The Lighter Side of Football

“Bread” versus “Beef” at Conisboro’

The annual “football” match between the Conisboro’ butchers and the Conisboro’ bakers, otherwise described as “beef” and “bread,” took place on Monday night on the St. Peter’s ground. The fixture is annually arranged, and the proceeds are generously placed on one side for some deserving object.

For several years the match has been an attraction and a source of amusement to many people in Conisboro’, with the result that this year quite a large and enthusiastic crowd, considerably divided in their opinions as to the ultimate winners, assembled, with the result that the Conisboro’ Brass Band, into whose coffers the proceeds of the match will be emptied, will be benefited to the extent of nearly £3. In addition to those who paid at the gate, a large number of tickets had been disposed of beforehand, and the match this year can be said to have been highly successful.

Both teams came in for a large amount of chaffing by the good-humoured spectators, who did not take the game seriously. Very mixed indeed were the colours of the teams. Some of the butchers were attired in their ordinary familiar blue smocks, others in smart knickers, and some in ordinary everyday attire. The bakers at first sight looked a puny lot to the red-faced, jolly-looking butchers.

The teams lined up as follows:—
Butchers: Brown, Mullins, Dodsworth, Saxon, Meddy, Swallow, Asher, Goulding, Junnley, and Taylor.
Bakers: Clarke, H. Haigh, F. Rich, Fawcett, Howden, Leonards, Sellars, Farmer, S. Stead, Marshall, and T. Taylor.

During the first half the butchers had the assistance of the slope, and for the first quarter of an hour Rich and Haigh had plenty of work to do, their kicking being powerful. Several amusing incidents occurred, some of the players looking more after their opponents than the ball, with the result that several times some of the players were sent rolling over the ropes.

The shooting of the butchers was very weak in front of goal, and they missed glorious opportunities of drawing “first blood.” A breakaway by the bakers saw the ball tanged into the net, thus opening the scoring, but the butchers, who were far and away the stronger team, soon equalised, and before half-time put on another.

On resuming, the bakers got going down the slope, and so did several of the players, trips, and handling of the ball being totally disregarded by the referee, whilst the crowd roared with laughter at the antics of the rival teams. Then the bakers equalised, and some fairly scientific football was shown. Stead, for the bakers, being particularly clever.

The bakers scored again, owing to Brown being injured. The butchers equalised through a penalty, and then scored two in rapid succession.

The final was called with “beef” the victors by five goals to three, after a most amusing and exciting game.