WILL HISTORY REPEAT? THE YACHTSMEN DREW WITH SAINTS IN THE HAMPSHIRE CUP 134 YEARS AGO

It took 4 games for Southampton to beat Cowes in the Hampshire Cup semi-final back in 1889, but it remains to be seen how the Saints will fare against The Yachtsmen at Westwood Park tonight (Tuesday).

This was – of course – long before cup ties were settled by penalty shoot outs. At that time, the penalty kick had yet to be invented.

The 2 clubs are old rivals in Hampshire Cup competitions. Southampton are the most successful side in the Senior Cup, having lifted the trophy on 17 occasions. Cowes Sports are the 2nd most successful club, having won the cup 9 times – 1967 being the most recent occasion.

Article continues below this advertisement

The most memorable clash between the Yachtsmen and the Saints in the Hampshire Cups was 134 years ago when Cowes were given a home tie in the semi-final against St Mary’s Southampton YMA: the forerunner of the current Southampton club.

Contemporary newspaper reports described the 1st fixture as follows:

“A capital piece of ground was selected in Northwood Park, kindly lent by Mr. H. Caws, and it was enclosed by ropes for a large attendance of spectators, which was fully realised.

“A. Whitely’s goal was greeted by a tremendous roar of applause from the 1,300 Cowes fans.

“The Southampton team were a heavy lot, making unmerciful use of their weight, and Cowes were knocked about.

Article continues below this advertisement

“3 minutes from time, Southampton equalised, but Cowes’ request for extra-time was turned down as the visitors had a ferry to catch.”

For the replay in front of a 2,000 crowd at the County Ground in Southampton, special boats had been chartered for fans from the Island. Southampton scored first, but S. Ballard’s late equaliser forced a 2nd replay after Cowes declined the Saints’ request for extra time.

A toss of the coin decided that the County Ground would again be the venue for the midweek 2nd replay, with 3,000 in attendance.

An early goal by C. W. Trask for Cowes was not enough as St Mary’s scored a last-minute winner, but that was not the end of it as Cowes lodged a bizarre appeal on 3 counts, which were bitterly contested.

• 1st, that Referee Mr Ellaby had allowed the winning goal which they claimed had not gone over the line.
• 2nd, that the linesman Mr. Upton had flagged for the goal before anyone claimed it.
• 3rd, between the scoring of the goal and the Referee’s decision, Upton had stopped the ball with his flagstick as the ball was still technically in play.

The protest was upheld and the match replayed again.

In the 3rd replay, St Mary’s again won the toss of the coin for the choice of venue. 800 Cowes supporters swelled the attendance to between 5,000 and 7,000.

Finally, there was a clear-cut winner.

2 St Mary’s 1st half goals were answered after the break by a goal from C.J. Staite after a ‘dazzling run’.

A contemporary newspaper reported:

“Staite was the idol of Cowes. He was a slim, innocent-looking youth, whose appearance was no index to his wonderful ability. On the field he was lazy till the ball came near, then chewing on a piece of straw, he displayed the most adroit dribbling powers, that drove his opponents half crazy.”

However, 2 more late goals for the Saints sent them through to the final, which they won 3-0 against Christchurch.

Let’s hope for a similarly close, hard-fought encounter tonight between the 2 teams from opposite banks of the Solent – watched by a sizeable crowd – as  in the 4 games over a century previously.

Information kindly supplied by Peter John Jeffery