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.
Match report from Sports Argus.
The visitors were showing more craft in their approach work early on and the Walsall goal had several near escapes. On one occasion Lewis was only just in time to punch a header from Harper over the bar.
The Walsall defence was bewildered in the sixteenth minute when Wakefield opened the scoring.
Wallbanks, who had moved over to the left, swung the ball over to Davies who eluded a defender and placed it nicely for the centre forward. Sensing the danger Jones had moved back but Wakefield drove the ball between the defender and goalkeeper Lewis.
Southend continued in the ascendency with deft forward passing movements creating anxiety for the hard working Walsall defence. In the 39th minute Southend went further ahead when Lawler beat Lewis with a high cross shot from twenty five yards out. From the re-start Allison dashed away and skimmed the bar with the home side's best effort so far. Walsall started the second half at a brisk pace and Sutcliffe missed a good chance created by Dearson. The home side kept going and Chapman was unlucky after beating Sheard when his shot hit a post.
After 59 minutes Walsall did pull a goal back when Chapman scored when Millard lifted the ball over to him and he pushed it home as Coombs advanced. It was all Walsall now as they pressed hard for an equaliser. Allison and Chapman both went close as Walsall made an all out effort to salvage a point in the last few minutes. They were unlucky when Coombs saved but failed to hold a low shot from Chapman and the ball trickled just the wrong side of the post.
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.
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.
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.
Match report from Birmingham Gazette.
SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER, 1950 AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH
WALSALL 0 BOURNEMOUTH 1 (Evans)
Lewis; Jones, Walters; Corbett, Russon, Greeen;
Morris (F), Millard, Chapman, Dearson, Knowles;
Bird; Cunningham, Drummond; Woodward, Gripton, Casey;
Boxshall, Haigh, McGibbon, Evans, Weigh;
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.
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.
Match report from Sports Argus.
Within the first three minutes Villa forced three corners but goalkeeper Sidlow remained untroubled.
Villa continued to press but Sidlow only had only shot cum pass from Ford to retrieve. Gradually Liverpool came more into the game and Balmer gave them the lead after 26 minutes after being put through by Liddell. The veteran inside forward took advantage of a wide open Villa defence and beat Jones from the edge of the penalty area. Liverpool's danger man, Billy Liddell developed a limp which slowed him down considerably. Apparently he had strained a right thigh muscle.
Goffin shot just wide after being put through by Ford following a movement started by Moss and then at the other end Keith Jones, on his knees, made a fine save from Taylor and then Stubbins having dispossessed Con Martin shot just wide. Villa should never have been behind at the interval and started the second half with a bit more directness. With Liddell still unable to raise a gallop most Liverpool attacks were directed down the right but Dorsett did an excellent job in defence.
Hughes was keeping a close watch on the dangerous Ford and when he eventually did get an opening after a mis-header by Spicer, he got in a hard ground shot which Sidlow turned round the post for Villa's 13th corner. Despite all this pressure the Villa just could not finish things off. Keith Jones made a spectacular save at the other end from a 30 yard drive by Stubbins. Villa continued to have endless chances and Dorsett went closest with a whizzbang drive just over the bar.
Frank Moss joined the Villa attack and his shot forced a corner, by then Villa's 15th of the match, when Sidlow again pushed it round the post. However after 80 minutes, following the corner kick, Moss rushed into the crowded penalty area to force the ball home and Villa were level. Liverpool did hit back during the last ten minutes but neither side were able to force a win.
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
Manchester got their first away points of the season thanks to the quick thinking Pearson and Rowley in attack, because they moved faster, and with a directness that Villa lacked, and because they took their shooting chances accurately and without wasting time. They also had more system in defence as well as goalkeeper Allen, who apart from keeping out Villa's three best shots, from Edwards, Goffin and Ford,
fisted out a Dorsett penalty towards the end of the second half.
Villa were 3-0 down when Chilton apparently handled in the area. The majority of players moved back upfield thinking the referee had awarded United a free kick. However he then placed the ball on the penalty spot to most people's surprise. Dorsett drove the ball with all of his tremendous power to Allen's right and the goalkeeper, who must have the eyes of a lynx to have even seen the ball, fisted it away to the touchline.
The Villa attack never settled down to combined football, it all added up to a scrambling, scrappy sort of show. Craddock and Goffin both worked hard but that was about all you could say. Parkes was the outstanding Villa player although given little support by Powell. United took the lead in the 16th minute when Pearson split the square Villa defence with a beautiful ball which put Rowley in to score.
The second goal came 16 minutes after the interval when a Rowley cross from the left found Parkes trying to mark two men and Pearson scored with a fine shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the area. Four minutes later a Pearson shot following a Bogan header was brilliantly pushed out by Jones but Rowley, running in at the far post, shot over Jones' body. Eleven minutes from the end Ford scored Villa's consolation goal with a quick dribble across the penalty area to beat Allen with a left foot shot.
SATURDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER, 1950 AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH
WALSALL 0 BOURNEMOUTH 1 (Evans)
Lewis; Jones, Walters; Corbett, Russon, Greeen;
Morris (F), Millard, Chapman, Dearson, Knowles;
Bird; Cunningham, Drummond; Woodward, Gripton, Casey;
Boxshall, Haigh, McGibbon, Evans, Weigh;
Referee:- G. Clark, London.
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, but the forward line is far from effective. 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. Fred Morris, former Oswestry winger, came in on the right wing.
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, but the forward line is far from effective. 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. Fred Morris, former Oswestry winger, came in on the right wing.
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.
Match report from Sports Argus.
Walsall raised hopes of an early goal when Millard slipped the ball through to Dearson, who beat a defender, and swung the ball out to Knowles. He lobbed the ball into the middle and Bird punched it over the bar as Chapman tried to get his head to it. Bournemouth had a lively set of forwards and the Walsall defence had to be on the alert particularly against the dangerous McGibbon. Walsall had several good chances to go ahead but Bird saved brilliantly from Chapman and a couple of efforts were kicked off the line. Dearson put in another grand drive from 20 yards which again Bird saved and Walsall deserved to be ahead at the interval.
Walsall again dominated the play during the second half and goalkeeper Bird was called upon to save time after time. The Bournemouth defenders were kicking the ball anywhere to get it clear. However later in the half the visitors began to pile on the pressure and made an all out effort to take the lead.
Finally after 76 minutes their efforts were rewarded. Boxshall cut in and slipped the ball back to Evans who drove it home. A minute later Walsall could well have equalised when Knowles brought Bird to his knees to save. The Saddlers fought hard to salvage a point but Bournemouth held out.
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.
Match report from Sports Argus.
Reduced to ten effective men after only ten minutes play Bolton Wanderers recorded their first away win since November 13th 1948. Billy Moir headed the only goal of the game in which Villa were so poor in attack that the crowd several times resorted to the slow handclap. Jack Hindle, the close season signing from Barrow, was making his first home appearance in the Villa goal.
Bolton were soon handicapped by an injury to Murphy who had to go limping on the left wing. All that Hindle had to do during the first quarter of an hour was to demonstrate his long kicking powers following Villa back passes. First real effort from Villa followed a long throw by Powell when Goffin's header skimmed the crossbar. Lofthouse looked dangerous in a rare Bolton attack but Langton was struggling in his move back to left half and Bolton's defenders were generally at sixes and sevens in fact of Villa's continuing attacks.
In quick succession, just before half time, Hanson made two fine saves, fisting out drives by Canning and Ford. The save against Ford was an especially fine effort, the goalkeeper punching away for a corner as Dixon collided with the post and injured himself in the process. Murphy was limping so badly early in the second half that he had to retire completely from the action after only seven minutes. So ten men of Bolton were really up against it. Some of Villa's poor passing was greeted by an outbreak of the slow handclap. A pity, maybe, but this was poor football.
Goffin did get the ball into the net after another outbreak of the slow handclap but the referee had blown for offside. Hindle, in the Villa goal, was a mere spectator and Hanson at the other end did have much work to do either. After a big cheer for full back Harry Parkes, when he went off on a run upfield, Bolton's ten men did manage to break out at intervals. A dash on the right brought them a free kick and Moir was able to head it into the net with Hindle having no chance in the 83rd minute. Villa made a late rally in which they forced two corners but Bolton somehow managed to hold on to their lead.
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