Team: Hunt, Keeps, Tyler, Walborn, Mason, McKenzie, Davies, Edginton, Smith, Ward, Witheridge
Attendance: 500 (although one report claims that there were around 2,000 spectators present, but maybe many had decided to leave before kick-off?)
This match played on 23rd January 1897 should have been a London League fixture but due to the inclement weather Mr Locker decided to play it as a friendly, with 30 minutes each way.
Also, Gordon Macey lists it as being an away game, but according to the local press report it was actually played at Queen’s Park. The following match report appeared six days later:
‘The management of Queen’s Park Rangers invariably depend on a big “gate” whenever they have Fulham as opponents.
On Saturday these elevens were engaged in the London League, but the Meteorological Office was adverse to football, and there was no “hanking” about the specimen supplied at Queen’s Park.
On the field there was hail, snow, frost, wind, and bad language all rolled into one, but the latter made no impression on those in charge of the weather chart.
To sum it up briefly, the weather was awful and a league match impossible.
Despite this, however, some 2,000 spectators (?) braved the elements, and after referee Lockyer had made periodical inspections of the ground it was announced that only a friendly would be played.
The Rangers were minus Teagle, Musslewhite and Wallington – the latter being included in the Reading team – while the brothers Shrimpton were the most notable absentees on the visiting side.
There was a blinding snowstorm in progress when the teams lined out, and a high wind was blowing dead towards one of the goals.
Fulham were fortunate in getting the wind abaft, but the incidents of the game merely amounted to scrummages around the two goals and flying kicks.
Robertson scored from close quarters for the visitors ten minutes on, and a little later Mason, in trying to do something brilliant with a shot from Aylott, sent the leather into his own goal.
Before the interval the Rangers scored through Davies, (or Witheridge?} but being unable to repeat the dose the teams crossed over with the score two goals to one in Fulham’s favour.
The second thirty – only thirties were played – consisted of the Rangers swarming round the Fulham keeper in a similar manner to the visitors, who were constantly dangerous in the initial half, but it was not until close on time that Davies put on the equaliser.
A penalty was awarded to the homesters, but nothing advantageous accrued, and the game ended in a draw of 2 goals each.
It was, perhaps the most fitting termination that could have been wished, for under such treacherous conditions accurate play was out of the question.
Under the circumstances it is not necessary to individually criticise – I might lay myself open to tautology by such indulgence.
To referee in such bitter weather requires a deal of pluck, but Mr Lockyer apparently has plenty of this.’
Steve Russell
Thanks to Colin Woodley for unearthing the report and to Gordon Macey (RIP) as always