1898–99 Small Heath F.C. season

December 2014 December 2014 Small Heath F.C. 1898–99 Alfred Jones Secretary Walter W. Hart Ground Coventry Road Football League Second Division 8th FA Cup Second round (eliminated by Stoke) Birmingham Senior Cup Second round (eliminated by Aston Villa) Staffordshire Senior Cup Second round (eliminated by Walsall) Birmingham Charity Cup First round (eliminated by West Bromwich Albion) Walter Abbott (34) Walter Abbott (42) 10,000 (three matches) 2,000 vs Darwen (26 November 1898) 1897–98 1899–1900 _navyborder _smallheath1893 _navyborder Team ADD8E6 ADD8E6 FFFFFF 000080 The 1898–99 Football League season was Small Heath's seventh in the Football League and their fifth in the Second Division. With four games of the seasons remaining, they were in fourth place, two points below the promotion positions, but a draw and three defeats in those last four games left them with an eight-place finish in the 18-team league. They also took part in the 1898–99 FA Cup, entering at the third qualifying round and progressing to the second round proper (round of 16), at which stage they were eliminated by Stoke after a replay. In local cup competitions, Small Heath reached the second round of the Birmingham Cup and Staffordshire Cup, and lost to West Bromwich Albion in the first round of the Mayor of Birmingham's Charity Cup. Twenty-three players made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Walter Abbott scored 42 goals, of which 34 were scored in the league, a season's best for the Second Division. Both totals remain 2012 y club records. Abbott, half back Alex Leake and forward Sid Wharton each played in all 40 league and FA Cup matches over the season, and three other players missed only one such game. Background In the 1897–98 season, Small Heath finished sixth in the 16-team Second Division, nine points behind the promotion test match positions. After the test match series left two teams needing to play out a goalless draw in their final match for both to be promoted, which unsurprisingly is what happened, the Football League's Annual General Meeting agreed that the First Division be extended from 16 to 18 clubs and that the top two teams in the Second Division at the end of each season should automatically replace the bottom two teams in the First. A vote was taken on the teams to take the two additional places in the First Division; Small Heath came fourth in the vote, so remained in the Second Division for the 1898–99 season.Division 2 1897/98. Footballsite.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2020."The Football League". The Standard (London): p.2. 21 May 1898. They were again awarded exemption only for the first two rounds of the qualifying competition for the FA Cup."English Cup. Exempted Clubs". Leicester Chronicle: p.6. 6 August 1898. A Football League committee ruled on irregularities in the transfer of Jimmy Inglis to Southern League club Swindon Town. The transfer took place on a Sunday, contrary to league rules, and the forms were falsified. The player was suspended for the first month of the coming season, two Swindon Town directors were suspended for three months, each club was fined £10, and each secretary was warned as to his future conduct."Football". The Dundee Courier & Argus: p.6. 13 July 1898. Apart from Jack Kirton, who also joined Swindon,"Athletics". The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post: p.3. 29 August 1898. and Charlie Hare, who left the club for Watford of the Southern League, having "secured a business engagement" in that town,'Spider' (26 August 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.11. the remaining players signed on again for the new season. Great things were expected of Bob McRoberts, the pacy and skilful Gainsborough Trinity centre forward for whom Small Heath paid a £150 transfer fee."Prospects of the Football Season". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.5. 19 August 1898.Matthews (1995), Complete Record, p.109. There were no changes to the team's kit of light blue shirts with navy collar trim, cuffs and pocket, white knickerbockers and navy socks.Birmingham City. Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 25 April 2012. Review September–October Burton Swifts led Small Heath at half time in the first game of the league season. Early in the second half, debutant Bob McRoberts tapped in to equalise after Sid Wharton's fierce shot could only be parried, then Swifts regained the lead via a twice-taken penalty, but the game was one-sided thereafter, and the final score was 6–2 to the visitors."Small Heath v. Burton Swifts". Manchester Guardian: p.9. 5 September 1898. The Nottinghamshire Guardians correspondent thought Small Heath "appeared a well-balanced team all round.""Sports and Pastimes". Nottinghamshire Guardian: p.3. 10 September 1898. A comfortable victory followed at home to Lincoln City on the Tuesday. Billy Bennett opened the scoring, Alex Leake contributed a penalty, and Walter Abbott took his tally to four from two games."Small Heath v. Lincoln City". The Standard (London): p.6. 6 September 1898. In front of a large crowd at Coventry Road, Burslem Port Vale continued their winning opening to the season. The Dart was unimpressed by the home team's shooting – "fully half-a-dozen excellent chances were missed right in front of goal", including a Leake penalty.'Spider' (16 September 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.11. Small Heath took a three-goal lead in the first round of the Mayor of Birmingham's Charity Cup, but visitors West Bromwich Albion scored four times in the second half to progress to the semi-final. In the absence of Henry Clutterbuck, Ike Webb made his Football League debut in goal in a comfortable 3–1 win at home to Barnsley, newly elected to the Second Division."Small Heath v. Barnsley". The Standard (London): p.7. 19 September 1898. The Dart enthused about McRoberts, who "again gave a creditable display and scored one magnificent goal, after as pretty a run as I have witnessed in many a day", but was concerned about the quality of his teammates.'Spider' (23 September 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. September ended with a trip to Loughborough which "on paper ... appeared a certainty for the Heathens, but in actual play Loughborough were the masters, and richly deserved two points instead of one.""Sports and Pastimes". Nottinghamshire Guardian: p.3. 1 October 1898. This was the first match of the season in which Abbott failed to score. Grimsby Town achieved their first win of the season, by two goals to nil at home to Small Heath,"Grimsby Town v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.6. 10 October 1898. despite the visitors' insistence that the second should not have counted as the ball had entered the goal through the side netting. In the second half, McRoberts hit the post and Grimsby had a third "goal" disallowed for offside."Grimsby Town v. Small Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.3. 10 October 1898. The first-round Staffordshire Cup-tie at Wolverhampton Wanderers was drawn, the home goalkeeper saving a penalty. Playing with a vocal crowd of 5,000 spectators and a strong wind behind them, Small Heath's first two goals against Newton Heath were disallowed, both for offside, before they conceded against the run of play, but they then took advantage of the conditions to score three times before half-time, through Abbott, Walton and Robertson. Against the wind, they changed their style of play: "they no longer indulged in short passing, but in long kicking and rushing", the defence, particularly Billy Pratt stood firm, and Inglis made the final score 4–1."Small Heath v. Newton Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 17 October 1898. The Dart picked out McRoberts, who "played a clever game in the centre", and Walton and Inglis as "a decided improvement" on Bennett and Good on the right wing.'Spider' (21 October 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. Away from home, results were different. New Brighton Tower had no difficulty in remaining unbeaten, overcoming Small Heath by four goals, all scored in the first half."New Brighton Tower v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.10. 24 October 1898. Back at Coventry Road, Small Heath knocked Wolverhampton Wanderers out of the Staffordshire Cup by six goals to four, and enjoyed a comfortable win in the third qualifying round of the FA Cup, defeating Chirk 8–0 with three goals from Walton, two each by Abbott and Inglis, and one from Leake. November–December In front of 7,000 spectators, Woolwich Arsenal outclassed Small Heath in a match where Clutterbuck played well to keep their score down to two."Woolwich Arsenal v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.8. 7 November 1898. According to the Penny Illustrated Paper, "the game was of lively character, but by no means high class from the football point of view. However, the Arsenal won, and the crowd were satisfied, their feeling of exultation being heightened by the fact that the visitors inclined to unfair tactics in the effort to alter the score.""League Matches". The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times (London): p.314. 12 November 1898. In a match "hardly up to cup tie standard", Walsall eliminated Small Heath from the Staffordshire Cup. New signing Arthur Gardner scored twice and William Robertson three times as Small Heath began a run of high-scoring games with a 9–0 win at home to Luton Town."Woolwich Arsenal v. Small Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 14 November 1898. They went one better at home to Druids in the FA Cup, McRoberts contributing a hat-trick,"Small Heath v. Druids". The Standard (London): p.10. 21 November 1898. and in front of the lowest league crowd of the season, around 2,000, "completely outplayed" Darwen, Walter Abbott scoring five of his team's eight goals."Small Heath v. Darwen". The Standard (London): p.10. 28 November 1898. Small Heath failed to continue their winning ways at Gainsborough Trinity, the home side equalising with a last-minute penalty."Gainsborough Trinity v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.8. 5 December 1898. The Dart predicted Burslem Port Vale might prove stiffer opposition in the FA Cup than did Chirk and Druids in the previous rounds,'Spider' (2 December 1898). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. but in a game "too one-sided to be really interesting", Small Heath progressed into the competition proper by seven goals to nil."Football Notes". The Standard (London): p.2. 12 December 1898. In a game "contested in spiritless fashion", Small Heath knocked Burton Wanderers out of the Birmingham Cup,"Birmingham Cup". The Standard (London): p.2. 13 December 1898. the 4–0 score completing a sequence of six home games in which they scored no fewer than 49 goals. The Owl acknowledged that if their away form were in any way comparable, promotion would be "a foregone conclusion", but "they have fared very badly away from home, and there will have to be a vast improvement in their form in "out" matches if they are to overtake Newton Heath and Manchester City" at the top of the division."No title". The Owl (Birmingham): p.4. 16 December 1898. Sid Wharton starred in an expected win at Glossop North End,"Glossop North End v. Small Heath". The Standard (London): p.10. 19 December 1898. preceding a close game at home to Walsall in which "feeling ran high, and the whistle was going frequently for free kicks", settled by a McRoberts goal after an hour."Small Heath v. Walsall". Manchester Guardian: p.3. 26 December 1898. In pouring rain on Boxing Day, Small Heath beat Blackpool 5–0,"Small Heath v. Blackpool". The Standard (London): p.8. 27 December 1898. and the next day, in similar weather, a large crowd turned up to see Manchester City team lose 4–1. The Manchester Guardian gave credit where due: "The visitors, however, did not come quite up to expectation, though no liberties could be taken with them. The home side played exceedingly well"."Small Heath v. Manchester City". Manchester Guardian: p.2. 28 December 1898. The year finished with a fourth consecutive win, this time at home to Burton Swifts, who "made a better show than Manchester did on Tuesday" but still lost 4–1."Small Heath v. Burton Swifts". The Yorkshire Herald: p.2. 2 January 1899. January–February Going into the new year in fourth position in the table, three points behind the leaders with a game in hand, the club committee were reported to have offered the players "special inducements" to achieve promotion.'Spider' (6 January 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. They began the year with a defeat; on a pitch in "wretched" condition, Burslem Port Vale scored the only goal three minutes from the end of an even game."Burslem Port Vale v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.9. 9 January 1899. At Barnsley, the home side were three goals to the good after only 15 minutes. After the interval, McRoberts and Barnsley's John McCartney were spoken to by the referee for "getting keen", the visitors rallied, then scored from a scramble after the ball hit the crossbar. With 20 minutes remaining, Barnsley scored a fourth, and the visitors were beaten. Although Wharton scored a second near the end, the final score was 7–2."Barnsley v. Small Heath". The. Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 16 January 1899. In the second round of the Birmingham Cup, played "in terrible weather, and with the pitch in fearful condition", former Small Heath hero Fred Wheldon scored twice to secure a draw for Aston Villa. Conditions had not improved by the next league game. "Scientific football was quite out of the question" as Small Heath, playing with "tremendous dash", beat Loughborough 6–1, with three goals for Abbott, two for Wharton, and a first goal for Harry Wilcox."Small Heath v. Loughborough". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 23 January 1899. The players underwent "special preparation" for the first-round FA Cup-tie at home to Manchester City.'Spider' (20 January 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. 20 January 1899. According to the Sheffield Independent, "probably the visitors, Manchester City, are the more skilful team, but Small Heath are gluttons for goals at Coventry road, and there is likely to be a very lively hour and half's play".'Centre Forward' (28 January 1899). "Football Notes". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.11. A crowd estimated at between 15,000 and 18,000 attended to witness that prediction prove accurate."Small Heath v. Manchester City". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 30 January 1899."Small Heath v. Manchester City". Manchester Guardian: p.9. 30 December 1898. Early goals from Abbott and City's George Dougal preceded Small Heath taking a half-time lead via "a very clever piece of work" by McRoberts. City were "showing perhaps the greater skill, but Small Heath working most pluckily". After an equaliser from Billie Gillespie, Small Heath "had more than one easy chance of scoring, the men missing opportunities which should have been utilised", until five minutes from time, McRoberts gave them the victory. Cab-drivers who regularly transported football followers from Aston Villa's ground back to the city centre were hopeful of taking advantage of the large attendance to do the same from Small Heath. However, they had few takers, "quite half the brakes returned to the centre of the city empty", and the Owl wondered if one might infer that "those who go to Aston can afford to ride, whereas those who patronise Small Heath find it cheaper to walk"."No title". The Owl (Birmingham): p.12. 3 February 1899. Without Pratt, Leake and Inglis, Small Heath lost the Birmingham Cup replay 5–2. On a slippery surface, Abbott opened the scoring at home to Grimsby Town straight from the kick-off, James Cockshutt equalised from a penalty, and Robertson scored the winner near the end, to put his team fifth in the table, two points behind the promotion places with a game in hand."Small Heath v. Grimsby Town". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 6 February 1899. Drawn at First Division Stoke in the second round of the FA Cup, Small Heath were a goal behind at the interval and had lost McRoberts to a broken collarbone. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they had the wind in their favour, and took the lead ten minutes into the second half through Abbott and wharton. The lead did not last long, and despite a frantic finish, the match was drawn."Stoke v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 13 February 1899. Wilcox took McRoberts' place for the replay four days later. In a game "contested in a most lively fashion" despite the heavy pitch, Stoke took a two-goal lead, Inglis pulled one back for Small Heath, but the home side were eliminated."Small Heath v. Stoke". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 16 February 1899. Missing Gardner and Robertson through suspension,"Small Heath v. New Brighton Tower". Manchester Guardian: p.5. 20 February 1899. and also without full-back Archer, Small Heath nevertheless beat New Brighton Tower 3–2 in a "wonderfully fine game", Wilcox supplying the late winner."Small Heath v. New Brighton". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 20 February 1899. A "disappointing" Small Heath team "fought bravely" but lost 2–0 at Newton Heath"Small Heath v. Newton Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 27 February 1899. to go into March in sixth place, still with games on hand on those above them. The club confirmed that McRoberts had returned home to Scotland to recover from the injury that was expected to keep him out for the rest of the season, and that he had agreed to renew his contract for the following season despite interest from First Division clubs.'Spider' (3 March 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6. March–April Having failed to sign Walsall's Scottish centre-forward Tommy Vail on loan, Wilcox again filled in for McRoberts at home to Woolwich Arsenal. On a rain-soaked pitch and during a first-half hailstorm, Small Heath completed a comfortable victory."Small Heath v. Woolwich Arsenal". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 6 March 1899. Will Devey returned from non-League football to open the scoring away at Blackpool, but the home team equalised soon after the interval, and were judged unfortunate not to take both points.'Spider' (10 March 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.6."Blackpool v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.10. 9 March 1899. Using as an illustration the £10 apiece "besides special prizes from the committee and tradespeople" to be received by Small Heath's players should they achieve promotion, the Manchester Times reported with disapproval on the concept of success-related bonus payments. Where "one would naturally and fairly conclude that like honest men [players] have done the best they can for their employers", said employers offer additional rewards "which it is expected will stimulate the players to renewed exertions", "the whole proceeding being a stigma on sport, stamping it with a ring of low commercialism that is very obnoxious to the old lover of amateur football.""Football. Notes and Comments". Manchester Times: p.8. 10 March 1899. Luton Town's poor run continued with a 3–2 defeat at home to Small Heath, coming back from two goals down but then conceding a second-half penalty."Second Division". Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper: p.24. 12 March 1899. A three-nil home defeat left Small Heath in fifth place in the table, three points behind the day's opponents, Leicester Fosse, in third and four behind the promotion places."Football Notes". Northern Echo: p.4. 21 March 1899. The visit to Darwen saw the unexpected return from injury of Bob McRoberts, who scored an equalising goal, but the draw, against a team with only six points at this late stage of the season, dropped Small Heath to sixth place in the table."Darwen v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.9. 27 March 1899. Their poor results continued at Lincoln City, where they needed an apparently offside goal from Billy Bennett to come back from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw."Lincoln City v. Small Heath". Liverpool Mercury: p.8. 1 April 1899. Despite losing full-back Billy Pratt to a dislocated collarbone in the first half, Small Heath beat Gainsborough Trinity 6–1 to raise their goals tally to more than that of any team either division."Association". Liverpool Mercury: pp.6–7. 3 April 1899. Walter Wigmore, who joined Small Heath from Gainsborough in March for a £150 fee to resume his forward partnership with McRoberts,"Gainsbro' Trinity Football Club". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.9. 10 April 1899. scored twice against his former club. A one-nil friendly win against West Bromwich Albion preceded the return fixture with Gainsborough, won by Small Heath by a single goal in a match where the visitors "rarely crossed the centre line" in the second half and the home side missed numerous chances."Gainsbro' Trinity v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 6 April 1899. The win took Small Heath up to fourth place, two points behind the second promotion position with four matches remaining. The visit to league leaders Manchester City produced a two-goal defeat. Playing into the sun and wind, Small Heath were mostly on the defensive, and Clutterbuck played well to keep City at bay. On change of ends, the visitors improved, but City full backs Di Jones and Dick Ray were on top form. In the last twenty minutes, City were on top, and Fred Williams scored twice, the second coming from a penalty after Billy Meredith was fouled."Manchester City v. Small Heath". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 10 April 1899. Off the field, the West Midlands clubs submitted a complaint to the football authorities about attempts by the southern clubs to poach their players, which led to the suspension of "an agent of a well-known Southern club" and the temporary closure of Thames Ironworks' ground."An Impending Sensation". The North-Eastern Daily Gazette: p.3. 15 April 1899."The Football Association". The Yorkshire Herald: p.7. 8 May 1899. In a game "contested with warmth" in which "the referee's whistle was often heard", McRoberts gave the home team a short-lived lead against second-placed Glossop North End, but the match was drawn, leaving it extremely unlikely, albeit still mathematically possible, for Small Heath to be promoted."Small Heath v. Glossop North End". Manchester Guardian: p.7. 17 April 1899. After Abbott missed an early penalty at Walsall, Small Heath put up a poor performance to lose 2–0,"Walsall v. Glossop North End". The Yorkshire Herald: p.7. 24 April 1899. and the league programme ended at Leicester Fosse. Neither club fielded a full-strength team, and an "interesting" game finished goalless."Leicester Fosse v. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.8. 1 May 1899. Summary and aftermath After being close to the second promotion place throughout the season, Small Heath eventually finished eighth, five points behind second-placed Glossop North End and a further six behind champions Manchester City. They scored more goals than any other team in the division except Manchester City, and scored more at home than any other, but their away record was poor. The Dart suggested that "the backs are all right, the defect that needs remedying is the half-back line, which is hardly up to the necessary standard."'Spider' (28 April 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.10. Of the 47 players registered for the club during the season, 23 made at least one appearance in nationally organised first-team competition, and there were thirteen different goalscorers. Walter Abbott scored 42 goals, of which 34 were scored in the league, a season's best for the Second Division. Both totals remain (2012 y) club records.The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF) list Abbott as having scored a divisional best 33 goals in the Second Division,Ross, James M. (12 June 2009). English League Leading Goalscorers. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 19 February 2012. but the club records him as having scored 34.Birmingham City Football Club Records https://web.archive.org/web/20110720181014/http://www.bcfc.com/page/Records/0%2C%2C10412%2C00.html 20 July 2011. Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 19 February 2012. Abbott, half back Alex Leake and forward Sid Wharton each played in all 40 league and FA Cup matches over the season, and goalkeeper Henry Clutterbuck and full backs Arthur Archer and Billy Pratt missed only one such game. Off the field, the club made a profit of £755, which was the second highest in the Second Division, albeit way behind Woolwich Arsenal's £3,643, despite Small Heath's gate receipts exceeding those of Arsenal by £360.Lockett, Henry (Secretary to the Football League) (16 September 1898). Leicester Chronicle: p.3. 4 November 1899. Abbott left for First Division club Everton for a fee of £250 plus the proceeds of a midweek friendly match,Minute Book No. 2. Everton F.C. p.44. via The Everton Collection. William Robertson signed for Bristol Rovers,"Professional Football. Bristol Rovers". The Bristol Mercury: p.3. 1 May 1899. and Clutterbuck joined Southern League club Queens Park Rangers.Westerberg, Kenneth. 1899/00 (Excel spreadsheet). QPRNet. Ron Norris. Retrieved 3 March 2020. Walter Main, a forward from Scottish club Airdrieonians, was "expected to be a worthy successor to Abbott",'Spider' (25 August 1899). "Football Arrows". The Birmingham Pictorial and Dart: p.5. and half-back Tom Farnall returned from Bristol Rovers."Prospects of the Principal Clubs. Small Heath". The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent: p.7. 30 August 1899. Match details Football League Second Division DateLeaguepositionOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance3 September 18987thBurton SwiftsAW6–2Abbott 2, McRoberts 2, Dunlop, Leake3,0005 September 18982ndLincoln CityHW4–1Bennett, Leake, Abbott 23,00010 September 18984thBurslem Port ValeHL1–2Abbott10,00017 September 18984thBarnsley St Peter'sHW3–1McRoberts, Abbott, Wharton3,00024 September 18984thLoughboroughAD1–1McRoberts2,0008 October 18987thGrimsby TownAL0–22,00015 October 18984thNewton HeathHW4–1Abbott, Walton, Robertson, Inglis5,00022 October 18989thNew Brighton TowerAL0–43,0005 November 189810thWoolwich ArsenalAL0–27,00012 November 18989thLuton TownHW9–0Gardner 2, McRoberts, Wharton, Inglis, Robertson 3, Abbott4,00026 November 18987thDarwenHW8–0Gardner 2, Abbott 5 (1 pen), McRoberts2,0003 December 18987thGainsborough TrinityAD1–1Gardner1,50017 December 18988thGlossop North EndAW2–1Abbott, Inglis1,00024 December 18986thWalsallHW2–1Gardner, McRoberts6,50026 December 18985thBlackpoolHW5–0Inglis, Walton, Abbott 2, McRoberts4,00027 December 18985thManchester CityHW4–1Abbott 2, Inglis, McRoberts10,00031 December 18984thBurton SwiftsHW4–1McRoberts, Gardner 2, Abbott4,0007 January 18995thBurslem Port ValeAL0–14,00014 January 18996thBarnsleyAL2–7Abbott, Robertson2,00021 January 18995thLoughboroughHW6–0Abbott 3, Wharton 2, Wilcox3,0004 February 18995thGrimsby TownHW2–1Abbott, Robertson6,00018 February 18995thNew Brighton TowerHW3–2Abbott 2, Wilcox9,50025 February 18996thNewton HeathAL0–22,0004 March 18995thWoolwich ArsenalHW4–1Abbott 3, Wharton3,0008 March 18996thBlackpoolAD1–1Devey2,00011 March 18994thLuton TownAW3–2Abbott 3 (1 pen)1,00018 March 18995thLeicester FosseHL0–310,00025 March 18996thDarwenAD1–1McRoberts2,00031 March 18996thLincoln CityAD2–2Wigmore, Bennett5,0001 April 18994thGainsborough TrinityHW6–1Abbott 3, Wigmore 2, Bennett6,0008 April 18995thManchester CityAL0–220,00015 April 18997thGlossop North EndHD1–1McRoberts6,00022 April 18998thWalsallAL0–24,00029 April 18998thLeicester FosseAD0–04,000 + Final Second Division table (part)PosClubPldWDLFAGAPts6Walsall341512779362.19417Woolwich Arsenal341851172411.76418Small Heath341771085501.70419Burslem Port Vale341751256341.653910Grimsby Town341551471601.1835Key: Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn;L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = PointsSource:League Division Two table at close of 1898–99 season. 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 10 January 2019. Select date if required via dropdown menus. FA Cup 1898–99 FA Cup RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance3rd qual29 October 1898ChirkHW8–0Walton 3, Inglis 2, Abbott 2, Leake3,0004th qual19 November 1898DruidsHW10–0Abbott 2, McRoberts 3, Gardner, Inglis 2, Leake, Hughes og4,0005th qual10 December 1898Burslem Port ValeHW7–0Gardner, McRoberts, Abbott 3, Wharton, Inglis7,0001st round28 January 1899Manchester CityHW3–2Abbott, McRoberts 215,3992nd round11 February 1899StokeAD2–2McRoberts, Wharton16,0002nd round replay15 February 1899StokeHL1–2Inglis14,379 Mayor of Birmingham's Charity Cup Birmingham Charity Cup RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceRefFirst12 September 1898West Bromwich AlbionHL3–4Oakes, Abbott, Good3,000"Birmingham Charity Cup. Semi-Final". The Standard (London): p.9. 13 September 1898.Matthews, Tony & Mackenzie, Colin (1987). Albion! A Complete Record of West Bromwich Albion 1879–1987. Derby: Breedon Books. p.207. 0-907969-23-2. Note that the match was not the semi-final, as the newspaper source suggests; West Bromwich Albion lost to Walsall in the semi-final, and Walsall lost to Aston Villa in the final. Birmingham Cup Birmingham Senior Cup RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceRefFirst round12 December 1898Burton WanderersHW4–0McRoberts 2, Arthur Gardner, Abbott"Small"Second round16 January 1899Aston VillaHD2–2Wilcox, AbbottNot known"Birmingham Cup. Second Round". The Leeds Mercury: p.10. 17 January 1899.Second round replay30 January 1899Aston VillaAL2–5Wharton, Abbott10,000"Birmingham Cup". The Leeds Mercury: p.10. 31 January 1899. Staffordshire Cup Staffordshire Senior Cup RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceRefFirst round10 October 1898Wolverhampton WanderersAD1–1Not known2,000"Staffordshire Cup (First Round)". Manchester Guardian: p.9. 11 October 1898.First round replay24 October 1898Wolverhampton WanderersHW6–4Not knownNot known"The Staffordshire Cup". The Standard (London): p.8. 25 October 1898.Second round7 November 1898WalsallHL1–3Not knownNot known"Football". Glasgow Herald: p.11. 8 November 1898. Other matches Source:Matthews (2010), p. 488. DateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance Notes3 April 1899West Bromwich AlbionHW1–0Gardner"Small"Friendly match"Other Association Matches". The Standard (London): p.8. 4 April 1899.LeekHW2–1Not knownFriendly matchGainsborough TrinityAW1–0Not knownFriendly match Appearances and goals This table includes appearances and goals in nationally organised competitive matchesthe Football League and FA Cuponly. For a description of the playing positions, see Formation (association football)#2–3–5 (Pyramid). + Players' appearances and goals by competitionNamePositionLeagueFA CupTotalApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoalsApps AppearancesGoals Henry Clutterbuck footballerGoalkeeper33060390 Ike WebbGoalkeeper100010 Arthur Archer footballerFull back33060390 Frank Lester footballerFull back200020 Billy Pratt footballer, born 1874Full back33060390 Thomas Dunlop footballerHalf back9110101 George Layton footballerHalf back200020 Alex LeakeHalf back34262404 William Robertson footballer, born 1874Half back32761388 Billy WaltonHalf back28263345 Walter Abbott Walter Abbott (footballer, born 1877)Forward3434684042 George AdeyForward200020 Billy Bennett footballer, born 1878Forward13300133 Will DeveyForward210021 Arthur Gardner footballerForward169321911 Michael Good footballerForward400040 Jimmy Inglis footballer, born 1872Forward175662311 Bob McRoberts footballerForward2610563116 Thomas Oakes footballerForward201030 Sid WhartonForward34662408 Walter WigmoreForward730073 Harry WilcoxForward9220112 Jack Price footballer, born 1877Forward100010 Notes ReferencesGeneral Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Breedon Books (Derby). 978-1-85983-010-9. Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. DB Publishing (Derby). 978-1-85983-853-2. For match dates, lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances, except where individually cited: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 242–43. Note that attendance figures are estimated.Specific' Category:Birmingham City F.C. seasons Small Heath