At a quarter to four, the announced competition between the two Clubs began with a considerable attendance of both sexes, composed of 22 members, eleven representing Huelva and an equal number for Seville. The Huelva XI consisted of Messrs. Alcock, captain, Wakelin, Thompson, Jones, Norvend, Hodge, Oliver, Hopper, Balle, García and Mundell. The Seville XI were Messrs. Mac-Call, captain, Plews, Chartaworth, Thomson, Logan, Stronger, Puppy, Welton, White, Gidley and Mundell.
Before entering into the details of the “Match”, we must say that this game, like Lawn-tennis and cricket, is extremely popular in England. “Football”, a name composed of two words, “Foot” and “Ball”, perfectly indicates the rules of this game.
In Football, everything is permitted to make the ball run across the field, though they primarily make use of the feet, head, shoulders, back, abdomen and thighs.
In the match we had the opportunity to witness yesterday, the struggle was truly hard-fought; we were able to observe much agility in the play, to the extent that in the two halves, lasting forty minutes, which were carried out, neither of the Clubs was able to make the ball enter the opposing goal; being a faithful interpreter of the rules of the game, the Seville Club gained more of an advantage, as the ball was always played within the territory of the Huelva Club.
The venue chosen for its realisation was the racecourse of the city of Huelva; its site is a selected rectangle of one hundred and twenty metres by fifty-five wide, with the centre of the two arches or castles measuring eight metres in length by three in height.
It was a sight to behold once the game had begun: the daring, bravery, serenity, agility, etc., that each and every one of the combatants demonstrated in the struggle, with the most fraternal friendship and close camaraderie reigning, despite the falls, shoves, blows from the ball and all manner of dangers to which this exercise is prone.
The deciding judge, the English consul Mr. Johnston, considering the lateness of the hour on the one hand, and on the other, that two halves had already been completed without either side having won—that is, having managed to get the ball under the arches—declared the competition at an end.
In the evening at eight o’clock, everyone gathered to dine at the Hotel Colón, where the most cordial joy reigned, and amidst the greatest jubilation they arranged to meet at the Seville Club on the 14th of next February in the city of Huelva, with the aim of returning the visit made today to our capital.—Salvador Lopez.
