October 28, 1897
It is simply wonderful what fascination there is about football when the representatives of such clubs as Everton and Liverpool meet. I mentioned the fact briefly last week. It collects together a crowd of people it would be impossible to find anywhere else than on a football ground.
The social ladder is represented in all its grades, faces of well-known men about town are seen illuminated with the same glow of eagerness and expectations as is visible on those of “Tom, Dick, and Harry,” and you often find yourself surprised by coming across individuals whom you never expected harboured the slightest fondness for what has been poetically described recently by a clergyman as “The Devil’s Game.”
In Liverpool, I am glad to hear, on the best of authorities, which I do not for one moment discredit, that they have quite a number of clergymen men who thoroughly and openly appreciate football, and are not ashamed of giving their support and countenance to it.
The Everton and Liverpool match was witnessed by quite a little crowd of parsons, who distributed themselves in different parts of the ground, and my readers can rest assured none of them came away any worse for their visit; in fact, on the contrary, for I very much question whether they were not in better condition after witnessing the robust game, to discharge their milder form of business next day.
I just mention these little facts because I am getting thoroughly sick of the continual street praying day after day of “God save the footballer and those who witness it.” It is quite possible for a man to go about sometimes with his eyes shut, but you cannot shut your ears.
(Source: Meirioneth County Times: October 28, 1897)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 