Monday, 9th May, 1910
FOOTBALL.
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BRINGING HOME T' CUP.
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SWINDON'S RETURN FROM PARIS.
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After a
very pleasant but tiring journey, the Swindon team arrived home on
Saturday evening, bringing with them the massive cup which they won in
the French capital the previous Thursday by their victory over Barnsley.
A large crowd congregated outside the G.W.R. Station just before seven
o'clock to welcome the team, and cheers were raised as Trainer Wiltshire
emerged from the platform with the huge forty-guinea bronze trophy on
his shoulder, but in consequence of the King's death there was no
demonstration.
The Cup was taken straight to the headquarters of the
club, the Eagle Hotel, where it is now being exhibited. It is of massive
design, weighing nearly a cwt., and its style is distinctly French. It
is not, perhaps, so attractive and polished a trophy as one might have
expected, and when the players themselves first saw it displayed on the
Paris ground, and guarded by a Gendarme with drawn sword! they did not
(in the words of the popular Secretary) think much of it. But a
close inspection is sufficient to show that it is a beautiful work of
art. It is a facsimile of an historic cup which is now in the
British Museum.
The medals which were presented to each of the players are
of square shaped dull gold. On the front side are the figures of two
footballers, and on the reverse side the "Goddess of Liberty."
Mr S. Allen, the Secretary of the Club, accompanied
the team to Paris, together with the following Directors:- Messrs T.
Phipps, H. W. Thomas, C. Few, H. Prosser, H. Chegwidden, W. Anderson,
and G. R. Plaister. Messrs C. R. Thomas, C. Williams, senr., R. Marshall,
and the Club's trainer (Wiltshire) also made the journey, the
party, in all, numbering twenty-five.
The Frenchmen seem to have been highly delighted with the
match, which was not in any sense a "holiday game." Barnsley
played vigorous football, but completely lost their heads towards the
finish, when the Town led by 2-1, especially after Boyle had missed a
penalty. The kick was given against Tout for handling, but Boyle shot
straight into Skiller's hands. There can be no doubt that the best
team won. Fleming played a grand game, scoring both goals. Both passes
came from Barkinshaw, who, with Lamb, created a very high impression
among the directors as well as confidence in the team by their nice
displays. They are likely to prove a great acquisition to the team.
Barkinshaw had very hard lines in not scoring. He brought off
a fine individual effort, and missed only by inches.
There were 7,000 spectators present, and the gate realised
£275.
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