Departures DatePositionNameToSummer 1899FW Robert Buchanan Sheppey UnitedHolley Chalk 1992 52Summer 1899HB Geordie Dewar RetiredHolley Chalk 1992 101June 1899FW Walter FairgrieveLuton TownHolley Chalk 1992 120July 1899FW Abe Hartley Woolwich ArsenalHolley Chalk 1992 160Summer 1899FB Tom Nicol RetiredHolley Chalk 1992 255August 1899HB John Robertson RangersHolley Chalk 1992 285Summer 1899FW George Seeley New BromptonHolley Chalk 1992 299Summer 1899FW Tom Smith Queens Park RangersHolley Chalk 1992 315Summer 1899FW David Steven DundeeHolley Chalk 1992 322 Notes A a The writer in Chums had overlooked Woolwich Arsenal and Luton Town, who were members of the Football League Second Division. B b The match against Swindon Town on 13 January 1900 was played at Reading's Elm Park as Swindon's ground was closed.Chalk Holley 1987 27 C c Bill Crabbe made his only appearance for Southampton away to Swindon Town on 13 January 1900. His performance at right-back was described as "plucky". Little else is known about him.Holley Chalk 1992 86 D d Scott was born in Surrey and was given a trial in the penultimate match of the season, at home to Millwall Athletic on 25 April 1900. Although he was known as the "Surrey flier", his performance on the right-wing was not enough to earn him another match.Holley Chalk 1992 297 References Bibliography Match of the Millennium Bull David Brunskell, Bob Hagiology Publishing 2000 0-9534474-1-3 Bull Brunskell 2000 Saints – A complete record Chalk Gary Holley, Duncan Breedon Books 1987 0-907969-22-4 Chalk Holley 1987 The Complete Record of the FA Cup Collett Mike 2003 Sports Books 1-899807-19-5 Gibbons Philip Association Football in Victorian England – A History of the Game from 1863 to 1900 2001 Upfront Publishing 1-84426-035-6 The Alphabet of the Saints Holley Duncan Chalk, Gary ACL & Polar Publishing 1992 0-9514862-3-3 Holley Chalk 1992 Full-Time at The Dell Juson Dave Bull, David Hagiology Publishing 2001 0-9534474-2-1 Juson Bull 2001 registration https://archive.org/details/fulltimeatdellfr0000juso Saints v Pompey - A history of unrelenting rivalry Juson Dave 2004 Hagiology Publishing 0-9534-4745-6 Lloyd Guy Holt, Nick The F.A. Cup – The Complete Story 2005 Aurum Press 1-8451-3054-5 Lloyd Holt 2005 External links Southampton football club match record: 1900 All Southampton football club players: 1900 Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton