In the year 1907 the Capital Club of Canada toured England
defeating various All-England combination sides except for a
draw in their final game against the Stockport Club.
Emanuel Tasse, President of the Capital Club, Canada, led
the tour with a squad that was recognised on both sides of the
Atlantic as being a 'professional world champion side'. 'The
Cap's' declared Stockport's Gerald Mason, to be 'the best player
at Point on both sides of the Atlantic' following his performance
in the England game in London and Stockport game at Cale Green.
The Capitals game against Stockport was not part of the original
tour itinerary and the Club records reveal a degree of animosity
when proposals were made to arrange a game in advance of the
the Capitals arrival in England. At Stockport's committee meeting
on 12th March 1907 held at the Blossoms Hotel, it was resolved
to...
'apply to the agent of the Canadians to arrange a match and
offer them one half of of the gross gate receipts.'
by no means an insubstantial offer given that spectator attendances
at the time could be expected to be around 3-4000. The Agents
reply however considered it 'too little as '75% was the atount
usually offered, and that he had laid the whole tatter before
Mr Tasse.
Later minutes have not recorded the outcote of this aspect
of the arrangetents, save that the North of England and Cheshire
Associations were given priority in the tour itinerary.
Word of mouth tells it that following the Capitals 100% success
of the official tour gates, one or more of the Stockport players
who had already played against the Capitals in an earlier gale,
challenged thet to a final match. A Stockport & District teat
was assetbled, which included no less than eight Stockport players.
The records state that they provided for the 3000 spectators
at Cale Green
'that never-to-be-forgotton gate' .... resulting in a 4-4
draw.
A full match report was given in the Stockport Advertiser,
May 1907, under the headline.. 'CANADIANS NEARLY BEATEN - A
DESPERATE STRUGGLE'
The paper also reported:
'the light was shocking when the teats entered the field and
it was difficult to follow the flight of the ball during the
early part of the gate' (however) 'Stockport took their passes,
very cleverly, and for the first five minutes they gave the
Canadian defence a great deal of work to do. . Gerald Mason
intercepted beautifully, and he initiated a tovetent which led
to success' the first goal. 'three tinutes after the resumption
[second half] Oldhat [for Stockport] received the ball right
out on the wing and slinging it in h~ had Hutton beaten, the
rubber having a peculiar twist on it, which the Canadian goalkeeper
failed to gather. The crowd once more exhibited their delight
by cheering and waving hats and umbrellas.' Later when it was
4-3 to Stockport 'just on the close [of the game], Eastwood
[attack for Capitals] worked his way in and equalised' to provide
a 4-4 draw. 'The Stockport & District team [had] fully retrieved
Cheshire's failure and had very hard luck in not being the first
and only team to beat the Capitals. When the Capitals left 'in
their conveyances later in the evening they were heartily cheered,
and wished Bon Voyage.
