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100 Years Ago... The Wednesday V Bradford City OMDT


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The Wednesday v Bradford City

OMDT

 

Setting the Scene

 

Roughly 100 years ago Bradford City made a trip to Hillsborough, for a match which took place on the 3rd February 1917. The game was a Midland Section match, which for those who are not familiar was a division of the wartime Football League. At that time service people were allowed entry to games for free, so attendances were irregular at best, as were the teams, who often utilised whoever they could. Earlier in the season the two teams had met at Valley Parade and were locked together in a draw, so both teams were keen to get the upper hand in the return fixture. By this point a large number of Wednesday players had gone to serve the King and the club were struggling to raise a decent team, but continued by borrowing players where possible.

 

The Teams

 

The Wednesday

 

Lyall

Thorpe

C. Brelsford

Brittleton

Glennon

T. W. Brelsford

Cowham

Capper

Wilson

Cawley

Jones

 

Bradford City

 

Mellors

Chaplin

Gatenby

Hargreaves

Torrance

Ducken

McCreadie

Logan

McIlvenny

Myers

Wilde

 

Referee: P. Sant (Barnsley)

 

The Match

 

The game, by all reports, was an exciting encounter, made even more heated by rough play and some contentious refereeing and a reported crowd of over 5,000 (high for wartime football). Eight minutes into the game Wednesday were awarded a penalty, when the ball was crossed into the area by Cowham and handled by Hargreaves, though it appears City thought it hit his body. Up stepped Glennon to take the penalty kick, though the City keeper, Mellor, saved the penalty Glennon slotted home the rebound to give Wednesday the lead. Through the game Wednesday sensed that Torrence had a poor temperament and made it a plan to get at him whenever possible, in retaliation for his own rough play on Capper, who Torrence had charged to the floor early on and who had lay winded on the ground as a result for some time. As a result the crowd "barracked" Torrence for the whole of the game. In the closing stages Torrence and Wednesday man Brelsford, who had been kicking lumps out of one another all game, came to blows. Brelsford was kicked down and squared up to Torrence, resulting in him being knocked down by the City player's punch. The referee attempted to break up the fight and sent Torrence off but was told by some players to "let them fight it out" and Torrence refused to leave the field of play. At this point three men, two of them sailors, ran onto the pitch to join in the fight, reaching the centre circle with no resistance. This led to a pitch invasion by onrushing fans from all sides and a melee of hundreds of spectators fighting it out on the field of play, with players stranded in the middle of the brawl. At one point the Wednesday keeper, Lyall, had Torrence around the neck, though it was later proven that he was actually protecting Torrence from being attacked by the public. The wrath of the public was evident, with a number of City players being attacked. Notably Chaplin,who had red hair similar to Torrence, was evidently mistaken for the firebrand and suffered a blow to the eye from a sailor. The game was abandoned with Wednesday winning one nil. The few police and officials in attendance eventually managed to escort the players off the field and break up the riot, reported then as "one of the most deplorable spectacles ever seen on a football field".

 

After the Match

 

Despite clearing the ground the police were unable to fully disperse the crowd, with hundreds deciding to wait outside the stadium for the exit of the Bradford team. Wednesday, spotting the potential for trouble, decided to send the City players out over nearby fields to waiting taxi cabs, and made the illusion complete by sending some officials out of the main entrance to the crowd to decoy taxis. The protesting fans were reported to have been waiting with missiles ready to bombard the unpopular Torrence on his exit. In a report into the match it was decided that Sant, the referee, should have controlled the match better and should have attempted to stop the match earlier. Wednesday were told to warn fans of their behaviour or face the closure of the ground for a period. The act of the sailors was condemned, though Lyall and Mellors (the goalkeepers of both sides) were commended for attempting to stop violence. Torrance was given a lengthy ban until the 1st of November, Brelsford was banned for two weeks.

 

The Report

 

58c29969eda9c_ScreenShot2017-03-10at11_01_38.png.d04ed8f4ecfaa660b7a0caa1085a1e36.png

 

What Happened to Torrence?

 

58c29dd56e884_ScreenShot2017-03-10at12_36_13.png.0a4db0cc865000562ce005797e1f7e54.png

 

Torrence was reportedly one of the finest defenders in the history of Bradford City, capped at trial status by Scotland and a winner of the FA Cup with City. The last game Torrence played for City was against Barnsley on the 10th of March 1917, his suspension until November by the FA for violence in the match at Hillsborough shortly followed. His season over Torrence signed up for service with the Royal Field Artillery immediately that March, as a gunner. He was sadly killed in action in April 1918. More can be read about him here.

 

Link to Wartime League Info

 

http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/football-league-midland-section-table-1915-16/

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this.. 

Edited by Guest
Jumping Jack Lyall made me do it!
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18 minutes ago, Wild Will Smith said:

The Wednesday v Bradford City

OMDT

 

Setting the Scene

 

Roughly 100 years ago Bradford City made a trip to Hillsborough, for a match which took place on the 3rd February 1917. The game was a Midland Section match, which for those who are not familiar was a division of the wartime Football League. At that time service people were allowed entry to games for free, so attendances were irregular at best, as were the teams, who often utilised whoever they could. Earlier in the season the two teams had met at Valley Parade and were locked together in a draw, so both teams were keen to get the upper hand in the return fixture. By this point a large number of Wednesday players had gone to serve the King and the club were struggling to raise a decent team, but continued by borrowing players where possible.

 

The Teams

 

The Wednesday

 

Lyall

Thorpe

C. Brelsford

Brittleton

Glennon

T. W. Brelsford

Cowham

Capper

Wilson

Cawley

Jones

 

Bradford City

 

Mellors

Chaplin

Gatenby

Hargreaves

Torrance

Ducken

McCreadie

Logan

McIlvenny

Myers

Wilde

 

Referee: P. Sant (Barnsley)

 

The Match

 

The game, by all reports, was an exciting encounter, made even more heated by rough play and some contentious refereeing and a reported crowd of over 5,000 (high for wartime football). Eight minutes into the game Wednesday were awarded a penalty, when the ball was crossed into the area by Cowham and handled by Hargreaves, though it appears City thought it hit his body. Up stepped Glennon to take the penalty kick, though the City keeper, Mellor, saved the penalty Glennon slotted home the rebound to give Wednesday the lead. Through the game Wednesday sensed that Torrence had a poor temperament and made it a plan to get at him whenever possible, in retaliation for his own rough play on Capper, who Torrence had charged to the floor early on and who had lay winded on the ground as a result for some time. As a result the crowd "barracked" Torrence for the whole of the game. In the closing stages Torrence and Wednesday man Brelsford, who had been kicking lumps out of one another all game, came to blows. Brelsford was kicked down and squared up to Torrence, resulting in him being knocked down by the City player's punch. The referee attempted to break up the fight and sent Torrence off but was told by some players to "let them fight it out" and Torrence refused to leave the field of play. At this point three men, two of them sailors, ran onto the pitch to join in the fight, reaching the centre circle with no resistance. This led to a pitch invasion by onrushing fans from all sides and a melee of hundreds of spectators fighting it out on the field of play, with players stranded in the middle of the brawl. At one point the Wednesday keeper, Lyall, had Torrence around the neck, though it was later proven that he was actually protecting Torrence from being attacked by the public. The wrath of the public was evident, with a number of City players being attacked. Notably Chaplin,who had red hair similar to Torrence, was evidently mistaken for the firebrand and suffered a blow to the eye from a sailor. The game was abandoned with Wednesday winning one nil. The few police and officials in attendance eventually managed to escort the players off the field and break up the riot, reported then as "one of the most deplorable spectacles ever seen on a football field".

 

After the Match

 

Despite clearing the ground the police were unable to fully disperse the crowd, with hundreds deciding to wait outside the stadium for the exit of the Bradford team. Wednesday, spotting the potential for trouble, decided to send the City players out over nearby fields to waiting taxi cabs, and made the illusion complete by sending some officials out of the main entrance to the crowd to decoy taxis. The protesting fans were reported to have been waiting with missiles ready to bombard the unpopular Torrence on his exit. In a report into the match it was decided that Sant, the referee, should have controlled the match better and should have attempted to stop the match earlier. Wednesday were told to warn fans of their behaviour or face the closure of the ground for a period. The act of the sailors was condemned, though Lyall and Mellors (the goalkeepers of both sides) were commended for attempting to stop violence. Torrance was given a lengthy ban until the 1st of November, Brelsford was banned for two weeks.

 

The Report

 

58c29969eda9c_ScreenShot2017-03-10at11_01_38.png.d04ed8f4ecfaa660b7a0caa1085a1e36.png

 

What Happened to Torrence?

 

58c29dd56e884_ScreenShot2017-03-10at12_36_13.png.0a4db0cc865000562ce005797e1f7e54.png

 

Torrence was reportedly one of the finest defenders in the history of Bradford City, capped at trial status by Scotland and a winner of the FA Cup with City. The last game Torrence played for City was against Barnsley on the 10th of March 1917, his suspension until November by the FA for violence in the match at Hillsborough shortly followed. His season over Torrence signed up for service with the Royal Field Artillery immediately that March, as a gunner. He was sadly killed in action in April 1918. More can be read about him here.

 

Link to Wartime League Info

 

http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/football-league-midland-section-table-1915-16/

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this.. 

Enjoyed that mate, cheers

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2 minutes ago, sweetsheri said:

They had taxis in 1917?

 

You are aware that we had motor vehicles in the late 1800's and horse and carriage prior to that?

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2 hours ago, Wild Will Smith said:

The Wednesday v Bradford City

OMDT

 

Setting the Scene

 

Roughly 100 years ago Bradford City made a trip to Hillsborough, for a match which took place on the 3rd February 1917. The game was a Midland Section match, which for those who are not familiar was a division of the wartime Football League. At that time service people were allowed entry to games for free, so attendances were irregular at best, as were the teams, who often utilised whoever they could. Earlier in the season the two teams had met at Valley Parade and were locked together in a draw, so both teams were keen to get the upper hand in the return fixture. By this point a large number of Wednesday players had gone to serve the King and the club were struggling to raise a decent team, but continued by borrowing players where possible.

 

The Teams

 

The Wednesday

 

Lyall

Thorpe

C. Brelsford

Brittleton

Glennon

T. W. Brelsford

Cowham

Capper

Wilson

Cawley

Jones

 

Bradford City

 

Mellors

Chaplin

Gatenby

Hargreaves

Torrance

Ducken

McCreadie

Logan

McIlvenny

Myers

Wilde

 

Referee: P. Sant (Barnsley)

 

The Match

 

The game, by all reports, was an exciting encounter, made even more heated by rough play and some contentious refereeing and a reported crowd of over 5,000 (high for wartime football). Eight minutes into the game Wednesday were awarded a penalty, when the ball was crossed into the area by Cowham and handled by Hargreaves, though it appears City thought it hit his body. Up stepped Glennon to take the penalty kick, though the City keeper, Mellor, saved the penalty Glennon slotted home the rebound to give Wednesday the lead. Through the game Wednesday sensed that Torrence had a poor temperament and made it a plan to get at him whenever possible, in retaliation for his own rough play on Capper, who Torrence had charged to the floor early on and who had lay winded on the ground as a result for some time. As a result the crowd "barracked" Torrence for the whole of the game. In the closing stages Torrence and Wednesday man Brelsford, who had been kicking lumps out of one another all game, came to blows. Brelsford was kicked down and squared up to Torrence, resulting in him being knocked down by the City player's punch. The referee attempted to break up the fight and sent Torrence off but was told by some players to "let them fight it out" and Torrence refused to leave the field of play. At this point three men, two of them sailors, ran onto the pitch to join in the fight, reaching the centre circle with no resistance. This led to a pitch invasion by onrushing fans from all sides and a melee of hundreds of spectators fighting it out on the field of play, with players stranded in the middle of the brawl. At one point the Wednesday keeper, Lyall, had Torrence around the neck, though it was later proven that he was actually protecting Torrence from being attacked by the public. The wrath of the public was evident, with a number of City players being attacked. Notably Chaplin,who had red hair similar to Torrence, was evidently mistaken for the firebrand and suffered a blow to the eye from a sailor. The game was abandoned with Wednesday winning one nil. The few police and officials in attendance eventually managed to escort the players off the field and break up the riot, reported then as "one of the most deplorable spectacles ever seen on a football field".

 

After the Match

 

Despite clearing the ground the police were unable to fully disperse the crowd, with hundreds deciding to wait outside the stadium for the exit of the Bradford team. Wednesday, spotting the potential for trouble, decided to send the City players out over nearby fields to waiting taxi cabs, and made the illusion complete by sending some officials out of the main entrance to the crowd to decoy taxis. The protesting fans were reported to have been waiting with missiles ready to bombard the unpopular Torrence on his exit. In a report into the match it was decided that Sant, the referee, should have controlled the match better and should have attempted to stop the match earlier. Wednesday were told to warn fans of their behaviour or face the closure of the ground for a period. The act of the sailors was condemned, though Lyall and Mellors (the goalkeepers of both sides) were commended for attempting to stop violence. Torrance was given a lengthy ban until the 1st of November, Brelsford was banned for two weeks.

 

The Report

 

58c29969eda9c_ScreenShot2017-03-10at11_01_38.png.d04ed8f4ecfaa660b7a0caa1085a1e36.png

 

What Happened to Torrence?

 

58c29dd56e884_ScreenShot2017-03-10at12_36_13.png.0a4db0cc865000562ce005797e1f7e54.png

 

Torrence was reportedly one of the finest defenders in the history of Bradford City, capped at trial status by Scotland and a winner of the FA Cup with City. The last game Torrence played for City was against Barnsley on the 10th of March 1917, his suspension until November by the FA for violence in the match at Hillsborough shortly followed. His season over Torrence signed up for service with the Royal Field Artillery immediately that March, as a gunner. He was sadly killed in action in April 1918. More can be read about him here.

 

Link to Wartime League Info

 

http://www.footballandthefirstworldwar.org/football-league-midland-section-table-1915-16/

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed reading this.. 

 Yep, really interesting - today'a flashpoints are mild by comparison. 

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