The Midlands football scene 1949-50 (Part one)

Posted by Tony Hutton

Apologies for the delay in continuing my football marathon, but during the cricket season my full time job is watching and blogging on that sport to the exclusion of almost all else.

However I can now take up the story from October 1949 following my move from Yorkshire to Walsall in the West Midlands, due to my father's job. I was twelve years old but already a football fanatic and the big bonus for me, after the problems of moving schools and trying to learn the local dialect, was the number of teams I could now watch. Not only Walsall, then languishing in the lower reaches of Division Three (South), but Aston Villa, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolves were all within easy travelling distance.

The first clubs I concentrated on were the two nearest, i.e. Walsall and Aston Villa, but in time I watched them all over different periods and this would continue until the end of the 1966-67 season when I moved on again.

SATURDAY 15th OCTOBER, 1949
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM

ASTON VILLA 0 MANCHESTER UNITED 4 (Rowley, Bogan, Mitten 2)

Jones; Parkes, Dorsett; Powell, Martin, Moss (F);
Craddock, Dixon, Howarth, Lowe (E), Goffin;

Crompton; Ball, Carey (capt); Warner, Lynn, Cockburn;
Delaney, Bogan, Rowley, Pearson, Mitten;

Referee:- R.N. Lloyd, Oswestry.                                     Attendance 47,483

Originally not much information on this game, although I remember Manchester United playing in blue shirts. They had a few changes from last season's cup winning team with Johnny Morris having gone to Derby to be replaced by Scotsman Tommy Bogan. Ball and Lynn were deputising for Aston and Chilton, probably due to injuries. As the score suggests they were still an outstanding side and had no problem taking the points from a poor Villa outfit.
There were some useful players for Villa including Welsh internationals Keith Jones in goal and wing half Ivor Powell. Con Martin was an Irish international centre half, previously with Leeds United and Eddie Lowe had played wing half for England.

The following details were retrieved from the Sports Argus. United went ahead in only 45 seconds when Jack Rowley headed in a right wing cross. Villa retaliated immediately and Howarth, deputising for the injured Trevor Ford, went close with a header neatly caught by Jack Crompton in the United goal. In the 13th minute, with the crowd applauding good play by the visitors, United went further ahead when a cross from Delaney was chested down by Rowley for Bogan to score with a fine shot from the edge of the area.

United went further ahead with a goal from left winger Charlie Mitten in the 32nd minute and the game was virtually all over by the half time interval with a lead of 3-0. However Villa did come back into the game somewhat during the second half and Lynn nearly put a cross from young Craddock into his own goal. From the resulting corner Dick Dorsett sent a trade mark piledriver wide of the goal. Eddie Lowe was prominent in the Villa front line and after pressure from the spectators young Miller Craddock, the lad from Hereford, was moved to centre forward where he forced Crompton to tip the ball over the bar.

Crompton made another fine save from a Dorsett free kick and Villa were unlucky not to score a consolation goal. However Charlie Mitten broke clear through the centre of the field and in attempting to round the goalkeeper was brought down by Keith Jones. He took the resulting penalty himself to complete the scoring in what proved to be a comfortable 4-0 victory for the visitors.

SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER, 1949
FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION THREE (SOUTH) AT FELLOWS PARK

WALSALL 1 (Morris) SOUTHEND UNITED 1 (Wakefield)
Lewis; Methley, Skidmore; Walters, Foulkes, Green;
Medd, Morris, Whitehouse, Devlin, Betts;

Hankey; Lindsay, Walton; Wallbanks, Sheard, French;
Jones, McAlinden, Wakefield, Morris, Tippett;
Referee:- W. Ling, Cambridge                                       Attendance 11,000

I started my quest to see all the teams in the Third Division South at the compact Fellows Park ground, which was virtually three sided due to the proximity of the laundry wall at the railway end of the ground. Walsall had a rather diminutive goalkeeper in Jack Lewis, who was a very good player and had a lot of work to do during the season. Left back was Bill Skidmore, a Yorkshireman, with a tremendous left foot shot for penalties and free kicks. Reg Foulkes was a commanding centre half and inside forward Johnny Devlin, from Scotland, was the main goalscorer.

The goalscorer for Southend in this match was Albert Wakefield, who I had previously seen playing for Leeds United. Jimmy McAlinden was an Irish inside forward who played for Portsmouth in the last cup final before the war and later for Stoke City before joining Southend. 

This report retrieved from the Sports Argus. Southend were well on top in the early stages and only good work by goalkeeper Jack Lewis and centre half Reg Foulkes kept them at bay. Walsall then had a good opportunity when Betts went away down the left and crossed to Whitehouse who drew the defence before slipping the ball to Devlin. Unfortunately he got no power in his shot and Hankey was able to turn the ball round the post with his outstretched leg.

Southend had more opportunities but wasted them with poor finishing until in the fortieth minute centre forward Wakefield gave them the lead. Wallbank started the move and a nice combination between Morris and McAlinden gave Wakefield the chance to give Southend an interval lead. The almost added another right on the whistle when a Tippet header was saved at full stretch by Lewis.

Walsall showed renewed vigour at the start of the second half and Hankey in the Southend goal was called upon to make two excellent saves from Medd and Whitehouse at the expense of corners. Eventually the home side's pressure paid off with a goal from inside forward Morris after sixty minutes. Both sides had opportunities but could not find the winner. McAlinden had the best effort for Southend with a shot from 25 yards.

Sadly a bad injury to the Walsall goalscorer Morris marred the later stages of the game. He fell heavily after a tackle just as he was about to shoot and was carried from the field on a stretcher with a suspected double fracture of the leg. Walsall managed to hold out for the draw with only ten men.

SATURDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 1949
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK BIRMINGHAM

ASTON VILLA 1 (Dixon) STOKE CITY 1 (Sellars)
Jones; Parkes, Dorsett; Powell, Martin, Moss (F);
Craddock, Gibson, Ford, Dixon, Goffin;

Herod; Watkin, McCue; Mountford (F), Franklin (capt), Sellars;
Mountford (G), Bowyer, Godwin, Johnston, Ormston;

Referee:- J. Houston, St Annes on Sea                                Attendance 40,000.

Dickie Dorsett, the Villa left back, had come from Wolves and was a powerful tackler and striker of the ball. Miller Craddock was a young fair haired winger and Colin Gibson had come from Newcastle and stayed for seven seasons. He played for the Football League XI but never quite made it as an international. Trevor Ford, was the bustling Welsh international centre forward and Johnny Dixon was to become one of Villa's regular goalscorers and would eventually captain them to a Cup Final victory.

Neil Franklin, the England centre half, was Stoke's big star and was soon to become embroiled in the Bogota scandal, when several leading players including team mate George Mountford and Charlie Mitten of Manchester United went to South America for huge wages in comparison with what was available in England.

Neil Franklin, Stoke City and England

From the Sports Argus report.

Stoke in their efforts to get away from the bottom of the table paid a record fee of £10,000 for Les Johnston, who incidentally in his wanderings has cost over £42,000 which makes him the costliest player in history. His previous clubs have been Clyde, Hibernian and Celtic.

There was more combination than usual in the Villa attack and one delightful spell of mid-field passing between Powell, Moss, Gibson and Dixon was cheered by the eager crowd but once again the attack came to nothing. There was an unusual moment, when following a long upfield pass from Goffin, Gibson headed towards the centre. Ford and Franklin chased the ball and so did goalkeeper Herod. Franklin held up Ford for Herod to field the ball and Ford charged the centre half.

The referee held up play until he had a chat with Ford and Franklin and then re-started play with a dropped ball almost on the edge of the penalty area. This was easily cleared but Dorsett in going up for the ball with George Mountford received a cut eye and the game was again held up while he received attention, but he quickly resumed. Almost twenty minutes had gone before we saw the first shot at goal. George Mountford, speedy as ever, cut across goal and sent a short pass almost to the feet of Johnstone. The new acquisition got in a first time drive which just skimmed the bar.

The game was warming up. First Ormston and Godwin broke away and Parkes back pass to Jones was just too close, forcing the Villa goalkeeper to run out and take a first time kick. From the thrown in Johnstone got in a delightful flick shot to the angle of the bar which Jones saved. Then came thrills in the Villa goalmouth. A free kick just outside the penalty area saw the ball tapped forward. Godwin ran on to it and fell over a Villa defender just as Jones dived at their feet. He was slightly injured but soon recovered and Powell cleared the resulting corner.

The big thrill of the match came in the 53rd minute when George Mountford got across a beautiful pass to the centre of the goal and just that tantalising distance from Jones. Wee Ormston  was waiting and headed downwards away from Jones towards the upright. Jones leapt sideways and with his left hand pushed the ball against the foot of the upright for it to be cleared. It was from this clearance that Villa scored in the very next minute.

The ball was sent hard up on the left and Ford took it on to get in rather backward centre. From almost on the penalty spot Dixon steadied the ball and sent it wide of Herod in the Stoke goal. Villa were now pressing all out. Franklin was lucky to see Herod get his foot to a short back pass from in front of Ford and then from a Goffin centre Herod managed to fist the ball away from Ford's head. Dorsett, despite the large patch over his eye, which gave him a Nelson look, was playing as dourly as ever and George Mountford was not getting much scope.  

Stoke were still defending with pluck and courage. Dixon drew Herod out of goal and Ford beat him for possession. Although Franklin, Watkins and McCue were covering the goal there was no keeper behind them. Ford, pivoting quickly, attempted to lob the ball over the defenders but but failed sending it well wide instead. The game went monotonously on with the Villa attack falling so short against the Stoke defence, the somewhat dreary nature of the game only broken by the occasional Stoke attack.

In the 84th minute Stoke forced a corner on the right.  George Mountford sent in a terrifically hard ball, rather wide of goal, but Sellars jumped up and headed it first time into the net. The ball was going at a terrific speed. Stoke were now full of fight, and from yet another raid Bowyer, with another terrific drive forced Jones to turn the ball round the post for another corner. This was cleared.  

    

SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER, 1949
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK WALSALL

WALSALL 1 (Devlin) PORT VALE 0
Lewis; Methley, Skidmore; Walters, Foulkes, Newman;
Medd, Heseltine, Whitehouse, Devlin, Betts;

King (R); Hamlett, Butler; McGarry, Cheadle, Todd;
Barber, Allen, King (G), Polk, Hulligan;

Referee:- B.M. Griffiths, Newport, Monmouthshire                 Attendance 9,000

Walsall collected two valuable points thanks to Johnny Devlin's goal. Port Vale included two little known players who were to become famous later in their careers. Bill McGarry gave valuable service to Huddersfield Town and Ronnie Allen had a marvellous career with West Bromwich Albion, both winning international honours with England.

Port Vale including two future England players Bill McGarry and Ronnie Allen

Report retrieved from the Sports Argus. 

Lewis, the home goalkeeper, was soon in action in this Staffordshire Derby match, but it was his team mate Whitehouse who went nearest early on with a shot which hit the corner of the Port Vale woodwork. Inside forward Polk looked the danger man for Vale and he too hit the post with a shot following good work by George King and Codd. The visitors continued to dominate but the way to goal was barred by some tough tackling from the Walsall defence who held out grimly.

Devlin and Betts looked dangerous for the home side and eventually Heseltine carved out a good opportunity for Devlin who managed to shoot yards wide. No score at half time. The Vale keeper made some good saves early in the second half but the visitors still looked the better side. A torrential shower made for greasy conditions and both sides had difficulty in controlling the ball. However it was still something of a surprise when Walsall went ahead in the 60th minute. Full back Skidmore put a high ball into the penalty area and Devlin rose above the defenders to head the ball over keeper King as he came out.

Vale were still very much in the game until the end but with Reg Foulkes outstanding in defence and Barber missing the best chance of an equaliser, The Saddlers held on to a hard won victory.

SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER, 1949
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM

ASTON VILLA 2 (Ford, Craddock) SUNDERLAND 0
Jones; Parkes, Dorsett; Powell, Martin, Moss (F);
Craddock, Gibson, Ford, Dixon, Smith (L);

Mapson; Stelling, Hudgell; Watson, Walsh, McLain;
Wright (T), Broadis, Davis, Shackleton, Reynolds;

Referee:- F.H. Gerrard, Preston                                         Attendance 40,000

Sunderland 1949-50

A good win for Villa against a strong Sunderland side, which just could not get it together. Ford, who was soon to join the visitors in a big money transfer deal, scored the first goal and the youngster Miller Craddock the second. Sunderland's two big name inside forwards, Ivor Broadis and Len Shackleton had little impact on the game. Willie Watson, the Yorkshire cricketer, gave his usual polished performance at wing half.

Trevor Ford in action for Villa at Fulham

Report retrieved from the Sports Argus. Villa welcomed back left winger Leslie Smith after a long lay off with a broken collar bone. Sunderland were without two regular half backs Fred Hall and Arthur Wright. Sunderland looked the better side in the early stages with their talented mid-field trio of Watson, Broadis and Shackleton working well together. So it was certainly well against the run of play that Villa took the lead after twenty minutes following a throw in on the left.

Moss threw the ball to Smith who returned it to him, the wing half crossed the ball for Gibson to flick it on with his head to Ford, who headed it into the net. However some spectators seemed to think that he pushed the ball home with his hand. Worse was to follow for Sunderland just four minutes later. Ford was put away down the right by a pass from Ivor Powell and crossed for the lively Craddock to head into the net. 

This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Sunderland who then fell back in defence, leaving the Villa half backs Powell and Moss time to press forward, as Villa began to take control thanks to their early good fortune. However it was too good to last and with only ten minutes to go to half time the young goalkeeper Keith Jones advancing to cut out a cross from Reynolds collided heavily with Dick Davis the Sunderland centre forward. The 21 year old goalkeeper had to leave the field with what appeared to be a broken right arm. Centre half Con Martin, who has played in goal for the Irish Republic, took over the goalkeeper's jersey, with Les Smith moving back into defence. Half-time 2-0.

It was learned that Jones had dislocated his right elbow and was taken to hospital for an X-ray. Martin had no pressure on him in the early stages of the second half as Sunderland did not seem capable of taking advantage of their one man advantage. The game deteriorated somewhat with few chances coming to either side. Dixon damaged his nose and had to carry the trainer's sponge for some time as Villa's attack came to a full stop with the ball just being belted downfield by their defenders. Sunderland were little better and their best opportunity of a goal came just before the end when Broadis with time to spare hit the ball wide. Sunderland slumped inexplicably.