Star Green ‘un – Saturday 08 November 1919

The Kilnhurst-Swinton Match

Mr. G. W. Thompson, hon. sec. of the Swanton Church F.C., writes to the editor with regard to some comments in the Mexborough junior Notes the ‘‘Sports Special” of last week, regarding the Swinton Church—Kilnhurst United match.

Mr. Thompson objects to the suggestion that the game was full of fouls, though it was a very keen struggle, and asserts that there was nothing in the nature of dirty play until the incident which culminated in Burkinshaw bring ordered off. There was no dirty play afterwards, but Kilner’s played one back, and this upset the game.

Mr. Thompson asserts that Elliott’s handling was unintentional, and when the referee awarded a goal after Elliott had had the ball driven onto his head and thence into the net, the player himself informed the referee what had taken place, with the result that the referee altered his decision to a goalkick.

When Swinton were awarded penalty in the darkness of the closing stages. Mr. Thompson asserts that the Kilnhurst linesmen and spectators rushed on the field, and efforts to make them the made no impression.

Finally, he states that the blame for the late start must be laid entirely in Kilnhurst, who waited in the stripping room for 40 minutes for one of their players, although they had a reserve present, and he stripped twice to play.