The Last Lincoln City XI To Beat Birmingham City

1. Tommy Fern, goalkeeper

1909-1913 | 127 Football League appearances

One of our finest discoveries before the First World War, Tommy Fern arrived from Worksop Town in 1909 and missed only two matches through injury in four and a half seasons. His remarkable durability included 142 consecutive league and cup appearances from February 1910 until his departure. Everton paid £1,500 for him in 1913, and he went on to win the league title at Goodison Park in 1915.

His clean sheet at Birmingham required some proper work. Fern saved at the foot of the post from Charlie Millington, then dealt with a hard effort from Jack McKay and cleared before he could be challenged. There was an earlier uncomfortable moment when he failed to complete a clearance, but Frank Foxall put the resulting opportunity wide.

2. Clem Jackson, right-back

1909-1920 | 184 Football League appearances

Recruited from Nottinghamshire junior football, Clem Jackson became one of our great servants, earning the description “cool and calculating and never a shirker”. He played every match of the 1911/12 Central League championship campaign and made more than 100 appearances during the war. His service even extended to a brief spell as honorary player-manager in the summer of 1919.

There was an example of that dependable defending early at St Andrew’s, when Jackson checked McKay just as the Birmingham attacker appeared to be breaking clean through. He subsequently spent many years as a Lincoln licensee, making him one of several members of this XI who could have sorted us out with a pint afterwards.

3. Wattie Wilson, left-back

1907-1915 | 171 Football League appearances, six goals

Wattie Wilson’s afternoon began badly enough: he lost the toss, leaving us facing both the sun and a strong wind. His more valuable contribution came after the interval, when he emerged from a spell of pressure around our goal with a determined run that carried the ball towards halfway. That fitted the contemporary description of a fearless tackler and powerful kicker who was among our most dependable players.

Wilson appeared in 204 consecutive first-team matches from his arrival until December 1912. Even a 14-day suspension in 1909 failed to interrupt the sequence, because our only match during his ban was abandoned. After retiring, he established the Lincoln Hospital Cup in 1921, locally known as the Wilson Cup, and was also the long-serving licensee of the Crown and Anchor in Newland.

4. Matt Robson, right-half

1909-1915 | 121 Football League appearances, three goals

Matt Robson came south from Wallsend Park Villa in 1909 with a reputation for speed, good distribution, strong heading and a useful shot. Although he went straight into the first team, his regular place at right-half was not secured until the following season. He became a favourite with supporters in the years before the war, later playing for Scunthorpe United and Boston Town.

At Birmingham, Robson helped protect our lead by repelling shots alongside James Comrie during a home attack. He also had an opportunity to increase the advantage following a Lincoln free-kick, but his weak effort allowed Frank Womack to clear. A little more conviction there might have made the closing stages rather more comfortable.

5. James Comrie, centre-half

1910-1911 | 12 Football League appearances, one goal

Twelve league appearances, one goal, and an entry in Lincoln City’s history that has lasted considerably longer than his stay. Comrie returned at centre-half for this match, having been brought into the side by prior arrangement. Four minutes into the second half, he scored from a corner to settle the game, while his defensive work included blocking shots as Birmingham sought an equaliser.

The Scot had previously played for Third Lanark, Reading, Glossop and Bradford City, arriving here during our unsuccessful attempt to avoid re-election. His subsequent departure involved an appeal that reduced the £100 valuation placed on him to £20, and he later returned to Reading after spells with Grantham and Stenhousemuir. Away from football, he worked at Bracebridge Asylum; his story ended tragically when he was killed while serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers during the First World War.

6. Tommy Wield, left-half

1904-1908 and 1909-1919 | 131 Football League appearances, five goals

A Lincoln lad recruited from St Catherines, Tommy Wield first experienced Second Division football as a teenager. His early progress was interrupted by 18 months on the injury list, followed by a spell with Grantham Avenue, before he returned to establish himself in our side. His reputation was that of a fearless defender, an effective spoiler and a player quick to intervene.

That last quality was evident at Birmingham, where Wield came to the rescue during a first-half attack when our goal was threatened. His afternoon also included conceding a free-kick for holding, from which Birmingham applied further pressure. He continued representing us throughout the war, often at full-back, before moving into Lincolnshire non-league football with clubs including Scunthorpe United and Gainsborough Trinity.

7. Fred Haycock, outside-right

1910-1911 | 25 Football League appearances, five goals

Fred Haycock had already accumulated plenty of experience before arriving from Portsmouth in October 1910, with West Bromwich Albion, Crewe Alexandra and Luton Town also on his CV. An alert and energetic forward, he finished his only season here as our leading scorer across league and cup matches. He subsequently joined Port Vale, who became our principal rivals for the following season’s Central League title.

Haycock was heavily involved against Birmingham, making an early run and delivering a centre that James Reid was unable to exploit under pressure. He later forced Horace Bailey into a save and earned a corner with another effort, but also supplied one of the afternoon’s frustrations. After Comrie scored, Haycock wasted what the report called a golden chance by taking too long, and later put another attempt over the bar.

8. Billy Garraty, inside-right

1910-1911 | 16 Football League appearances, two goals

Yes, we have been waiting so long to beat Birmingham that our last winning XI included Jack Grealish’s great-great-grandfather. Billy Garraty was a considerable footballer in his own right, winning the league and FA Cup with Aston Villa and representing England against Wales in 1903. His 27 league goals helped Villa become champions in 1899/1900, while his performance in the 1905 FA Cup final brought further acclaim.

By the time he reached Sincil Bank, Garraty was approaching the end of his career, joining us for £100 after spells with Leicester Fosse and West Bromwich Albion. He made his debut in the home game against Birmingham, and for the reverse fixture he took up the inside-right position between Haycock and Reid, bringing an impressive collection of honours into an attack struggling for goals. He retired that summer and later worked as a lorry driver for Ansells Brewery in Birmingham.

9. Jimmy Reid, centre-forward

1910-1912 | 36 Football League appearances, three goals

Jimmy Reid’s return of three league goals hardly hints at what followed. Praised for his clever footwork and subtle play while here, he returned to Scotland with Airdrieonians and promptly finished as the Scottish top flight’s leading scorer in successive seasons. He subsequently won three Scotland caps and helped Airdrie lift the Scottish Cup in 1924, having moved out to the right wing.

There were glimpses of his attacking threat at Birmingham, although no goal to reward them. Reid was outmuscled as he tried to meet Haycock’s early centre, then helped drive us forward during another first-half attack. He also went close during the pressure immediately before the interval, when we threatened to take the lead before Comrie eventually supplied it.

10. Tosh Barrell, inside-left

1908-1917 | 141 Football League appearances, 26 goals

Another local lad, Tosh Barrell arrived from Rustons Engineers and became hugely popular for his ability to contribute almost anywhere. Contemporary assessments praised his shooting, combination play and reliability, with one writer suggesting he had played in almost every position except goalkeeper and would probably do well there, too. He later finished as our leading scorer in 1912/13.

His Birmingham performance included an attempt from distance that gave Bailey a relatively straightforward save. There was also a less elegant moment when he struggled in the dust rising from the goalmouth, before producing a much better effort after the interval: a shot from 20 yards that narrowly cleared the bar. After football, Barrell spent many years as a licensee in Boston, continuing this team’s strong representation in the licensed trade.

11. Tom Yule, outside-left

1909-1911 | 63 Football League appearances, eight goals

An injury the previous day opened the outside-left position for Tom Yule, and he certainly gave Birmingham something to think about. His first corner was poorly delivered, but he later tested Bailey with a strong volley and put a header narrowly wide during our first-half pressure. After the break, a lively run ended with another shot just over the crossbar.

Yule was a short, sturdy winger who had made the transition from Portobello to Second Division football after joining us in 1909. He left for Wolverhampton Wanderers when we were voted out of the Football League in 1911, adding another 33 league appearances and seven goals at Molineux. Port Vale followed in 1913, extending a career that had already given him a place in this unusually enduring Lincoln City XI.