DON'T LET FATTY CATCH YOU

I was wondering why there were no Yorkshire clubs in the Premier League and only one in League Two. There are FIVE in the other two divisions. Is it because Yorkshire teams are mediocre? Despite the lowly league positions of the two clubs, there was nothing mediocre about the game at Chesterfield's Proact stadium last night, although both teams seemed content with a 1-1 draw.

There is nothing mediocre about the Proact which is a lovely, practical stadium. The pre-match food at the Highfield Eatery in Newbold Road (nothing to do with the club), was mediocre (to be polite) and is not to be recommended since a lot of stuff was "off", including my first choice beer, my meal choice of steak and kidney pie...and the service which was sloooow. BOO!

The real matter was that the Yorkshire club Doncaster Rovers was not mediocre, the players were lively and Chesterfield, which is almost Yorkshire, were also lively, so they both deserved their point.

The Donny fans were without their mascot, though we did get a glimpse of the Chester Mouse and wondered who was inside with those big ears. Transfered Tracy maybe? See yesterday's blog!

Yesterday I got distracted from using anniversaries for my blog because I chose to write about mascots. I am going to make up for that today.

On April 19th 1902, a Yorkshire club, Sheffield United, played in the FA Cup at the Crystal Palace (old version), eventually beating Southampton, after a replay. Over 100,000 spectators saw the two games; a 1-1 draw on the 19th April and a 2-1 win for the Blades a week later. The Southampton eqaulising goal in the first match was "offside" though the referee Tom Kirkham waved play on with the ball at captain Harry Wood's feet, who scored. There was some controversy over this and after the match, Fatty Foulke was seen running naked after the ref to sort out the issue in an unconventional way.

Billy "Fatty" Foulke was the Sheffield golkeeper a huge man, over 6' 2" tall and 22 stones in weight. For his size he was remarkably agile and was an English international.

This is Mr Foulke in action intimidating a weedy forward, yes as a goalie.

The next fact was the C.B.Fry played for Southampton. He was an extraordinary sportsman who turned his hand to any sport or indeed anything! Charles Burgess Fry was an England football, cricketer (94 First Class centuries), World long jump record holder, Oxford University Rugby wing three-quarter, Classical Scholar, author, journalist, schoolmaster (at Charterhouse in 1896-8), Parliamentary candidate, sailor and bon viveur. He also turned down being put on the Throne of Albania. CB Fry is tieing the defender in knots. (I have blogged him before: http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/fry-up-ultimate-all-rounder.html)

Both teams had lost a FA Cup Final in the two previous seasons and in 1900 Southampton had been the first non-league team to reach the Final following the foundation of the Football League in 1888. Of course Tottenham became the first non-league side to win the FA Cup in 1901 beating Sheffield United after a replay.