Southern League (Division One)
Team: Howes, Archer, Newlands, Bowman, Hitch, Edwards, Cross (W), Ronaldson, Skilton, Bevan, Stewart
Attendance: 14,000
On 14th December 1904, Fulham travelled to Park Royal in a Southern League match. The following report appeared in the Fulham Chronicle six days later:
‘There are no keener rivals in the Southern League than Queen’s Park Rangers and Fulham.
They draw their supporters from the same district, and their meetings are eagerly looked forward to in the neighbourhood of West London.
Of late, the Rangers have been doing rather badly, and frequent changes have been made in the composition of the team.
While Fulham, in addition to preserving their fine defence, have shown that they can score by beating some of the First Division teams and scoring four goals in their cup-tie against Luton.
On Saturday, however, they received a decided check at Park Royal, as the Rangers beat them by two goals to nil, and all through the match the team from the riverside were playing a losing game.
Not for many weeks have the Rangers been in such all-round form. Howes was perfectly safe in goal.
Archer played a magnificent game for his side as he invariably does when Newlands is his partner.
The half-back line fed their forwards judiciously and defended well.
While the front line showed more combination and dash than has been seen in the ranks of the Park Royal team since the beginning of the season.
Fulham’s weak point on Saturday was the half-back line. They never seemed able to hold the locals, and the defence was sorely harried at times in consequence.
Fryer could not be blamed for either of the two goals scored against him. In fact, but for his fine efforts, the Rangers would have achieved a much larger victory.
There were about 14,000 people present when Fulham kicked-off in a dead calm, but on rather heavy ground.
They started off in very promising fashion, but Archer was in great form at back, and volleying with power and precision, he kept the visiting forwards at bay.
From one of his huge kicks Skilton got possession, and rushing through, he passed forward to Bevan, and the latter put the ball into the net. The goal was an obviously offside one, however, and was disallowed.
Cross was the next one to shine, and he was making straight for goal when Ross pulled him up and saved, at the expense of an unproductive corner.
A bustle in front of Fryer saw Bowman put the ball past the giant, and great cheering greeted the Rangers’ first goal.
Just before half-time, Fulham ought to have scored, but their shooting was erratic, and the whistle blew with the Rangers leading by one goal,
In the second-half, considerable vigour was imparted into the game, which, however, never became really rough.
Bevan made a magnificent effort, getting past about four players, and scored, while half reclining on the ground.
And directly after that he would have scored again, but for being fouled inside the penalty area, an offence which the referee failed to notice.
The Rangers continued to have the better of the game up to the finish, and Stewart and Bevan should have added to the lead, but they failed to take advantage of their opportunities.
So, when the whistle sounded, Fulham retired beaten by two goals to love,’
Rangers then lost 0-1 the following week at the hands of Watford.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for sending me the report. The pic of Fred Bevan is from my collection)