Английская Википедия:Accrington F.C. 0–1 Sheffield United F.C. (1893 Football League Test Match)

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Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox football match The 1892–93 season Test Matches were played on 22 April 1893. Accrington of Division One played Sheffield United of Division Two in a game at Trent Bridge, Nottingham which United won 1–0. A goal from United's Scottish forward John Drummond was enough to clinch victory for the Yorkshire side and saw them promoted to play in the First Division for the following season, with Accrington taking their place in the second.

Background

For the 1892–93 season the Football League was expanded from 14 teams to 28, split between the First Division consisting of sixteen sides and the Second Division comprising a further twelve clubs.[1] To settle the matter of clubs moving between the divisions it was decided to play a series of test matches at the end of the season, with the top three sides from Division Two playing the three sides that had finished bottom of Division One. The winners of each match would be elected to play in Division One for the 1893–94 season, with the losers playing in Division Two.

Accrington had been one of the founder members of the Football League in 1888 but the 1892–93 season was a poor season for them. A lack of consistency and some costly defeats, coupled with a large number of drawn games over the season saw them finish in fifteenth place in the table with only 23 points.[2] Sheffield United had been elected to the Second Division the year before and had made a strong start to their Football League career.[3] They had played consistently all season, only losing three league games, and all of those coming in the season's opening stages. Despite this strong performance they finished the season in second place on 35 points, one point and one place behind Small Heath.[3] The test matches were duly scheduled to take place on Friday 22 April with divisional champions Small Heath taking on the First Division's bottom side Newton Heath, Sheffield United taking on Accrington, and the Second Division's third place team Darwen playing Notts County.[2]

Match

Summary

The Test Matches were played on a neutral ground, with this game being played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Accrington were deemed the 'home' team and wore their traditional kit of a red jersey with blue knickers and socks. Sheffield United played in their red and white striped jersey with blue knickers and socks.

Contemporary reports described the pitch as being in poor condition following a period of wet weather and the muddy conditions hampered the players performance on both sides. After a goalless first half, United forward John Drummond received the ball midway through the second period and embarked on a long solo run before hitting the ball past the Accrington keeper to score the only goal of the game. Drummond would later attribute his performance in the game to painting the soles of his boots with black lead to prevent the mud from sticking, allowing him to be the only player to be able to keep to his feet.[4]

Details

Source:[3] Шаблон:Football box

Шаблон:Football kit Шаблон:Football kit
GK Шаблон:Flagicon William Mason
DF Шаблон:Flagicon William Hodge
DF Шаблон:Flagicon Charlie Ditchfield
DF Шаблон:Flagicon W. Bowie
HB Шаблон:Flagicon John Stevenson
HB Шаблон:Flagicon William Shuttleworth
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Tom Lea
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Jimmy Whitehead
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Harry Cookson
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Harry Lea
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Jack Kirkham
GK Шаблон:Flagicon Charlie Howlett
RB Шаблон:Flagicon Michael Whitham
LB Шаблон:Flagicon Bob Cain
CH Шаблон:Flagicon Rab Howell
CH Шаблон:Flagicon Billy Hendry (c)
HB Шаблон:Flagicon Ernest Needham
FW Шаблон:Flagicon John Drummond
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Harry Hammond
FW Шаблон:Flagicon Bob Hill
LW Шаблон:Flagicon Hugh Gallacher
MF Шаблон:Flagicon Arthur Watson
Club secretary:
Шаблон:Flagicon Joseph Wostinholm
Match rules
  • 90 minutes
  • No extra-time or penalties
  • Replay if drawn at full time

Aftermath

Following their victory, Sheffield United played in the Football League First Division from the 1893–94 season onwards, remaining in the division until 1934, and being crowned champions only five years after being promoted. Accrington on the other hand, refused to play in the Second Division and resigned their membership of the league as a result. Financial problems followed and the team reverted to amateur status before they eventually disbanded in 1896.[5]

The other two Test Matches played on the same day, resulted in promotion for Division Two side Darwen after they beat Notts County 3–2, while Small Heath and Newton Heath played out a 1–1 draw.[2] Ironically, of the Division Two sides, it was only the champions Small Heath who failed to gain promotion after they lost their test match replay against Newton Heath 5–2.[2]

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Шаблон:Sheffield United F.C. matches