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

Considering that this match was looked upon as a moral certainty for the Villa, the attendance at Perry Barr on Saturday was a very good one, some five thousand being present. As was anticipated , the Villa won easily, being superior to their opponents at all points of the game. Next Saturday the Villa meet the Darwen at Perry Barr in the sixth round of the National Cup, and, if successful , will then take part in the semi-final. The visitors won the toss , and Archie Hunter kicked off uphill in the face of a stiff wind. His team immediately attacked, and a foul was given them near the visitors goal, but nothing resulted. J. and W. Turner, on the visitors right wing, then transferred play to the other end of the field, the former putting in a fine shot, which Warner knocked out. The Villa forwards assaulted the visitors’ goal, but without success; whilst just afterwards a mis-kick by Coulton caused Horncastle to appear very dangerous, but the Villa back fortunately recovered himself, and kicked outside. From the throw in the Villa rushed up the field, and a shot by Albert Brown compelled the goalkeeper to concede a corner. The kick was taken , and Hodgetts headed the ball against the crossbar of the visitors goal. The ball rebounded into play , and both Archie Hunter and Brown had a try to score, the Horncastle custodian punching out both shots. The visitors left wing relieved the pressure and carried the ball some distance out of their own goal ; but this run was quickly stopped by Yates, who lifted the ball just into the goalmouth. The Villa forwards made a strenuous effort to rush it through, but failed. Not to be denied, however, they again bored down on the Horncastle citadel, and from a centre from Hodgetts, Albert Brown shot the ball past Jeffrey. Immediately on restarting Albert Brown made a beautiful run, but kicked the ball over the crossbar. From the goal-kick the Horncastle men carried the ball into the Villa’s territory, but they could not break through the defence and were quickly driven backupon their own goal. A shot by Vaughton was caught by the goalkeeper, Brown trying without success to rush him through. The goalkeeper threw the ball out of danger, but it was returned and kicked outside. At length, however, the Villa forwards took the ball well into the the front of their opponent’s goal, and Brown was enabled to put in a second successful shot. The wind by this time had veered round, and with its aid the Villa did all the pressing, and shortly before the interval Albert Brown once more lowered the visitors colours. On recommencing play after, the visitors made an assault on the Villa goal, and Searby put in a fine shot, which Warner managed to punch away. The Villa retaliated by carrying the ball into their opponents’ quarters but Vaughton kicked over the bar. The Villa now played very loosely, apparently being content to rest on their advantage and the game of the tamest character. Until about a quarter of an hour before time nothing further was scored; then from a run by Brown and Davis, Archie Hunter obtained a fourth goal for the winning side. The visitors tried their hardest to score, and B. Robinson put in a good shot, which Warner had some difficulty in stopping. Shortly before time, Albert Brown got the ball in the middle of the field, and ran it past half backs and backs, finally touching it past the goalkeeper. No further score was made and the Villa thus won by 5 goals to nil. The following were the team:- 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 (left wing), forwards. Villa : Warner, goal; Coulton and Simmonds, backs; Yates, Dawson, and Burton, half backs; Hodgetts and Vaughton (centre), Brown and Davis, (right wing), forwards. Umpires : Mr Fairhurst, Bolton; and Mr Hutchinson, Grantham. Referee: Mr McIntyre, Manchester.

THE FULL REPORT ON THE F.A CUP TIE BETWEEN HORNCASTLE TOWN v ASTON VILLA PLAYED AT PERRY BARR AS REPORTED IN THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY GAZETTE ON THE 7th FEB 1887 .

FOOTBALL

ASSOCIATION RULES

ENGLISH CUP -------------------- FIFTH ROUND

Aston Villa v Horncastle - A very ordinary “gate” witnessed this match in the fifth round of the English Cup at Perry Barr on Saturday afternoon. As was confidently expected, the Villa were not troubled much with their opponents, and won after a very poor game by five goals to none. There were about 3,500 people present , when the visitors, having won the toss, elected to play down hill towards the Wellington Road goal with a strong breeze in their favour. Hunter kicked off , and with little preliminary play in mid-field the right wing of Horncastle, got the ball and rushed it down the field. J. Turner upset Simmonds, and then sent in a magnificent shot, which Warner with difficulty saved. Shortly afterwards R. Turner dribbled the ball up, and Coulton running up to meet him made a very considerable miss leaving the goal open. Coulton, however, roused himself, and charging his man sent the ball spinning up hill. The Villa now assumed the aggressive and played a vigorous game, with the result that they were swarming the visitors goal for some minutes. Hodgetts headed the ball right on to the crossbar, and, subsequent to this , Archie Hunter and Albert Brown were each unsuccessful in their attempts to score. The Villa still continued their offensive tactics, and when the game had started about ten minutes Davis scored a splendid goal after the ball had been bobbing round the Horncastle goal. Some grand passing by the whole string of Villa forwards again gave them advantage, and Inge and Langley had their work cut out to avert the danger. A shot by Albert Brown narrowly missed scoring, and some slight breaks away by the Horncastle forwards relieved the pressure on their goal for a time. The visitors seldom eluded the half backs, and when they did they were never very dangerous. A corner well placed by Hodgetts was three times sent into the Horncastle goal, but Searby and Chapman eventually cleared. Some good play on the visitors’ right wing placed the Villa defence on the alert. The ball was at length kicked out, and from the goal kick the home forwards rushed up the field, and Albert Brown scored a second goal after half an hour’s play. The Villa continued to have the best of the game, and Albert Brown added a third point from a centre by Yates, Langley making an ineffectual attempt to save. At this point in the game the wind completely changed round, and some clouds passing over the field made the light very bad. Soon after Hunter sent in a scorching shot, but the goalkeeper saved splendidly. Half-time was called with the score standing Villa 3; Horncastle, 0. On resuming Searby made a capital run for the Horncastle men, and sent in a shot which looked extremely dangerous. After this the play fell off to an alarming extent, and the spectators were not slow to comment thereon. Some twenty minutes from time, from a pass by Richard Davis, Hunter scored a fourth point, and after Robinson with Turner had put in a good run Albert Brown again scored. The game thus ended Villa 5; Horncastle none Teams:- Aston Villa; Warner, goal, Simmonds and Coulton, backs; Burton, Dawson, and Yates, half-backs; Brown and Davis, right; Hunter, centre; Hodgetts and Vaughton, left; Horncastle : Jeffrey, goal; Inge and Langley, backs; Chapman Searby, and Green, half backs; J. Turner, and W. Turner, right; Robinson, centre; Tweed and R. Turner, left; Referee, Mr. McIntyre, of Manchester.

BIRMINGHAM DAILY GAZETTE 7th FEB 1887

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

“Aston Villa or Horncastle v Darwen” was to football readers the most interesting item of information in Tuesday’s Daily Gazette. It was a great relief. Our club might have been drawn against Preston North End or, even worse still, against West Bromwich Albion. That would have been a case of cutting one another’s throats with a vengeance. Fortunately it was otherwise, and the chances of the Villa for the final round have during the week been eagerly discussed. On looking through the results of past matches, we do not find that Horncastle have done anything very alarming in the English Cup. In the first round Horncastle beat Darlington by two goals to one, no very brilliant performance. In the second round a bye fell to the club, and in the third round Grantham were beaten by two goals to one; Again nothing very brilliant. In the fourth round Horncastle again drew a bye and so passed on to the fifth to meet the Villa. Thus it will be seen that out of four rounds Horncastle has twice drawn byes, and has defeated two clubs, neither of which by any means be considered first class by small majorities . Darwen’s record is somewhat better, but shows two byes out of four rounds . In the first round the club defeated Heart of Midlothian by seven goals to one-a good performance. In the second round Astley Bridge and Burnley were disqualified, and Darwen walked into the third round, there meeting the Bolton Wanderers which club retired defeated by four goals to three-another good performance. In the fourth round Darwen drew a bye, and in the fifth disposed of Chirk by two goals to one. Thus it will be seen that the Villa will have to put in all they know to defeat the Lancashire gentlemen.

The match on Saturday was all round voted a poor show. It was not that the number of spectators was small, but that the match seemed unutterably tame throughout. The Villa just prior to the kick off were photographed in costume, and on going on to the field it was soon to be seen that there could be no as to the issue of the match. The Horncastle team is an agricultural one, the town, notable only as the locality from which Marwood, (the hangman), issued to perform his lugubrious work, being some miles north of Lincoln. The team taken all round is a small one, and though some good play was seen on their part the Horncastle men are distinctly of less calibre than their opponents. The best shot seen throughout the game was the first one when J. Turner getting hold of the ball, ran down past Simmonds and Coulton, and put in the ball with a magnificent shot . Fortunately Warner was in goal, or things would have looked black for Villa. After this Villa did all the pressing , and Albert Brown was eminently successful scoring four out of five goals. When the home team had scored three goals they fell off wonderfully, and, apparently being satisfied with the fact that they were in front, did not make any great effort to score. The game occasionally was rough , and sometimes rough, and sometimes amusing , but as a display of scientific football it was a dead failure.

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As regards the merits of the players there is not much to be said. Albert Brown was fortunate in scoring so many goals but the man who did the most and the best work was Yates. The way in which Yates gets round the ball on the line and screws it into play is very fine. Coulton showed up better in the second half than in the first, and Simmonds, though was brilliant, was uncertain . The Horncastle team possess one or two good men , who if placed in a better combination would show to advantage. The man who most distinguished himself was Jeffrey in goal. Jeffrey is a farmer in Lincolnshire, and the way in which he gains his expertness is by setting up two posts and getting the labourers to kick the ball at him. We should much like to see Jeffrey practising. It would be great fun to see Hodge playing football. Langley was the best of the backs, and Chapman and Searby of the half-backs Among the forwards the right wing was better than the left, J. Turner and W. Turner proving themselves very expert . Robinson in the centre was extremely serviceable.

We are willing to put the display of the Villa on Saturday down to the fact that they had not opponents worthy of their steel; but it is not satisfactory coming after the Small Heath Alliance display. In the Monday match the Villa acted in the same come day go day style, and it was only when they found the Small Heathans had secured two goals to none that they brightened up and saved . At all events something better will have to be shown when next Saturday the Darwen men are antagonised.

During the week the Villa will continue training at Mr. W. W. Alexander’s, as they have during the past fortnight. Every day the men turn up to take a pipe opener to Sutton Coldfield, and then practise shooting in the afternoon. Dinner comes at half-past five ‘clock, and then the men stay at the headquarters playing cards and otherwise amusing themselves, so they shall not go astray till half past ten o’clock.

RESEARCHERS COMMENTS

THE GREATEST GAME IN THE HISTORY OF HORNCASTLE TOWN F.C

ASTON VILLA v HORNCASTLE TOWN

This game must stand out as the biggest game ever, that the Horncastle lads have played in . It is now a 110 years since the game was played, and one must give and take a little on the reporting on the game.

The Horncastle News, I thought, reported the whole scenario very well giving the Horncastle men the credit they deserved.

The Birmingham Post was a straight forward report but there were not many pats on the back for the Wongites.

The person who wrote for the Birmingham Gazette didn’t win many medals from me( the researcher.) He said there was a crowd of about 3, 500 but the Birmingham Post said there was a gate of 5,000. Ah well there must have been a hole in the hedge where the non- paying spectators could get through,

or maybe the turnstiles were in need of repair !

‘The Horncastle team is an agricultural one .’ I am not going to try and answer that one.’

‘Horncastle notable only as the locality from which Marwood ( the hangman) issued to perform his lugubrious work ! ‘

Perhaps he should have been more careful relating to Mr John Marwood- because he could quickly tie the knot, and I am not talking about collar and tie.

‘Horncastle some miles north of Lincoln.’ He was no good at Geography was he?

He goes on, ‘The team taken all round is a small one, and though some good play was seen on their part the Horncastle men are distinctly of less calibre.’ Here are some of the results , Villa beat top clubs of that period.

Don’t forget Horncastle lost 5-0.

London Caledonians 0 Villa 11

Lincoln City 1 .. 4

Sheffield Wednesday 0 .. 7

Queens Park 1 .. 3

Notts Rangers 0 .. 7

Wolverhampton Wdrs 1 .. 5

Oxford University 2 .. 5

Middlesborough 0 .. 8

Derby County 0 .. 3

Stafford Rangers 1 Villa 3

Wolverhampton Wdrs 1 .. 6

West Bromwich Albion 1 .. 1

Derby County 1 .. 3

Corinthians 1 .. 4

Greenock Morton 3 .. 7

Hibernian 3 .. 8

Queens Park 3 .. 5

So I reckon Horncastle did very well. Well done the Town!

I see in the last paragraph Villa’s training included a “pipe opener in the morning.” Your guess is as good as mine. ‘ Shooting practise in the afternoon. Dinner at 5.00.p.m. and the men stay at their headquarters, playing cards or amusing themselves so that they shall not go astray till half past ten o’clock’. And then I sincerely hope straight to bed !

So that’s how they trained in 1887 . Well there you are I have had my say, and I am sure if I had had the pleasure of meeting the reporter of the Birmingham Gazette some 110 years ago we would have had a pint and gone home friends.  

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