When Gainsborough Trinity were in the EFL

During their relatively brief stay in the Football League, Gainsborough Trinity met some of the top teams in English football.  In October 1906 they entertained Nottingham Forest for the first time in the league (they had met in the FA Cup).  It was noted, ‘The Lincolnshire club have a very useful side at their command and they were strong enough to get the upper hand of the “Wolves” on Wednesday, and establish themselves well up the table.  It was a beautiful afternoon, and Forest’s visit created considerable interest, 5,000 people, which is an abnormal gate for Gainsborough, being present.’   Forest ‘had the advantage of the slope’ on a ‘very rough’ pitch and scored the opening goal.  

Gainsborough then started to play long ball, sending high balls into the box.  ‘The football was very poor on the whole, the ball being a great deal in the air.’  When there was play in midfield, it was ‘of the crudest description’.    However, the style of play clearly unsettled Forest: ‘Forest tried hard but could make little of the quick rushes of their opponents who were content to proceed by haphazard methods.’  2-1 ahead at half time, Gainsborough won 3-2.

 At Christmas 2010 Gainsborough found themselves at Stamford Bridge playing Chelsea.  Described as ‘the wooden spoonists of the Second Division’, they were spending the holiday in London with a Boxing Day match against Clapton Orient.  ‘A comparatively small crowd of not more than 12,000 people witnessed the match, which was played in dull and depressing weather.  The turf, which was much cut up, provided very heavy going.’   

The visitors had a couple of early shots on goal, but ‘this was the end of the visiting team’s enterprise.  Chelsea quite monopolised the remainder of the play.  They rained in shots from all positions and all directions, but the Gainsborough defence was as firm as a rock, and Robinson’s goalkeeping was remarkable.  He saved a dozen shots in as many minutes.’ 

With Robinson exhausted, Chelsea almost scored, but a defender was able to clear off the line.  Despite receiving a leg injury, Robinson was ‘quite invincible’.  With the score 0-0 at half time, Robinson ‘received an ovation for his splendid goalkeeping.’  However, his injury troubled him more in the second half and Chelsea won 3-0.

Back in the Midland League at the end of the First World War, Gainsborough decided that wartime experience was the key to success: ‘It is questionable whether any club will number more soldier players in its ranks during the coming season than Gainsborough Trinity.   Recognising that football form is just now something of an unknown quantity, the executive have decided to pin their faith largely to local players of known cleverness prior to enlistment, but whom Army training and Army football has developed almost out of recognition.   One thing is certain: Trinity will be able to put down a fast and tricky forward line.  Gainsborough has always been known for its team-building capability.’

Three keepers had been hired with the favourite possibly being A. Pashley who ‘played in goal for the Royal Engineers and was one of the team that won the Army Cup.’  At full back Harry Hallam was an old Trinity player ‘who was soon snapped up by the Royal Artillery crack team for whom he did good work.’   None of the recruited players had been in the Navy, which offered fewer opportunities for football, but half back S Fenton had played for the Birmingham R.A.F. team.