Reports on appeals on the Walton St. Mary's match played 19 March 1898.

KINGSTON'S protest re C. H. Brown of Walton St. Mary's has not been allowed to rest, for being dissatisfied with the decision of the council the town club has taken the matter to the Surrey executive for them to finally settle.

From Kingston & Surbiton News dated 2 Apr 1898- See report in original format.


The match between Hampton Hill and Brentford (A) in the Kingston and District League competition was decided last Saturday on the ground at the Kingston Barracks, and aroused considerable interest, as if Hampton Hill had won, it would practically have given Kingston the first place and the "Hunt" cup. Brentford, however, proved far the better team, and won with comparative ease by 3-0. This places them at the head of the league table, but as will be seen in the following note, Kingston have still a great chance of holding the trophy.

The Emergency Committee of the Surrey County Football Association met on Monday to consider the adjourned appeal of Kingston against the decision of the League Council in the Kingston v. Walton St. Mary's case. It will be remembered that the League Council ordered the match to stand, but deducted 2 points from Walton's score. Kingston contended that the 2 points should have been awarded to them or the match ordered to be re-played.

The matter was referred by the County Committee to the League Council to know the reason for their decision, and the League Council confirmed their previous decision on the ground that "to follow existing precedents and order a replay would open the door to abuses, and that other Leagues and similar bodies did not order matches to be re-played." After a careful, consideration the County Committee allowed the appeal of Kingston against this ruling, and ordered the match to be re-played.

There is some doubt we hear, whether the Walton team will take the field again, although the Kingston club, and all good sportsmen would prefer to see the match played out.

Messrs. J. P. Asher, W. G. Carn, F. G. White and R. N. McDavid represented the Kingston-onThames F.C. at the annual smoking concert of the Surrey Association at the Holborn Restaurant, on Wednesday evening. R. N. McDavid of the Kingston Club was awarded a county badge, and Mr. J. P. Asher was the recipient of a handsome gold watch as an acknowledgment. of his services as secretary to the County Association.
From Surrey Comet dated 23 Apr 1898- See report in original format.


The other day I was talking with a lover of the game who is an enthusiastic supporter of the Walton St. Mary's team, and from him I gathered some interesting details concerning the way in which the Kingston and District League is managed. If I cite one or two instances I may not have any difficulty in convincing my readers that this "management" ie somewhat "fishy." Some time ago the Saints played a League match with Kingston, whom they defeated. Amongst the St. Mary's team were two players who had taken part in senior matches. Subsequently a question rose as to whether the Kingston League was a senior or junior competition, and on the League Committee being appealed to they defined it as a junior one.

In consequence of the fact just mentioned two points were deducted from the St. Mary's total for the Kingston match, and Kingston applied for the points to be added to their total, which, if granted, would place them at the top of the list. This matter is still under consideration, I am told.

In the first place I don't think it was quite just to deduct St. Mary's points considering that the League was not defined until after the match was decided. But another little fact shows still further what a conscientious body the Kingston League Committee really are. The Saints lost two points for playing senior men, though they thought they were entitled to do so; but at Easter time the Kingston League played a game against a team composed of the North Middlesex League players. The Kingston team included at least two ineligible men, of whom one was the very player whose presence in the Saints' team lost them their game against Kingston. I wonder what the Middlesex League Committee would say if this fact was brought to their notice.

Another story I have heard relative to this same competition is almost equally interesting. Amongst the referees appointed to officiate at these matches was a gentleman following the occupation of a commercial traveller, and whose duties took him some distance out of the neighbourhood. Of course it is well known that referees are allowed travelling expenses. But the referee in question had the very convenient knack of charging his railway fare from the place at which he concluded his week's labours. At one of the League Committee meetings, when his account was brought forward, a member remarked that he saw the said "commercial" in Kingston at one o'clock on the Saturday, which rather gave the game away. The Referee's Association has now this matter under their consideration.

Of course one cannot blame the "commercial"; they are always supposed to be wide awake, but I am surprised that no exception was taken to his account before. The commercial has long held the palm for spicy stories; he now seems to be pressing himself forward as a successful financier.

From Surrey Herald dated 23 April 1898- See report in original format.