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First Official game at
Molineux Monday 2nd September
1889 |
|
Wolverhampton
Wanderers |
1
Wykes |
0 |
Aston
Villa |
|
Team |
|
Team |
W.
Rose |
J.
Warner |
R.
Baugh |
A.
Aldridge |
C.
Mason |
F.
Coulton |
A.
Fletcher |
J.
Burton |
H.
Allen |
Jas.
Cowan |
T.
Knight |
|
H.
Devey |
A.
Worrall |
A.
Brown |
W.
Perry |
A.
Allen |
D.
Wykes |
|
A.
Hunter |
H.
Wood |
B.
Garvey |
|
C.
Booth |
Referee: Mr.
Charles Crump |
W.
Dickson |
The first match to Officially take place at Molineux was
Wolves v Aston Villa on the 2nd September 1889. There were almost 4,000
spectators and Councilor , Chairman of the Wolves Players Committee at the
time, set the ball rolling at precisely 5.30pm. The pitch was described
as being 'as smooth as a bowling green and as level as a billiard table'
and Wolves loved it - snookering Villa 1-0, David Wykes having the honour
of scoring the winning goal with a 'bias' shot from Harry Wood's pass,
Villa keeper Jack Warner allowing the ball to slip through his fingers.
There are a few differences
between football at Molineux today and how it was played back then, in
that first game there was no 'Old Gold and Black' kits, they played in red
and white stripes that had faded almost to pink. Also the goalkeepers wore
the same kit as outfield players, and were identified only by means of a
scarve or tie.
Major rule differences
included: 1) The keeper could go anywhere on the pitch and handle
the ball. 2) There were no penalties 3) There were two umpires
instead of a referee, and they had flags not whistles. 4) There were no
goal nets and no crossbar, only a rope. 5) When the the ball crossed
the touchline for a throw-in the first player to reach the ball was
entitled to take the throw, and could throw it one handed. 6) The
goalkeeper could be barged by other players, whether or not he was in
possession of the ball.
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