Scottish Football Reminiscences and SketchesBone, David Drummond
History
Scottish Football Reminiscences and Sketches
Bone, David Drummond
Football
game to hold its own and prosper. As a _quid pro quo_ for this vicious
practice, however, there is no game whose players are so charitable as
those connected with Association Football. There is not a club in the
Association that is not ready to play a "Charity Match," and far more
has been given to the funds of charitable institutions by the actions of
Association football clubs than all the other games in Scotland put
together.
_VII.--THE GREAT INTERNATIONAL;_
OR,
_NED DUNCAN'S DREAM._
~Scotland v. America, 1901.~
While on holidays, enjoying myself at a quiet and beautiful sea-side
village on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, I received a note from a
friend reminding me that an old football chum was still on the sick
list, and making little or no progress towards recovery. In fact, his
life, which had recently been enfeebled by an incurable malady, was
slowly but surely drawing to a close. Last time I saw him he referred to
the fact that he had some MS. which he wished Mr. John M'Dowall, his
successor in the secretaryship of the S.F.A., and myself, to read over,
and when this came into my mind I resolved to repair to Glasgow at once,
ere it might be too late.
It was just as well that I did, for poor Ned Duncan was fast sinking
when I got permission from his widowed mother to visit the bedside. Ned,
I may mention, was one of the most enthusiastic players of his day that
ever kicked a ball, but was obliged to give up practice in consequence
of the unfortunate circumstances I have just mentioned, and of late had
only been a spectator at the leading games. He received me that evening
with a kind smile of recognition, and his pale face beckoned me to come
near. I was certainly much touched with my old friend's appearance, and
tried as much as possible to cheer him, but it was of no use.
He said he knew he was going to the silent land. The doctor, in fact,
had told him he had only a few days to live, and he was glad I had come
to bid him farewell, and take over some straggling notes he had compiled
last summer about the football of the future. "Going home one evening,"
he continued, "after an International match, I fell into a deep sleep,
and had a remarkable dream. I thought I saw a great match between
Scotland and America. Real genuine players glided past, scrimmaging with
each other for the ball; thousands of spectators, new and beautiful
youthful faces, graced the area allotted to spectators; the hum of
thousands of excited voices greeted my ears, and"----Here poor Ned's
voice failed.
After a few minutes repose, the old player gasped, "But what need I tell
you more. Here is the MS., and make what use of it you like."
My dear old friend is now under the turf he loved so well to play on
when in the zenith of his fame.
Having eventually opened the packet, the first sentence which met my
eyes was "Ned Duncan's Dream; or, The Great International of 1901."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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