A match plagued with problems. One of Blantyre Victoria’s first matches, back in the day.
Saturday 1st October 1892 was the date and the venue Victoria Park, Burnbank. Despite only having to travel a short distance out of Blantyre that day, the Vics turned up 15 minutes late for the first round of the second 11 Junior Cup. Just as the referee was about to default the game to the ‘Oaks’, the Vics opponents that day.
However, despite the time, the game went ahead. The pitch was a sloping one, the Oaks winning the toss and able to kick ‘down slope’. The Vics faced an incline in having to play upwards towards goal. Back at a time when there were not proper level playing fields yet set out.
The game was then stopped for 10 minutes owing to the ball bursting.
When it resumed, Oaks were rampant, the Vics players struggling for breathe in having to play on their incline. Vics let in one, then two goals, then a few more each time becoming more brow beaten.
By half time Oaks were winning 4 – 1. By full time they had won 8 -1. A hiding for Vics which saw much complaining afterwards about the lacklustre poor quality ball and venue they had to play at!
