The summer of 1949 - I remember it well. As a twelve year old having completed my first year at grammar school, all seemed well with the world. We spent the first few days of our summer holiday visiting my mother's friend in Hull, where I watched two days of Yorkshire v Hampshire at The Circle. Then we were off to Whitby for a week.
While there my father set off on the train for a job interview in Birmingham, of all places. To his delight, and my displeasure, he got the job, which was quite a big step up in the world of local government.
So I was only to see another half dozen or so games of football in Yorkshire before departing to live in Walsall, near Birmingham. It took me eighteen years to return north, but the chief plus point for me was the number of football clubs within easy reach of my new home. I did the rounds of them all, shared in their triumphs and disasters, as well as playing football myself first in the Walsall Minor League, against such luminaries as the Wolves 'D' side and then in the Birmingham Amateur Football League.
On holiday in Hull, I had the opportunity of watching a pre-season friendly at Boothferry Park which was made up of two teams of Hull City players.
SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST 1949
FRIENDLY MATCH AT BOOTHFERRY PARK, HULL
HULL CITY A v HULL CITY B Attendance 15,596
Bly; Lee, Berry; Greenhalgh, Meens, Mellor;
Bloxham, Carter, Harrison (F), Sowden, Shepherd;
Robinson; Taylor, Parker; Tarrant, Seddon, Durham;
Harrison (R), Jensen, Moore, Buchan, Burbanks;
However, back to business. Huddersfield Town, after their narrow escape from relegation started the new season with renewed optimism. They got off to a poor start with a 4-1 defeat at Blackpool, but I decided to break new ground and spent the first Saturday of the season at the Shay, Halifax.
SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST, 1949
FOOTBALL LEAGUE THIRD DIVISION NORTH AT THE SHAY, HALIFAX Attendance 10,000
HALIFAX TOWN 1 (Mycock pen) HARTLEPOOL UTD 2 (Burnett, Mycock o.g.)
However, back to business. Huddersfield Town, after their narrow escape from relegation started the new season with renewed optimism. They got off to a poor start with a 4-1 defeat at Blackpool, but I decided to break new ground and spent the first Saturday of the season at the Shay, Halifax.
SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST, 1949
FOOTBALL LEAGUE THIRD DIVISION NORTH AT THE SHAY, HALIFAX Attendance 10,000
HALIFAX TOWN 1 (Mycock pen) HARTLEPOOL UTD 2 (Burnett, Mycock o.g.)
Rayner; Drake, Breaks; Gilmour, Hinsley, Mycock;
Whittingham, Murphy, Crossley, Hodgkinson, Massey;
Whittingham, Murphy, Crossley, Hodgkinson, Massey;
Rimmington; Hooper, Thompson; Donaldson, Hughes, Newton;
Barnett, Dunn, Owens, McCready, Harden;
All that I can remember about this game was the remarks of a neighbouring spectator, with a broad Yorkshire accent, who spent the whole game disparaging not only the players of both sides, but the referee and linesmen too. He was a bit like the well known comedian of the time, Al Read. He kept shouting at the linesman 'Off side, off side'. To which his straight man replied 'He's put his flag up'. Then the classic retort 'Yes, but not till I shouted'. The programme featured a note of encouragement by stating that the last time Hartlepool won at the Shay was in season 1846-47! Not sure whether this was a misprint or not.
Halifax were unlucky to lose to an own goal by the unfortunately named Mycock, who also scored for his own side, and having two goals disallowed to the intense annoyance of our complaining spectator. Two of their players, Massey and Hinsley, were injured and may miss the next match.
Match report retrieved from the Halifax Courier.
All that I can remember about this game was the remarks of a neighbouring spectator, with a broad Yorkshire accent, who spent the whole game disparaging not only the players of both sides, but the referee and linesmen too. He was a bit like the well known comedian of the time, Al Read. He kept shouting at the linesman 'Off side, off side'. To which his straight man replied 'He's put his flag up'. Then the classic retort 'Yes, but not till I shouted'. The programme featured a note of encouragement by stating that the last time Hartlepool won at the Shay was in season 1846-47! Not sure whether this was a misprint or not.
Halifax were unlucky to lose to an own goal by the unfortunately named Mycock, who also scored for his own side, and having two goals disallowed to the intense annoyance of our complaining spectator. Two of their players, Massey and Hinsley, were injured and may miss the next match.
Match report retrieved from the Halifax Courier.
The report confirmed that Hartlepool last won at the Shay in 1946-47 not one hundred years earlier.
The visitors were better in their approach play and faster on the ball during the first half whereas Halifax fought back strongly in the second half and were largely thwarted by the excellent performance of former Barnsley goalkeeper Rimmington.
Hartlepool went two goals up during the first half, Burnett scoring the first and then Mycock accidently deflected a free kick into his own goal. He made some amends by scoring a penalty on the stroke of half time. There were no further goals in the second half although Massey had two efforts disallowed by the referee. One for off side and the other for an alleged foul, which brought hoots of derision from the crowd. Despite a good performance from the two wingers Whittingham and Massey the Town were unable to get the equaliser.
WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST 1949 Attendance 21,805
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Nightingale, Hassall) FULHAM 2 (Rowley, Thomas)
Mills; Boot, Stewart (H); Hunter, Hepplewhite, Whittaker;
McKenna, Hassall, Burke, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Flack; Freeman, Bacuzzi; Quested, Taylor, Beasley (capt);
Stevans, Thomas (R), Rowley, Jezzard, McDonald;
Referee:- Mr S.E. Law, West Bromwich
Town's new look side included recent signing from Manchester United, Ronnie Burke, who was unable to get a regular place at Old Trafford. Harold Hassall was promoted from the reserves and veteran Eddie Boot was in the unaccustomed position of right back.
After a poor first half, the game was transformed three minutes after the interval with a splendid self made goal by Nightingale, who pounced on a long ball from Boot. Arthur Rowley, who often troubled Hepplewhite, returned the compliment within two minutes. The burly, dashing and enterprising centre forward outwitted two or more defenders and finished with a powerful drive which left Mills well beaten.
After 65 minutes Thomas put Fulham ahead to rouse Town who hammered away at the Fulham defence for the rest of the game. Finally just six minutes before the final whistle, Hassall scored a brilliant equaliser. When a high ball came over from Burke, he jumped to volley it home, a goal reminiscent of Peter Doherty (now with Doncaster) at his best.
WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST 1949 Attendance 21,805
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Nightingale, Hassall) FULHAM 2 (Rowley, Thomas)
Mills; Boot, Stewart (H); Hunter, Hepplewhite, Whittaker;
McKenna, Hassall, Burke, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Flack; Freeman, Bacuzzi; Quested, Taylor, Beasley (capt);
Stevans, Thomas (R), Rowley, Jezzard, McDonald;
Referee:- Mr S.E. Law, West Bromwich
Town's new look side included recent signing from Manchester United, Ronnie Burke, who was unable to get a regular place at Old Trafford. Harold Hassall was promoted from the reserves and veteran Eddie Boot was in the unaccustomed position of right back.
After a poor first half, the game was transformed three minutes after the interval with a splendid self made goal by Nightingale, who pounced on a long ball from Boot. Arthur Rowley, who often troubled Hepplewhite, returned the compliment within two minutes. The burly, dashing and enterprising centre forward outwitted two or more defenders and finished with a powerful drive which left Mills well beaten.
After 65 minutes Thomas put Fulham ahead to rouse Town who hammered away at the Fulham defence for the rest of the game. Finally just six minutes before the final whistle, Hassall scored a brilliant equaliser. When a high ball came over from Burke, he jumped to volley it home, a goal reminiscent of Peter Doherty (now with Doncaster) at his best.
Town's methods and general workmanship up to those thrilling closing twenty minutes tended to disappoint. Burke appeared unsupported and while Boot took the defensive honours he was far from being perfectly sound, and must accept much of the blame for Fulham's second goal.
Newly promoted Fulham looked a good team and were full value for a point in an entertaining match, watched by many who had spent the day watching county cricket between Yorkshire and Gloucestershire at Fartown, before walking down to Leeds Road at the close of play.
SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST 1949 Attendance 22,711
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Hassall, Burke) MIDDLESBOROUGH 2 (McCrea, McKennan)
Mills; Boot, Stewart (H); Hunter, Hepplewhite, Whittaker;
McKenna, Hassall, Burke, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Ugolini; Robinson, Hepple; Bell, Blenkinsopp, Gordon;
Dicks, McKennan, MCCrea, Mannion, Walker;
Referee:- Mr H.W. Moore, York
Town ended a busy first week of the season, unchanged from Wednesday night and continued their encouraging start with another 2-2 draw. Hassall again impressed with another brilliant individual goal. Town were 2-0 up within half an hour when Burke scored his first goal for the club. Mannion had a hard time during the first half with young wing half David Hunter having a good game. In the second half Mannion came into his own and it became a different story. He was able to lay on goals for the two Scotsmen McCrea and the powerful McKennan.
SATURDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER, 1949 Attendance 13,000
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Devlin) NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Murphy, King, Mitchell)
Steel; Jones, Methley; Walters, Foulkes (capt), Russon;
Medd, Whitehouse, Chapman, Devlin, Betts;
Ansell; Smalley, Southam; Candlin (capt), McCoy, Coley;
King, Smith, McCulloch, Murphy, Mitchell;
Referee:- C.J. Williams, Nottingham
My first visit to Walsall, as my parents were on a house hunting week, from which I was either excused or escaped. However the Saddlers looked a poor team who will struggle on their strange three sided ground, bounded by a laundry wall and chimney behind one goal and behind the laundry was a railway line. Very different from Leeds Road and it may be that my affections may be transferred elsewhere before very long.
Newly promoted Fulham looked a good team and were full value for a point in an entertaining match, watched by many who had spent the day watching county cricket between Yorkshire and Gloucestershire at Fartown, before walking down to Leeds Road at the close of play.
SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST 1949 Attendance 22,711
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Hassall, Burke) MIDDLESBOROUGH 2 (McCrea, McKennan)
Mills; Boot, Stewart (H); Hunter, Hepplewhite, Whittaker;
McKenna, Hassall, Burke, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Ugolini; Robinson, Hepple; Bell, Blenkinsopp, Gordon;
Dicks, McKennan, MCCrea, Mannion, Walker;
Referee:- Mr H.W. Moore, York
Town ended a busy first week of the season, unchanged from Wednesday night and continued their encouraging start with another 2-2 draw. Hassall again impressed with another brilliant individual goal. Town were 2-0 up within half an hour when Burke scored his first goal for the club. Mannion had a hard time during the first half with young wing half David Hunter having a good game. In the second half Mannion came into his own and it became a different story. He was able to lay on goals for the two Scotsmen McCrea and the powerful McKennan.
SATURDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER, 1949 Attendance 13,000
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Devlin) NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Murphy, King, Mitchell)
Steel; Jones, Methley; Walters, Foulkes (capt), Russon;
Medd, Whitehouse, Chapman, Devlin, Betts;
Ansell; Smalley, Southam; Candlin (capt), McCoy, Coley;
King, Smith, McCulloch, Murphy, Mitchell;
Referee:- C.J. Williams, Nottingham
My first visit to Walsall, as my parents were on a house hunting week, from which I was either excused or escaped. However the Saddlers looked a poor team who will struggle on their strange three sided ground, bounded by a laundry wall and chimney behind one goal and behind the laundry was a railway line. Very different from Leeds Road and it may be that my affections may be transferred elsewhere before very long.
Report retrieved from Birmingham Gazette.
Walsall found that the methods employed in their recent 7-1 victory over Torquay were not got enough to overcome a lively Northampton side. The suffered an early setback when Whitehouse was injured and little more than a passenger for the rest of the game. Even so they were no match for the visitors throughout. Full backs Jones and Methley were unable to cope with Northampton's two speedy wingers King and Mitchell who caused them problems all afternoon.
Reg Foulkes was the king pin of the Walsall defence at centre half but goalkeeper Steel, in his first game of the season, did not look comfortable. Goals from Murphy, King and Mitchell sealed victory for the visitors at ten minute intervals after half time and Devlin scored a consolation goal just before the end.
WEDNESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 1949 Attendance 43,663
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS WEST BROMWICH
W.B.A. 1 (Elliott) ARSENAL 2 (Barnes pen, Lewis)
Sanders; Pemberton, Millard; Ryan, Vernon (capt), Hood;
Elliott, Williams, Walsh, Haines, Smith (A);
Swindin; Barnes, Smith (L); Mercer (capt.), Compton (L), Shaw;
McPherson, Logie, Goring, Lewis, Roper;
Referee: E.S. Vickery, Bristol
It took me longer than expected to make the relatively short journey between Walsall and West Bromwich by a combination of buses, so that I only arrived a few minutes before kick off. The ground was already crammed full, particularly the terrace behind the goal at the Birmingham Road end, where I had great difficulty in finding any sort of vantage point. The newly promoted home side put up a good performance and have some very useful players, notably the two Irishmen Vernon in defence and Walsh in attack, as well as the tricky right winger Billy Elliott who scored their only goal.
WEDNESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 1949 Attendance 43,663
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS WEST BROMWICH
W.B.A. 1 (Elliott) ARSENAL 2 (Barnes pen, Lewis)
Sanders; Pemberton, Millard; Ryan, Vernon (capt), Hood;
Elliott, Williams, Walsh, Haines, Smith (A);
Swindin; Barnes, Smith (L); Mercer (capt.), Compton (L), Shaw;
McPherson, Logie, Goring, Lewis, Roper;
Referee: E.S. Vickery, Bristol
It took me longer than expected to make the relatively short journey between Walsall and West Bromwich by a combination of buses, so that I only arrived a few minutes before kick off. The ground was already crammed full, particularly the terrace behind the goal at the Birmingham Road end, where I had great difficulty in finding any sort of vantage point. The newly promoted home side put up a good performance and have some very useful players, notably the two Irishmen Vernon in defence and Walsh in attack, as well as the tricky right winger Billy Elliott who scored their only goal.
Match report retrieved from the Birmingham Gazette.
Albion with two reserve wing halves and a reserve left winger were further handicapped when Dave Walsh, the Irish international centre forward, was injured with a pulled muscle after 15 minutes and could only hobble on the wing for the rest of the game. Before he was injured Walsh, Elliott and Haines all had good chances to score but none were taken.
Arsenal had only four possible chances in the first half and scored from two of them. Barnes converting a penalty after 29 minutes when Hood was alleged to have handled and then Lewis heading in from a McPherson cross six minutes later. In the second half it was all Albion with goalkeeper Sanders virtually unemployed except when Roper hit the crossbar. Billy Elliott was Albion's outstanding player and scored an important goal with only 22 minutes left.
Vernon's clearance sent Haines away from the centre circle and he played Elliott through the middle in a race with full back Lionel Smith as Swindon advanced from the Arsenal goal. Elliott just won the race and stabbed the ball underneath the advancing keeper. Albion in with a chance of a draw now but could not pierce the resolute Arsenal defence.
Arsenal have a very strong side, particularly in defence with big Leslie Compton a commanding figure at centre half. I had hoped that his brother Dennis might appear on the left wing, but apparently he was still playing cricket. Arsenal's next match was at Huddersfield the following Saturday, a game which I missed, presumably as we were travelling back from the Midlands.
It turned out to be yet another 2-2 draw with Burke and Glazzard scoring the goals, as they had done a few days earlier in the midweek win at home to Charlton 2-1.
SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 1949 Attendance 26,222
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT LEEDS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 PORTSMOUTH 1 (Clarke)
Hesford; Howe (G), Stewart (H); Hunter, Percival, Boot (capt);
McKenna, Glazzard, Rodgers, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Butler; Hindmarsh, Ferrier; Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson;
Harris, Reid, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt;
Referee:- H. Pearce, Luton
Town, with a much changed side due to injuries did well to hold the League Champions to just one goal. Hesford, after a long absence, re-appeared in goal, George Howe was tried in the problem right back position and Percival made a rare appearance at centre half as deputy for George Hepplewhite. Burke and Hassall were also missing from the forward line. Portsmouth's strength lay in their powerful half back line which dominated proceedings. 'Ike' Clarke, the former W.B.A. player, scored the only goal.
Match report retrieved from the Yorkshire Post.
Arsenal have a very strong side, particularly in defence with big Leslie Compton a commanding figure at centre half. I had hoped that his brother Dennis might appear on the left wing, but apparently he was still playing cricket. Arsenal's next match was at Huddersfield the following Saturday, a game which I missed, presumably as we were travelling back from the Midlands.
It turned out to be yet another 2-2 draw with Burke and Glazzard scoring the goals, as they had done a few days earlier in the midweek win at home to Charlton 2-1.
SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 1949 Attendance 26,222
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT LEEDS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 PORTSMOUTH 1 (Clarke)
Hesford; Howe (G), Stewart (H); Hunter, Percival, Boot (capt);
McKenna, Glazzard, Rodgers, Nightingale, Metcalfe;
Butler; Hindmarsh, Ferrier; Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson;
Harris, Reid, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt;
Referee:- H. Pearce, Luton
Town, with a much changed side due to injuries did well to hold the League Champions to just one goal. Hesford, after a long absence, re-appeared in goal, George Howe was tried in the problem right back position and Percival made a rare appearance at centre half as deputy for George Hepplewhite. Burke and Hassall were also missing from the forward line. Portsmouth's strength lay in their powerful half back line which dominated proceedings. 'Ike' Clarke, the former W.B.A. player, scored the only goal.
League champions Portsmouth, playing in red shirts to avoid a colour clash, made hard work of their single goal victory at Leeds Road. Vic Metcalfe's 25 yard shot in the closing minutes nearly saved the game for Town, but went inches wide to hit the side netting. Portsmouth's attacking style with all five forwards well up in attack tested the Town defence, not normally their strongest point.
Portsmouth had to wait until the 60th minute for their goal which was created by right winger Peter Harris, who has recently replaced Stanley Matthews in the England team. He beat Stewart on the right and raced away almost to the corner flag before sending across a perfect centre for Ike Clarke to steer the ball wide of Hesford in the Town goal.
In Town's defence it could be said that they were missing Burke, Whittaker, Hepplewhite and Hassall and that Glazzard was slowed down by an early knock, but still did remarkably well. They are still missing the craft of the departed Peter Doherty up front and need a dominating central defender. However there are encouraging reports of new signing Jeffrey Taylor, a young forward who has just completed his National Service.
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