Another player is James Sharp, who is a splendid outside right. In him you have a reminder that skill may make up for lack of inches. He is only 5 ft. 7 in., but he is one of the men who have worked hard to attain their position and also to keep it. He can dribble well, feint, pass, shoot, and yet keep control of the ball. He came from Hereford, where he was a member of the local club, and after two seasons went to Everton. In his every action you can see the man who plays for his club. He is determined and strong, given to making the most of an opportunity. It is difficult for the adversary to know what he is going to do. Here is the ideal all-round sportsman. Little wonder he has succeeded so well on the cricket field. He is not content to excel in one department. Once we thought he would become a great fast bowler, then he began to progress as a batsman, and at the moment of writing has concluded a great season for his adopted county, whose fortunes have been very low. He, too, is in business, and life for him is truly strenuous, as his play is. We could do with more player-workers of this modest young man's type.
And if you come to the front line watch V. J. Woodward, our leading gentleman player. The son of an architect living in a house that overlooks the Oval, he learned his game at a school at Clacton, and then resided at Chelmsford, where one day a director of the 'Spurs, happening to know that a match was being played in the County Cup Competition, thought he would have a look, and did so. He was struck with the skill of Vivian J. Woodward as a centre forward, and as the result of a chat he was got to play for Tottenham Hotspur. This was some six years ago. He at once made his mark, and no man was ever so loved by professionals. No fairer player ever stepped on to the field. Note his clean, delightful runs, how unselfish he is; indeed, it was freely reported that he was left out of a series of Internationals because he showed so much consideration for his partners. What a glorious tribute to the sportsmanship of the man! Yes, for clean, clever, aye, cultured forward play, watch V. J. Woodward, who can only get away on Saturdays because he earns his living. He is a grand wicketkeeper and cricket captain who has not the time for county games. And he is a genuine amateur—no riding third class and charging first. He is an honourable performer, who looks to all to play a clean game, and expects the referee to see they do. If such amateurs are to be driven out of the Soccer game by "money-making limited liability companies" and their unending squabbles, it will be a bad day for sport. You can still see Needham, old, I suppose, as players go. What a strategist he is. His play is that of the man who loves the game; he can still tackle, pass, defend, and shoot as finely as of old. Of goalkeepers, one can see many. Ashcroft; Sutcliffe; Lunn, of Wolverhampton; Hardy, of Liverpool; Maskery, of Derby County, are all good. There are many misconceptions about the game, and most people think that the referee is compelled to use a whistle. But if you read the laws of the game or the directions to referees, you find that nowhere is he instructed to use a whistle. The word is "signal," but it might be by a trumpet, or a motion of the hands or arms. When the referee "signals," by whistle or otherwise, at the commencement of the game, it means that he is ready and the players can start as soon as they like, but the period of play is counted from the actual kick. The offside rule is very difficult for the spectator; talk to them, and they will tell you confidently that no player can be offside if he has three of the opposition in front of him, that is, nearer to their own goal. Yet, as Mr. William Pickford has pointed out, a player could be offside with eleven opponents in front of him. It is not likely, but it could happen. If a player has not three opponents in front of him when the ball was last played by one of his own side, who was behind him, he is offside, and he remains so till someone else plays the ball, and if in the interval the rest of the team ran back on goal he would still be offside.
Again, what is an amateur? Well, conscience will decide in the light of the rule. He must not receive remuneration or consideration of any sort above his necessary hotel expenses and travelling expenses actually paid. The men who pay for their sport are getting fewer and fewer. It is a pity. But on these and many other points you can obtain valuable booklets from the F.A., 104, High Holborn, London, W.C. They publish also a referees' chart, with the interpretation that is officially put upon many rules. They are mines of useful information for those who know but little of the game.
It would seem as if the game is rapidly spreading on the Continent, and every country takes up the sport save Turkey and Russia. England is the mentor, and the Football Association have a great work. It may be that the love of sport will so grow that ere many years are over we shall see several European teams competing here year by year. In the early stages of the development the game will be amateur, but later on will come the paid player. One writer says, "No money, no first-class football." This is rubbish; it is much to be regretted, such a sentiment, for we can get the highest skill from those who play for the love of the game. The giants of the past who created the present demand were unpaid, and the future will still produce those who will not play for gold.
CHAPTER XIII.
A Few Famous Cup-Ties.
The English Cup is probably a bigger attraction to a footballer than any other. To a Scottish footballer his International cap against England is to achieve the height of his ambition, but somehow in England, to participate in the final at the Crystal Palace in April is the heart's desire of the average player. There is a glamour surrounding the English Cup Competition that nothing else can compare with.
I well remember when the Scottish clubs were entitled to enter into the arena, and such great clubs as Queen's Park, Glasgow Rangers, Cowlairs, Heart of Midlothian entering in the lists against the best clubs that prevailed at the time in England. Queen's Park, still the premier amateur club in Scotland, also the Heart of Midlothian, made history in this competition, but the first-named must be given the laurels.
There are still many old players in Scotland who maintain that in the first year, when they were beaten by Blackburn Rovers, the result should have gone the other way. As it was before my day I cannot, naturally, go into the matter as thoroughly as I should desire, but when such players as Messrs. Smellie and Campbell have assured me that they should have had the victory, I rather feel inclined to believe their statement. Queen's Park, as already stated, were for many years the greatest club in Scotland, and they played the game for the love of it, for when in the two finals which were played at the Oval most of their members had to travel overnight to play on the following day, which speaks for itself. A great deal has been said, as well as written, about this matter, and it is often asked if the "Queens" deserved to win.
Perhaps the finest Cup-tie that has been seen at the Palace was the meeting of Everton and Aston Villa in 1897. I had thought at one time to participate in this final, but after playing three rounds I got knocked out, and was unable to play. I must say that my substitute at centre forward did exceedingly well, and I could not grumble in any way at being left out. The ordinary London man will always remember this match, when the Villa eventually finished winners by three goals to two. I followed it very keenly, and in one way my sympathy went to the losers, because there was little or nothing to choose between them.