Brockley College was famous in rugby union for producing Louis Auldjo, the early Scotland international player.
At his college in the North of Scotland, Harrower was a very keen rugby player, but he left the land of his birth for the Metropolis in 1879, and forthwith turned out for the Reindeer club as a three-quarter, but the London Scottish commandeered him two years later, and continued with them until his marriage some six years later, though he admits that did really play under the name of Scott what time he should have been merely a spectator.
He could not resist, the sporting instinct was too strong, spite home ties and admonitions, with the result that in October made his debut as centre forward, and so well did he please himself and the club that he continued to play regularly until 1897.
He refereed a few club games, so as to kill the desire to play for ever, and once at Cambridge, where the ’Varsity were meeting Reading, the Southern Leaguers were so pleased with his decisions that they proposed him a S.L.
His experience has been fortunate so far, in as much as he has always succeeded in keeping firm but kindly control of the players, and as he still retains the vitality of youth he generally well up with the play the fastest of games.
He plays for the Surrey Club and Ground, and has scored several centuries for them during the last three seasons, while as a slow bowler has obtained a pretty fair number of wickets.
[5] His one and only international appearance was for Scotland, against Wales in the 1885 Home Nations Championship standing in for the team's regular fullback, James Veitch.
The match ended in a 0-0 draw, with the Welsh team accused of trying to kill the game by their players continually lying on the ball.
[2] Harrower's refereeing career reached its peak when he officiated the 1905 FA Cup Final between Aston Villa and Newcastle.
ADMIRERS of that well-known referee of the early years of the century, P. R. Harrower, will be interested to hear that he is still well and hearty on his 72nd birthday.
Pat was the son of corn merchant George Kerr Harrower and his wife, Jemima Margaret Wright.