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PRESTON NORTH END

THE ORIGINAL INVINCIBLES

LEAGUE AND FA CUP DOUBLE WINNING SIDE. NO DEFEATS IN THE LEAGUE AND NO FA CUP GOALS CONCEDED

Preston North End were founded as a cricket club in 1862. Their original name was Preston Nelson but later changed it to reflect the fact that they played their games in Ashton, at the north end of Preston.
In 1875 Preston North End began playing their games on land at Deepdale Farm. They also formed a rugby team at this time. Later, they established a football team that played its games at Deepdale.
On 5th October 1878, Preston North End played its first football game. Eagley beat them 1-0. Two years later the club decided to concentrate on football rather than cricket or rugby and in March 1881, Preston adopted association Football rules and Preston North End Football Club was originally formed.
Major William Sudell, the manager of a local factory, became the secretary of Preston North End. Sudell decided to improve the quality of the team by importing top players from other areas. This included several players from Scotland joined the club. Over the next few years players such as John Goodall, Jimmy Ross, Nick Ross, David Russell, John Gordon, John Graham, Robert Mills-Roberts, James Trainer, Samuel Thompson and George Drummond. He also recruited some outstanding local players, including Bob Holmes, Robert Howarth and Fred Dewhurst. As well as paying them money for playing for the team, Sudell also found them highly paid work in Preston.
In January, 1884, Preston North End played the London side, Upton Park, in the FA Cup. After the game Upton Park complained to the Football Association that Preston was a professional, rather than an amateur team. Sudell admitted that his players were being paid but argued that this was common practice and did not breach regulations. However, the FA disagreed and expelled them from the competition.
Preston North End now joined forces with other clubs who were paying their players, such as Aston Villa and Sunderland. In October, 1884, these clubs threatened to form a break-away British Football Association. The Football Association responded by establishing a sub-committee, which included Sudell, to look into this issue. On 20th July, 1885, the FA announced that it was "in the interests of Association Football, to legalise the employment of professional football players, but only under certain restrictions". Clubs were allowed to pay players provided that they had either been born or had lived for two years within a six-mile radius of the ground.
In 1886 Major William Sudell signed Arthur Wharton, who had recently set a new world record when he ran the 100 yards at Stamford Bridge in 10 seconds. Despite his tremendous speed he played in goal. Wharton was the first black man to play professional football in England. In 1887 Walton played against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup semi-final but lost 3-1. This was the start of the rise of the Original Invincibles.
Under the leadership of Major William Sudell, Preston North End became one of the best clubs in England. In the first round of the FA Cup in 1887-88, Preston beat Hyde 26-0. This is the highest score ever recorded in the competition. Jimmy Ross, who had developed a good partnership with centre-forward John Goodall, scored seven of the goals against Hyde.
Preston played West Bromwich Albion in the final that year. According to reports, Preston was much the better team and Bob Roberts, the WBA goalkeeper made good saves from Fred Dewhurst, Jimmy Ross, John Goodall and George Drummond. Dewhurst did eventually score but WBA won the game 3-1.
In March, 1888, William McGregor, a director of Aston Villa, circulated a letter suggesting that "ten or twelve of the most prominent clubs in England combine to arrange home and away fixtures each season." The following month the Football League was formed. It consisted of six clubs from Lancashire (Preston North End, Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Burnley and Everton) and six from the Midlands (Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers). The main reason Sunderland was excluded was because the other clubs in the league objected to the costs of travelling to the North-East.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Over 6,000 people turned up to Deepdale to see Preston play the first game against Burnley. Preston's Fred Dewhurst scored a goal after only two minutes. Samuel Thompson put them two-up after five minutes and they went onto win the game 5-2.
Preston North End won the first championship that year without losing a single match and acquired the name the "Invincibles". Eighteen wins and four draws gave them a 11 point lead at the top of the table. The top goal scorers were John Goodall (21), Jimmy Ross (18), Fred Dewhurst (12) and John Gordon (10).

The Preston North End team that won the Football League title in 1888-89: George Drummond, Bob Holmes, Robert Howarth, William Sudell, John Graham and Robert Mills-Roberts are in the back row. John Gordon, Jimmy Ross, John Goodall, Fred Dewhurst and Samuel Thompson are sitting on the bench.

Preston also beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. The goals were scored by Jimmy Ross, Fred Dewhurst and Samuel Thompson. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
John Goodall, Bob Holmes, Robert Howarth and Fred Dewhurst all went onto play for England, whereas Robert Mills-Roberts and James Trainer played for Wales. However, the heart of the team was made up of the Scotsmen, Jimmy Ross, Nick Ross, David Russell, John Gordon, and George Drummond.
Preston North End also won the league the following season. This time it was much closer as they only beat Everton by one point. James Trainer, John Gordon and David Russell appeared in all 22 league games and Jimmy Ross and George Drummond only missed one game.
It was the last time that Preston was to win the Football League. They finished second to Everton (1890-91) and Sunderland (1892-93) but after that they ceased to become a major force in the game. Preston's top players were persuaded to sign for other clubs. This included John Goodall (Derby County), Jimmy Ross (Liverpool), David Russell (Nottingham Forest) and Samuel Thompson (Wolves). Whereas Bob Holmes, George Drummond, Nick Ross, Robert Mills-Roberts, James Trainer and John Graham retired from full-time professional football.
In 1893-94 Preston finished third from bottom (14th). That season William Sudell was sent to prison for embezzling £5,000 from his employers. Preston continued to struggle and finished 15th in 1898-99 and 16th in 1899-1900.
On 20th March, 1901, Preston's excellent goalkeeper, Peter McBride injured a shoulder in a trial for the Scottish team. As a result McBride missed the last five games of the season. His deputy let in 15 goals in those games and Preston was relegated from the First Division. The Fall of the Original Invincibles.

Major William Sudell (a Very controversial man)

William Sudell the manager of a local factory, became the secretary of Preston North End. Sudell decided to improve the quality of the team by importing top players from other areas.
Over the next few years players such as John Goodall, Jimmy Ross, Nick Ross, David Russell, John Gordon, John Graham, Robert Mills-Roberts, James Trainer, Samuel Thompson and George Drummond. He also recruited some outstanding local players, including Bob Holmes, Robert Howarth and Fred Dewhurst. As well as paying them money for playing for the team, Sudell also found them highly paid work in Preston.
 January, 1884, Preston North End was thrown out of the Football Association after Sudell admitted that his players were being paid but argued that this was common practice and did not breach regulations. However, the FA disagreed and expelled them from the competition.
In October, 1884, the FA established a sub-committee, which included Sudell,
On 20th July, 1885, the FA announced that it was "in the interests of Association Football, to legalise the employment of professional football players, but only under certain restrictions". Clubs were allowed to pay players provided that they had either been born or had lived for two years within a six-mile radius of the ground. Another rule that it was said Sudell had broken.
Under the leadership of Major William Sudell, Preston North End became one of the best clubs in England. In the first round of the FA Cup in 1887-88, Preston beat Hyde 26-0. This is the highest score ever recorded in the competition.
In 1888, helped the Football League form.
In 1893-94 Preston finished third from bottom (14th). That season William Sudell was sent to prison for embezzling £5,000 from his employers. It is believed he later emigrated to South Africa where he became a successful football reporter.

John Goodall

John Goodall, the son of a corporal in the Scottish Fusiliers, was born in London on 19th June, 1863. Two years later his father was posted to Edinburgh, and the family later moved to Kilmarnock.
After leaving school Goodall worked as an iron turner. A talented footballer he joined Kilmarnock Athletic and made his debut for the club at the age of seventeen.
Goodall was persuaded to move south and in 1884 joined the Bolton side Great Lever. His first game was against Derby County and Goodall scored four goals in the 6-0 victory.
Goodall joined Preston North End. in 1885. He developed a very good partnership with Jimmy Ross. In one game against Dundee Strathmore, he scored nine goals in a 16-2 win. He also scored a hat-trick in Preston's 5-0 semi-final win against Crewe Alexandra. Goodall also played in the 2-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion in the 1888 FA Cup Final.
Goodall captained Preston in the first football league season and scored 20 goals in 21. The season Preston Won the League without losing a single game and the FA Cup without conceding a goal. A double win still not matched today.
In 1889 Goodall was transferred to Derby County.

Jimmy Ross

Jimmy Ross, the younger brother of Nick Ross, was born in Edinburgh on 28th March, 1866. He played football for St Bernard's before joining Preston North End in 1883. A talented inside forward he developed a good partnership with centre-forward John Goodall. Ross scored seven goals in one game against Hyde and six against Reading.
Ross scored 21 goals in the season that Preston won the double. Ross also scored in Preston North End victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1889 FA Cup Final. All told he scored over 250 goals in only 220 appearances for the club.
In 1894 Ross joined Liverpool. Jimmy Ross died aged 36 on 12th June, 1902.

Nick Ross

Nick Ross, the older brother of Jimmy Ross, was born in Edinburgh on 28th March, 1863. A talented footballer he became captain of Hearts at the age of 20.
In 1883 was persuaded to join the club. As well as paying him to play for the team he arranged for him to obtain a good job as a Slater in Preston.
Ross was made captain of Preston North End and over the next few years developed an excellent reputation as one of the best defenders playing in England.
Preston played against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup Final in 1887-88. According to reports, Preston was much the better team and Bob Roberts, the WBA goalkeeper made good saves from Fred Dewhurst, Jimmy Ross, John Goodall and George Drummond. Dewhurst did eventually score but WBA won the game 3-1 and Nick Ross was denied a winning medal.
At the end of that season Ross was transferred to Everton. It is claimed he was paid £10 a month, nearly twice that of most top players. As a result of this move Ross, unlike his brother, Jimmy Ross, missed being a member of the team that won the Football League title and FA Cup in 1888-89.
Ross returned to Preston North End after only one season away and was a member of the side that won the league in 1889-90. During his second spell he played at centre forward and scored 25 goals in 95 games. Ross had health problems and was forced to retire in 1893.
Nick Ross died of consumption in 1894.

David Russell

David Russell was born in Beith in 1862. He played football for Stewaton Cunningham before signing for Preston North End in 1888.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match. Russell played in 18 of the 22 league games and was a member of the team that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
David Russell, a tough-tackling centre-half, also played the following season when Preston retained the title. As a result of their great success the team became known as the "Invincibles". At the end of the season Russell moved to Nottingham Forest. Russell also played for Ardwick and Notts County.
David Russell died in 1918.

John Gordon

John Gordon was born in Glasgow in 1863. He worked in the local shipyards and played football for Port Glasgow Athletic.
He was a very good player and in 1888 Major William Sudell signed him to play for Preston North End. He played on the right wing and his crosses created lots of chances for fellow forwards, Jimmy Ross, John Goodall and Fred Dewhurst. Gordon also scored his fair share of goals. For example, he scored five against Hyde in the first round of the FA Cup in 1887-88.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Gordon scored in the third minute of Preston's first league game against Burnley. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match. John Gordon also played the following season when Preston retained the title. As a result of their great success the team became known as the "Invincibles".
Gordon played his last game for Preston North End at Derby County in November, 1894. During his time at the club he scored 27 goals in 113 games. He played for Loughbrough Town but was forced to retire when he developed congestion of the lungs and pleurisy.

John Graham

John Graham was born in Ayr on 23rd February, 1857. He worked as a Quarryman but played football for Annbank.
Graham, who played left-half, was signed to play for Preston North End in 1888. The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match. Although he never scored himself, his long-throws led to several goals.
Graham played in the Preston side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
Graham also played the following season when Preston retained the title. As a result of their great success the team became known as the "Invincibles". His career came to an end when he broke his collarbone in a game at the end of the 1888-89 season.
John Graham died in 1927.

Robert Mills-Roberts

Robert Mills-Roberts was born in Penmachno, Wales, on 5th August 1862. He played in goal for Aberystwyth University before entering the teaching hospital at St Thomas in 1882.
Mills-Roberts played for Corinthians before signing for Preston North End in 1888. The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Mills-Roberts competed with James Trainer for the goalkeeping position. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match.
Mills-Roberts played in the Preston side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
Mills-Roberts won eight international caps playing for Wales. He was forced to leave Preston North End when he began work as a surgeon at Birmingham General Hospital.
In 1890 he was appointed surgeon for the hospital at Dinorwic Slate Quarry in North Wales. He also served with the British Army during the Boer War.
Robert Mills-Roberts died in 1935.

James Trainer

James Trainer was born in Wrexham on 7th January, 1863. He worked as a coachbuilder while playing in goal for Wrexham football club. In a game against Oswestry, Trainer was reported to the Football Association of Wales for making insulting comments to the referee.
Trainer moved to Bolton Wanderers in 1884. His form was so good that he was chosen to play for Wales against Scotland in 1887.
In 1888 Major William Sudell persuaded Trainer to sign for Preston North End. It is claimed that Sudell had been impressed with Trainer's performance when Preston beat Bolton 12-0.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match. Trainer did not play in every match and had to share the goalkeeping with fellow Welsh international, Robert Mills-Roberts.
Between 1888 and 1897 Trainer played in 253 games for Preston North End. In retirement he became landlord of the Lamb Hotel in Preston.
James Trainer moved to London to establish an indoor exhibition soccer scheme at London Olympia. The business failed and in died in poverty in 1915.

Samuel Thompson

Samuel Thompson was born in Lugar, on 14th February 1862. He played football for Lugar Boswell and Glasgow Rangers in Scotland.
He was a very good player and in 1888 Major William Sudell signed him to play for Preston North End. The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match.
Thompson played in the Preston side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Thompson, Jimmy Ross and Fred Dewhurst scored the goals. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
Thompson also played the following season when Preston North End retained the title. As a result of their great success the team became known as the "Invincibles". At the end of that season he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers without Preston's permission. Wolves was found guilty of poaching Thompson and were fined £50 by the Football Association.
Thompson scored 9 goals in 24 games for Wolves. He also played for Everton and Accrington before retiring from football.
Samuel Thompson died on 23rd December, 1943.

George Drummond

George Drummond was born in Edinburgh in 1865. A talented footballer he played for St Bernard's before moving to Preston North End in 1883 when he was only 18 years old.
In his first game he scored a hat-trick against Accrington. A versatile footballer, he played at centre forward, inside forward, winger, wing half and full back. On two occasions he even played in goal.
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Drummond played on the left wing that year. That season Preston North End won the championship without losing a single match.
Drummond also played in the Preston side beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
Drummond also played the following season when Preston North End retained the title. When he retired in 1898 he had scored 36 goals in 139 games.
In 1902 Drummond became Preston's first-team trainer. He also worked as a trainer for Burnley and Falkirk.
George Drummond died of cancer in 1914.

Bob Homles

Bob Holmes was born in Preston on 23rd June, 1867. He joined Preston North End and played in the 2-1 defeat against West Bromwich Albion in the 1888 FA Cup Final.
He obtained his first international cap on 31st March, 1888, when he played for England against Ireland. 
The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Preston North End won the first championship without losing a single match. A left-back, Holmes played in all 22 games. He also played in 19 games the following season when Preston retained the title. The team became known as the "Invincibles".
Holmes was also a member of the team that won the FA Cup Final against Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1889. Holmes made seven appearances for England and was captain in the country's 6-0 victory over Wales in 1894. He was never on the losing side when he played for his country.
In September, 1893, Derby County proposed that the Football League should impose a maximum wage of £4 a week. At the time, most players were only part-time professionals and still had other jobs. These players did not receive as much as £4 a week and therefore the matter did not greatly concern them. However, a minority of players, were so good they were able to obtain as much as £10 a week. This proposal posed a serious threat to their income.
Some of these top players joined together to form a trade union. This included Bob Holmes and Jimmy Ross of Preston North End, John Devey of Aston Villa, John Somerville of Bolton Wanderers, Hugh McNeill of Sunderland, Harry Woods of Wolverhampton Wanderers and John Cameron of Everton.
In February 1898, these players announced the formation of Association Footballers' Union (AFU). John Bell became chairman of the union. The secretary of the AFU, John Cameron, announced that the union had 250 members. Cameron pointed out that their main objective was that they "wanted any negotiations regarding transfers to be between the interested club and the player concerned - not between club and club with the player excluded".
The AFU was badly wounded by the decision of several members of the committee to seek higher wages in the Southern League. This included the AFU secretary John Cameron, who joined Tottenham Hotspur for the 1898-99 season. Tom Bradshaw also joined Spurs, whereas other leading figures in the union who left the Football League included Harry Wood and Abe Hartley (Southampton), Johnny Holt (Reading) and John Bell and David Storrier who joined Celtic.
Bob Holmes, who became the chairman of the AFU, gave an interview to the Lancashire Daily Post where he admitted the union was in serious trouble: "I am not quite sure that we shall succeed in attaining all the objects with which we set out; it is not a certainty that we shall carry any... The break-up of the Everton team as we knew it last season may have a good deal in influencing the future of the Union. With John Cameron, Jack Bell, Robertson, Holt, Stewart, Storrier, Meecham of Everton as well as Hartley and Bradshaw of Liverpool gone, our centre has lost strength. Liverpool was our headquarters, you know, and our registered offices were there. But the secretary, John Cameron, has gone to London and Bell the chairman will not, as far as I know, play for anybody."
Holmes retired from professional football at the end of the 1899-90 season. However, he continued to turn-out as an amateur and played the last of his 300 league games on 26th December, 1902, against Manchester City.
In December 1900, Holmes opened a business in Preston town centre. He also worked as a football coach and in April 1908, he was appointed trainer to the English amateur international team. Holmes worked for Bradford City before becoming trainer of Blackburn Rovers in 1909. Holmes was trainer/manager of the Blackburn side that won the league championship in 1912.
Holmes took a keen interest in women's football and joined his former team-mates, Johnny Morley, Billy Greer and Jack Warner to coach Dick Kerr Ladies. In a charity match that took place under floodlights on 16th December, 1920, at Deepdale, Holmes had the responsibility of providing whitewashed balls at regular intervals.
Bob Holmes was the last surviving member of the "Preston Invincibles" when he died aged 88 in November, 1955.

Robert Howarth

Robert Howarth was born in Preston in 1865. He initially played rugby before taking up football. He joined Preston North End and made his debut for the club in 1883.
A talented full back, he represented Lancashire and the North of England against the South of England.
Robert Howarth played his first game for England in February, 1887. England beat Ireland 7-0. The following year he was joined by his full-back partner, Bob Holmes and the club's centre-forward, John Goodall, in the England team.
Preston also won the Football League the following season. This time it was much closer as they only beat Everton by one point. Preston lost the title to Everton in 1890-91. They also lost Howarth who was attracted away to their main rivals by higher wages.
Howarth played 59 games for Everton over the next two years. He also captained the side that was defeated by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 1893 FA Cup Final. Howarth returned to Preston North End in 1894 but only managed three more league games before retiring from football to concentrate on his solicitor's practice in Preston.
Robert Howarth died in 1938.

Fred Dewhurst

Frederick Dewhurst was born in Fulwood on 16th December, 1863. Dewhurst worked as a schoolmaster at Preston Catholic College. He also played football for the Corinthians.
Dewhurst played his first game for England on 13th March, 1886. Over the next three years played in nine international games. He scored 11 goals playing for his country and found the net in eight of the nine matches.
In 1888 Major William Sudell persuaded him to sign for Preston North End. The first season of the Football League began in September, 1888. Dewhurst scored a goal after only two minutes of Preston's first league game against Burnley. That season Preston won the championship without losing a single match. Dewhurst scored 12 goals in 16 games.
Dewhurst also played in the side that beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 to win the 1889 FA Cup Final. Dewhurst, Jimmy Ross and Samuel Thompson scored the goals. Preston won the competition without conceding a single goal.
Preston North End also won the league the following season with Dewhurst scoring only one goal in eight games. He left the club at the end of the 1889-90 season.
Frederick Dewhurst died in 1895.

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