e,
as they were then called, in Scottish soil, and as there were only three
clubs in existence at the time of which I am referring, the contests, as
a matter of course, were few and far between, and, consequently, looked
forward to with more than ordinary pleasure. The other two clubs were
the Greenvale and the Kilback, but they were not of much account (so my
master had often said, and he was supposed to be a good judge). I heard
him say the Conquerors had "licked" these clubs over and over again, and
that they weren't in the same street. When I was being laced up,
however, for the fray that afternoon in the old toll-house on the road
to Battlefield (the Conquerors had no such modern requisite as a
pavilion then), I heard Bob Gardens express quite a different opinion
about the Greenvale, and even go the length of saying that they had a
draw with them on the previous evening after a hard fight. This
demonstrated a fact that was useful to me in my subsequent career, viz.,
never to credit what other folks (especially football players) said
about the ability of opponents in the heat of a tussle. Talking about
the Leven Crowers, they were not to be despised. Although the haughty
Conquerors had given them their first lesson in Association football,
they were fast coming up on them in some of the points of the game. I
heard my owner say that the first lesson was given at Alexandria, and on
that occasion the Crowers, who were then crack shinty players, arranged
themselves in the field as if for a match at that ancient Scottish game.
That they had not forgotten their first game with the Conquerors was
amply illustrated in the present, which, I might again repeat, was my
first outset in public life. I was stiff at first, and pressed my
master's instep rather hard shortly after the kick-off. The contest was
played on the Recreation Ground, and was witnessed by very few
spectators. True, there were certainly many choice spirits residing near
the spot, who came out to see us and enjoy a quiet outing, and have a
friendly crack.

Little did these club companions imagine that that small but
enthusiastic gathering of spectators was the harbinger of crowds
composed of thousands of excited spectators who now assemble to witness
big Association matches every Saturday, not only to see the Conquerors,
but other clubs, very slightly removed from them in ability, playing
"Cup ties." The Crowers' forwards showed great pace, and one of them,
W