SATURDAY 22ND AUGUST, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM Attendance 25,608
ASTON VILLA 1 (Woosnam) LEEDS UNITED 2 (Johanneson, Charlton)
Sidebottom; Wright, Aitken; Tindall, Sleeuwenhoek, Deakin;
Wylie, Baker, Hateley, Woosnam, Burrows;
Sprake; Reaney, Bell; Bremner, Charlton, Hunter;
Giles, Weston, Storrie, Collins, Johanneson;
Referee:- K. Dagnall, Bolton
My home town club Leeds United had been promoted to the First Division and although I had never had any strong attachment to them I was curious to see how they would fare in their first game back in the top division. Their first choice centre forward Peacock was injured but otherwise they were at full strength. Interesting note in the programme commenting on Leeds reputation as a 'tough' side last season. It said that Leeds can refute this suggestion as in 43 years in the Football League they have only ever had two players sent off.
Leeds did not get off to the best of starts. After Sprake had safely held a long shot from Tindall, Hateley raced away down the right wing. He did very well to round Bell near the corner flag and sent over a perfect centre for Woosnam, timing his run and jump perfectly, to head into the net.
However Leeds soon hit back and Sidebottom had to go to full stretch to punch away the winger's cross when Johanneson broke away. After fourteen minutes the scores were level. Hunter swung across a centre to Weston, completely unmarked. His shot on the volley was deflected by Sidebottom's foot, but only to the onrushing Johanneson who hit it first time into the net with great force.
Five minutes later the diminutive Collins appeared on the scene for the first time with a surprise chip shot from 25 yards which beat Sidebottom and hit the upright, the rebound went straight to Storrie but he he squandered a simple chance by shooting wide. Villa hit back and were unlucky not to get a penalty when Charlton appeared to handle. Then Hateley with a tremendous leap got in a great header from a Wylie centre but it went just wide. Half time 1-1.
After their bright start Villa faded away completely in the second half. Leeds had a commanding defence in which Charlton was outstanding and with Bremner and Collins, lying very deep, controlling mid field, they should have scored more than one goal in this half. It came after 61 minutes. Charlton robbed Woosnam in the centre circle, sent Storrie away down the right and set off up field. When Storrie crossed the ball, Chalton was perfectly positioned to head the ball home off the foot of the post.
The only time Villa looked like equalising was when a powerful drive from Burrows struck the bar before going over. Villa look set for another season of struggling on this performance but Leeds should do very well, particularly when Peacock is fit again to give them more finishing power.
MONDAY AUGUST 24TH 1964
CENTRAL LEAGUE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA RESERVES 2 (Park, Lee)
NEWCASTLE UNITED RESERVES 2 (Allen, Robson pen.)
Gavan; Fraser, Briggs; Parker G., Bradley, Pountney;
Roberts, Lee, Park, Martin L., Martin J.;
Hollins; Craggs, Butler; Luke, Pickering, Moncur;
Robson, O'Neill, Cummings, Allen, Taylor;
WEDNESDAY 25TH AUGUST, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 4 (Clark, Brown 3) SUNDERLAND 1 (Jones o.g.)
Potter; Cram, Williams G. (capt); Fraser, Jones, Simpson;
Foggo, Brown, Kaye, Hope, Clark;
Forster; Irwin, Ashurst; Harvey, Hurley, McNab;
Usher, Herd, Sharkey, Crossan, Mulhall;
Referee:- R. Harper, Sheffield
Sunderland, newly promoted, had fifteen year old schoolboy international, Derek Forster, playing his second game in five days. He soon showed his worth by tipping a shot from the speedy Clark round the post. Clark continued to be the main threat to Sunderland, his speed proving too much for the lumbering Irwin. However it was the visitors who surprisingly took the lead.
Harvey sent a long lob into the goalmouth and although Potter could have collected unchallenged, centre half Stan Jones jumped to head clear, mistimed it and ball went over Potter and into his own net. Albion hit back strongly with Hope prominent in midfield, but it was not until the thirty ninth minute when they equalised. Kaye's right wing centre being headed home by Clive Clark.
Two minutes later Kaye again provided the opening for Albion to go ahead, his fierce shot striking the crossbar and allowing Tony Brown to fire in the rebound. Half time 2-1.
The visitors tiny forward line was never in the game during the second half, all they had to offer being some delicate touches from the two Irish internationals Harvey and Crossan. Hurley fought hard in defence but his full backs were overrun for the most part. Forster, after a shaky start, performed well and brought off one spectacular save. After sixty four minutes the third goal came when Brown tapped the ball home from Foggo's cross. A similar move brought the final goal, and Brown's hat trick, with only a minute to go.
A convincing win for Albion but it must be said against a very poor Sunderland side.
TUESDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1964 Attendance 5,088
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Clarke) WORKINGTON 4 (Martin, Lowes, Napier, Carr)
Carling; West, Gregg; Chadwick, Leedham, Atthey;
Meek, Matthews, Llewellyn, Clarke, Foster;
Ower; Furphy, Lumsden; Hale, Brown, Burkinshaw;
Lowes, Carr, Napier, Moran, Martin;
Referee:- J. Mitchell, Prescot, Lancs.
After three defeats in their first three games of the season and despite bouncing back with a 4-1 home win against Queens Park Rangers, Walsall already find themselves bottom of the Third Division after only five games. Tonight's game gave the home supporters little hope of any improvement with a dreadful 4-1 drubbing by newly promoted Workington.
The Saddlers are also already out of the League cup having been beaten at Oxford by 6-1 and lost again last Friday night at Shrewsbury were they picked up another couple of injuries. Tonight was an opportunity to get things moving again but they failed miserably.
Birmingham Post report by Paul Marston.
Struggling Walsall crashed to their second home defeat of the season with a dismal performance at Fellows Park last night. It was their fifth league defeat and leaves them firmly on the bottom of the Third Division with little hope of climbing to a safer spot on this form. They always played second fiddle to a much more able Workington, who were promoted from the Fourth Division last season.
Walsall were level 1-1 with only twelve minutes to go, but after Llewellyn had missed a good chance of putting them ahead the lively visitors took the points with a remarkable three goal burst. It was a black night for the Midland club who have rarely shown such lack of method both in defence and attack. It is difficult to pick out any man for special mention. Their hopes had soared momentarily in the eight minute when Hale handled in the penalty area, but the referee had given Clarke offside.
Workington, playing in a sky blue strip, three times fell into the off side trap with their speedy approach, but only a fine save by Carling prevented top scorer Carr putting them ahead in the 13th minute. Within 60 seconds Matthews and Foster carved an opening for Llewellyn but somehow the centre forward screwed his shot wide from six yards. It was a costly blunder.
In the 21st minute Workington snatched the lead they had richly earned. Martin neatly worked the ball through with Carr before taking a return pass to score a fine goal. Walsall were extremely lucky not to be further behind five minutes before half time when Napier's drive bumped the crossbar and Moran missed the rebound. Workington's defence was suddenly spread eagled in the 63rd minute when Leedham sent a perfect pass through the middle. Clarke collected the ball and equalised with a neatly placed goal.
It was the one bright spot for the Saddlers. Workington were not to be denied, however, and hit back hard with two fine goals within three minutes. Lowes restored their lead in the 78th minute and Napier cracked in another in the 81st. Then to add salt in the wound, and with only seconds to go, Carr hammered in a fourth from twenty five yards.
SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Cram pen.) BURNLEY 2 (Irvine 2)
Potter; Cram, Williams G.; Fraser, Jones, Simpson;
Foggo, Collard, Brown, Hope, Clark;
Blacklaw; Angus, Elder; Todd, Talbut, Miller;
Morgan, Irvine, Lochhead, Bellamy, Towers;
Referee:- J.E. Cooke, Waterbeach.
Match report from Birmingham Post by Robert Blackburn.
SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Cram pen.) BURNLEY 2 (Irvine 2)
Potter; Cram, Williams G.; Fraser, Jones, Simpson;
Foggo, Collard, Brown, Hope, Clark;
Blacklaw; Angus, Elder; Todd, Talbut, Miller;
Morgan, Irvine, Lochhead, Bellamy, Towers;
Referee:- J.E. Cooke, Waterbeach.
Match report from Birmingham Post by Robert Blackburn.
Wanted. At least one big, strong, hard-shooting inside forward .....immediately. Unless this vacancy is filled at the Hawthorns right speedily West Bromwich Albion will find themselves in the kind of difficulty no amount of thoughtful football will extricate them. Three defeats in a row, in the process of which only one goal has been scored and that from right back penalty expert Cram, emphasise the lack of power that must be causing manager Jimmy Hagan an outsize headache.
Burnley crash-tackles with Angus particularly severe on Clark threw Albion out of any semblance of smooth working during the first half. It must have been heart breaking for 17 year old Collard making a promising if inauspicious debut at inside right. Should the linking of the name of Les Allen of Spurs with Albion prove more profitable than their reported move for Astle of Notts County, this could provide a timely remedy.
Otherwise palsied displays such as the Albion mounted during the first 45 minutes will cut the gates to less than the 15,000 who saw this petulant encounter. Once again a gift goal to the opposition was a prelude to struggle. The defence looked hypnotised as Lochhead slipped the ball through to Irvine in the 12th minute. The waited in vain for an offside decision. Meanwhile the Eire international waltzed around Potter and put the ball into the empty net.
As if to show that their luck was right out, Williams hammered Cram's short pass from a free kick against the Burnley crossbar in the 37th minute and that after Angus had earlier kicked off the goal line.
Albion had their chances. Brown was too tender with one shot and Fraser blazed wide from the best opening of the day. The realisation that they had to fight did not hit Albion until late in the second half when they were jolted by an Irvine header which put Burnley two up in 66 minutes.
Albion's consolation was Cram's penalty goal nine minutes from time as a result of Angus bringing down Clark. Possibly the busiest man of the day was the referee who 'booked' Angus and Morgan of Burnley, as well as Clark, and almost wore of his whistle.
SATURDAY 3RD OCTOBER, 1964 Attendance 5,047
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Matthews) BARNSLEY 1 (Leighton)
Carling; West, Gregg; Chadwick, Leedham, Roper;
Smith, Matthews, Clarke, Meek, Harrison;
Williamson; Hopper, Murphy; Wood, Winstanley, Cunningham;
Callaghan, Kerr, Leighton, Byrne, Graham;
Referee:- C.M. Cooke, Blackburn.
Walsall at least got a point from this game which took them briefly off the bottom of the league on goal average, but they still have a long way to go to achieve the much needed revival in their fortunes.
Match report from Birmingham Post by William Pemberton.
In their ten games this season Walsall have played well twice and for the remainder have looked like a side expecting the big drop into the Fourth Division. Certainly unless there is a rapid improvement shown in the performance at Fellows Park on Saturday, one can see very little prospect of Walsall remaining in their present section. By any standard this Barnsley side were not impressive, yet for long periods Walsall looked slow, uncertain and unhappy by comparison.
The reason is not hard to find - Walsall's half back line. The present trio never provided the co-ordinating link between defence and attack which is their main task. The result was that, while Walsall men were chasing aimlessly out of position, Barnsley were able to build up attacks which saw them take a 13th minute lead through Leighton. Only a bad miss from three yards stopped Byrne adding to Walsall's worries.
The only Walsall player to escape criticism was Meek. He did the work of three men in trying to rally his colleagues. It was from a terrific shot from the Walsall captain that brought the equaliser just on the half hour, for Williamson could not hold the ball and Matthews had a simple task to run in and send it into the net. It was fortunate for Walsall that Barnsley lost some of their sting in the second period.
It has been said before and needs repeating that unless Walsall go out and buy to strengthen their clear weaknesses, the future at Fellows Park is going to be drab indeed.
MONDAY 5TH OCTOBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA 1 (Pountney) EVERTON 2 (Gabriel, Scott) Attendance 20,000
Sidebottom; Wright, Aitken; Tindall, Sleeuenhoek, Lee;
MacLeod, Pountney, Hateley, Wylie, Burrows;
Rankin; Parker, Brown; Stevens, Labone, Harris;
Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Gabriel, Temple;
Referee:- M.A. Fussey, Retford
This was Villa's seventh defeat in eleven matches - a record which places only Wolves below them in the first division table. Without two of their most experienced players, Woosnam and Deakin, they put up a hard fight against the smooth performers from Merseyside. Villa had the better of the first half, MacLeod in particular playing extremely well and putting over many fine crosses.
From one of these Hateley got in Villa's best scoring effort of the half with a flicked header, but young Rankin, who has recently replaced Gordan West, made an equally fine save. Stevens in his new found berth at wing half, and two of the few home grown Everton players, Harris and Harvey, were most impressive. England centre forward Fred Pickering got little change out of Sleeuwenhoek and indeed despite all their fancy ball play, Everton's only real effort of the half , following a fine move, was a shot from Harris which Sidebottom did well to save. Half time 0-0.
Scott's deceptive pace on the right wing brought Everton two goals within five minutes of the second half and settled the destination of the two points. Sidebottom turned his first shot onto the foot of the post, but Gabriel was on hand to slide it across the line. The next goal was a beauty, Scott outpaced Aitken, no mean feat, and hit the ball on the run from just inside the penalty area. The ball went like a bullet through a gap about a yard wide between the goalkeeper and the near post.
Everton eased up after this and were content to roll the ball around, not bringing out their full armoury which recently brought them six goals at St Andrews. However Villa struck back and Wylie pushed a finely judged through ball to the hard working Pountney and his accurate shot from just inside the area beat Rankin all ends up.
SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER 1964
MONDAY 5TH OCTOBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA 1 (Pountney) EVERTON 2 (Gabriel, Scott) Attendance 20,000
Sidebottom; Wright, Aitken; Tindall, Sleeuenhoek, Lee;
MacLeod, Pountney, Hateley, Wylie, Burrows;
Rankin; Parker, Brown; Stevens, Labone, Harris;
Scott, Harvey, Pickering, Gabriel, Temple;
Referee:- M.A. Fussey, Retford
This was Villa's seventh defeat in eleven matches - a record which places only Wolves below them in the first division table. Without two of their most experienced players, Woosnam and Deakin, they put up a hard fight against the smooth performers from Merseyside. Villa had the better of the first half, MacLeod in particular playing extremely well and putting over many fine crosses.
From one of these Hateley got in Villa's best scoring effort of the half with a flicked header, but young Rankin, who has recently replaced Gordan West, made an equally fine save. Stevens in his new found berth at wing half, and two of the few home grown Everton players, Harris and Harvey, were most impressive. England centre forward Fred Pickering got little change out of Sleeuwenhoek and indeed despite all their fancy ball play, Everton's only real effort of the half , following a fine move, was a shot from Harris which Sidebottom did well to save. Half time 0-0.
Scott's deceptive pace on the right wing brought Everton two goals within five minutes of the second half and settled the destination of the two points. Sidebottom turned his first shot onto the foot of the post, but Gabriel was on hand to slide it across the line. The next goal was a beauty, Scott outpaced Aitken, no mean feat, and hit the ball on the run from just inside the penalty area. The ball went like a bullet through a gap about a yard wide between the goalkeeper and the near post.
Everton eased up after this and were content to roll the ball around, not bringing out their full armoury which recently brought them six goals at St Andrews. However Villa struck back and Wylie pushed a finely judged through ball to the hard working Pountney and his accurate shot from just inside the area beat Rankin all ends up.
SATURDAY 24th OCTOBER 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3 (Clark 2, Astle) LIVERPOOL 0 Attendance 22,000
Potter; Cram, Williams G. (capt); Howshall, Jones, Simpson;
Clark, Kaye, Astle, Hope, Carter;
Lawrence; Byrne, Moran; Milne, Lawlor, Stevenson;
Callaghan, Hunt, St. John, Graham, Thompson;
Referee:- J. Lowry, Neath
League Champions Liverpool have not set the Mersey alight this season and in fact there are only five teams below them in the table at the moment. Without strong man Ron Yeats they were no match for a lively Albion side, led enthusiastically by their recent signing from Notts County Jeff Astle. With Milne and Stevenson busy in defence and St John stifled by Howshall's close attention throughout, Liverpool's strikers Hunt and Thompson never got anywhere.
In fact Liverpool's only scoring efforts throughout the whole game was a Graham shot which Potter punched round the post and a long range shot from Stevenson which skimmed the bar late in the game.
Albion took the lead after 20 minutes when Lawrence could only block Astle's shot for Clark to score from the rebound. Just before half time came the best goal of the match. A beautiful long centre from Hope out on the right found Astle perfectly positioned near the far post to jump high and head the ball into the net. Half time 2-0.
Albion kept on top during a dull second half which was only enlivened when Clark scored the third goal from Astle's centre.
SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL Attendance 10,108
WALSALL 1 (Clarke) OLDHAM ATHLTIC 2 (Martin, Lister)
Carling; Roper, Gregg; Bennett, Smith, Athey;
Meek, McMorran, O'Neill, Clarke, Taylor;
Swan; Branagan, McGinn; McCall, Williams, Martin;
Ledger, Colquhooun, Lister, Bowie, Bartley;
Referee:- R. Tinkler, Boston
Walsall anchored firmly to the bottom of the league scored a welcome away win at Exeter last week and introduced for his home debut Trevor Smith, former Birmingham City and England centre half.
Also in the side were new signing Jimmy McMorran from Third Lanark, formerly with Aston Villa, and Colin Taylor, playing his third game since returning from Newcastle. How they need some of his old goal scoring form.
With the biggest crowd of the season to urge them on, Walsall were far from impressive in the first half and but for several fine saves from Terry Carling could have been in serious trouble. O'Neill was injured yet again and forced to spend the second half on the right wing holding his arm. However it was Walsall who took the lead after 59 minutes with a rather lucky goal. Goalkeeper Swan dropped a high cross and young Alan Clarke was on hand to prod it home.
Ten minutes later Oldham's left half Martin was allowed to come through on his own unchallenged and as the defence expected him to pass he let fly from nearly thirty yards out and his fine shot hit the corner of the net. The winning goal for Oldham came fifteen minutes from the end and was rather a freak affair. Carling went to the edge of the penalty area and kicked clear, but the ball hit a Walsall player, rebounded to Lister and the Oldham centre forward immediately lobed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the net, leaving the unfortunate Saddlers still anchored at the bottom.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 3 (Clark 2, Astle) LIVERPOOL 0 Attendance 22,000
Potter; Cram, Williams G. (capt); Howshall, Jones, Simpson;
Clark, Kaye, Astle, Hope, Carter;
Lawrence; Byrne, Moran; Milne, Lawlor, Stevenson;
Callaghan, Hunt, St. John, Graham, Thompson;
Referee:- J. Lowry, Neath
League Champions Liverpool have not set the Mersey alight this season and in fact there are only five teams below them in the table at the moment. Without strong man Ron Yeats they were no match for a lively Albion side, led enthusiastically by their recent signing from Notts County Jeff Astle. With Milne and Stevenson busy in defence and St John stifled by Howshall's close attention throughout, Liverpool's strikers Hunt and Thompson never got anywhere.
In fact Liverpool's only scoring efforts throughout the whole game was a Graham shot which Potter punched round the post and a long range shot from Stevenson which skimmed the bar late in the game.
Albion took the lead after 20 minutes when Lawrence could only block Astle's shot for Clark to score from the rebound. Just before half time came the best goal of the match. A beautiful long centre from Hope out on the right found Astle perfectly positioned near the far post to jump high and head the ball into the net. Half time 2-0.
Albion kept on top during a dull second half which was only enlivened when Clark scored the third goal from Astle's centre.
SATURDAY 7TH NOVEMBER, 1964
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL Attendance 10,108
WALSALL 1 (Clarke) OLDHAM ATHLTIC 2 (Martin, Lister)
Carling; Roper, Gregg; Bennett, Smith, Athey;
Meek, McMorran, O'Neill, Clarke, Taylor;
Swan; Branagan, McGinn; McCall, Williams, Martin;
Ledger, Colquhooun, Lister, Bowie, Bartley;
Referee:- R. Tinkler, Boston
Walsall anchored firmly to the bottom of the league scored a welcome away win at Exeter last week and introduced for his home debut Trevor Smith, former Birmingham City and England centre half.
Also in the side were new signing Jimmy McMorran from Third Lanark, formerly with Aston Villa, and Colin Taylor, playing his third game since returning from Newcastle. How they need some of his old goal scoring form.
With the biggest crowd of the season to urge them on, Walsall were far from impressive in the first half and but for several fine saves from Terry Carling could have been in serious trouble. O'Neill was injured yet again and forced to spend the second half on the right wing holding his arm. However it was Walsall who took the lead after 59 minutes with a rather lucky goal. Goalkeeper Swan dropped a high cross and young Alan Clarke was on hand to prod it home.
Ten minutes later Oldham's left half Martin was allowed to come through on his own unchallenged and as the defence expected him to pass he let fly from nearly thirty yards out and his fine shot hit the corner of the net. The winning goal for Oldham came fifteen minutes from the end and was rather a freak affair. Carling went to the edge of the penalty area and kicked clear, but the ball hit a Walsall player, rebounded to Lister and the Oldham centre forward immediately lobed the ball over the stranded goalkeeper and into the net, leaving the unfortunate Saddlers still anchored at the bottom.
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