Hopes were high for the new season particularly for Wolves and West Bromwich Albion. Birmingham City were expected to be among the front runners in Division Two after their near miss last time. Walsall surely could do no worse after finishing last, but being re-elected to the Third Division.
My first football of the new season was back in Yorkshire on holiday with my grandparents in Leeds for the last week of the school holidays.
WEDNESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER, 1952
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS
LEEDS UNITED 2 (Iggleden, Langley) BURY 0
Scott; Dunn, Hair; Kerfoot, Charles, Burden (capt);
Williams, McCall, Fidler, Iggleden, Langley;
Kirk; Griffiths, Massey; Greenhalgh, Head (capt), Bardsley;
Fletcher, J.A. Walton, Plant, Gordon, Hays;
A comfortable home win in the end for United with something of an experimental forward line, with Frank Fidler at centre forward and utility man and long throw expert Jim Langley on the left wing.
Bury's lively forwards foundered on the rock of John Charles, who was immaculate at centre half, the diminutive Plant was no match for him in the air. The former Hull City player, Jimmy Greenhalgh, worked hard at wing half for Bury, but Leeds' goalkeeper Scott was rarely troubled and goals from the left wing pair of Iggleden and Langley enabled United to take the points fairly comfortably
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER, 1952
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT LEEDS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 6 (Metcalfe 2, Glazzard 2, Davie, Quested) BARNSLEY 0
Referee:- Mr G. Black, Kendal
Wheeler; Staniforth, Kelly; McGarry, McEvoy, Quested;
Gunn, Watson, Glazzard, Davie, Metcalfe;
Hough; Yeull, Hudson, Ward, McNeil, Normanton;
Lumley, McMorran, Taylor, Wood, Kelly;
Huddersfield who had finally been relegated at the end of last season after several close escapes, introduced two new players to help them in the fight for immediate promotion. These were right back Ron Staniforth from Stockport and inside right Jimmy Watson, a Scottish international from Motherwell. Barnsley also had their share of internationals in Englishman Tim Ward, from Derby County, Irishman Eddie McMorran and Scotsman Jimmy Kelly. They also had a very promising centre forward in young Tommy Taylor.
Huddersfield swept into the attack from the start and well prompted by little Willie Davie at inside left, they bombarded the Barnsley goal. Glazzard missed two good chances and then Gunn, with only the goalkeeper to beat, hit Metcalfe's centre straight at Hough from close range. All this in the first five minutes! Barnsley's first scoring effort came from Wood who suddenly unleashed a really tremendous shot from over twenty yards range, but Wheeler saved.
The home side eventually took the lead after twenty three minutes and surprisingly enough it was the right winger Gunn, who had hitherto done little right, who supplied the pass for Glazzard to push the ball past the goalkeeper as he advanced. It was all Huddersfield now, McGarry grazed the post, Watson headed just wide and then after thirty two minutes they scored a second goal. This time it was left winger Vic Metcalfe who cut inside and completely deceived Hough with a surprise shot from just outside the penalty area. The Barnsley defence underwent constant pressure right up to the interval.
Half time 2-0.
More was seen of the Barnsley forward line during the early stages of the second half, but Wheeler was rarely troubled due to the immaculate play of the backs and half backs in front of him. The newcomer Staniforth made a particularly good impression. Davie was proving the mainspring of the Huddersfield attack, and in one brilliant run he beat man after man, before unluckily flicking the ball wide of both goalkeeper and goal. It was an inspired performance by Davie particularly against such an opponent as the legendary 'Skinner' Normanton.
More goals had to come and after sixty two minutes Davie headed home from a Metcalfe centre. Five minutes later another Metcalfe pass lead to Quested scoring his first goal for the club, his shot was so hard that the goal net had to be repaired. Metcalfe crowned a great display be scoring from a penalty awarded for a foul on Davie and Glazzard made it six five minutes from time.
This display suggests that Huddersfield should be firm favourites for a speedy return to the First Division. The team appeared to have only one weakness - at outside right.
SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER, 1952
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT ST ANDREWS, BIRMINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM CITY 3 (Rowley, Murphy, Briggs) LEICESTER CITY 1 (Rowley)
Merrick; Green, Martin; Boyd, Ferris, Warhurst;
Cox, Murphy, Briggs, Rowley (K), Purdon;
Anderson; Lever, Milburn; Baldwin, Gillies, King;
Griffiths, Worthington, Hines, Rowley (A), Dryburgh;
Referee:- A.S. Murdoch, Sheffield.
A fairly easy win for the Blues with a much changed forward line, which seemed to click with three well worked goals from Ken Rowley, the former Wolves player, and consistent goalscorers Peter Murphy and Tommy Briggs.
The consolation goal for Leicester was scored by Arthur Rowley, no relation, who is one of the most consistent goalscorers in the league.
THURSDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER, 1952 Kick off 5.50 p.m.
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Dean) QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 (Cameron) 7,023
Lewis; Rowe, Walters; Dean, Green, Millington;
Morris, Duggins, Bridgett, Driver, Edwards;
Brown; Poppitt, Ingham; Nicholas, Powell (M), Farrow (capt);
Muir, Gilberg, Tomkys, Cameron, Shepherd;
Referee:- Mr F. Cowen, Manchester
The Saddlers have had a very difficult start to their season and are already firmly entrenched at the bottom of the league. The first point came last Saturday with a 1-1 away draw at Coventry City who were relegated from the Second Division last season.
Today they welcomed the other team to be relegated Queens Park Rangers and
managed to gain another point from a rather lack lustre game.
The home side fought hard against a strong Rangers side, captained by George Farrow, the former Blackpool wing half, and including former Leeds United full back Tony
Ingham. Local boy George Dean was outstanding for Walsall and he scored the one vital goal after inside forward Cameron had put the visitors ahead.
On Wednesday 24th September Nat Lofthouse of Bolton Wanderers created a record for representative football by scoring six goal for the Football League against the League of Ireland.
On the same night another English centre forward, Jack Rowley of Manchester United had an inspired second half in the FA Charity Shield game against Newcastle. He scored two goals himself then created two others in a 4-2 victory, before having his ear badly torn and having to go off. He returned for the last five minutes with his ear heavily plastered.
SATURDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER, 1952
CENTRAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONS V THE REST OF THE CENTRAL LEAGUE
WOLVES RESERVES 2 (Whitfield 2) THE REST 1 (Hobson)
Sims; Guttridge, Gibbons; W.J. Slater, Flowers, Clamp;
Booth, Walker (capt), Whitfield, Stockin, Clews;
Crossley (Liverpool); Moran (Liverpool), Vinall (Aston Villa - capt); Canning (Aston Villa), Williams (S) (W.B.A.), Phoenix (Manchester City);
Hobson (Blackpool), Vickers (Leeds Utd), Lewis (Everton), Cummins (Everton, Anders (Preston North End);
Referee:- Mr E.T. Jenkins, Manchester
Before the game the President of the Central League Mr. H.P. Hardman, who is also chairman of Manchester United, presented the Central League trophy to Bill Baxter the Wolves skipper who was unable to play because of injury. There was one late change in the Rest side as Mark Jones of Manchester United was required for first team duty and Stuart Williams of West Bromwich Albion took his place.
In the very first minute of the game a faulty back pass by Wolves acting captain Walker gave Stanley Mathews deputy Hobson an easy goal from close range. Walker tried to make up for his mistake and after a great dribble only a brilliant save by Crossley prevented a goal.
In the nineteenth minute Whitfield equalised with a first time shot from a centre by Booth. The centre forward nearly scored again following a corner taken by Clews but Crossley again made a great save. Then Flowers cleared an effort from Vickers off the goal line. There was some good wing half play on both side, Phoenix and Slater being particularly impressive.
Five minutes before half time Slater beat two men almost on the proverbial sixpence before pushing a beautiful ball through to Walker, Crossley could only push out his shot to Whitfield who had only to tap the ball into the net. Half time 2-1.
After Wolves had forced three early corners the Rest went downfield and bombarded the Wolves goal. Hobson hit the post, a Cummins shot from thirty yeards was tipped over the bar by Sims then the same player his the corner of cross bar and upright with another grand shot. However that was the closest they could get to scoring.
Crossley, Williams, Phoenix and Lewis were the outstanding members of the Rest side, which put up a very good performance considering they had not played together before. Wolves proved theselves worty champions and for them Slater, the amateur international, Fowers and Guttridge were the pick of a very fine team.
The following article appeared in the match programme.
Also on September 27th Blackpool beat Charlton Athletic 8-4. Scotsman Alan Brown scored three and Stanley Matthews scored his fourth goal of the season. In the second division Everton beat Doncaster 7-0 with Irish winger Tommy Eglington scoring five.
On Wednesday night 1st October, Cliff Bastin pre-war Arsenal and England winger, made a come back to play in a benefit match at Exeter for full back Cyril Johnstone. On the same night Walsall had a rare away win at Swindon 2-1 with goals from Bridgett and Duggins.
Saturday 4th October Ireland 2 England 2, with Lofthouse scoring in the first minute and Elliott equalising five minutes from the end. Another big money transfer as Johnny Morris, once of Mancheste United, leaves Derby for Leicester City.
SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER, 1952
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVES 6 (Swinbourne 3, Wilshaw 2, Mullen) MANCHESTER UTD 2 (Rowley 2)
Williams; Short, Pritchard; Flowers, Shorthouse, W.J. Slater;
Smith, Broadbent, Swinbourne, Wilshaw, Mullen;
Allen; McNulty, Aston; Carey (capt), Chilton, Gibson;
Berry, Downie, Rowley, Pearson, Scott;
Referee:- Mr. B.J. Flanagan, Sheffield
Wolves were without their skipper Billy Wright, playing for England and also Billy Crook who was injured. Their places at wing half were taken by amateur international Bill Slater and Ron Flowers who played his first match a fortnight ago against Blackpool. Manchester United introduced a 17 year old Irish winger in John Scott.
All the early attacking was done by Wolves, all five forwards looked to be in splendid form and Leslie Smith justified his selection in place of Hancocks. Allen made a brilliant one handed save from Wilshaw and then after a Swinbourne header had hit the post, Carey nipped in smartly to turn the ball for a corner.
In the league champions' first attacks Berry was the danger man. The first goal however came after a free kick taken by the young left winger, Scott. It was obtained in rather strange circumstances as Williams, endevouring to stop a back pass from going for a corner, took the ball out of the penalty area. Scott placed his kick perfectly for Rowley to swing his lethal left foot and crash the ball past a crowd of players into the net. A minute later a similar pass from Scott found Rowley again and United were two up after only twenty minutes play.
Five minutes later Wolves reduced the lead. Smith's persistance enabled hime to get the ball into the middle for a second time after his first effort had been blocked. Allen could only push it up in the air and Wilshaw leaped high to head in from just under the bar. After a prolonged attack Wolves equalised five minutes before half time, Wilshaw taking the ball to the bye-line before pulling it back for Swinbourne to score with a first time shot. Half time 2-2.
With thirty seconds of the restart a move in which every Wolves forward had a part ended in Mullen putting them ahead. Smith robbed Aston, passed to Swinbourne, on to Wilshaw, then Broadbent, finally to Mullen who cut in at speed to beat Allen with a typically fierce cross shot. Another brilliant move seven minutes later ended with Wolves scoring their fourth goal. Swinbourne, who was always in the action, put Broadbent away down the right wing, he beat Aston with ease, sent in a centre which evaded Allen's hands and there was Wilshaw to head it confidentally down into the net.
This made it 4-2 to Wolves and United were really panicking in defence. Just two minutes later Swinbourne made it 5-2 with one of the best goals seen on the ground for many years. From quite a distance outside the penalty area, about thirty five yards from goal, when it looked as through he would swing across a high centre, the centre foward suddenly let fly with a tremendous shot which flew into the net before Allen and most of the crowd saw it! An amazing goal.
Although it was the Wolves forward line that was doing the damage the crowd were quick to applaud young Flowers for using the ball well and playing with superb confidence so that the absence of Billy Wright was hardly noticed. The excitement was far from over and six minutes from the end Wolves suffered a double casualty which brought the trainer racing on to the field. Smith waltzed round Aston yet again and pushed the ball back to Broadbent. The inside right's powerful shot then hit
Swinbourne full in the face and he went down like a log. As the ball dropped near the far post Wilshaw raced in to head it into the net and collided with the goalpost. The referee however gave him offside. Both players were able to continue after treatment.
Two minutes from the end and a bad pass by Carey (the Wolves brilliant attack was even shaking the calm Irishman) enabled Slater to put Mullen away down the left and from the winger's centre
Swinbourne headed Wolves sixth goal and completed a well deserved hat trick. An amazing match which brought thunderous applause from the crowd as the players left the field.
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