March 28, 1908
Match: FA Cup, Semi Final, at Anfield.
Newcastle United – Fulham 6-0 (2-0).
Attendance: 45,000; gate receipts: £1,700.
Referee: Mr. J.T. Howcroft; linesmen: Messrs. Lieutenant Clover and J. Grant.
Newcastle United (2-3-5): Jimmy Lawrence, Billy McCracken, Dick Pudan, Alec Gardner, Colin Veitch, David Willis, Jock Rutherford, Jimmy Howie, Bill Appleyard, Finlay Speedie, George Wilson.
Fulham (2-3-5): Leslie Skene, Harry Ross, Archie Lindsay, Arthur Collins, Billy Morrison, William Goldie, Jimmy Hogan, Bob Dalrymple, Fred Harrison, Charlie Millington, Fred Mouncher.
The goals: 1-0 Appleyard (30 min.), 2-0 Howie (40 min.), 3-0 Gardner (63 min.), 4-0 Rutherford (70 min.), 5-0 Howie, 6-0 Rutherford (88 min.).
The selection of the Liverpool Club’s ground for the semi-final tie between Newcastle United and Fulham on Saturday was a complete success. It is said that the Anfield Rad ground, with its two capacious new stands and “Spion Kop,” will accommodate quite 50,000 spectators, and if that estimate is correct there must have been that number present to see the match.
Anfield, 1908.
The enclosure presented an inspiring sight, and so good were the arrangements that everything passed off without a hitch. Gloriously fine weather prevailed, and if there was any drawback to the match at all I was that the centre of the ground, following upon heavy rain during the night, was in a soft and heavy state.
Two changes in the chosen sides had to be made in consequence of injuries, Willis taking the place of Peter McWilliam at left half in the Newcastle team, and Hogan playing at outside right for Fulham in the place of Fred Threlfall. Newcastle had spent their training period at Rhyl, while Fulham had done their preparations at Southport. The “gate” numbered 45,000 persons, the receipts amounting to £1,700.
Fulham won the toss, the coin having to be pitched four times before it would come down face upwards in the mud. The Londoners were first off the mark, and Lawrence had the first shot to handle, Millington sending the ball in well, but the Tyneside custodian promptly cleared. In a moment the game swung to the other end, and Skene was cheered for the clever way in which he came out to checkmate an attempt at shooting which Appleyard was about to make.
Bill Appleyard, Newcastle United.
There was a temporary burst by Harrison for Fulham, but as the players settled down I quickly became obvious that Newcastle were the superior side. Except that there was too much kicking out of play, the football, too, was good and very interesting, the heading of both teams being particularly good. There were several free kicks for fouls of a minor character, and in nearly every case it was Fulham who were found offending.
The attack of Newcastle was persistent, with Rutherford, Howie, and Veitch as the leaders, but Skene’s work in goal was brilliant, and Ross and Lindsay also brought off several fine clearances. Half-an-hour passed before the Newcastle attack could be pushed home. Gardner was making a stirring movement when he was fouled by one of the Fulham men. The Newcastle right half took the resultant free kick himself, and landed the ball almost in the goal mouth. It was met by Appleyard, who headed it into the net, Skene not having the least chance of saving the point.
Following this reverse, Harrison put the Fulham right wing into action, and a threatening attack resulted, but McCracken rushed in and effected a glorious save. Five minutes before half-time Newcastle scored again. Gardner and Howie put the ball out to Rutherford, who, tripping gaily on, sent in a well-judged centre, and Howie fastened on to the ball sent in a hard drive, which found the net, apparently after cannoning of one of the defenders.
Appleyard and Veitch had other shots, but neither took effect, and the interval was reached with Newcastle leading by two goals to nil – a score which did not fully represent the extent to which they had dominated the play.
The first incident of note in the second half was the clever way in which Pudan put his forwards on the run, Skene being forced to concede a corner. There was a temporary break away by Millington and Mouncher, but McCracken had to difficulty in repelling the aid. Then Lindsay was at fault on the Fulham side, and the ball being in dangerous quarters, Skene and Appleyard raced for it. The Fulham goal-keeper reached it first, but Appleyard was in the act of making a kick at it, and unfortunately for Skene and his club he received the kick on his ankle. There was nothing really unfair about the incident, but some of the crowd evidently thought otherwise, and Appleyard came in for a good deal of unmannerly hooting. Skene was able to resume his charge, but he limped badly, and was in such pain that for the rest of the match he was hardly able to kick the ball.
Leslie Skene, Fulham.
Eighteen minutes’ play had taken place in the second half when Newcastle scored their third goal. Again the score was due to a foul on Gardner, who took the free-kick, and with a long, oblique shot landed the ball clean into the far corner of the net. This goal ought to have been prevented by Ross, but apparently he left the stopping of the shot to Skene, who was either taken unaware, or was too lame to spring to the corner to reach the ball in time. From a Fulham standpoint this was a very unlucky goal.
So completely did Newcastle outlay their opponents that the only question of moment left was the number of goals they would ultimately win by. Some pretty play by Wilson resulted in the ball being sent by him across to Rutherford, who with a brilliant shot put on the fourth point. The second half had lasted 25 minutes when this goal was scored.
Jock Rutherford, Newcastle United.
The combination of Willis, Speedie, and Wilson soon prevailed again, and though Skene put the ball out a little way, Howie met it, and goal number five was the result. The Tynesiders eased their attack after this a little, and Lawrence had to come out of his goal to stop a shot by Hogan, while Millington also troubled him on another occasion.
Just on time, however, Rutherford was placed in possession of the ball by Veitch, and going down the field by himself he finished a brilliant effort, and also the match, by shooting the ball past Skene in great style. Thus the United passed into the Cup final again with the score – Newcastle United, 6 goals; Fulham nil.
William Goldie, Fulham and ex-Liverpool F.C.
(Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, 30-03-1908)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 