September 6, 1897
Key note: “Quite 3,000 spectators put in an appearance on the Anfield Road ground last evening to witness the game between these clubs, the proceed of the ‘gate’ being set apart for the benefit of McCartney, the popular skipper of the Liverpool Club. The new organisation played up well, and with closer experience of one other’s play they will require a lot of beating. The home right wing played a strong game and were prominent in most of the attacks that led up to scoring.” (Liverpool Mercury: September 7, 1897)
Match: Benefit for John McCartney, at Anfield, kick off: 17:45.
Liverpool – New Brighton Tower 4-1 (2-1).
Attendance: 3,000.
Referee: Mr.E. Ramsbottem.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Willie Donnelly, Tom Wilkie, Billy Dunlop, John McCartney (C), Joe McQue, Thomas Cleghorn, Robert Marshall, William Walker, Patrick Finnerhan, Frank Becton, Joe Lumsden.
New Brighton (2-3-5): Jack Robinson, Gow, Smart Arridge, Tom Allison, George Anderson, Charles McEleney, Hamilton, Josh Hargreaves, Henderson, Harry Hammond, Alf Milward.
The goals: 1-0 Finnerhan (20 min.), 1-1 Hammond, 2-1 Becton, 3-1 Becton, 4-1 (see special note).
NOTE: It is impossible to clearly say who scored the fourth goal for Liverpool. None of the Liverpool paper’s give any clear view on the matter. Mercury, above, says the goal came from a return from the goalkeeper after Lumsden’s shot. Daily Post claim it was rushed through from a “scrimmage,” Courier says that the Liverpool forwards rushed in the fourth goal from a scrimmage. The “scrimmage” mentioned is quite often used in match reports in the old days. So either Marshall, Walker, Finnerhan or Becton scored it.
John McCartney.
X
Alf Milward, New Brighton Tower (Lloyd’s Weekly News: January 17, 1892):
X
George Anderson, New Brighton Tower (Lloyd’s Weekly News: March 3, 1895):
X
"Play Up, Liverpool" 
Trying to track down my ancestor Robert Eskrigge who may have played in the late 1800’s.
Hi Dave. Thank you for visiting my website and asking about your relative. I cannot find any Eskrigge connected with Liverpool F.C.
I did a quick search through the newspaper archive and got some hits:
** R.B. Eskrigge mentioned as a cricket player for New Brighton in 1889 (Prescot Reporter). He is also mentioned up until 1891 in cricket reports from the Lancashire area.
** E.T. Eskrigge in a Rugby line up for New Brighton in 1914 (Liverpool Echo).
** E. Eskrigge (New Brighton) played a Rugby benefit match for Liverpool XV v South Wales Borderers in 1916. It also mention he was a Lieutenant in the army.
There is also an interesting historical, but non sporting, article about the Eskrigge surname in Lancaster Gazette, 16 November, 1889. It says:
“I have just seen the new brass tablet erected by the Rev. J.B. Eskrigge, of St. Francis’ Chapel, Portland place, London, to the memory of his father, the late John Eskrigge, in Gressingham Chirch. It is thus inscribed: – ‘In loving memory of John Eskrigge, of Stockport, Nat., Oct. 26th, 1826, Ob. April 25th 1889. Interred at Marple, county of Chester. He was a lineal descendant of Old Robert Eskrigge, of Eskrigge, ob circa 1603. This tablet is placed here by his widow and children – Non magna loquamur sed vivimus.”
The tablet is attached to one of the pillars on the north side of the church, and is in keeping with two others affixed to the same pillar. What a grand motto the Eskrigges have.
Best regard,
Kjell
Hope this is of a little help.
Thanks. RB would have been my great grandfather. He came to the states and married my great grandmother in New Orleans, Louisiana. A cricketer eh?
David
Sent from my iPhone
>
Karl
Thank you so much. A cricketer eh? Great news.
Dave