26th January 1886 - Scotland decide not to play England after the latter allow professionalism
On Tuesday, 26 January 1886, the SFA met in Glasgow.
They 'decided not to play England in an international football match this
year because England intended to send forth her full strength side by including
professional football players in the team. The Scottish Football Association
disapprove of there being professional football, and hold that when Scotland is
willing to select eleven amateur players England should adopt the same course.
England will not agree to this, and consequently there is a rupture between the
Associations representing the two countries.' - The Dundee Courier
and Argus, Wednesday, 27 January 1886.
Much of the objection came from the gentlemen-amateurs of
Queen’s Park.
England were due to meet Scotland at Hampden Park on
Saturday 27th March
The England side was chosen on Friday 19th March by
the FA selection committee following a 6-1 victory against Ireland plus a
series of trial matches.
The side consisted of 10 amateurs and one professional –
professionalism had become officially recognised in the previous summer – in
Blackburn Rovers half back James Forrest, who thus became the first ever official
professional international footballer to play against Scotland. In the case of
the Scottish FA this though was one too many!
It was Forrest’s fifth game for his country and his second
against Scotland who had objected to his appearance the previous season at the
Oval in a 1-1 draw.
He was to make 11 international appearances – four against
Scotland - in all. Forrest twice won the FA Cup in 1883/4 and 1884/5 with
Blackburn Rovers who on both occasions defeated Queen’s Park in the final with
Forrest scoring in both years.
In addition to Scottish objections there was also many in
the English game who were deeply unhappy at Forrest wearing the England shirt.
Pa Jackson was responsible for overseeing the team on the day of the match and
he choose to mark Forrest out by throwing him a tightfitting jersey in contrast
to the loose shirts worn by the amateurs.
"[Forrest] was the only professional in the side, and
had to wear a tight fitting jersey in contrast to the loose shirts worn by the
amateurs." - Lancashire Evening Post, Saturday, 9 January 1926.
Blackburn born Forrest died on 30 December 1925. He was at
the time a Blackburn Rovers director.
The Lancashire Evening Post of 9 January 1926 carried
an obituary by John Lewis, who was responsible for establishing the Lancashire
FA in 1879 and later served as vice-President of both the FA and Football
League. Lewis made reference to 1886 game. “It was contemptible that such a
difference should be drawn. I know that no member of Football Association would
dare make such a suggestion now. A fact that I have not seen recorded in
connection with Mr Forrest’s international career is that after being chosen play
for England against Scotland he was offered the sum of £10 to stand down in
favour of an amateur. But ‘Jimmy’ had views of his own. He recognised that an
honour had been conferred on him, and he appreciated it. I am glad to say he
was not prepared to sacrifice it for gold. At the time he was a mere lad, but
he refused an offer which might have been a temptation to many footballers in
those days who were much better off financially than he was at that period.
Generous tributes have been paid to his prowess as a footballer and all are
thoroughly deserved. Forrest was for many years the youngest FA Cup Final
scorer as he was just 19 years and 277 years when he scored in the 1884 success
against Queen’s Park. The match at Hampden Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
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