September 1, 1910
Looking backwards to last year the Livers can congratulate themselves upon a successful season. It was one of the most satisfactory they ever had, both from a financial and playing point of view, but, I hope that it will put in the shade this year and that another record will accrue. We can all do with records, especially when things are so expensive as they are nowadays.
I greet once again my many friends, the supporters of the Reds, and I trust that as they have had a bad summer from the weather point of view they will have compensation during the winter. At all events, they will be well-catered for.
The ground is in splendid condition, the turf viewing with any in the country. And with the new stand at the Stanley Park end they ought to be very comfortable.
Last year, when writing of the outlook, I stated that the forward line gave greatest anxiety. But the advent of James Stewart and John Macdonald, and the coming again of Jack Parkinson, soon removed that trouble, and it was the rear division that subsequently proved the stumbling block.
Had the backs proved sound the team would have won the championship. However, as we finished second I don’t think we need complain.
But it is the coming season that we are now concerned with. What will Liverpool do?
Well, practice matches are not always reliable guides, but they are all we have to go upon at present; and judging by what we have seen we should have a champion team.
If football were a problem in Euclid we would work it out as follows. If the present League team was good enough to finish second last April, and the Reserves can beat that League team, what price the Reserves for the Championship?
However, football will not work out mathematically, and we will anxiously watch the fate of the team selected for duty to-day. I may say that in regard to the practice match last Saturday the Reserves seemed to win on their merits, and not because of any slackness on the part of their more experienced opponents.
In regard to the men, those who are familiar to us seem to be in good fettle. They look well, and have apparently done enough training for the time of the year. And their play seems to have lost none of its skill. Bowyer, however, still betrays selfishness, and Uren would ever have received a pass but for Gilligan. He still retain his dash, however.
Hardy is perfectly sound, and is agile as a cat, while Beeby is a prototype who will fill the Internationalist’s shoes with credit whenever he is called upon for duty. Goddard, again Captain, Chorlton, Crawford, Rogers, Robinson, Bradley, Harrop, Peake, McConnell, Macdonald, Stewart, Parkinson, Uren, Bowyer and Speakman are all fit for the fray.
Of the new men, West is to use an Irishism – an old ‘un, and if he is the West of old, no more need be said. Longworth has a reputation to maintain, and he will fight strongly for a League position. Scott is a half-back who ‘tis said will emulate the deeds of Raisbeck, and forward Brough, Leavey, and Gilligan, are all ready for the sternest battle.
Personally I do not envy the task our Directors have when they sit down to select the team. Of course, goal is a certainty, but is there another position on the field for which there are not two claimants. The backs might be as last year, or West and Longworth may both be introduced; Peake is worthy a place in the team; and so one might say of every man.
Thus the outlook is most promising, and it will prove a big disappointment to me if the team does not do big things. May we begin well to-day.
(Joint Everton and Liverpool Match Programme: September 1, 1910)
The Liverpool team for the 1910-1911 season. From LFChistory.net.
Back row: George Fleming (Trainer), John Macdonald, Peter Malone, Harold Uren, Ephraim Longworth, Sam Gilligan, Barney Dillon, Joe Brough.
Middle row: Tom Watson (Secretary-Manager), Tom Chorlton, James Bradley, Gus Beeby, Donald Mackinlay, Robert Crawford, Jim Harrop, James Scott, Robert Robinson, John McConnell, William Connell (Trainer).
Front row: Sam Hardy, Tom Rogers, James Stewart, Billy Dunlop, Arthur Goddard, Ronald Orr, Alf West, James Speakman, Herbert Leavey.
On the ground: Sam Bowyer, Jack Parkinson, Ernest Peake.
"Play Up, Liverpool" 