one by Mr. Struthers,
and another out of a scrimmage. Since then eleven years have come and
gone, and with them a new generation of football players. Seeing that
the Rangers were the victors, I shall proceed to give sketches of their
eleven who played on the occasion, and deal with the Vale of Leven
afterwards.

~George Gillespie.~

In connection with the dribbling game in Glasgow, it should be generally
known that Mr. Gillespie supplies the link which binds the players of
the dead past to those of the living present. He is still to the fore,
and does duty as well as ever. Early in his football career Mr.
Gillespie was not a goalkeeper, for I am certain I saw him play at back
in some of the early matches of the "Light Blues." Nature,
metaphorically speaking, never intended him to be anything in the game
but a goalkeeper, and a brilliant one, too. How he kept goal in this
great match, and dozens of others, is still fresh in the memory both of
old players and spectators. He is the only man on the active list who
played ten years ago, and had the distinction of appearing against
England twice and Wales three times. From the Rangers he joined the Q.P.
about six years ago.

~Thomas Vallance.~

The early history of the Rangers--their triumphs, misfortunes, joys, and
sorrows--have all been shared in by Mr. Thomas Vallance, and he still
sticks to them like the veritable leech. Who could captain a young team
like he? When Vallance led the Rangers to victory in this final Charity
tie, I am sure he was barely out of his teens, and I don't think would
even yet hesitate to don the blue jersey of the club were it hard up for
a back. Vallance was a back, indeed, and for several seasons, but more
particularly that of 1879-80, none in Scotland showed better form. His
returns near goal were neat and clean, and without being in any way
rough with an opponent. Vallance's length of limb and good judgment
often saved his club from losing goals. The whole of the Rangers "lo'ed
him like a vera brither," and at practice his word was law. He played
four times against England.

~Alexander Vallance.~

With quite as much pluck, but awanting in finish and style, the younger
of the brothers, Mr. Alexander, was nevertheless a fine back. Lighter
made and more easily tackled than Thomas, he had a way of his own in
running out the ball before making the final shy, and when this was done
well, as it frequently happened in a first-class match