Charles William Alcock

“ The satisfactory completion of this first International match marked a new era in Association football, and the effects were, as was only to be expected, far-reaching. In Scotland the Rugby game soon found itself faced by a formidable rival. New clubs were formed in all parts, with every sign of vitality. On every available open space youngsters found amusement in urging the flying ball, so that there was a constant accession of likely players to disseminate the game all over the country. The development of the Association game in Scotland was indeed extraordinary ”

“ The adoption of the rule which had prevailed at these two schools, which kept a player on side as long as there were three of the opposite side between him and the enemy's goal, removed, in fact, the one remaining bar to the establishment of one universal code for Association players in the south at least In the north, Sheffield maintained a code of its own, and some years elapsed before the Sheffield Association gave up its own rules, and thereby gave the parent Association undivided and undisputed control as the legislators of the game. ”

“ The successful show made by the Queen's Park club against the Wanderers in the competition for the Football Association Cup was, beyond a doubt mainly responsible for 'the institution of an International match between England and Scotland on a strict basis. The very suggestion of such a contest under Association rules was quite enough to rouse the ire of the Rugby players north of the Tweed. At the lime, indeed, the Rugby game was paramount in Scotland. ”