Gloucester's Captain had another job before play could start.

The Journal of 27 December 1890 reported:

BOXING DAY FOOTBALL

Gloucester A. v Llandaff.

“The first of the holiday matches arranged for the Spa was played this morning. The time fixed was 10:30, but at this hour the operations for clearing the ground had not been completed and it was 11:45 ere a start could be made. . . without their captain . . .
who had been assisting in the removal of the snow from the ground until a short time before . . . and who soon joined the team.”