1895 ANECDOTES

1895 ANTEDOTES

THE BELSON AFFAIR

There was considerable public outcry, when a Cheltenham player was seen to have “struck Belson a deliberate blow to the face towards the close of the game.”

‘ A Spy’  comment: “We are all anxiously awaiting the sequel to last Saturday’s squabble, and if the powers do not come down and deal out a substantial sentence then our sense of justice will be grossly outraged. When Jem Smith is billed to meet Jem somebody else then we have to expect a prize fight, but in a so-called friendly game of football an assault such as that committed on Saturday is really unpardonable. I understand that had there been a coroner on the ground as sure as David smote the philistine Belson would have meted out justice there and then.

It is a question whether the game itself was worth the candle- I mean the ha’pence. Criticism would be absolutely a waste of time, ink and paper. Our own remnant of a team were all at sea on the muddy ground, and floundered about like

Teams playing away from Bath not to exceed 1/- per head, with the exception of Bristol District.

Jersey to be provided to remain the property of the Club and to be returned when requested.

Snippets from ‘The Spy’ Bath Herald & Daily Chronicle 11/10/1895

“A meeting with Bristol stirs football enthusiasm to its depths.”

“We have been, as it were, hovering on the brink, and nothing would arouse more jubilation in the haunts of local football than that tomorrow night should see us on the other side of the hedge.”

16/11/1895 v Weston-super-Mare, Home. Won 5-0. Team:- J Long, W F Long, B Lawrence, E C Faithfull, E F Gooding, G G Vincent, E H Seers, L J Fry, J Ruddick, R A Bartlett, C Williams, J D’Aguilar (Capt.), F Derrick, B H Belson and F C Belson.

A delayed start. Both teams on the pitch, but no ball!  A disappointing game, with a poor performance from the forwards.

“It was not without feelings of fear and trembling that the Bath supporters lined the barriers at the Recreation Ground this afternoon.”

“There was an encouraging muster of spectators, and had the weather been less boisterous the concourse undoubtedly would have been much larger.”

“It is certain that the committee of the Bath F.C. will have reason when the season ends to regret having listened to the advocates of the threepenny admittance, for there can be no question that under its operation the income will by no means balance the expenditure. About £10 was the result of Saturday’s match, and from that the Company’s share has to be deducted.”

“A fair gathering of spectators lined the barriers, but the new grand stand came in for very meagre patronage.”

“At length Long got possession again and put in a grand circuitous run, which drew hearty plaudits from the crowd. Then the play was carried again right on to the line, and after some few minutes Lawrence obtained possession from a line out, and scored. Jimmy Long again failed at goal, the wind rendering goal kicking practically out of the question.”