Southern League Division One
Team: Shaw, McDonald, Fidler, Mitchell, Lintott, Downing, Rogers, Cannon, MacDonald, Drake, Barnes
Attendance: 2,000
On 26th October 1908, Rangers took on New Brompton at Park Royal. The following report appeared four days later in the: ‘St. Pancras Guardian & Camden & Kentish Town Reporter’
‘The meeting of New Brompton and the Rangers on Monday last will rank as one of the most unpleasant games the Rangers were ever engaged in.
The Green and Whites scored 2 goals to 1, thus turning last year’s 2-2 draw into a win, and this is the only satisfaction they can possibly have.
The weather was wretchedly cold and miserable, the attendance the smallest ever seen at the Rangers’ enclosure at a Southern League match.
The referee was not strong and after the Rangers had scored a couple of good goals in the first ten minutes, the game took a rough turn.
Some critics place the blame upon Mitchell as starting this, but Mitchell is a fine young vigorous player, and though not afraid to use his weight, should not be declared guilty of foul play.
According to my notes Brompton were the first aggressors, Powell or Whyman kicked Rogers’ ankles soon after the Rangers had scored their second goal.
Mitchell was following up, and while the referee was making up his mind what to do, Mitchell did “ditto” to his opponent.
The referee cautioned the Kentish player and gave a free kick against him, and this was the start of a serious of fouls, which culminated in Rogers being ordered off.
It was the opinion of all the critics in the press seats that the aggressor was one of the visitors’ players, and that Rogers was wrongly punished.
After the game I saw the referee and asked why Rogers was sent off. His reply was “for deliberately kicking an opponent when he had been cautioned.”
Now, I maintain that Rogers could not have deliberately kicked him. Rogers was turning round to make a pass when Whyman, coming from behind him, stumbled and fell. If he was fouled by Rogers, which I doubt, it could not have been a “deliberate” kick.
‘The Sportsman’ says Rogers was the victim, not the offender, the ‘Daily Mail’ questions if the referee “punished the worst offender.” ‘The Express’ thought the fault was “committed by an opponent.” ‘The Daily News’, “saw nothing willful in Rogers’ act.”
‘The Leader’ thought that the punishment meted out was “rather severe in its isolation;” and this from ‘The Chronicle’: “What Rogers’ offence was, one had not the opportunity of seeing…it was certainly not as bad as some which the referee allowed to go unpunished.”
Surely with such overwhelming evidence in favour of Rogers, it will be distinctly hard lines if he is made a scapegoat.
The FA comes down with a heavy fist upon those who bring discredit upon the game, and unless some steps are taken poor Rogers will find himself severely punished, while the club will also be without his assistance for a time.’
The QPR scorers were Albert Rogers and Frank Cannon.
As for New Brompton, they went on to become Gillingham FC in 1912.
Steve Russell