April 23, 1900
Liverpool v Nottingham Forest.
In glorious weather, the last League match of the season at Anfield was decided before 7,000 spectators. The teams were under the control of Mr. J.Fox, and were as follows:
Liverpool: Bill Perkins, Archie Goldie, Billy Dunlop, Charlie Wilson, Alex Raisbeck, William Goldie, Tom Robertson, John Walker, Sam Raybould, Charles Satterthwaite, John Cox.
Nottingham Forest: Harry Linacre, Ted Peers, Jim Iremonger, George Robinson, Robert Murray, Bob Norris, Fred Forman, Jack Calvey, Grenville Morris, Arthur Capes, Alf Spouncer.
Liverpool lost the toss, and had to face the wind and the sun. They early attacked, and Walker was quickly in evidence with a couple of shots, which went wide of the mark.The visitors were the more skillful, and Spouncer raced down, but Dunlop cleverly stopped his centre, and though the ball was thrice returned it was eventually put outside. The attack was renewed, and Capes swung across a fine shot, which Perkins tipped behind, and though three corners fell to the Forest they could not pierce the defence. Liverpool then retaliated, and Walker headed on the wrong side of the upright from a corner, whilst Cox rounded the backs but shot across the goalmouth when close in, a performance which he repeated shortly afterwards with similar result. Liverpool pressed strongly, but could find no weakness amongst the Forest backs, and the interval arrived with the score sheet blank.
The play had been very slow up to this juncture, but on resuming, the home forwards quickly got to work, and Cox being fouled, Satterthwaite headed in from the free kick, where Linacre brought off a very fine save. The Forest goal had a narrow escape, but the siege was eventually raised, and for some considerable time the play was very feeble. The heat was evidently telling a tale on the players, and very rarely was any danger to either goal a matter of possibility. On one occasion passing between Robertson and Walker enabled the latter to slip past the backs, but his final shot was poor.
Another movement between the pair brought about the only goal of the match. Again did Walker centre, and thought the ball was driven back it never got many yards from the posts, and eventually Satterthwaite received and shot strongly. The ball appeared in the net, when it suddenly shot forth again amongst the players, and it was seen that Liverpool were clamouring for a penalty kick on account of one of the backs fisting out. After consulting the linesman the referee allowed the point, and Robertson easily defeated Linacre. This settled the contest, which became very dull, though a smart individual effort by Walker almost brought a second point.
(Source: Liverpool Mercury: April 23, 1900)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 