SATURDAY 26TH OCTOBER 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Dews, McLaren) GILLINGHAM 1 (Morgan) Attendance 11,469
Chilvers; Haddington, Vinall; Dorman (capt), McPherson, Billingham;
Morris, Dews, Richards, Love, McLaren;
Rigg; Parry, West; Boswell (capt), Niblett, Riggs;
Crossan, Baxter, Sowden, Morgan, Millar;
Referee:- Mr A. Holland, Barnsley
Walsall gave young Peter Billingham, who signed professional on his 17th birthday last week, his first league game at the last minute, as Billy Crook went down with influenza.
After only five minutes Walsall went behind. Crossan, with a tremendous burst of speed, raced past Vinall, cut in and crossed to Morgan, who swept it into the net. Billingham soon found McLaren with a nicely judged pass, but from the centre Morris' header was cleared. Then after thirteen minutes, Walsall were unlucky not to score. Richards breasted it down to Dews, who ran on and pushed it back to Richards whose shot hit a post, rolled along the goal and struck the other post before rebounding into the keeper's hands.
Three minutes later, however, Walsall were level. Richards forced a corner on the right, McLaren pushed the ball to Dews who stuck out his right foot at about waist height and pushed into the net. Then McLaren got in a sparkling run which ended with a shot just over the bar. /Riggs was troubling the Walsall defence with some tremendous long throws and Gillingham were playing the better football, but Sowden's clever ball play wasn't getting anywhere. Walsall's players, particularly Love and McPherson, seemed to have difficulty in keeping their feet on the slightly damp turf. Half time 1-1.
After an early period of Gillingham pressure, which Walsall's defence dealt with safely, the 'Saddlers' really got on top. Richards drove inches wide, McLaren broke through again but his centre was blocked. Then in a Gillingham break away Crossan's low centre luckily struck Chilvers.
Dews got in a good header from Morris' corner but Rigg saved. Then after sixty minutes Morris though considerably hampered by defenders managed to cross the ball for McLaren to dash in and crash the winner home. Walsall continued to press until the end, but Morris shot poorly on two occasions when further goals looked likely. Nevertheless a valuable two points for the home side who are still in a parlous position , next to bottom.
Notes from today's programme
From the supporters club - we are sure all our members will agree with the decision taken this week to postpone for the time being the erection of a new half time score board and to utilise the money for the purchase of new players.
Your directors have come to an arrangement with Tony Richards' employers for him to e released one day each week for full time coaching and training.
Aldridge Town Band, which entertains us at the interval, would like volunteers to help carry round the collecting sheet. Please report under the stand.
As was often the case footballers subject to National Service always seemed to be posted close to home. Hence, Brian Taylor has been posted to R.A.F. Hednesford and we are hoping that he will be available to assist us several times this season.
SATURDAY 5TH NOVEMBER, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (McPherson pen.) READING 0 Attendance 11, 261
Davies; Haddington, Vinall; Dorman (capt), McPherson, Billingham;
Morris, Davidson, Walsh, Love, Moore;
Jones; Mansell, Smith (capt); Penford, Davies, Anderton;
Long, Hinshelwood, Cross, Dickson, Quinlan;
Referee:- L. Callaghan, Merthyr Tydfil
As Gordon Chilvers is being called up for National Service next Wednesday, Reg Davies, the former West
Bromwich Albion player was brought into goal. Seventeen year old Billingham was given his second league game as Crook was again injured. Davidson and Walsh came in for Dews and Richards (both injured) and Sammy Moore continued to deputise for McLaren. So it was a much changed forward line from the last home match.
Reading, or the Biscuitmen as they are known, soon started some smooth attacking movements and forced two early corners. Moore got in a good shot just under the bar for Walsall but Jones saved with ease. Then Dixon got in a strong drive for the visitors which Davies dived full length to save, not forgetting to give it a touch of showmanship by twisting his body in mid air.
Moore, who was leading all Walsall's early attacks, worked his way into the penalty area and was was tripped by Barry Mansell. He stumbled, recovered and then, as if he realised he was inside the penalty area, the little wingman fell flat and with no hesitation, the smiling, young referee pointed to the penalty spot.
McPherson, not the usual penalty taker, drove the ball at tremendous pace into the net, for it to rebound from the iron support. Judging from the half hearted cheer, many people did not realise it was a goal until Reading kicked off again. Love then missed a very good chance provided by Walsh, when he shot well wide from close range. Walsh broke away on the right and got in a terrific shot which was blocked by the Reading centre half. Walsall had a shock just before half time when Quinlan's centre beat Davies and Hinshelwood shot for goal. Luckily Albert Vinall appeared on the line to boot it clear. Half time 1-0.
After only three minutes of the second half Vinall repeated his performance by kicking a shot from Long off the goal line. Walsh seemed to be shaken out of his usual apparently leisurely stride by Davis's vigorous attentions. Morris also came into the game but Moore, Walsall's best forward in the first half, saw little of the ball during the second, although he did miss two good chances from close range late in the game.
Vinall once again came to Walsall's aid when he headed from under the bar a lob from Anderton which had deceived Davies. Then Billingham, who inexperience could have proved expensive in the is game, got in a grand shot from the edge of the are, which Jones pulled down from under the bar. It was nearly all Reading
however and Hinshelwood brilliantly raced past two men, place his shot carefully past the advancing Davies, only for it to hit the post and be scrambled away by our old friend Albert Vinall yet again.
Shortly after this Walsh, as he was tackled, flicked the ball against the bar for it to hacked away from the goalmouth. Near the end Reading, who were superior throughout the game, seemed to despair and Walsall piled on the pressure and were unlucky not to add to their single goal.
Davies may find that McBride, recently returned from the services, will make a strong challenge for the goalkeeper's position. Haddington, once he decided to get in first time, had a very good game. Dorman, as usual, worked hard but seemed to despair at the inefficiency of Davidson, who still plays at the slower pace of Scottish B Division football. McPherson had his usual grand game, but one felt sorry for young Billingham, who although showing several nice touches, was obviously too inexperienced. Dyas, or even Hall, would probably prove a more capable deputy for the injured Crook. Love worked hard as usual but Walsh is a problem, perhaps try him alongside Richards when he is fit again.
Notes from today's programme
It is no secret that our directors are in the market for a new forward who plays for a club set in more delectable surroundings than our own. It is no secret that terms were agreed and even the matter of accrued benefit was settled. But the player's wife did not want to leave her delectable surroundings - so no transfer!
We have received a directive from the Football League that all Division three clubs must charge a minimum of £2-6s-0d ( £2.30 today) for ground season tickets. As Division one and two clubs need only charge £2-2s-0d ( £2.10 today) the position seems unfair and we are hopeful we can get agreement to remain at our present figure of £2. (The differential was presumably because the higher divisions had only 21 home matches whereas the third division had 23).
SATURDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2 (Mullen, Shorthouse) CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0
Williams; Stuart, Shorthouse; Slater, Wright (capt), Clamp;
Hancocks, Broadbent, Murray, Wilshaw, Mullen;
Bartram; Campbell, Townsend; Hewie, Ufton (capt), Hammond;
Hurst, Ryan, Leary, White, Kiernan;
Wolves, unusually just below half way in the league table, retained the same team which defeated Moscow Dynamo 2-0 on Wednesday night in yet another television spectacular, with Murray continuing at centre forward as leading scorer Swinbourne was injured in the surprise 5-1 defeat at Luton last Saturday. Third placed Charlton, who have scored fifteen goals in the last three games, retained 'Buck' Ryan, scorer of four goals against Manchester City last week, although Jimmy Gauld, their summer signing from Waterford, who has scored quite a few goals himself this season, is now fit again.
Early on Charlton, with some clever approach play, came near on several occasions. The best chance fell to Ryan, when Leary beat Wright in the air and nodded the ball through. Ryan raced on, but with only Williams to beat, shot a yard outside the post. Both sides got in promising moves but near goal the forwards wilted.
Billy Wright was playing his usual brilliant game, often moving out to the wings to stop breakaways. Wolves again had a very narrow escape when Williams could only push out a shot from Leary to Ryan's feet in front of goal. Ryan fumbled the chance and in the scramble which ensued Slater managed to clear.
After forty two minutes Shorthouse took a free kick near half way into the centre where Wilshaw pushed it out to Mullen, who let fly with his usually unused right foot, the ball sailing into the net off the far post. Half time 1-0.
Wolves started the second half with a series of corner kicks, none of which caused any danger.Charlton broke away and Ryan sent Hurst streaking down the right wing past Shorthouse. The balding wingman shot on the run, but Williams went down to smother it. Broadbent was having a very good game for Wolves. Murray, who was also doing quite well, especially in nodding the ball down to his inside forwards, grazed the bar with a header from Hancocks' corner exactly as he had done on Wednesday night.
Charlton's forwards continued to play neat, constructive football helped by several very long, accurate passes from the South African Hewie. Campbell, who was having a wretched game at full back, several times conceeded corners with attempted back passes from close range. From one of these Broadbent got in a strong shot going for the corner of the net, but veteran keeper Sam Bartram thrust out his left arm and pushed it away.
Wolves second goal came when Eddie Clamp back-heeled to Shorthouse, who advanced upfield with the defence falling back expecting a pass, the full back suddenly let fly and beat Bartram from outside the area for a very rare goal indeed. Campbell after being beaten by Mullen, landed up on his knees, but then dived full length to scoop the ball from the winger's foot with his hand. The resulting fee kick came to nothing, but Wolves had done enough to win with ease and ended Charlton's recent successful run.
SATURDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT HIGHFIELD ROAD, COVENTRY
COVENTRY CITY 1 (Collingdridge) WALSALL 0 Attendance 17,618
Matthews; Austin, Timmins; Jamieson, Kirk, Simpson (capt);
Moore, Uphill, Collindgridge, Sambrook, Hill (J);
Davies; Haddington, Gallier; Dyas, McPherson, Crook (capt);
Morris, Taylor (D), Walsh, McLaren, Moore;
Referee:- W. Hickson, Wigan
As a result of their defeat by Exeter at home in the cup last week Coventry brought in Ian Jamieson at right half in place of 'Lol' Harvey and Jimmy Hill on the wing in place of Eric Johnson. Walsall were without several regulars, as Vinall, Dorman and Richards were all injured in Thursday's cup replay with Margate which they won 6-1, with Dave Walsh scoring a hat trick. Doug Taylor a centre forward signed from Wolves made his debut today at inside right.
Coventry piled on the pressure straight away and their clever approach play had Walsall defending desperately. Coventry should have scored when Moore slipped the ball inside but Davies' outstretched foot blocked Collindridge's short range shot. Then Crook had an excellent chance for Walsall as the ball came out to him on the edge of the are, he hit a hard shot towards the top corner, well out of Matthews' reach, but it just grazed the bar and went over. Morris was put through with a glorious chance and placed his shot well wide of Matthews, but the agile goalkeeper, now in the England squad, dived full length to his right.
It seems strange that both Collindridge and Timmins, the best defender on the field, are both on Coventry's open to transfer list. Hill who was having a poor game, crashed the ball onto the roof of the stand from close range! Then came Walsall's best chance when Haddington from just past the half way line, trapped a clearance, shook off the attentions of Hill and raced through into the Coventry penalty area before pushing a glorious pass to Walsh, whose hard rising shop was pushed over the bar by Matthews
.
Then Uphill, the former Spurs man, worked his way through but Davies made a splendid save, diving to his right and catching the ball in mid air. A poor pass back by Austin resulted in a race for the ball between Sammy Moore and Matthews. The goalkeeper threw himself at the forward's feet and had to have attention for a cut forehead. A little feeling crept into the game and Uphill charged Davies heavily, getting a warning from the goalkeeper as well as from the referee. Half time 0-0.
After Matthews had again saved well, pushing a shot from McLaren round the post, the referee warned first Gallier for going into the tackle wildly and the Kirk, the former Leeds United player. McPherson, as usual, was the bulwark of Walsall's hard pressed defence. After twenty minutes of the second half Billy Crook's suspect leg 'went' again and he had to be carried off. Morris moved to right half and Dyas to left half but before the ten men could re-group Coventry immediately went ahead.
Collindridge received a short pass from Jamieson and scored from close range. Walsall protested vigorously as the linesman, now walking back to the centre line, appeared to have raised his flag for offside. After much argument the referee was persuaded to consult the linesman, but the goal stood. Walsall seemed to go to pieces after this incident and Davies was again called upon to make several fine saves. Coventry had several good chances of going further ahead, but spoilt them all by wretched shooting.
Around this time I received my call up papers for National Service and was told to report to RAF Cardington in Bedfordshire to undergo medical tests and be kitted out etc. exactly a week before Christmas! Earlier in the year the England Test cricketer Colin Cowdrey had attended the same RAF camp before being discharged due to a congenital case of flat feet. This did not seem to affect his cricketing performances as he immediately made a string of big scores. Questions were asked in parliament as to whether strings had been pulled by people in high places. However I felt there was little likelihood of me getting out of it in the same way!
I thought this next game could be my last for some time, but I did get three days leave for Christmas and managed two more.
SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER 1955
F.A. CUP SECOND ROUND AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Morris, Moore) SOUTHAMPTON 1 (Flood) Attendance 17,021
Davies; Haddington, Gallier; Dorman (capt), McPherson, Dyas;
Morris, Taylor (D), Richards, Love, Moore;
Kiernan; Wilkins (capt), Traynor; McGowan, Parker, Elliott;
Flood, Reeves, Day, Mulgrew, Hoskins;
Referee:- E.R. Hill, Chester
Walsall, who made one change Moore replacing McLaren, wore blue shirts with shite sleeves. Southampton, who were unchanged, wore white shirts with black collars. After a long spell in the Second Division the Saints were relegated to the Third Division South in 1953-54.
The visitors came out early for a ten minute warm up , but it did them no good at all for when Don Dorman won the toss and chose to kick down the slope and down wind as well, Walsall started off by scoring to goals in the first three minutes!!
The first came after only fifty five seconds when Moore put a high centre across for Taylor to head against the post, it bounced up in the air and Morris, racing in at full speed, headed it into the net. Then two minutes later Moore forced a corner kick on the left, taking it with his right foot the ball was swung in by the wind and completely deceived Kiernan in the Southampton goal. He made a last minute frantic dive all in vain. 2-0 and the crowd couldn't believe it.
This second goal evoked memories of George Meek's direct from a corner in the cup against Shrewsbury last year. Soon afterwards McPherson repulsed the Sainsts' first attack and Love shot inches wide from a good position. Soon afterwards a Morris centre found Love unmarked but the inside left shot too high from ten yards out. Then Eric Day raced through, Davies threw himself on the ball, both players fell to the ground and the ball ran lose. Luckily McPherson was on hand to kick clear.
After twenty three minutes the Saddlers' defence got in a tangle, the ball being kicked around wildly in the penalty area, eventually Hoskins' cross was deflected to Flood, who shot into the corner of the net with Davies unsighted by the crowd of players. 2-1.
Then Walsall swept upfield, Taylor turned the ball inside to Dorman, who ran on and sent a terrific shot against the far post. After thirty five minutes Hoskins, the Southampton outside left, went off injured. As he returned two minutes later, the left back Traynor was being carried off after colliding with Dorman. He too returned five minutes later. Southampton attacked fiercely and Davies did well to block a point blank shot from Mulgrew with his body. Half time 2-1.
Straight from the kick off Morris broke through the Southampton defence, his final pass started a terrific scramble on the goal line with centre half Parker kicking the ball against his own cross bar. Haddington and McPherson were outstanding in defence for Walsall. Dorman, who was feeding Morris well, slipped a beautiful pass out to him and Fred sent over a high centre, another fierce scramble ensued with the ball being kicked off the line twice. This was followed by an appeal for a penalty when Tony Richards was brought down by Parker, but this was refused by the referee.
Richards for once beat Parker on the right wing and sent over a lovely cross which was just too high for the leaping Taylor. Southampton's lively forwards were combining well with their wing halves and always looked dangerous. Indeed it was mainly due to McPherson's fine performance and the inability of the Southampton forwards to shoot straight which enabled Walsall to win. Towards the end is was nearly all Southampton and the crowd were anxiously looking at their watches. Davies was taking as long as possible with the goal kicks.
Then Reeves broke away from the Walsall defence, he raced through at top speed with three men chasing him, but as Davies came out he shot wide. What a relief! With only seconds remaining Walsall had an excellent chance of going further ahead. Taylor broke through on the right and squared the ball to the unmarked Moore, who calmly trapped the ball and with only the goalkeeper to beat, equally calmly shot over the bar.
However, it didn't matter and the Saddlers were through to the Third round of the FA Cup.
They missed out on a big name club in the draw and unfortunately lost 1-0 at home to Port Vale
SATURDAY 24TH DECEMBER 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Moore) TORQUAY UNITED 4 (J.T. Smith, R. Collins 2, A. Collins)
Davies; Haddington, Gallier; Dorman, McPherson, Dyas;
Morris, Taylor, Richards, McLaren, Moore;
Kirk; Smith (J.V.), Anderton; Lewis (capt), Norman, Lloyd;
Shaw, Collins (R.), Smith (J.T.), Mills, Collins (A);
Referee:- B.M. Griffiths, Newport, Mon.
Walsall had been unable to sign Ken Murray, Mansfield's inside left and fielded a side considerably weakened by injuries. R. Collins missed a chance when a mix up between Dorman and McPherson left Davies stranded out of goal. Disaster then struck Walsall when McPherson fell awkwardly and had to be carried off the field after only twenty minutes play.
Gallier took over at centre half and Torquay piled on the pressure. Only great work by Haddington and Davies prevented them from scoring during the first half. Moore was prominent in isolated Walsall attacks and after Richards had headed his centre into the side netting, the little winger struck the post with a long, curling centre. Half time 0-0.
Still without McPherson, Walsall's ten men fought back and after fifty five minutes Moore put them ahead from Taylor's centre. Only four minutes later J.T. Smith raced past Gallier on to a long ball and equalised. Walsall still pressed hard, but in the last twenty minutes Torquay's forwards overran the weakened defence and scored three further goals. R. Collins turning a Shaw centre home in the seventy first minute and then heading another from a Shaw corner.
Shaw was again through on his own when Gallier brought him down with a rugby tackle on the edge of the are. The free kick came to nothing but A. Collins scored the fourth with the last kick of the match. So Torquay set off on the long journey home for Christmas Day tomorrow happy with their two points.
MONDAY 26TH DECEMBER, 1955
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA 1 (Dixon) PORTSMOUTH 3 (Rees, Barnard, Harris)
Jones; Lynn, Aldis; Crowe, Martin (capt), Baxter;
Southren, Sewell, Dixon, Moss (A), Lockhart;
Uprichard; McGhee, Mansell; Pickett, Gunter, Dickinson (capt);
Harris, Gordon, Rees, Barnard, Dale;
Referee:- N.C. Taylor, Westbury
Villa fielded a half back line consisting of a Welshman, an Irishman and a Scotsman but it didn't really seem to work somehow. Pompey with only two survivors of their championship winning teams of a few seasons ago, in Peter Harris and Jimmy Dickinson, played a brilliant short passing game on a very muddy ground.
This soon had the Villa defence in trouble and Harris's great pace on the right wing swept him past Aldis, he squared the ball from the goal line and Rees, deputising for Henderson at centre forward, scored easily.
Dale was in good form on the left wing, he back-heeled to Barnard, who beat three men and scored from a very acute angle. Dixon scored with a splendid shot for Villa before half time, but in the second half another Dale move brought a final goal for Peter Harris. The original shot was saved by Keith Jones in the Villa goal, but the ball rebounded off Harris into the net. More problems for Villa.
So that was it as far as football was concerned for the next two months, which I spent doing my basic training, or 'square bashing', in the frozen wastes of RAF Padgate in Lancashire. We were only allowed off camp once during that two months. One Saturday night out to sample the delights of
Warrington!
.
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