Fantastic BUFC pre war item

[Ken Fox]

Not sure when this question was written

From the text in "Topical Talks" by "The Friar" it is from the game before Boston took on Hitchin Town in the FA Cup so that would be a friendly game against Birmingham on 9th November 1935.

[Ferret]

I assume Andy can supply the answers by referring to later in the programme.....

[noughtyforties]

1. 5, it has been won by Bristol City, Chester,Shrewsbury, Wellington and Tranmere Rovers

2. W.N. Cobbald of The Corinthians

3. 1910

4.The Arsenal

5. £7,629 at Old Trafford on 24th March 1931 (Everton v WBA)

6. Forfar Athletic

[Carl Newell]

Very interesting stuff Andy. It's just a shame the club haven't kept programmes from every game for future generations to enjoy! Hindseight eh!

[leicester pilgrim]

1. 5, it has been won by Bristol City, Chester,Shrewsbury, Wellington and Tranmere Rovers

But Wikipedia shows that clubs from Oswestry won the Welsh FA Cup in 1883, 1884, 1901 and 1907.

Evidence here: http://www.rsssf.com/tablesw/walcuphist.html

And whilst close to the Welsh border, Oswestry is in England. It's in Shropshire if anyone wants to be precise. The modern day club from Oswestry is the only side from England to have competed in the League of Wales.

Evidence here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswestry and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oswestry_Town_F.C.

Including the two Oswestry clubs, the correct answer to this question should have been seven.

2. W.N. Cobbald of The Corinthians

Cobbald has an entry on Wikipedia. But there is no mention of him ever been known as the Prince of Dribblers. His nickname was Nuts. (Maybe he was an early version of Mickey Nuttell).

Evidence here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Cobbold

So the answers to questions one and two were probably both incorrect. Maybe the club should issue an apology in its next programme  ?

[Ferret]

LP....This reference supports the 2nd answer......

http://morethanjustwine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/cobbold-prince-of-dribblers.html

[Ken Fox]

Answer 2 is correct - the Corinthian Casuals website has the biography of The Prince of Dribblers.

http://www.corinthian-casuals.com/archive/corinthian02.php

W.N. COBBOLD

1884-1888 Appearances 46 Goals 40

William Nevill Cobbold, otherwise known as 'The Prince of Dribblers' or 'Nuts' was born in Long Melford, Suffolk on 4th February 1863. Cobbold was educated at Charterhouse and then progressed to Cambridge University and won four Blues between 1883 and 1886. Whilst at University he also represented Cambridge at tennis and was useful cricketer, later making one appearance for Kent. In all Cobbold was selected nine times to represent England scoring seven goals.

Cobbold was extremely fast and was hard to stop, but despite being a brilliant individual player, he was part of the revolution in the game which led to great team play and combined tactics.

"Built on ideal football lines, with sturdy legs and hips that could have carried a far heavier body than his, he was the finest dribbler ever seen. He played inside-left, and, swathed in rubber bandages and ankle-guards, he was careful to avoid getting hurt. He had a perculiar shuffling run, and a wonderful knack of shooting at quite unexpected moments and from quite unexpected angles. His shots were extremely accurate rather than particularly hard. His weakness was that he never headed the ball."

Cobbold went onto become a successful Army tutor and was one of the best known coaches in the country. In later years he suffered from bad health, but still remained full of life and energy and kept up a keen interest in the careers of all his former pupils who he taught at West Wratting. Cobbold died on 8th April 1922.

[Shoddys Lane]

He who believes all that is written in Wikipedia, does so at his own risk. 

[leicester pilgrim]

Question 2 is still misleading.

Robert Walpole Sealy Vidal did have the nickname of the "Prince of Dribblers". It says so on Wikipedia so it must be true  . To suggest that Cobbold was the only correct answer was obviously incorrect.