September 3, 1904
Match: Football League, Second Division, at Anfield, kick off: 15:30.
Liverpool – Glossop 2-2 (1-1).
Attendance: 12,000.
Referee: Mr. D. Hammond. Linesmen: Messrs. R. Atherton and J.R. Broughton.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Ned Doig; David Murray, Billy Dunlop; Maurice Parry, Alex Raisbeck, James Hughes; Arthur Goddard, Robert Robinson, Sam Raybould, Joe Hewitt, John Cox.
Glossop (2-3-5): Frank Davies; William Synott, Willie Orr; Hugh Maginnes, John Boden, John Brown; Leon Gall, Thomas Cairns, Archie Goodall, Edward Murphy, Fred Spiksley.
The goals: 0-1 Gall, 1-1 Goddard (20 min.), 1-2 Cairns, 2-2 Hewitt (85 min.).
Anfield Road ground was the scene of the opening games in this fateful season. Burton has already been dealt with in this column, and there now remains the match with Glossop. This Derbyshire club has evidently again aspirations towards the first division, although their previous acquaintance was brief, and not bright. Archie Goodall has finally severed his connection with Derby County after many years’ service, and he follows brother John as the mentor for Glossop. He has had a good deal to do with the selection of the new team, and if he has done nothing more he has engaged a capable pair of backs. Synnott is an Irishman and he is fast and fearless. Orr is the little back who was with Manchester City a season or so back, and then went south. His journey southwards has not marred his play.
Forward Fred Spiksley turned out, but he is a light of other days, and his powers of usefulness are much diminished. Archie Goodall is ambitions to go up one and turned out at centre-forward. This is an unusual step. Many forwards have found their true place is at half, but few halves turn out to be good forwards. Archie, had, however, some experience as centre-forward in his old Liverpool days. Still I am not breaking any new ground when I say that Archie is not a heaven born centre, and has not been hiding his light under a bushel. The Liverpool team turned out as on Thursday, the strongest available eleven they have.
The match was fought out under fair conditions. A wind blew diagonally across the field, and the sun was against the home team in the first half, but it did not make much difference. According to the score sheet Jack was as good as his master – and ‘tis the score sheet that tells the tale. Liverpool, however, had all the play, and with a little more care, and just a modicum of luck, they would have won handsomely. Personally I was not altogether dissatisfied with the team, although the result was not of the best. There was a push and earnestness about the play which was refreshing after the Thursday’s tame exhibition.
Of course there was more than one weak spot, but these can be remedied, and if the others keep up that enthusiasm which marked their play on Saturday, that large crop of goals to which I referred in a previous issue will become a fact. On Saturday, Glossop twice took the lead, both goals the results of breakaways. The first came in the first half after a long period of pressure on the part of Liverpool – but Goddard equalised from a header within a few minutes. Thus one all was called at half time. Again Glossop did the trick. Cairns putting the ball into the net far out of Doig’s reach. I felt sorry for Doig who had no earthly chance to keep the slate clean. For a few minutes the Livers were demoralized, and resorted to individual attempts to get level, which of course resulted in failure. But they recovered themselves, and a hard struggle took place round the visitors’ citadel. It was not until forty minutes had passed that it was captured. Hewitt hooking a ball through. Before the end came they nearly scored again, but it was not to be. Liverpool spectators feared the game was lost, and were gratified to see the men pull up as they did. The Derbyshire team could not complain of their reception, and every bit of good play was well and impartially cheered.
Cox was distinctly the man on the field. His runs and centres were splendid and with the inside men playing up to him things would have worn a different aspect at the finish. Goddard also woke up, and scored one of the goals. At half there is room for improvement, but Murray made a distinct advance at full back. He kicked strongly and surely, and I feel sure that he will speedily settle down into a satisfactory back. The players, with exceptions, were to found of skying the ball, but perhaps the wind was responsible. Doig had little to do in goal. The team is a good one, and ought to be a success. We shall see. REDSKIN.
(Joint Everton and Liverpool Match Programme, 10-09-1904)
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Fred Spiksley, Glossop F.C. (Lancashire Evening Post: October 1, 1898).
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"Play Up, Liverpool" 