Scottish Football Reminiscences and SketchesBone, David Drummond
History
Scottish Football Reminiscences and Sketches
Bone, David Drummond
Football
The M'Neils are quite a football family, and, what is of more account,
have gained distinction in the game. Is it not a fact that Mr. Peter was
one of the founders of the famous club nineteen years ago, and that
Messrs. Harry, William, and Moses kept the ball rolling on Kinning Park
with credit for many a day? Moses is the youngest of the lot, and
consequently what may be termed the most modern. He was quite a boy when
this cup tie came off, and played with a dash and finish on the left
wing that completely astonished all who were present on Old Hampden Park
that May evening. Mr. Moses, too, was more than a mere local player, and
through sheer force of ability was chosen to play against England in
1880, and acted in the same capacity for Scotland against Wales in 1876.
He is still young and active, and resides in the city.
~William Struthers.~
An original member of the Partick, when that club could boast of having
as good a team as now, Struthers was associated with the old pioneers
in Messrs. Boag, James S. Campbell, Love, Sutar, Bell, and Smith, and
joined the Rangers the previous year before the tie. He was a beautiful
dribbler, after the style of Mr. T. C. Highet; went right ahead with the
ball close at his toe, and was the most difficult man to tackle in the
Rangers. He left Scotland some years ago for England, where he played
for the Bolton Wanderers. In brilliant form in the match, he made some
fine runs in company with Mr. Campbell and Mr. Hill, and was successful
in scoring the first goal got for the Rangers. Mr. Struthers is now in
England, where he has settled down.
~David Hill.~
A most unselfish player was Mr. Hill. He was slow, but sure, and if ever
a man showed an example in the field by at once passing on the ball when
necessary, and never opening his mouth from kick-of to time call, it was
he. One of the prominent figures all through quite a decade of seasons
for his old club, Mr. Hill rendered the Rangers valuable service, and
never failed to turn up when he was wanted. In the final Association
Challenge Cup match with the Vale of Leven, played shortly before the
one I am touching upon, and which ended in a tie, some splendid passing
was witnessed between him and Mr. Wm. Dunlop, who, by the way, could not
play in the Charity event in consequence of an injury sustained a week
before.
~Alex. Steel.~
Like the other members of the Rangers, Mr. Steel was very young when he
joined that club. His enthusiasm for the game, however, was unbounded,
and I have been told by an old Rangers' man that he was one of the
original "moonlighters" of the club. This phrase gentlemen, requires
some explanation. It does not refer to Ireland and its agrarian
grievances. No, no. It was only a few choice spirits of the Rangers who,
determined to win all matches, used to practice at full moon, and
frequently frightened some of the belated lieges in the vicinity of
Kinning Park, who swore the place was haunted.
~Charles M'Quarrie.~
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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