Accrington F.C. 0–1 Sheffield United F.C. (1893 Football League Test Match)

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Accrington 0–1 Sheffield United
Event1893 Test Match
Accrington Sheffield United
0 1
Date22 April 1893
VenueTrent Bridge, Nottingham
Attendance5,000

The

Division Two in a game at Trent Bridge, Nottingham which United won 1–0. A goal from United's Scottish forward John Drummond was enough to clinch victory for the Yorkshire
side and saw them promoted to play in the First Division for the following season, with Accrington taking their place in the second.

Background

For the

Second Division comprising a further twelve clubs.[1] To settle the matter of clubs moving between the divisions it was decided to play a series of test matches at the end of the season, with the top three sides from Division Two playing the three sides that had finished bottom of Division One. The winners of each match would be elected to play in Division One for the 1893–94 season
, with the losers playing in Division Two.

Second Division's third place team Darwen playing Notts County.[2]

Match

Summary

The Test Matches were played on a neutral ground, with this game being played at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. Accrington were deemed the 'home' team and wore their traditional kit of a red jersey with blue knickers and socks. Sheffield United played in their red and white striped jersey with blue knickers and socks.

Contemporary reports described the pitch as being in poor condition following a period of wet weather and the muddy conditions hampered the players performance on both sides. After a goalless first half, United forward John Drummond received the ball midway through the second period and embarked on a long solo run before hitting the ball past the Accrington keeper to score the only goal of the game. Drummond would later attribute his performance in the game to painting the soles of his boots with black lead to prevent the mud from sticking, allowing him to be the only player to be able to keep to his feet.[4]

Details

Source:[3]

Accrington0–1Sheffield United
Drummond 55'
Attendance: 5,000
Accrington
Sheffield United
GK England William Mason
DF England William Hodge
DF England Charlie Ditchfield
DF England W. Bowie
HB
John Stevenson
HB England William Shuttleworth
FW England Tom Lea
FW England Jimmy Whitehead
FW England Harry Cookson
FW England Harry Lea
FW England Jack Kirkham
GK England Charlie Howlett
RB England Michael Whitham
LB Scotland Bob Cain
CH England Rab Howell
CH England Billy Hendry (c)
HB England Ernest Needham
FW Scotland John Drummond
FW England Harry Hammond
FW Scotland Bob Hill
LW Scotland Hugh Gallacher
MF England Arthur Watson
Club secretary:
England Joseph Wostinholm
Match rules
  • 90 minutes
  • No extra-time or penalties
  • Replay if drawn at full time

Aftermath

Following their victory, Sheffield United played in the Football League First Division from the 1893–94 season onwards, remaining in the division until 1934, and being crowned champions only five years after being promoted. Accrington on the other hand, refused to play in the Second Division and resigned their membership of the league as a result. Financial problems followed and the team reverted to amateur status before they eventually disbanded in 1896.[5]

The other two Test Matches played on the same day, resulted in promotion for Division Two side Darwen after they beat Notts County 3–2, while Small Heath and Newton Heath played out a 1–1 draw.[2] Ironically, of the Division Two sides, it was only the champions Small Heath who failed to gain promotion after they lost their test match replay against Newton Heath 5–2.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Football League 1892–93". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d "England 1892–93". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 March 2010. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  3. ^
    ISBN 0-9508588-2-X
    .
  4. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7
    .
  5. ISBN 1-904103-19-7
    .
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