In March 1870, along with Bowen, he was invited to play for the English XI in a match arranged by C. W. Alcock against a side representing Scotland. This was the first of a series of matches played over the next two years, before the first official football international in November 1872. There was no score in the match until 75 minutes had elapsed, when the English goalkeeper moved out of goal to play upfield; the Scots took advantage of the exposed goal when Robert Crawford scored with a shot from distance:. . . the game progressed until within a quarter of an hour of the time determined for the cessation of play, when the English rashly removing their goalkeeper paid the penalty by witnessing the reduction of their fortress to a long shot by R.E. Crawford. England fought back to score through Alfred Baker to salvage a draw a minute from the end of the game.