WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH, 1954 Kick off 3 p.m.
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM Attendance 10,000
ASTON VILLA 2 (Thompson, Dixon) SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (Woodhead)
Jones; Parkes, Aldis; Canning, Moss (F) (capt), Baxter;
Roberts (K.O.), Dixon, Walsh, Thompson, Lockhart;
McIntosh; Curtis (capt), Seemley; Gannon, Butler, Davies;
Marriott, Quixall, Shaw, Froggatt, Woodhead;
Referee:- Mr A. H. Blyth, London
Villa were without both Blanchflower and McParland who were playing for Ireland. Lockhart came in on the left wing and Canning was at right half. 18 year old K.O. Roberts played on the right wing. Right winger Alan Finney was missing for Wednesday with Jack Marriott in his place.
Play was fairly even for the opening minutes. Then after twelve minutes Thompson worked his way between the Sheffield defenders and hit the ball into the corner of the net to McIntosh's right. Villa seemed to come to life after that and Lockhart hit the bar with a fine shot. After twenty eight minutes however Wednesday drew level, as Woodhead raced through inside Parkes and scored with a fine right foot shot..
Villa had the majority of possession in the second half but could not turn their superiority into goals. Their shooting was not on target and when Thompson went off injured, there was a danger that the game could slip away. In defence however Frank Moss kept well on top of centre forward Shaw, and despite a few nice touches from young Albert Quixall, Wednesday's danger man Woodhead could not get the better of Parkes again.
Villa missed the midfield magic of Danny Blanchflower and the two wing halves struggled to make an impression. Wednesday's goalkeeper McIntosh made several good saves but the defenders in front of him seemed content just to boot the ball upfield rather than make constructive passes. A lack lustre game but two useful points for Villa.
WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH, 1954 Kick off 7.30 p.m.
SEMI-FINAL OF F.A. YOUTH CUP (1ST LEG) AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVES YOUTH 6 (Cooper 2, Mason, Bonson 2, Matthews o.g.) W.H.U. YOUTH 1 (Matthews)
Sidebottom; Griffiths, Haris; Bolton, Timmins (capt), Fallon;
Round, Mason, Bonson, Murray, Cooper;
Rhodes; Ling (capt), Wickers; Taylor, Swan, Vichion;
Lill, Mathews, Blackburn, Francis, Foreman;
Referee:- C.G. Edwards, Bromsgrove
It looked like an even match as West Ham had an equal share of attacks in the first ten minutes. Then Wolves suddenly hit them, scoring three goals in five minutes; Harris took a free kick, Bonson headed it to Cooper, who flicked it into the corner of the net. They scored again immediately, Cooper went down the middle and as tackled by two defenders, poked the ball in past the dismayed goalkeeper, who had to pick the ball out of the net again from Mason after three more minutes.
After this brilliant spell, West Ham got into their stride and inside right Matthews scored after Sidebottom had made a brilliant save. Bonson had many vigorous tussles with centre half Swan, but was unable to get past him during the first half. Half-time 3-1.
Wolves were really on top during the second half as Timmins and Harris stopped the two main dangermen, Blackburn and Lill. Round was outstanding in a brilliant Wolves forward line, with many sparkling runs. Bonson scored with a terrific shot following a long ball from Harris. The centre forward got another and then Matthews unluckily deflected a Wolves shot into the roof of his own net. The referee also disallowed a goal for Wolves in each half for obscure offences. Swan was a very vigorous centre half in the same mould as Walker and Allison in the West Ham first team.
As Manchester United beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 in the first leg of their semi-final, it looks like a repetition of last year's youth cup final. Wolves v Manchester United again will be a mouth watering prospect.
The following Saturday 3rd April, 1954 was an eventful day in the soccer calender, with Scotland playing England in front of a crowd of 134,640 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. This was the final game in the Home International Tournament, with England having already beaten Wales and Ireland despite their 6-3 thrashing by Hungary.
Change was in the air and England introduced four new caps in Ron Staniforth (Huddersfield Town) at right back. Roger Byrne (Manchester United) at left back, Harry Clarke (Spurs) at centre half and finally the West Bromwich Albion goal poacher Johnny Nicholls at inside left. England won 4-2 with three of the goals coming from Ronnie Allen and Johnny Nicholls (both of West Brom) and Jimmy Mullen of Wolves.
This was significant because the two Black Country teams, who were fighting for the Division One title, were playing each other that same afternoon at the Hawthorns in front of a capacity crowd of 55,000. Billy Wright, the England captain, was also missing from the Wolves line up. So two much weakened sides came out at the Hawthorns in a game which could decide the league title.
I was not in attendance as I too was involved in a big match trying to establish myself in the local youth club side in the Walsall Minor League as a 17 year old speedy left winger! However here are the teams which saw Wolves take a major step towards the title by doing the double over their Black Country rivals.
SATURDAY 3RD APRIL, 1954
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH Attendance 55,000
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 (Swinbourne)
Sanders; Williams, Millard (capt); Dudley, Dugdale, Kennedy;
Cox, Ryan, Barlow, Carter, Cutler;
Williams; Stuart, Pritchard; Slater, Shorthouse, Flowers;
Smith, Broadbent, Swinbourne, Wilshaw, Hancocks;
Only a week after Albion's rather fortunate cup semi-final victory over Port Vale, they were still chasing the elusive cup and league double and faced their local rivals Wolves in this crucial match without their two ace goalscorers Ronnie Allen and Johnny Nicholls. They moved wing half Ray Barlow to centre forward in place of Allen but this did not work. It is perhaps fair to say Albion missed their two England players more than Wolves missed Wright and Mullen, and they were also missing Rickaby and Griffin due to injuries.
Roy Swinbourne scored the only goal of the game in the 58th minute and it feels very much as if Albion might have to concentrate their efforts on the F.A. Cup.
WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL, 1954
STAFFORDSHIRE SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINAL AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA RESERVES 2 (Slatter, Lynn pen.) WOLVES RESERVES 1 (Stockin) K.O. 3 p.m.
Parsons; Lynn, Ashfield; Canning, Martin, Moss (A);
Slatter, Tyrell, Pace, Follon, Lockhart;
Sims; Gibbons, Pritchard; Neal, Guttridge, Crook (capt);
McDonald, Deeley, Short, Walmsley, Stockin;
Wolves included two new signings, McDonald, Scotland B winger from Hibs and inside left Tom Walmsley. Villa did all the early attacking and Lockhart and Pace were soon prominent; Pace getting in several good headers. Wolves attacks were slowed down by full back Jack Short playing at centre forward but goalkeeper Sims dealt confidently with all Villa's efforts.
Walmsley was kicked on the head and changed places with former Walsall man, Ron Stockin. Soon after this, with half an hour gone, Villa took the lead after a good run by Derek Pace, when Slatter ran in from the right wing to score. Ten minutes later Pace was brought down by Ron Guttridge just inside the area and Stan Lynn crashed the ball home from the spot. Half-time 2-0.
Wolves came more into the picture after the interval and ten minutes after the break, Deeley ran through on the right, his shot was kicked off the line by Lynn, but Stockin netted from the rebound. Parsons, the Villa keeper gave a very confident display against his old team mates and Ashfield the young left back from Stockport looks a good prospect. Derek Pace at centre forward, despite his lack of height, proved a very enthusiastic leader of the attack and is very good in the air.
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