1887 The biggest match in the history of Horncastle Town Football Club Aston Villa v Horncastle Town played at Perry Barr

Horncastle Town F. C. in the last 16 of the F. A. Cup ? Yes it was true.  

Horncastle News of February 12th. 1887

Saturday last ought always to be regarded as a red letter day in the football annals of Horncastle. It was a plucky thing to for the representatives of the Horncastle Town Football Club to journey to Perry Barr, the headquarters of the great Aston Villa Football Club, there to antagonise in the fifth round of the National Cup Competitions. There is no necessity for us to review at any length the events which led up to the great excursion of Saturday last, for no doubt they are still fresh in the recollection of most of our readers. At the commencement of the season it seemed almost as if we were not to have any good football at Horncastle. The preceding year had proved a disastrous one, and when the annual meeting was held early in September there did not seem

to be one gleam of sunshine in the picture. However, two or three energetic townsmen took matters in hand, the brothers Turner threw their influence heart and soul into the scale, and the result was that a fairly representative team was speedily got together. It was decided to enter for both the Lincolnshire and National Cups and subsequent events showed that the step taken was a wise one. The first good match of the season was with the Notts. Jardine’s, and the local men although they were entirely out of form, played a grand game and succeeded in making a draw of it, although, on paper it looked as if the odds were greatly in favour of the Jardine’s, who are really a strong team, and their game with Lincoln City shortly after fully demonstrated this. Their first engagement in the National Cup was with Darlington, a team which has on several occasions won the Durham Cup, and they came to Horncastle with a great reputation. How that the “Wongites” scored a splendid triumph, beating their opponents by three goals to one is now a matter of history. Their next notable exploit was a very easy victory over their opponents, the representatives of the town of Louth, in the Lincolnshire Cup. In the third round of the National Cup the “Wongites” were drawn to meet Grantham Town, and how they beat that team by two goals to none will not readily be forgotten. When in the fifth round, or as it is the fashion nowadays to term it, the first round of the second series of the National Cup ties, the Horncastle men were drawn against Aston Villa there was much speculation as to whether they would go to Birmingham and fulfil the engagement, or whether they would scratch. The players who were full of pluck would not consent to the showing of the white feather, and at length the difficulties which stood in the way of chartering an excursion train vanished and preparations were made for the journey to Birmingham. Mr. William Turner the captain, and the members of the team worked hard, and as the day approached they were found to be in capital trim. It was felt that it was attempting a very big thing, but still the players were sure that they could make a good fight of it. This they did, and we are quite sure that although they did not score a victory the whole of the Horncastle players learnt much by their visit to Perry Barr on Saturday last, which is sure to prove a great benefit to them in future contests. The special train was timed to leave Horncastle Station at eight o’clock on Saturday morning. A large crowd gathered on the platform, and it was evident that the warmest possible interest was felt in what was going on by the inhabitants generally. The team members rode in a saloon carriage in which they were accompanied by several friends, including Mr Bellamy, Secretary of the Lincolnshire Football Association. The passengers on the train numbered about one hundred including several of the fair sex. When the signal was given for the start the spectators cheered loudly and wished their favourites good luck. Steadily the train went on, nothing occurring at Kirkstead or Bardney to call for comment. At Lincoln it had been expected that a large party would have joined the train, but not more than half a dozen got in. At Grantham there was a regular crowd on the platform many of whom were booked to go by train. Amongst the rest was Mr Hutchinson, captain of Grantham Football Club, who had been appointed by the Association to act as umpire for Horncastle. No more unsatisfactory arrangement could possibly have been made, and the result as stated below will clearly show this. Perhaps Mr Hutchinson did his duty to the best of his ability, but suppose that be so, he ought not again to be appointed to such an important post. He did the Horncastle men a grievous wrong in not claiming the goal which Robinson kicked about three minutes after the opening of the game. Both the Birmingham Press and the spectators hesitated not to say it was a fair goal and so it was. Still Mr Hutchinson in his anxiety to further the interests of Horncastle, did not make a claim. But we are digressing. At this place, much to the regret of everyone Mr. Bellamy left the train in obedience to a telegram announcing the serious illness of his father and summonsing him back immediately to Spilsby. From Grantham the train went on to Colwick Junction, and from thence to Derby where there was a welcome halt. The next station stopped at was Burton on Trent, near the station of which is Messrs. Allsopps great brewery, said to be one of the finest establishments of the kind in the world. Even at the railway station the atmosphere seemed strongly impregnated with the odour of beer, and on either side were immense pyramids of barrels which may be regarded as ample proof that as yet the temperance reformers have not succeeded in stamping out the demand for that famous beverage, Burton Beer. From Burton to Birmingham the journey takes about an hour and a half to accomplish. The scenery is flat and by no means pretty or picturesque. At a quarter to one the New Street Station, Birmingham, was reached, and when the train pulled up several members of the Aston Villa Club Committee presented themselves and gave the Horncastle footballers a very hearty welcome. These gentlemen at once led the way to the Colonnade Hotel where those who were so disposed- and most of the party were hungry and thirsty after the long ride -partook of luncheon in the grand dining saloon which there is in connection with this most comfortable and well appointed hotel. The players at once went upstairs to refresh themselves by washing, to have a preparatory rub down, and to don their football attire. Birmingham is a wonderfully nice town with a series of fine streets, and the visitors found it a very easy matter to occupy their time and attention until it was necessary to make their way to Perry Barr, where the match was to be played. There is a good service of trams to Perry Barr, and indeed, to every portion of the district, and in addition, omnibuses, large waggonnettes, and traps of every description run every few minutes. Perry Barr is about two miles and a half on the outskirts of Birmingham, and the ground is a very good one, with plenty of room for the enormous crowds who flock thither on the Saturday afternoon when there is any great match to be decided. It was shortly after the appointed time when the respective teams made their appearance on the ground. The Villa men were of course loudly cheered, and the visitors could not complain of a want of warmth in the reception accorded them. In fact all through the game the spectators behaved extremely well, and they gave repeated proofs of the friendly feeling towards the Horncastle men, cheering them loudly. The Referee, Mr McIntyre, of Manchester, was rather late in arriving, but when he put in an appearance he was cheered by the spectators, and he could not fail to be much gratified with his reception.

Horncastle won the toss and elected to play down hill, the wind and sun being in their favour.

Archie Hunter, the celebrated Aston Villa centre forward, kicked off and passing to his left forwards the ball travelled rapidly up to the Horncastle goal. The visitors who seemed extremely nervous, at once formed up and showed stubborn defence. Vaughton, who tried hard to score, found his efforts unavailing. For about a minute the sphere was kept in dangerous proximity to the visitors fortress, and a foul was claimed and allowed for Horncastle. Then the half backs kicked the ball out and the Villa had a throw in, from which however they did not derive any advantage.

The Horncastle right wing got possession, the brothers J. and W. Turner making their way through the opposing backs, but Simmonds intervened , staved off the danger, and sent the ball flying forward again. The tactics pursued by the Villans just now were really splendid. As the visiting forwards showed a very determined front on the right, it was clear that the ball could not go through towards goal in that direction. Vaughton therefore passed to Archie Hunter, the centre forward, who in turn sent the ball to the half backs Yates passed on to Davies, so that the scene of play was, in a moment almost, shifted from one side of the ground to the other. This grand system of passing back seemed to completely puzzle the Horncastle men, being an entirely different class of football to what they had hitherto been accustomed to, and it was evident to everyone that they were by no means at their ease.

In a moment or two however they recovered themselves, and R. Turner and Tweed resolutely bore down on the Villa forwards, Davis and Albert Brown, who opposed them, the result being a scrimmage of a lively and exciting description, J. Turner got the ball, and he evidently surpassed the Villa players by his speed and skill as a dribbler. He ran the ball well up and made a spanking shot which went over the bar. The spectators cheered loudly, and the incident had a visible effect on the home team, for they went to work most determinedly, and acted together like a piece of machinery, passed the ball from one wing to the other. At this point Tweed put in some very good play, but Albert Brown and Davis overpowered him and carried the strife into the Horncastle quarters. The Horncastle half backs, who seemed now to have settled down well to their work, relieved, and the Horncastle forwards went away up the left. Coulton, who is regarded as a certainty, indulged in a miskick, of which Tweed took advantage and dribbling well got away some distance up the field. A goal looked inevitable, but Simmonds tackled resolutely and getting possession sent the ball well up to the forwards on his side, and Davis worked hard for a goal. J. Green who played most resolutely, kicked out. Profiting by the throw in, Dawson, who has a splendid turn of speed, went towards the visitor’s goal at a great pace, but he spoilt the chance open to him by over running the ball. Just now the Horncastle right forward made a good run up, J. and W. Turner taking the ball between them, and then centring to B. Robinson who shot straight and well. Warner caught the ball in his hands, but he was driven back at least a foot under the bar. Several of the Horncastle men claimed the goal, but their Umpire took not the slightest notice of what they said, and, as he did not appeal, the goal was not allowed, the Referee of course paying no heed to what individuals players said. Thus a goal was lost to Horncastle, and the treatment they had received at the hands of the functionary who had been appointed by the English Association seemed to have a most dispiriting effect upon them. The Aston Villa men pressed, and Horncastle collapsed completely, so far as combination and passing was concerned. J. Turner was awarded a cheer for the way in which he tackled two of the Villa forwards and sent them to grass. The Aston Villa captain won great applause by the cleverness he showed by kicking backwards over his head, and he very nearly obtained a point by it. Some lively give - and - take play ensued, in which there was some resolute tackling, the countrymen showing that although they lacked the science of their opponents, were by no means behind them in pluck. Archie Horner having missed what looked to be an easy chance of scoring, the Horncastle half backs became very busy, and after offering strenuous opposition to the Villa attack the ball was kicked out. From the throw in Davis centred, and Albert Brown being in position shot the leather through the posts and scored the first goal for Aston Villa 10 minutes from the start. As soon as B. Robinson kicked off again Dawson passed the ball to Hodgetts, who raced up the ground, all the Villa forwards being with him, but the Horncastle men rushed in front of goal and played resolutely to stave off the threatened danger. One of the Horncastle half-backs to relieve conceded a corner. Hodgetts took the kick and placed the ball beautifully, but it was soon kicked into the middle of the ground. Albert Brown getting possession tried hard to score but failed, Searby although he could not stop him, interfering sufficiently to prevent the Aston Villa inside right wing increasing the score. The ball went out, and on its being thrown in again Archie Hunter and his right forwards worked beautifully passing the ball in perfect manner. E. Tweed, R. Turner, and J. Green however appeared on the scene, and tackling Davis compelled him to kick out. Chapman, after the ball had been returned to the enclosure, showed defensive powers which earned for him a flattering recognition from the spectators, who certainly seemed anxious to give the visitors encouragement whenever an opportunity offered. Archie Hunter, after a little dodging with the Horncastle right forwards, endeavoured to pass to Davis and Albert Brown, but sent the ball over the line. From the throw in the sphere went to the other side of the ground, and J. Turner and W. Turner made a dashing run. Dawson interposed and returned the ball to the Horncastle territory. The Horncastle right wing came again resolutely, but Yates and Coulton, both of whom played grandly, sent them back again. Davis and Albert Brown both tried to score and as the whole of the Villa forwards kept on pressing the result was a corner. Hodgetts took the corner, placing the ball well, and there was a big struggle in the mouth of the Horncastle goal, at the close of which the ball was got away. Robinson, aided by R. Turner, made a grand run, but, as usual, they were stopped by Coulton, who fully sustained his reputation as being equal to the stoppage of any three or four ordinary men. Searby’s play just now was much cheered, and in the way in which he stopped a grand shot sent in by Rich. Davis was one of the best things of the day. The ball, after being sent back by Searby, was manipulated by Archie Hunter, who passed to Vaughton. The home inside left wing made a grand shot which sent the leather into the hands of Jeffrey. Albert Brown charged the Horncastle custodian, and it was most amusing to see the pair dancing in front of each other. Jeffrey however proved too much tomato for Brown and threw the ball into play, when Robins, J. Turner, and W. Turner went down the right wing with the ball in brilliant style, the spectators cheering them loudly. Simmonds saved, and then the ball travelled up the opposite side of the ground, J. Green finding it necessary to kick out to relieve. The pressure however was speedily renewed and there was a long and fierce scrimmage in front of the Horncastle territory in which nearly all of the players on each side were mixed up, but in the end Albert Brown sent the ball through, and the record stood Aston Villa 2 goals to 0. As soon as the leather was again in motion away went the Villa forwards led by Albert Brown and Vaughton, but Chapman interposed and saved prettily. Now came a grand piece of passing by the Villa captain and his men, and it seemed as if they could do just as they pleased with the ball: Albert Brown passed to the centre forward, who in turn transferred it to one of the half backs, and from the half backs it went forward to Hodgett, the outside left wing, who in turn passed it over to Davis on the extreme right. The Horncastle half backs however showed a bold front, and Davis was obliged to kick out. Some very lively play ensued on the right of the Horncastle goal, and as danger threatened Langley relieved by a huge kick, which sent the sphere into the press waggon. Chiefly through the exertions of Yates the ball was once more worked up to the visitors goal, and Albert Brown, by a regular daisy cutter which travelled with the rapidity of a bullet from a gun, notched the third point for the Villans. From this point up to half time the Villa men kept on bombarding the Horncastle goal, but Jeffrey’s splendid powers of defence, and his throw out and rapid play of the fine shots made against him seemed to delight the spectators. The visitors time after time formed up in the mouth of their goal and showed such a dogged and determined defence that they effectually prevented the opposing record being increased. Some of the critics would have the public believe that the Villa players took things easily and did not try to score but it was just the reverse, for they made the attack as sharp as possible and each and all of them evinced a keen desire to get goals Hodgetts was particularly fierce and in one of his resolute charges he received a severe kick in the thigh which steadied him up for some time. Once Robinson broke away and made a gallant run, but when getting within range of the opposing goal Simmonds who seemed to be the “low comedian “ of the Villa team and a great favourite with everybody, brought him to grass before the brothers Turner could bring their weight to bear on behalf of their colleague. There was a terrific cheer when Jeffrey boldly ran out of goal and threw the ball away in spite of one of the Villa forwards who had upset Langley and caused him to make a miss-kick which placed the fortress in jeopardy. Just after this however Langley fully atoned for his mistake by the splendid way in which he relieved and put an end to a fine in which Davis and Albert Brown were leading the van. When the whistle sounded for half time the sounded the game stood 3 goals to 0 in favour of the Villa.

It was thought after changing ends and having the hill in their favour the home team would pile on a large number of goals, but those anticipations were not realised. The Horncastle players showed greatly improved form, and playing well together and passing prettily they commenced by pressing the cracks and driving them back close into goal. Searby, from centre half-back, made a splendid shot, but it struck the cross bar. Hodgetts had the ball passed to him by his captain and tried to score but could not, and Albert Brown failed in a similar attempt. Again the Horncastle forwards advanced in a body and got through the Villa half-backs, but Coulton saved in fine style. Davis ran up and Jeffrey, knowing that he would have little chance of saving if he remained in the posts and allowed the shot to be made, pluckily ran out a distance of at least 25 yds and kicked the ball half way up the ground. Soon however the Villa forwards bore down again and amidst loud cheers Jeffrey again ran out and cleared his lines. Horncastle claimed a foul near the Villa goal, but they did not profit anything by it, B. Robinson getting possession ran up to the centre of the ground, dodging through the opposing half-backs and eluding Simmonds and Coulton. When within easy range he tried a shot which under ordinary circumstances would have proved a very easy matter for him, but strange to say it went wide of the mark. By this time the Villans had slackened their pace considerably and were not playing with half the dash and precision which they started with. On the other hand the visitors seemed to have increased their pace and seemed to be in much better form. Whenever the Villa attacked, The Horncastle men closed up in front of goal and their defence was capital. Every now and then their forwards broke away, making gallant runs, and several times the brothers Turner and Tweed did very good things, but it seemed that the bad luck which they had at starting stuck to them all the way through. A splendid swift and low shot by Simmonds was beautifully stopped by Chapman, and Jeffrey saved a grand shot by Davis which seemed to be a certain goal. Brown getting possession when the ball was near the home goal ran up the whole length of the ground, dodging through the backs and half-backs, but when it came to the shot he went wide. This was said by good judges one of the finest runs ever made on the Perry Ground. A scrimmage ensued and a foul was given in favour of the visitors close to their goal. J, Turner who was waiting outside a scrimmage, raced down the ground with the ball. He passed everybody but Simmonds, who dispossessed him. W. Turner soon after this did one of the best things of the day, running the ball down nearly the whole length of the ground. The Villa now in quick succession scored goals four and five, the first being to the credit of Archie Hunter and the second to Albert Brown. The rest of the play was of fairly even character. Searby created much merriment by flooring Hodgetts. Jeffrey stopped several good shots with singular cleverness, and although they tried hard Archie and his merry men could notch another point. The chief feature of the concluding portion of the game was a really clever spin by J. Turner; who dodged through the opposing forwards, half-backs, and backs, and judiciously passing to his brother, W. Turner, who shot but to the surprise of everybody failed to score. After this the Horncastle men contented themselves with acting on the defensive, and as Jeffreys did wonders to the opposing cracks could not score. When the whistle blew Aston Villa had won by five goals to nil.

The result was far more favourable to Horncastle than, taking all things into consideration, it could reasonably have been expected to be. One of the Villa was decidedly off side and ought not to have been allowed; while the Horncastle men should have scored three goals. One goal which they were fairly entitled to they lost through their umpire not making a claim, which any other umpire would have done. As to the play of the respective teams there is much to be said. The Villans were in their best form, and as far as condition was concerned could not be improved. they are without doubt one of the best teams in the kingdom, and good judges prophesy that they will be in the final of the National Cup. The result of the match on Saturday last was known from the first to be a foregone conclusion. The Horncastle men were overmatched in every way, and the only cause for surprise is that the record against them was not much heavier. Notwithstanding the disadvantages under which they laboured they played a good game, and the frequent applause of the spectators showed that they recognised considerable merit in them. There were several things which militated against the Horncastle footballers showing their best form at Perry Barr on Saturday last. In the first place, owing to the severe weather, the team had not been able to meet for practice since Christmas, and that fact alone was sufficient to deprive them of all chance of victory against a perfectly trained team of first class professionals who do nothing from one weeks end to the other but play football. Then again they were cruelly let down by Mr Wells-Cole, who had promised to play full-back, but who deserted them and threw in his lot with Lincoln City. Mr. Watson consented to fill the vacancy, but he telegraphed on the Friday morning that as he was selected for Oxford University he could not fulfil his engagement. At the last minute a messenger had to be sent off post haste to Mr Inge, and at a moment’s notice very kindly consented to fill the vacancy which had thus unexpectedly arisen in a most important department. Had there been nothing else in the way, the circumstances that the visitors travelled from Horncastle to Birmingham on the morning before the match was sufficient to destroy any chance they might have possessed. It was a long and tiring journey, and by the time they got on the Perry Barr ground they had all had a great deal taken out of them. It was evident at the outset that the Horncastle men felt that they were at a disadvantage, and there was an entire absence of the dash and pluck which they normally show on the Wong. They soon warmed up however, and before the game was five minutes old they had a fierce attack on the Aston Villa fortress, and had their umpire acted as he ought to have done and claimed on their behalf they would have been allowed the goal which they certainly kicked.

We may here say that we are totally at a loss to understand the action the action of the English Association with regard to the appointment of Mr. Hutchinson of Grantham, as umpire for Horncastle in the match. Mr Hutchinson, it so happens, is captain of Grantham Town Football Club, and as everybody knows, there is still great soreness felt by the by the members of that Club at the decisive way in which they were put out of the English Cup Competition by Horncastle. When it became known who had been appointed to umpire for them it had a most depressing effect on the Horncastle men. The Aston Villa partisans while giving the visitors credit for being a very good country team claimed that their pets won as they liked. We admit they had the advantage all the way through, but no doubt they would have scored a much larger number of goals could they have done so, for they are anxious to make the cup average as good as possible. They did not score more points simply because they could not get through the Horncastle defence, which was of a most stubborn and determined character. Time after time the Horncastle men formed up in front of their goal and resisted the sharp attacks made upon them, admiring their thorough English pluck. The Birmingham Athlete, certainly a most competent authority, speaking of the Wongites says, “that what they saw when pitted against the splendidly-trained men of the Villa will do them a deal of good, they saw how the crack teams play, and the lesson will not be lost on them”. He also remarks : “ In Jeffrey they have a really splendid goalkeeper, quick, active, full of resource, never beaten, and through judgement. He is powerful and sure kick, and uses his hands well. His goal keeping on Saturday was highly creditable to himself and his club. Langley a first rate back game, and deserves special mention for his sterling defence. Searby, the grand old man of the team, was the best of the halves. Well does he deserve the name, grand old man, hard-working , determined, active, and ever in the way. He was soon spotted by the crowd, and ‘ well done whiskers’! ‘ go it old man’! were frequent exclamations of approval. This writer also seems to think well of the visiting forward. He says they lacked combination, he gives them great credit for great pace. “The Turners,” he says, “played a smart game, and Robinson was often conspicuous, and on several occasions came very near to scoring.” The young man who does the business for the Birmingham Sport and Play writes in a funny vein, he evidently looks at everything from comic aspect. He speaks, however, of the splendid run made by J. Turner, and the resolute flooring by the same player of Simmonds, much to that young man’s astonishment. He is evidently of opinion that Horncastle ought to have been credited with the goal kicked by B. Robinson, and says that the people behind the goal declare that it was through. He holds there were two or three first rate dribblers in the team, but they lacked combination, and considering the disadvantage which they laboured , says the visitors may be heartily congratulated on the esprit de corps shown amongst them, “for some of them live a dozen miles apart and do not see each other for weeks at a time. They are a good specimen of a country club.” The Horncastle goalkeeper would, according to Sport and Play, be a “great acquisition to a good team,” The Birmingham Daily Times of Monday had a long description of the match, but it seems that the writer of the article was not nearly so unbiased as the editor of the Athlete. The following appeared in the Daily Times report: “ Amongst the visiting team one man stood head and shoulders above his fellows, in fact his play completely dwarfed the exhibition of any other player on the field. I allude to Jeffrey, the goalkeeper. Anything more dashing than his play in goal I never saw. True it was extremely dangerous, but its rashness was its charm. To see a goal-keeper self-reliant enough to play like the Horncastle custodian did on Saturday is absolutely refreshing.” The forwards, this writer considers were a speedy lot, but owing to want of combination they could make no headway. He is very severe on backs and half-backs as a body, which shows that he was wilfully blind to some very fine play which was recognised and praised by more competent writers.

Taking them as a whole the criticisms of the Birmingham Press cannot be complained of by the Horncastle footballers, who may congratulate themselves that they played a good game with the luck right against them all through. Every member of the team worked hard and is deserving of praise. There was one noticeable feature in their play, and that was the splendid defence they made in opposition to the sharpest pressure which could well be brought to bear against them.

The famous Aston Villa men could not get through them when they fell back and formed up in front of goal, and it will certainly be hard work for any Lincolnshire team to do so. The great fault undoubtedly was a want of combination, and but little was done in the way of passing . Then again the forwards did not keep far enough out, while the half-backs did not kick hard enough to effectually feed the forwards. In future it would be well also for the several players to keep their proper positions and not crowd so much together at any given spot. The Villans appeared to be very particular as to retaining their position, and when their captain wished to pass the ball out of danger he seemed to know exactly where the man he wanted was to be found.

As to the play of the Aston Villa team it is unnecessary to say much for it was simply perfection. According to one of their managers, the men were in the finest possible trim, and fit to meet any team that might be brought in opposition to them. They were a genial pleasant lot of fellows, and the game was a pleasant one all through. The teams were as follows:-

Horncastle- W. Jeffrey, goal; Inge and A. Langley, backs; F. Chapman. J. Searby, and J. Green, half-backs; J. Turner and W, Turner, right wing ; B. Robinson, centre; E. Tweed and R. Turner, right wing.

Aston Villa Warner, goal; Coulton and Simmonds, backs; Yates, Dawson, and Burton half-backs; Hodgetts and Vaughton, left wing ; Hunter, centre; Brown and Davies right wing. Umpires: Mr Fairhurst, Bolton; and Mr . Hutchinson, Grantham. Referee: Mr McIntyre, Manchester.

And now a few words as to who the Aston Villa men really are and what their performances have been during the past season. The Aston Villa football club has five or six hundred members, and they have a club house with commodious premises, and they also own the ground at Perry Barr. It is essentially a rich club, and everything that can be accomplished by money is done to bring into the field the strongest team that can be got together to fight the battles of the club in the cup ties and other great matches.

The members of the cup team are, with one exception, professionals, and they do nothing all the year round but play football and train for the matches in which they are to take part. The men are really employed by the committee of management, and they are in the charge of a trainer, who, during the football season, never allows them out of his sight except on a Sunday, and then it is with the express understanding that they shall not do anything which is contrary to the rules of training . They are extremely well built athletic like looking body of young men, averaging in weight probably between ten and eleven stone. Archie Hunter, the captain, is the biggest man of the team, and he is very popular with everybody. and well deserves his popularity for he is a model captain in every way, and one of the grandest centre forwards in the United Kingdom has yet produced. This is, we believe, his seventh season, and all genuine lovers of football will join us in the hope that he may yet be able for many years to come to render to his club the gallant services for which he has been distinguished in the past. As to the other members of the team, we must content ourselves with the general remark that they may one and all be ranked amongst the best footballers of the period. They train hard, beginning work on Monday morning and sticking to it until late on Saturday night. There trainer was in his day a celebrated sprint runner, and no one is more capable than he to bring his men up to scratch and in the pink of condition. We only wish that those who represent the Horncastle Town Football Club could be under his hands for a month or two, and they would greatly astonish the crack Lincolnshire clubs who will shortly oppose them in the County Cup Competition. The “ Villans” are kept hard at work every day, either running, walking or practising football. They had been in the strictest possible training for three weeks prior to Saturday last and, according to one of the best informed of the committee of their club, were never in better trim. The following is a list of matches they have played this season together with the results :

Name of Club Where Played Goals

won--lost

London Caledonians Perry Barr 11 ---0

Excelsior -- -- 2 ---1

Lincoln City -- -- 4 ---1 Welsh Druids -- -- 5 ---0 Cowlairs -- -- 3 ---2

Sheffield Wednesday -- -- 7 ---0

Queen’s Park -- -- 3 ---1

1st Round Birm. Cup W. Bromwich 0 ---1

Halliwell Perry Barr 3 ---0

Notts Rangers -- -- 7 ---0

Port Vale Burslem 2 ---3

Church Perry Barr 4 ---2

Small Heath Alliance Small Heath 1 ---1

W.O.A.( E. C.T.) Perry Barr 13 --0

won lost

W’hmptn Wanderers Perry Barr 5 --- 1

Oxford University --- --- 5 --- 2

Middlesborough --- --- 8 --- 0

Derby County --- --- 3 --- 0

Derby Midland (E.C.T.) --- --- 6 --- 1

Stoke Stoke 1 --- 2 Stafford Rangers Perry Barr 3 --- 1

Derby County Derby 3 --- 0

E.C.T. W’hamp. W. Perry Barr 2 --- 2

Cambridge University Perry Barr 6 --- 1

W.B. Albion --- --- 1 --- 1

Corinthians --- --- 4 --- 1

Battlefield --- --- 5 --- 1

Greenock Morton --- --- 7 --- 3

London Casuals --- --- 2 --- 1

Hibernians Edinburgh 8 --- 3

Queens Park, 2nd Tm Perry Barr 2 --- 1

Queens Park 1st Tm Glasgow 5 --- 1

Blackburn Rovers Perry Barr __ __

Wolverhampton Wand’rs Wolverhampton 1 --- 1

--- --- --- --- 3 --- 3

Accrington Perry Barr 2 --- 2

Wolverhampton Wand’rs --- --- 2 --- 0

Small Heath Alliance --- --- 3 --- 2

Horncastle --- --- 5 --- 0

It is rather interesting to analyse this list and to see what the “Villans” have done with the best clubs in the United Kingdom. They recently made a tie of it with Blackburn Rovers. On Monday last, after the severest game of the season, the Blackburn Rovers beat Preston North End. Queen’s Park the Villa beat by 5 to 1, and the Corinthians by 4 to 1. Cambridge University went down before them by 6 to 1, and Oxford University by 5 to 2. The Welsh Druids, a powerful club, were defeated 5 to 0, and Sheffield Wednesday by 7 to 0. Early in the season the Villa with a team not so good as that they played on Saturday last against Horncastle by half a dozen goals, defeated Lincoln City in a friendly game by 4 to 1. A little later on, and before they had gone into strict training for the National Cup, they beat Notts Rangers by 7 to 0. The game they played with Middlesborough on Nov. 30th, ought to to give Horncastle a line as to what they can do against Lincoln City. The “Villans” beat Middlesborough by 8 to 0 Lincoln City after a drawn game with Middlesborough won by 2 to 0, but Middlesborough was then weakened by the laming of the best man in her team. Last Saturday Derby Midland, a very strong combination beat Lincoln City by 2 to 1 in a friendly game, and the Midlands were not strongly represented . Now it so happens that Derby Midland with its strongest team, which were four or five goals more than that they played against Lincoln City, antagonised with Aston Villa in the second round of the English Cup-tie and they were beaten by 6 goals to 1. A careful examination of the record shows that the performance of the Horncastle men last Saturday against the Villa, was equal to that of many clubs of great repute, and instead of there being anything to discourage them, on the contrary there is everything to make them well satisfied, and to convince them that they have a very great chance of winning the Lincolnshire Cup if they will only train properly and pay more attention to combination. Individual play is of no avail in a good match, and it will not win a cup tie.

At the conclusion of the game on Saturday, Jeffrey came in for a regular ovation, and he well deserved the applause he got for his grand performance in goal. They cheered him when he came off the ground, and on his re-appearance after leaving the dressing room the cheering was renewed. As they drove away to their hotel, the Horncastle men were loudly applauded. In the evening the members of the team and several of those who had accompanied them dined at the Colonnade Hotel, and afterwards they visited the Prince of Wales’s Theatre and witnessed the performance of the Pantomime Aladdin. In the course of the evening the leading vocalist introduced into one of the songs a verse anent the football match, and eulogistic of the pluck of the players who had come so far to compete against a team which was certain to beat them. Jeffrey the goal-keeper came in for special laudation, and the audience cheered enthusiastically at the allusion to his achievements.

The return journey was commenced from New Street Station, Birmingham, at ten minutes to twelve, and the train seemed to go along at a far better rate than it did in the morning. There was a most acceptable halt for refreshments at Derby, which most of the excursionists seemed glad to avail themselves of . After this the journey was resumed and Horncastle was reached at twenty minutes past four o’clock. Thus ended the most important football excursion that has ever been run from the good old town of Horncastle.

Full report on the Aston Villa v Horncastle Town F.A. Cup Tie . Birmingham Horncastle News 1887

Full report on the Aston Villa v Horncastle Town F.A. Cup Tie . Birmingham Daily Post 7th February 1887