SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST 1955
WALSALL F.C. PRACTICE MATCH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
REDS 2 (Tarrant 2 pens) BLUES 1 (Walsh) Attendance 6,398
Reds:- Chilvers; Guttridge, Vinall; Crook (capt), McPherson, Tarrant;
Morris, Dorman, Walsh, Love, McLaren;
Blues:- Davies; Haddington (capt), Watson; Dyas, Jones, Gallier;
Taylor, Davidson, Richards, Hill, Moore;
Referee:- H. Wootton, Walsall
Davidson from Alloa showed some clever ball control in the early stages. Walsh and McLaren, two other newcomers, also impressed although not trying too hard. After thirty seven minutes Watson punched a shot from Walsh over the bar. Tarrant mis-kicked the penalty, but Haddington had moved into the area. The kick was re-taken and this time Tarrant scored. Two minutes before half time Walsh was brought down and Tarrrant again scored from the spot. Half time 2-0.
Humphries replaced Richards for the second half and to confuse the spectators both forward lines swapped sides, except for Davidson and Love. Davidson and McLaren got in some nice moves together and both went near to scoring. After seventy two minutes, Walsh (now playing for the Blues) cut in from the left and scored with a nice shot. Beddow came on in the second half when Watson was injured.
Hopes are high at Fellows Park for the new season, after having to apply for re-election for the last four seasons, after the signing of almost a complete new team. The new signings are Davies, Haddington and Gallier, all from West Bromwich Albion, Dyas from non-league Hednesford (who looks very promising), Jones an amateur centre half from Shropshire, Walsh, the Irish international from Aston Villa, McLaren from Notts Forest and Sammy Moore from Wolves. Two other youngsters were given a chance, 17 year old full back Watson who impressed today, as did young winger Brian Taylor.
SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 0 LEYTON ORIENT 2 (Woosnam, Morgan) Attendance 18,706
Chilvers; Guttridge, Vinall; Crook (capt), McPherson, Gallier;
Morris, Dorman, Walsh, Davidson, McLaren;
Welton; Lee, Charlton; Blizzard, Aldous (capt), McKnight;
Groves, Woosnam, Rees, Morgan, Hartburn;
Referee:- A.W. Luty, Leeds.
Walsall's old failings soon became apparent and the 'new team' was a big disappointment to the large crowd which turned out for the start of the new season. Orient, however, played brilliant football with Vic Groves outstanding. Walsh wasted a good chance when clean through by delaying his shot and giving Lee time to race across and clear. Chilvers then threw the ball straight to the feet of McKnight, but Crook was able to head his shot for a corner. Hartburn's flag kick went across to the Welsh amateur internation Phil Woosnam
In the second half the interchanging of Groves and Woosnam had the Walsall defence bewildered and after Groves had turned the ball across goal, out of Chilvers hands, Rees pushed it to Morgan, a former Walsall player, who crashed it home.
The powerful Orient defence kept a firm grip on the Walsall forward line throughout the game and little was seen of the two new signings Walsh and McLaren, Gallier had a disappointing debut against a very fine right wing pair.
WEDNESDAY 24TH AUGUST, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 2 (Kevan 2) EVERTON 0
Sanders; Howe, Millard (capt); Dudley, Kennedy, Barlow;
Griffin, Carter, Kervan, Nicholls, Lee;
O'Neill; Moore, Tansey; Farrell (capt), Jones, Lello;
Wainwright, Fielding, Hickson, Lewis, Eglington;
Albion were without right back Stuart Williams and centre forward Ronnie Allen, both injured against Wolverhampton on Saturday. Everton also had two injured players missing in left back Donovan and their chief goal scorer inside left Parker. The Everton deputies both had limited experience of first team football, but Albion introduced two young players to League football, Donald Howe, aged 19 at full back and Derek Kevan the 20 year old centre forward who Vic Buckingham signed from his previous club Bradford Park Avenue.
In the first minute of the game Howe was in trouble with a poor pass back, Eglington, the Irish international, darted in and crossed the ball to Wainwright who lobbed it to Hickson, just to the right of goal. He drove hard to Sanders right, but the goalkeeper, continuing his fine display against Wolves, leapt to save. After this rather nerve racking start Howe settled down and continued to play the experienced Eglington out of the game.
Kennedy dominated the centre of the field, so despite all Everton's beautiful approach play, the defence was rarely extended. Kevan had a poor first half as could well have been foreseen with two inside forwards whose main attributes are goal scoring rather than being of any constructive value. Half time 0-0.
Seven minutes after the interval, following a corner on the right, Griffin and Lee provided an opening which left Kevan the easy task of beating O'Neil from six yards out. This goal seemed to shake Everton as their cool, systematic approach play of the first half vanished. Three minutes before the end Kevan pivoted just twenty yards out and coolly drove the ball into the net for this second goal to clinch a fairly easy victory for Albion.
THURSDAY 25TH AUGUST, 1955
BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
WALSALL RESERVES 0 BILSTON TOWN 1 (Swift)
Chilvers; Beddow, Watson; Dyas, Jones, Billingham;
Harrison, Shepherd, Gallier (capt), Peach, Taylor;
Harris; Price, Wright (capt); Foster, Wakeman, Pearson;
Smith, Swift, Kirkham, Crowther, Whittall;
As fifteen players had travelled 'down south' for the matches with Brighton and Torquay, Walsall fielded a very young side. Half way through the first half Bilston were awarded a penalty when Billingham handled the ball. Wright's kick hit Chilvers' leg and bounced clear. Shepherd hit the bar for Walsall, but Bilston's stronger and more experienced team were on top. Half time 0-0.
Swift eventually scored the winning goal from close range following a perfect through pass by 'Nodder' Kirkham'. Billingham was the pick of Walsall's rather youthful side.
MONDAY 29TH AUGUST 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT BLOOMFIELD ROAD, BLACKPOOL
BLACKPOOL 1 (Taylor) BURNLEY 1 (Pilkington)
Farm; Shimwell, Wright; Fenton, Gratrix, Kelly (capt);
McKenna, Taylor, Mortenson, Mudie, Perry;
McDonald; Rudman, Winton; Adamson (capt), Cummings, Shannon;
Gray, Stephenson, McIlroy, Cheeseborough, Pilkington;
This game was of a very poor standard. There were far too many aimless passes and ballooning of the ball seemed to be the only ambition of defenders. The strong, bustling Perry was Blackpool's best forward. Gratrix, deputising for Harry Johnston, played a strong game at centre half and Hugh Kelly was the best footballer on the field.
Mortenson seems to have lost most of his old skill,but still retains some of his speed and a fierce shot which worried the Burnley defence at times. For Burnley, whose strong point is defence, Shannon and Adamson played thoughtful and constructive football at times and the rest of the defence was solid, even if McDonald did occasionally panic by dropping the ball..
The forward line made up of small, tricky players, seemed to be experimenting with a deep playing centre forward (McIlroy). This was not successful, with the result that the Irish international had a poor game and was not able to show his obvious talent as much as he does at inside right.
Pilkington was just about the pick of the Burnley forwards. He scored Burnley's goal on the stroke of half time when left unmarked as the ball came across to him on the right. Ernie Taylor equalised for Blackpool five minutes from the end of an undistinguished match.
WEDNESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Jackson) NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 (Davies)
Sanders; Williams, Millard (capt); Dudley, Kennedy, Barlow;
Griffin, Nicholls, Kevan, Jackson, Lee;
Thompson; Lackenby, McMichael; Scoular (capt), Brennan, Casey;
Milburn, Davies, White, Hannah, Mitchelll;
Referee:- K.A. Collinge, Sale
Albion started on the attack, but it soon became apparent that the enthusiastic Kevan was no replacement for the brilliance of Allen who is still out injured. After twenty seven minutes Newcastle went ahead, with a goal reminiscent of Milburn's first minute effort in last season's cup final. This time Milburn floated over a corner from the right and Reg Davies, the Welshman, unmarked, go up to head the ball via the underside of the crossbar into the back of the net.
Newcastle continued to play some very attractive football, Hannah and Mitchell were often too elaborate, but both seemed to be able to beat a man at will. Mitchell several times broke through, but instead of having a shot, squared the ball across goal. Davies, although scoring, had a quiet game, Len White chased everything but didn't get far against the cool Kennedy. Milburn, tall, fast and elegant on the right , provided a direct contrast to the left wing pair.
Scoular had a very good game, moving into the open space like a true Hungarian, drawing his men and at the last possible moment, flicking the ball with the outside of his foot. Brennan, at centre half, played Kevan out of the game, with a true 'Rock of Gibraltar' display. McMichael used his left foot unceasingly and Casey had a quietly efficient game. Lackenby and Thompson, the two young reserves both had good games, particularly Thompson who made many good saves.
Davies missed a great chance of scoring again, he broke through and with only Sanders to beat, lobbed it weakly into the goalkeeper's hands. For the Albion 17 year old Alec Jackson was the pick of the forwards, making Lee run on to splendidly judged passes. His great moment came five minutes from time, pushing the ball to Lee, who crossed it, Casey pushed it away only as far as Griffin, who put it back into the middle for Jackson to flash onto and blast it into the net.
Just previously Frank Brennan ruffled the youngster's hair, when running at full speed he gathered a long centre from Nicholls and grazed the post with his shot. However, after Jackson's goal, White attempted to dribble round Sanders, well wide of goal, and the keeper pulled him down. While White received attention from the trainer a discussion ensued as Mitchell had missed the last two penalties for United. Hannah eventually took the kick only for Sanders to make a fine save holding the ball just to his left.
Nicholls, a regular goal scorer for Albion, seemed to be trying harder with the constructive side of his game, but he has a long way to go to reach the standard of the much missed Ronnie Allen, Nice touch at the end of the game when Frank Brennan waited at the tunnel to congratulate young Jackson.
SATURDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 4 (Swinbourne 3, Slater) HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0
Williams; Stuart, Shorthouse; Slater, Wright (capt), Clamp;
Hancocks, Broadvent, Swinbourne, Booth, Mullen;
Mills; Gibson, Conwell; McGarry (capt), Taylor, Quested;
Marriott, Watson, Glazzard, Cavanagh, Metcalfe;
Referee:- F.H. Gerrard, Preston
Wolves fresh from an amazing 9-1 win away at Cardiff last week, when both Swinbourne and Hancocks scored three goals, faced Huddersfield Town, whose manager Andy Beattie resigned last week.
In a remarkable start, Huddersfield nearly scored twice in the first minute, but then in the first Wolves attack Swinbourne scored after only ninety seconds. Stuart headed to Hancocks, who put it out to Booth and his through pass enabled Swinbourne to run in from the right wing to beat Mills from a narrow angle.
Little was seen of Hancocks who was followed all over the field by Conwell. Gibson did not look particularly safe but Yorkshire cricketer, Ken Taylor stuck to his hard task well. McGarry was the better of two fine wing halves and Marriott and Metcalfe were Town's most effective forwards. Williams made yet another miraculous save from a shot by Watson. Although unsighted until the last moment, the England goalkeeper threw himself sideways to save.
After Booth had been prominent in several Wolves attacks, Williams again dived to catch a good header from Jimmy Glazzard. At last with only two minutes to go Swinbourne completed his hat trick. Mullen put him through, he waltzed around Taylor and picked his spot. Then on the stroke of time ?Salter having the ball pushed back to him on the touchline, following a throw in, dribbled at half speed round two players before calmly placing the ball past Mills.
SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Nicholls) BURNLEY 0
Sanders; Williams, Millard (capt); Dudley, Kennedy, Barlow;
Griffin, Nicholls, Allen, Hodgkisson, Lee;
McDonald; Rudman, Winton; Adamson, Cummings, Shannon;
Gray, Burke, McKay, Cheeseborough, Pilkington;
Referee:- S.H. Rogers, Shrewsbury
At the last minute, Burnley's Irish international Jimmy McIlroy was unable to play and Burke was given his first chance in league football. Allen on his return to the Albion team after injury certainly livened up the attack, although the old, perfect understanding with Nicholls was not much in evidence. Hodgkisson, although a trifle slow, showed some nice touches and he started the move which led to the only goal of the game.
Kennedy once more dominated the centre, although his task was made easier when McKay, Burnley's small, but clever centre forward was injured. Burnley's two wingers were prominent, Gray often racing back to help the defence and Pilkington beating Stuart Williams on many occasions. As at Blackpool the Burnley attack lacked punch. Hodgkisson started the move which led to Albion's goal by passing to Allen who slipped a lovely pass for Nicholls to run onto and score
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