Cardiff versus Liverpool, Boxing Day, 1885
* The photograph is copied from the History of Liverpool Football Club 1857-1982, where it was reproduced by the kind permission of Mr J B G Thomas
The Liverpool jerseys are of three different colours and there is some lack of uniformity. Trousers likewise vary in appearance, which will no doubt allow the modern club player to claim a precedent when failing to appear in the correct kit. Cardiff are seen in the quartered jerseys which were for many years retained as the First team strip.
The match was watched by 5,000 people (according to the Liverpool Daily Post) and Cardiff won a keenly contested game by three goals and one minor (unconverted try) to one minor. Liverpool’s pack held up well, but the backs were evidently completely outplayed by their counterparts, in spite of the absence of Cardiff’s famous captain, F E Hancock.
There were no more visits to Cardiff for eighty years when the Boxing Day fixture was resumed in 1964 with a narrow win by Cardiff from a dubious try. The Boxing Day fixtures at Cardiff continued for several seasons but were abandoned because Cardiff was unable to offer regular return fixtures. The only one to take place at Liverpool was won by Liverpool.
The match was watched by 5,000 people (according to the Liverpool Daily Post) and Cardiff won a keenly contested game by three goals and one minor (unconverted try) to one minor. Liverpool’s pack held up well, but the backs were evidently completely outplayed by their counterparts, in spite of the absence of Cardiff’s famous captain, F E Hancock.
There were no more visits to Cardiff for eighty years when the Boxing Day fixture was resumed in 1964 with a narrow win by Cardiff from a dubious try. The Boxing Day fixtures at Cardiff continued for several seasons but were abandoned because Cardiff was unable to offer regular return fixtures. The only one to take place at Liverpool was won by Liverpool.