Playing with One Man

[HibeeJibee]

Maxwelltown v Dalbeattie Trades in the Dumfries & Galloway Junior Cup R3 was played on Saturday 9th January 1920. Most of the Dalbeattie team were travelling by motor omnibus, which broke down, but 1 player called George McKay had gone up early by train to deliver a parcel to his sister in the infirmary. He walked down to Nunholm Park, but after waiting 45 mins the referee declared he had to call the tie to a start, so it could be awarded for Dalbeattie's non-appearance. (Shades of Estonia v Scotland here).

McKay pointed out that he'd arrived. He decided to play by himself, and try to keep the score down in the hope his team-mates might soon appear - as such he "pluckily took the field alone to uphold his club's honour". He won the toss, and chose his end, meaning Maxwelltown had to kick-off. As soon as they did he stepped-up and won an offside. Supposedly through some combination of keeping the ball as long as he could and forcing offside he managed to holdout for 8 minutes ... at that point an opponent started from his own half, beat him, and scored. Promptly the referee abandoned the game (presumably as McKay couldn't kick-off to himself?!). Heartbreakingly 7 of his teammates arrived only 10-15 mins later, having walked through the snow from their stricken bus . They then played an 11 v 8 friendly which finished Maxwelltown 2-1 Dalbeattie Trades .

Aside from the fact this 22 year old baker-cum-barber was clearly an absolute legend : could anyone explain how he was able to do it? I know the Laws of the Game and the offside rule were different in the 1920s. It sounds ridiculous they didn't score past him straight away: but it's only a couple of years ago that Italy baffled England for a whole half in the Six Nations, by doing something clever for offside at the tackle, IIRC?

[afca32]

That is bizarre!

On the last bit, after making a tackle Italy would commit no players to the ruck, meaning no offside line was created and their players could go on the England side of the ball. It was 17-15 at 68 minutes and finished 36-15. The law was changed not long after. The tactic was first used in top level rugby by the Chiefs in 2014, who were coached at the time by now Glasgow coach Dave Rennie.

[Sergeant Wilson]

7 hours ago, HibeeJibee said:

Maxwelltown v Dalbeattie Trades in the Dumfries & Galloway Junior Cup R3 was played on Saturday 9th January 1920. Most of the Dalbeattie team were travelling by motor omnibus, which broke down, but 1 player called George McKay had gone up early by train to deliver a parcel to his sister in the infirmary. He walked down to Nunholm Park, but after waiting 45 mins the referee declared he had to call the tie to a start, so it could be awarded for Dalbeattie's non-appearance. (Shades of Estonia v Scotland here).

McKay pointed out that he'd arrived. He decided to play by himself, and try to keep the score down in the hope his team-mates might soon appear - as such he "pluckily took the field alone to uphold his club's honour". He won the toss, and chose his end, meaning Maxwelltown had to kick-off. As soon as they did he stepped-up and won an offside. Supposedly through some combination of keeping the ball as long as he could and forcing offside he managed to holdout for 8 minutes ... at that point an opponent started from his own half, beat him, and scored. Promptly the referee abandoned the game (presumably as McKay couldn't kick-off to himself?!). Heartbreakingly 7 of his teammates arrived only 10-15 mins later, having walked through the snow from their stricken bus . They then played an 11 v 8 friendly which finished Maxwelltown 2-1 Dalbeattie Trades .

Aside from the fact this 22 year old baker-cum-barber was clearly an absolute legend : could anyone explain how he was able to do it? I know the Laws of the Game and the offside rule were different in the 1920s. It sounds ridiculous they didn't score past him straight away: but it's only a couple of years ago that Italy baffled England for a whole half in the Six Nations, by doing something clever for offside at the tackle, IIRC?

This happened to me as well. I held out for 89 minutes at 0-0, unfortunately I was sent off in the last minute and they won 1-0.

[Jeremiah Cole]

12 hours ago, HibeeJibee said:

Maxwelltown v Dalbeattie Trades in the Dumfries & Galloway Junior Cup R3 was played on Saturday 9th January 1920. Most of the Dalbeattie team were travelling by motor omnibus, which broke down, but 1 player called George McKay had gone up early by train to deliver a parcel to his sister in the infirmary. He walked down to Nunholm Park, but after waiting 45 mins the referee declared he had to call the tie to a start, so it could be awarded for Dalbeattie's non-appearance. (Shades of Estonia v Scotland here).

McKay pointed out that he'd arrived. He decided to play by himself, and try to keep the score down in the hope his team-mates might soon appear - as such he "pluckily took the field alone to uphold his club's honour". He won the toss, and chose his end, meaning Maxwelltown had to kick-off. As soon as they did he stepped-up and won an offside. Supposedly through some combination of keeping the ball as long as he could and forcing offside he managed to holdout for 8 minutes ... at that point an opponent started from his own half, beat him, and scored. Promptly the referee abandoned the game (presumably as McKay couldn't kick-off to himself?!). Heartbreakingly 7 of his teammates arrived only 10-15 mins later, having walked through the snow from their stricken bus . They then played an 11 v 8 friendly which finished Maxwelltown 2-1 Dalbeattie Trades .

Aside from the fact this 22 year old baker-cum-barber was clearly an absolute legend : could anyone explain how he was able to do it? I know the Laws of the Game and the offside rule were different in the 1920s. It sounds ridiculous they didn't score past him straight away: but it's only a couple of years ago that Italy baffled England for a whole half in the Six Nations, by doing something clever for offside at the tackle, IIRC?

He wouldn't have needed to kick off to himself would he? He could have just booted the ball up the pitch or out of play surely?