Ten geleide:
De "Red Star Line" of "Société Anonyme de Navigation Belge-Américaine (SANBA)" was een Belgische rederij die een geregelde dienst onderhield tussen Antwerpen en New York en soms tussen Antwerpen en Philadelphia.
De maatschappij behoorde tot de International Navigation Company (later International Mercantile Marine Company), werd gesticht in 1872 en in 1873 voer het eerste schip de oceaan over. In 1935 ging de maatschappij failliet ten gevolge van de beurscrash van 1929.
De stad Antwerpen heeft de naam van deze rederij bestendigd met de oprichting van het Red Star Line Museum in de historische paviljoenen (thans beschermd als monument) van waaruit circa drie miljoen Europeanen de overtocht startten naar het 'land van belofte', de Verenigde Staten en Canada.
Het wedstrijdverslag:
"The match on the 19th inst., between the "Red star" and the Antwerp Football Club, must have somewhat opened the eyes of those present, who had not been following the doings of this latter club lately.
The Red Star were a fine lot of fellows, principally Scotch, and on their appearance on the ground were at once installed warm favourites. The Antwerp team, on the contrary, were not to be composed to their opponents either in size or build, but they looked as "fit" as possible, and some of the knowing ones, including myself, thought they would take a lot of beating, and so it turned out.
The Red Star kicked off with the wind and for about ten minutes play was of a give and take description in the centre of the ground, but afterwards the ball was taken into Red Star territory where it remained until half-time, during which period Antwerp succeeded in notching two goals, and at half time the score was :-
Antwerp 2. goals,
Red Star Nil.
On resuming Antwerp still kept up the pressure, and at the call of time the score stood :-
Antwerp 5. goals,
Red Star Nil.
For the Red Star, Little, after he had changed from goal to centre forward, played a good hard game, and one or two others, whose names I could not catch at the time, also did well, but they were too fond of charging, and of course they had no sort of combination, not having had any practice together and, speaking generally, their game was kick the ball and run after it.
The Antwerp team played a very pretty passing game, and this was specially noticeable on the right wing, for wherever Wilkinson and Allan got the leather the other side had to look out for squals. Reynolds too was left full back, came in for a lot of knocking about from his Burly Antagonists, and had to retire to mind goal on one occasion, though I think this was more to oblige Price, who was tired of doing nothing, than by reason of any serious injury. They were also without the services of Rivaz, who failed to turn up at the last moment, but whose place was filled by Walther very creditable." |
