, the first secretary of
the Scottish Football Association, and at one time an active member of
the Queen's Park (and a beautiful dribbler in his day), tells an amusing
anecdote of Smith, while playing against the Hamilton Club, leaping on
the top of a hedge to win a touch-down, which in those days counted a
point in the game. This entirely coincided with poor Smith's play, as he
was sometimes very impetuous. He played in the International of 1872 as
a forward.

~William M'Kinnon.~

Dealing now with the past players who are with us in the body, for a
long series of years, and, indeed, till within a short period of
retiring from the field, no centre forward of his day, and very few
since, have equalled M'Kinnon in that trying position. When the 3rd
Lanark Rifle Volunteers started the dribbling game on the old drill
ground at Govanhill, or rather when that small burgh was "No Man's
Land," M'Kinnon was one of its most active players. It is in connection
with his membership of the Queen's Park that I wish to recall incidents
in his career. In 1874 I made my way over to the South-Side Park to
witness a match between the Queen's and the Vale of Leven. Association
football was then a very insignificant affair--the Rugby code, with such
fine clubs as the Glasgow Academicals and West of Scotland as
exponents--engaging all the public attention. The game was free to all.
"Ladies and gentlemen, no charge for admission. Come and see our game.
Kick-off, 3.30." Well, M'Kinnon, along with the rest of the team,
emerged from the old toll-house, close by, to meet their gallant
opponents, and Mr. Parlane, of the Vale of Leven (who kept goal so well
for that club in many of her best matches), "chaffed" the Q.P. man in
amusing manner about his boots (See "The Conqueror's Football Boots"),
which were new, and differed considerably from the style then worn by
players. All through the contest, which, by the way, was drawn, with no
goals on either side, M'Kinnon was a little stiff, and scarcely played
so well as was his wont. He never discarded his old companions, however,
and those very boots in after years kicked many a goal both in
Internationals and final cup ties. As an indication, in fact, of his
genuine ability, he was chosen to play against England oftener than any
man in Scotland, with the single exception of Mr. Charles Campbell, who
was selected no fewer than ten times as a half-back. Mr. M'Kinnon was
engaged in eight, including t