Scotland 4-0 Cymru
- International Match
- 25 March 1876
- Hamilton Crescent, Partick
The first annual football match, played according to association rules, between eleven of Wales and eleven of all Scotland, took place on Saturday, at Partick, Glasgow.
The teams were brought to the ground in an omnibus drawn by four greys, and were greatly cheered as they drove along the highway. It is estimated that there were over 12,000 spectators present. Scotland, winning the toss, played down hill.
The Welshmen assumed the defensive, as they were playing at a disadvantage, but well did they execute this difficult task, for time after time did Scotland receive corner kicks from the ball being sent over the Welsh lines by their own team, but these corner kicks came to nothing because of the splendid back play of Evans and Kendrick and the careful goal keeping of D. Thompson.
This state of matters continued for thirty minutes, when one of the Scotchmen shot the ball towards the mouth of the goal. The goal-keeper caught it beautifully, but whilst he was endeavouring to take his kick, another Scotchman charged him, and the ball passed under the tape, thus securing one goal for Scotland.
Some splendid runs were made by Edwards and Thompson, but as they were not sufficiently supported by the other Welsh forwards, these tactics were frustrated by the Scotch backs. A severe struggle ensued for the next 15 minutes in Welsh territory.
Sides were then changed, and Wales played down the hill. The Welshmen scattered themselves more over the field to try to make goals, but this was probably a mistake, for the Scotch had recourse to their favourite style of passing the ball, acting as one man.
Before time was called, the Scotch team scored three other goals, making four goals for Scotland, Wales none. The Scotch goalkeeper never touched the ball. The Welshmen afterwards were hospitably entertained to dinner.
WALES.—D. Thompson (Shropshire Wanderers) (goal-keeper); W. A. W. Evans (St. John’s College, Oxford), L. L. Kendrick (Shropshire Wanderers), Capt Back; E. A. Cross (Wrexham), W. Williams (Druids) (half-backs), J. H. Edwards (London Wanderers), G. F. Thompson (Oswestry), A. Davis (Wrexham), W. H. Davis (Oswestry), J. Jones and W. Gray (Druids) (forwards). Umpire, Mr Strang Smith (Wanderers).
SCOTLAND.—A. McGeoch (Dumbreck) (goal), J. Taylor (Queen’s Park), and R. W. Neil (Queen’s Park) (backs), C. Campbell (Queen’s Park) (captain) and A. Kennedy (Eastern) (half-backs), W. Mackinnon, T. H. Leitch, H. M’Neill (Queen’s Park), J. Ferguson (Vale of Leven), M. M’Neil (Rangers), and J. J. Lang (Clydesdale) (forwards). Reserves: H. Miller (3rd L.R.V.), P. Andrews (Eastern), and J. Davidson (Eastern) (forwards), G. M. Wilson (Clydesdale) (back), A. M’Lintock (Vale of Leven) (half-back). Umpire: W. G. Mitchell (Queen’s Park). Referee, R. Gardner (Clydesdale).
