Even in the 1930’s there was a difference of playing styles between English clubs and their foreign counterparts.
Willy Meisl describes in his book “Soccer Revolution” from 1955, the safety-first approach that didn’t result in the free flowing goal scoring Continentals.
“The British were bent on “safety-first”, on preventing the opponent from scoring goals. The Continentals were out to score goals. Most schoolboys good at arithmetic will tell you that it amounts to the same whether I win by scoring goals, or by giving away fewer to the opponent.
“In football I challenge the axiom. Though it may be the same mathematically, it makes all the difference to the soul of soccer…..”
“A generation of “Safety-first” football created a “Safety-first” mentality, just as the existence of that “Unassailable fortress” created a “Maginot Line” mentality (rearguard complex) in the French nation. In soccer as in politics and warfare “safety-first” meant surrendering the initiative, choosing the passive role. This must lead to decadence and weakening.”
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soccer. Show all posts
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Friday, 23 March 2012
The Early Days of Football
This is a million miles away from the Premiership world that we all know and love. Back in the early days of football there was certainly a variety of rules. John Cottrell in his book, “A Century of Great Soccer Drama,” has these interesting stories.
“Football was not taken quite so seriously. It was not unusual that the 1873 Cup Final should start half an hour late because players were watching the Boat Race, and in 1875, Major Mandarin, one of the Engineers, withdrew from the Cup Final because he was an old Etonian and it would mean playing against his fellow old boys. But once the whistle had blown, the game was on in earnest, with no quarter asked or given, broken bones were commonplace. In the first Cup Final, Lieutenant Cresswell of the engineers broke his collar-bone after ten minutes but played on until the finish. When the Wanderers won the Cup for the third successive time in 1878, goalkeeper J. Kilpatrick played on with a fractured arm.
Before the start of one of the great ‘blood’ matches between Old Etonians and Old Harrovians, C.W, Alcock, captain of the Harrovains and secretary of the Football Association, asked Lord Kinnaird of the Old Etonians, “Look here, Arthur, shall we play fair, or shall we have hacking?”
“Oh, yes let’s have hacking,” cried his Lordship. And, though he never wore shin guards, he proceeded to hack through the match with such gusto that he commented afterwards, “I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for years.”
Lady Kinnaird did not share his enthusiasm. Dreading that he would eventually sustain a fearful injury, his mother once remarked to Major Mandarin (later Sir Francis Mandarin president of the F.A.) that she felt sure he would one day come home with a broken leg. “Don’t worry,” said Mandarin. “If he does, it won’t be his own.”
“Football was not taken quite so seriously. It was not unusual that the 1873 Cup Final should start half an hour late because players were watching the Boat Race, and in 1875, Major Mandarin, one of the Engineers, withdrew from the Cup Final because he was an old Etonian and it would mean playing against his fellow old boys. But once the whistle had blown, the game was on in earnest, with no quarter asked or given, broken bones were commonplace. In the first Cup Final, Lieutenant Cresswell of the engineers broke his collar-bone after ten minutes but played on until the finish. When the Wanderers won the Cup for the third successive time in 1878, goalkeeper J. Kilpatrick played on with a fractured arm.
Before the start of one of the great ‘blood’ matches between Old Etonians and Old Harrovians, C.W, Alcock, captain of the Harrovains and secretary of the Football Association, asked Lord Kinnaird of the Old Etonians, “Look here, Arthur, shall we play fair, or shall we have hacking?”
“Oh, yes let’s have hacking,” cried his Lordship. And, though he never wore shin guards, he proceeded to hack through the match with such gusto that he commented afterwards, “I haven’t enjoyed myself so much for years.”
Lady Kinnaird did not share his enthusiasm. Dreading that he would eventually sustain a fearful injury, his mother once remarked to Major Mandarin (later Sir Francis Mandarin president of the F.A.) that she felt sure he would one day come home with a broken leg. “Don’t worry,” said Mandarin. “If he does, it won’t be his own.”
Monday, 5 November 2007
Major Frank Buckley of Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Today in the big spending world of Chelsea and Manchester United, who throw millions away after glory, it’s nice to recall a bygone era, when every penny was counted.
Major Frank Buckley would certainly put today’s mangers to shame; I love the fact that he had a sign on the team bus offering his players for sale. This is from ‘Soccer’ by Denzil Batchelor published in 1954:-
“Major Frank Buckley, this remarkable manager had began as a £3 a week player and had won his international cap while on the books of Derby County. He came to Wolverhampton Wanderers as manager in 1927, to find the club facing an overdraft. He stayed at Molineux for eighteen years....and when he left had the satisfaction of knowing that there was a £50,000 credit in the bank.
He did more than achieve a profit. His plan, carried out to the last particular, was to make stars and sell them. He sold stars during his stay at Wovlerhampton, to the tune of £160,000 - it was said that when his team traveled to away matches by bus there was a placard on the windows: "Stop me and Buy One." Buckley built new stands with the same money he made, rather than buy new stars. Between 1935 and 1939 he took over £110,000 in transfer fees and only spent £42,000 on new stock.”
Major Frank Buckley would certainly put today’s mangers to shame; I love the fact that he had a sign on the team bus offering his players for sale. This is from ‘Soccer’ by Denzil Batchelor published in 1954:-
“Major Frank Buckley, this remarkable manager had began as a £3 a week player and had won his international cap while on the books of Derby County. He came to Wolverhampton Wanderers as manager in 1927, to find the club facing an overdraft. He stayed at Molineux for eighteen years....and when he left had the satisfaction of knowing that there was a £50,000 credit in the bank.
He did more than achieve a profit. His plan, carried out to the last particular, was to make stars and sell them. He sold stars during his stay at Wovlerhampton, to the tune of £160,000 - it was said that when his team traveled to away matches by bus there was a placard on the windows: "Stop me and Buy One." Buckley built new stands with the same money he made, rather than buy new stars. Between 1935 and 1939 he took over £110,000 in transfer fees and only spent £42,000 on new stock.”
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