Although still a schoolboy, I travelled a bit further afield this season to take in games at West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. I also began to write detailed reports of most of the games I saw purely for my own amusement, but possibly with the vague thought that I might one day write a book of football memories. This never happened so some sixty five years later they now see the light of day for the first time!
SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST, 1950 AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH Attendance 11,178
WALSALL 1 (Chapman) SOUTHEND UNITED 2 (Wakefield, French)
Lewis; Jones, Skidmore; Walters, Russon, Dearson;
Bowen, Sutcliffe, Chapman, Millard, Allinson;
Coombs; Loughran, Walton; Wallbanks, Sheard, French;
Sibley, Davies, Wakefield, Lawlor, Harper;
Referee: Mr A. Bond, Fulham
Southend, who finished third in the league last season, started well with a goal from centre forward Albert Wakefield, who came from Leeds United last season. Walsall with something of a new look forward line and without centre half Reg Foulkes who has moved to Norwich, looked as if they might struggle this season.
WEDNESDAY 30TH AUGUST 1950 AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Walsh) NEWCASTLE UTD 2 (Milburn, Mitchell)
Sanders; Rickaby, Millard; Kennedy, Vernon (capt), Barlow;
Elliott, Williams, Walsh, Richardson, Allen;
Fairbrother; Cowell, McMichael; Harvery (capt), Brennan, Crowe;
Walker, Taylor, Milburn, Robledo (G), Mitchell;
With Ray Barlow in splendid form at left half, Albion were on the attack for long periods of the game, but their finishing was poor, mainly because big Frank Brennan kept Irish international Dave Walsh under constant watch.
The first goal, to Newcastle, came after 37 minutes, when Milburn robbed Vernon on the half way line, passed out to Walker on the right and in no time took the return pass in his stride and hit it home from twenty yards.
Albion equalised just on half time following a mistake by Irish international Alf McMichael who headed a long ball from Kennedy straight to Walsh , thus playing him onside, and with only the goalkeeper to beat the centre forward made no mistake.
After 58 minutes Milburn beat Vernon for the second time and again pushed the ball out to the long striding Walker, whose centre was pushed into the net by Bobby Mitchell standing almost on the goal line. So although Milburn could only get past Vernon twice in this game it was enough to give his side both points.
Newcastle United
SATURDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER 1950 AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Attendance 45,127
ASTON VILLA 1 (Moss F.) LIVERPOOL 1 (Balmer)
Jones; Parkes, Dorsett; Powell, Martin, Moss F.;
Edwards, Gibson, Ford, Craddock, Goffin;
Sidlow; Lambert, Spicer; Jones, Hughes, Paisley;
Payne, Taylor, Stubbins, Balmer (capt), Liddell;
Referee;- G.L. Iliffe, Leicester
Veteran Jack Balmer's goal was the outstanding feature of this game. He had the ball in the centre of the field, on the edge of the penalty area, and waited for a split second for the goalkeeper Keith Jones to become unsighted by a defender and carefully shot the ball slowly into the corner of the net. It was not a fierce shot but just perfectly placed and admirably timed.
MONDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER, 1950 AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
ASTON VILLA 1 (Ford) MANCHESTER UNITED 3 (Rowley 2, Pearson)
Jones; Parkes, Dorsett; Powell, Martin, Moss (F);
Edwards, Gibson, Ford, Craddock, Goffin;
Allen; Carey (capt), Aston; Gibson, Chilton, Cockburn;
Bogan, Pearson, Rowley, Downie, Mitten;
The very strong United side ran out easy winners in a rather one sided contest. Reg Allen who is the most expensive goalkeeper ever, following his signing from QPR, was rarely troubled and the forward line looks as dangerous as ever.
Manchester United 1950-51
SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER, 1950 AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH
WALSALL 0 BOURNEMOUTH 1 (Evans)
Lewis; Jones, Walters; Devlin, Russon, Green;
McMorran, Corbett, Chapman, Dearson, Knowles;
Bird; Cunningham, Drummond; Woodward, Gripton, Casey;
Boxshall, Haigh, McGibbon, Evans, Weigh;
Bournemouth players
Walsall lost their second home game in three days by the single goal and after seven games this season still do not boast a victory. There seems little wrong with the defence, Lewis in particular being in brilliant form in goal, bu the forward line is far from effective.
McMorran, a young, slight former Manchester United reserve achieved little on the right wing. Corbett, a red haired local boy and Knowles another youngster, playing only his second league game, are both far too inexperienced at the present time.
The remaining forwards both suffer from excessive weight, Chapman, the fair haired centre forward has lost his speed and Dearson, the former Welsh international, while still capable of showing his obvious ability, sweats profusely with his efforts.
SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER, 1950 AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE Attendance 30,000
ASTON VILLA 0 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Moir)
Hindle; Parkes, Dorsett; Canning, Martin, Moss (F);
Gibson, Powell, Ford, Dixon, Goffin;
Hanson; Ball, Banks (R); Howe, Gillies, Murphy;
Hughes, Moir, Lofthouse, Webster, Langton;
Referee;- R. Wood, Sunderland
Moir scored the only goal of a scrappy match in which Villa never got going.The move of wing half Ivor Powell to inside forward was not a success and Villa also fielded two reserves in goalkeeper Hindle and wing half Larry Canning.