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ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

eleven which represented Scotland was, in a great measure, composed of players merely of Scotch extraction, and in some cases, perhaps, of even less substantial qualifications. 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. All the principal clubs played according to Rugby rules, and, in fact, the Queen's Park eleven was the only combination, I think I am right in saying, in the country which had adopted the Association game. The captains of the Scotch Rugby clubs were determined, too, not to have their rights usurped without at least a protest. A letter, signed by representatives of the leading clubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, appeared in the Scotsman newspaper, pointing out the absurdity of Scotland taking part in an International match under rules which were not in favour with the bulk of Scottish football players. There was, of course, a good deal of sense in the objection; but, as was only to be expected, it did not have any effect in checking the advance of the Association game. On the contrary, the opposition only gave a new zest to the efforts of the promoters of the movement, and the preliminaries were not only ratified, but the match duly decided at Glasgow on November 30, 1872.

The game, which was played on the ground of the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow, proved to be singularly well contested, and, in fact, the two elevens were so very evenly weighted, that at the end of an hour and a half neither had been able to secure a goal The Football