1898–99 Southampton F.C. season

March 2015 March 2015 Southampton F.C. 1898–99 Er Arnfield Secretary Dr. Ernest Stancomb Chairman The Dell Southern League Champions FA Cup Round 3 Harry Wood (16) Harry Wood & Abe Hartley (16) 14,000 vs Derby County (25 February 1899) (FA Cup) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes FFFFFF 000080 000080 1897–98 1899–1900 The 1898–99 season was the 14th since the foundation of Southampton F.C. and their fifth in league football, as members of the Southern League. They ended the season as champions of the Southern League for the third consecutive season and reached the Third Round of the FA Cup where they were eliminated by Derby County of the Football League First Division. Pre-season Having spent two seasons as temporary residents of Hampshire County Cricket Club, the "Saints" became resident at a new stadium about 200 yards down Northlands Road, nicknamed "The Dell", which had been built by George Thomas, a fish merchant who was a director of the football club. At the time of its opening, The Dell was considered to be the most compact ground in the country — the players got their first taste of their new home when they participated in a sports meeting there on 27 August 1898.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 Determined to build on their success of the previous season, the club signed several new players during the summer of 1898, including five present or former internationals — Scotsmen Geordie Dewar, Peter Meechan and John Robertson and Englishmen Jack Robinson and Harry Wood.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 Robinson, the current England goalkeeper, and Robertson had played against each other in the Scotland vs. England international at Celtic Park on 2 April 1898, in which England were 3–1 victors, thus claiming the 1898 British Home Championship.Scotland 1 – England 3 (2 April 1898) http://www.englandstats.com/matchreport.php?mid=64 www.englandstats.com 22 June 2010 League season The first league season in the new ground started on 3 September 1898, with a match against Brighton United, who were playing their first-ever league match. On a hot Saturday afternoon, in front of a crowd of 6,524, the Mayor of Southampton (Alderman G.J. Tilling) kicked off "like an international". The Saints soon took the lead when with "a little finessing", Tom Smith passed the ball through to Watty Keay who scored The Dell's first goal. Jim McKenzie missed some good chances and, with Southampton attacking in numbers, Bullimer in the Brighton goal was kept busy. Towards the end of the first-half, Arthur Chadwick accidentally caught Brighton's centre-forward Willie McArthur on the chin with a high kick. Bleeding profusely, McArthur left the pitch and Brighton had to continue with only ten men. Shortly before the interval, Abe Hartley scored the second goal, after a smart run up the left by McKenzie. In the second half, McKenzie added a third before Roddy McLeod reduced the deficit. With over a quarter of an hour to play, Smith completed the scoring, with a goal described as "just such a goal as there is no doubt about – a shot which beats the goalkeeper almost before it is made".Bull Brunskell 2000 20–21 Despite having signed five present or former international players during the summer, Southampton were unable to dominate the league as they had done in the previous year, losing their second match to New Brompton and drawing four matches before the New Year. In November, the referee, Mr. T.W.H. Saywell, mistakenly ended the match at Millwall ten minutes early with Southampton leading 4–1. He soon realised his error and tried to bring the teams back to complete the match, but the crowd had invaded the pitch and refused to leave. The match was completed five months later on 12 April 1899 before a Western League match at The Dell, with no further score.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 On 3 December, the Saints defeated Warmley 6–0 at The Dell, but this result was expunged when Warmley withdrew from the league before the end of the season.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 Reserve goalkeeper, John Joyce made his "debut" in this match, but with the result being expunged, had to wait until 21 October 1899 before his official debut.Holley Chalk 1992 189 The New Year started with two away defeats; in the match at Sheppey United on 7 January, Arthur Chadwick was dismissed, becoming the first Southampton player to be sent off in a league match.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 The Saints won five of the next seven games and entered the last day of the season level on points with Bristol City, their final-day opponents.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 Bristol City were playing their second season in the Southern League having finished as runners-up in 1897–98, and were undefeated at their St John's Lane ground. Southampton had the superior goal average, so a draw would give them the title for the third time.Bull Brunskell 2000 22–23 A crowd of 13,000 attended the match, including 400 Saints' supporters. Early in the game, England international goalkeeper Jack Robinson damaged his right hand, attempting to prevent a goal from Billy Langham, City's outside-right. Whilst Robinson was receiving medical attention, Harry Haynes took over in goal, preventing further goals until Robinson's return. Robinson played on in considerable pain but was unable to prevent the ball entering the goal off the cross bar from a Langham free-kick; thus the first half ended with Bristol City having a 2–0 lead.Bull Brunskell 2000 22–23 For the second half, Southampton made a tactical change, switching Roddy McLeod to centre-forward with Duncan McLean moving to inside-right and within 12 minutes of the restart the scores were level, after long shots from Arthur Chadwick and Jock Robertson, the latter going in after a "gentle hint" from Harry Wood turned the ball past goalkeeper, Hugh Monteith who had come too far out of his goal. The Southampton fullbacks continued to protect Robinson in goal and the Saints gradually began to have the better of the game. A move involving Robertson and Wood ended with McLean giving Southampton the lead before Wood scored the fourth goal, with a simple header from a corner. Although Caie pulled one back for the home side, Southampton were able to hang on to their lead to win 4–3 and take the Championship for the third consecutive season.Bull Brunskell 2000 22–23 The news of the result had reached Southampton by telegraph and when the team's special train arrived at the Docks station at 10.30pm, it was greeted by huge crowds of enthusiastic supporters who cheered the team on their victory parade through the streets of the town, accompanied by the Town Band.Bull Brunskell 2000 22–23 League results Note: Southampton score given first Date OpponentsH / AResultF – AScorers 3 September 1898 Brighton UnitedH4 – 1Keay, Hartley, McKenzie, Smith17 September 1898 New BromptonH0 – 2 24 September 1898 Gravesend UnitedA2 – 1Hartley, Petrie1 October 1898Millwall AthleticH2 – 0Wood (2)8 October 1898 Royal ArtilleryH4 – 1Hartley, McKenzie, Meston, Wood15 October 1898 ReadingH0 – 022 October 1898 Swindon TownA1 – 1Hartley5 November 1898Gravesend UnitedH4 – 1 Hartley, Keay, McKenzie, Wood12 November 1898Sheppey UnitedH6 – 0 Wood (3), Hartley (2), Keay26 November 1898Millwall AthleticA4 – 1Hartley (2), Chadwick, Keay17 December 1898Royal ArtilleryA1 – 1 Keay24 December 1898Swindon TownH4 – 1Wood (2), Hartley, Keay26 December 1898Tottenham HotspurH1 – 1Wood31 December 1898BedminsterH1 – 0Wood7 January 1899Sheppey UnitedA1 – 2Seeley18 February 1899ReadingA0 – 2 11 March 1899 Bristol CityH4 – 1Hartley (3), Nicol 18 March 1899 Chatham TownH4 – 1Hartley, McLean, Wood, Own goal27 March 1899 Brighton UnitedA2 – 0Steven (2)31 March 1899 Tottenham HotspurA1 – 0Wood4 April 1899 BedminsterA1 – 2 Haynes22 April 1899 Chatham TownA2 – 1McLean, Wood24 April 1899 New BromptonA1 – 1Haynes29 April 1899 Bristol CityA4 – 3Wood (2), Chadwick, McLean Legend WinDrawLoss Top of league table Division One SHP FA Cup Southampton were excused the qualifying competition of the FA Cup, having reached the semi-finals in the previous year. In Round One, they met fellow Southern League side, New Brompton, with Abe Hartley scoring the winner 20 minutes from time. In the Second Round, Hartley was again the goalscorer, "dribbling through a bewildered Notts County defence before scoring with a glorious shot".Chalk Holley 1987 24–25 This set up the first FA Cup match to be played at The Dell, against Derby County of the Football League First Division, who were the beaten finalists from the previous year. Although Tom Nicol scored the first-ever FA Cup goal at The Dell, goals from Steve Bloomer and Billy McDonald eased Derby through, on their way to another final.Collett 2003 68 & 560 FA Cup results DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF – AScorersAttendance28 January 1899Round 1 New BromptonA1 – 0 Hartley5,00011 February 1899Round 2 Notts CountyA1 – 0 Hartley18,00025 February 1899Round 3 Derby CountyH1 – 2 Nicol14,000 Friendly matches Towards the end of the season, Southampton played a series of friendly matches against the Corinthians — the first two (both played away) were drawn, but the third the famous amateur side visited The Dell on 1 April 1899. Amongst the Corinthian XI was C.B. Fry, who charged Robinson in the Saints' goal late in the first half, fracturing his own cheekbone. Although he received treatment from the Southampton club president, Dr. Bencraft, Fry was unable to continue and had to be helped from the pitch.Wilton 2000 144Cavallini 2003 57 Despite playing on with only ten men, the Corinthians still managed to win 2–1.Chalk Holley 1987 24–25Cavallini 2003 57 Two days later, Southampton entertained Rangers, the newly crowned Scottish Football League champions, with the Saints going down by the single goal.Chalk Holley 1987 211 Player statistics PositionNationalityNameLeagueappsLeaguegoalsFA CupappsFA CupgoalsTotalappsTotalgoals FWScotland Robert Buchanan Robert Buchanan (footballer, born 1867) 2 0 0 0 2 0 FWEngland Sid Cavendish 0 0 0 0 0 0HBEngland Arthur Chadwick1720 0 172HBScotland Geordie Dewar 400 040 FBEngland Peter Durber1603019 0 3 HBEnglandFrank Englefield 00 00 00FWScotland Walter Fairgrieve 1 0 0 01 0FWScotland Abe Hartley21 14 322416FBEngland Harry Haynes2123 0242 GKEngland John Joyce John Joyce (footballer)000000 FWScotland Watty Keay1063 0136 FWScotland Jim McKenzie Jim McKenzie (footballer)630 063 FWScotland Duncan McLean Duncan McLean (footballer born 1874)8 30 08 3FWScotland Roddy McLeod3 00 03 0FBScotland Peter Meechan Peter Meechan (footballer)1503 0180 FBScotland Samuel Meston1813 0211 FBScotland Tom Nicol813 1112 HBScotland Bob Petrie 913 0121 HBScotland John Robertson John Robertson (footballer born 1877) 19 0 3 0220 GKEngland Jack Robinson Jack Robinson (footballer born 1870)2403 0270 FWEngland George Seeley footballer 8 1 00 8 1FWEngland Tom Smith Tom Smith (footballer born 1877)1410 0141HBEngland Victor Smith Victor Smith (English footballer)000000 FWScotland David Steven9 2 0 09 2FWEngland Harry Wood Harry Wood (footballer, born 1868)2416 302716FWEngland Jimmy Yates 7000 70 Key GK — Goalkeeper FB — Full back HB — Half back FW — Forward Transfers In DatePositionNameFrom May 1898FW Sid Cavendish Overseal TownMay 1898HB Geordie Dewar New Brighton TowerMay 1898FB Peter Durber StokeMay 1898FW Frank Englefield FreemantleMay 1898FW Walter Fairgrieve Glasgow PerthshireMay 1898FW Abe Hartley LiverpoolMay 1898GK John Joyce Overseal TownSummer 1898FW Jim McKenzie ClydeFebruary 1899FW Duncan McLean CowesApril 1899FW Roddy McLeod Brighton United August 1898FBPeter Meechan EvertonMay 1898HB John Robertson EvertonAugust 1898GK Jack Robinson New Brighton TowerSummer 1898FW George Seeley Eastville RoversSummer 1898FW Tom Smith Preston North EndMay 1898FW Harry Wood Wolverhampton Wanderers Departures DatePositionNameToSummer 1898FW Bob Brown Queens Park RangersMay 1898GK George Clawley StokeSummer 1898FW Jack Farrell StokeDecember 1898FW Jim McKenzie RetiredSummer 1898HBWilliam McMillan RetiredSummer 1898FW Willie Naughton Carfin RoversJuly 1898FW Jack Reynolds Bristol St GeorgeMay 1898 FW Joe Turner Stoke References Bibliography Match of the Millennium Bull David Brunskell, Bob Hagiology Publishing 2000 0-9534474-1-3 Bull Brunskell 2000 Cavallini Rob Play Up Corinth – A History of the Corinthian Football Club Tempus Publishing 2007 0-7524-4479-4 Cavallini 2003 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 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 Iain Wilton C.B. Fry: An English Hero Metro Books 2000 978-1-86066-180-8 External links Southampton football club match record: 1899 All Southampton football club players: 1899 Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton