There was a Durham County match the same day (they beat Northumberland 3-1) however this is not the reason why McDonald and Allan missed the game; Allan was definitely playing for Birtley against Redcar, and McDonald was probably playing for Castle Eden. Sunderland supplied no players for county matches this season as they were in dispute with the Durham FA over their handling of the protest following the previous season's challenge cup final defeat. They also didn't enter the county cup; but several of the players still played in it, some for Birtley (who reached the final) and a couple for Castle Eden.